By Lawrence Wilson Americans spend a lot on health care, more than any peer nation, and the cost is rising faster than nearly every measure of the U.S. economy. The National Health Expenditure—the total amount paid for health care through public and private means—has risen faster in recent decades than inflation, household income, the gross […]
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Posted inEconomy
IRS Expands Free Tax-Filing Options to 70 Percent of US Taxpayers
By Mary Prenon The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering free tax-filing options for almost 70 percent of America’s population, as well as expanding another free program for those with higher incomes. The Free File program is available to those with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less in 2024 in order to […]
Posted inNational News
Musk Signals Looking Into Gold at Fort Knox—Here’s What to Know
By Andrew Moran Tech billionaire Elon Musk indicated that Fort Knox, the Kentucky-based facility famous for storing U.S. gold reserves, could be investigated. “Looking for the gold at Fort Knox,” Musk wrote on social media platform X on Feb. 18. “This gold is the property of the American people. I sure hope it’s still there!” […]
Posted inNational News
11 Dead in Kentucky Flooding as Another Winter Storm Approaches
By Chase Smith The death toll from severe flooding in Kentucky has risen to 11 as emergency responders continue search-and-rescue operations across the state. Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the updated fatality count during a briefing on Monday, warning that an incoming winter storm could further complicate recovery efforts. “We are still in the search-and-rescue phase […]
Posted inWorld
Europe Will Not Take Part in Ukraine Peace Talks, US Envoy Says
By Jacob Burg Europe will not be included in peace talks for Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy said on Feb. 15 after sending a questionnaire to European capitals asking what they could offer in security guarantees for Kyiv. On Feb. 16, the French government stated it will host a summit of European leaders […]
Posted inHealthcare
Canned Tuna Recalled Nationwide Due to Botulism Risk
By Naveen Athrappully California-based Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling multiple brands of tuna sold nationwide citing the possibility of a potentially deadly bacterial contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall is applicable to canned tuna products sold under four brand names—Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s, the agency said in […]
Posted inNational News
Trump Signs Proclamation Recognizing Feb. 9 as ‘Gulf of America’ Day
By Aldgra Fredly President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Sunday declaring Feb. 9 as “the first-ever Gulf of America Day,” following his executive order on Jan. 20 to rename the ocean basin previously known as the Gulf of Mexico. Trump signed the proclamation while flying over the newly renamed gulf aboard Air Force One […]
Posted inEconomy
17 Percent of US Homeowner Mortgages Are at 6 Percent Interest or Higher: Report
By Naveen Athrappully The share of homeowners with 6 percent or more mortgage rates is at its highest level in nearly a decade, according to real estate brokerage Redfin, which added that the “lock-in effect” in the housing market has started to ease. The company said 17.2 percent of homeowners have a 6 percent or […]
Posted inNational News
Senate GOP Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Limit Size of Supreme Court
By Matthew Vadum Republicans in the U.S. Senate proposed a new constitutional amendment on Feb. 7 that would prevent federal lawmakers from increasing the number of justices—currently set at nine—on the U.S. Supreme Court. The new joint congressional resolution, the Keep Nine Amendment, was introduced after Democrats in the previous Congress proposed a series of […]
Posted inNational News
Trump’s Government Overhaul Shakes Washington
By Nathan Worcester President Donald J. Trump has gotten off to a running start. Swift moves by his new administration have upended Washington, D.C.—including for the federal employees who dominate the capital. One major factor is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The time-limited commission, led by Elon Musk and enmeshed in the Executive Office […]
Posted inNational News
Bipartisan Bill Would Ban DeepSeek AI on US Government Devices
By Andrew Thornebrooke A bipartisan pair of congressmen are introducing a bill to prohibit the use of China’s DeepSeek AI on government-issued devices. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) are expected to introduce the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act” on Feb. 6. The pair serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on […]
Posted inNational News
How USAID and Its $50 Billion Budget Became a Target for Reform
By Lawrence Wilson The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was a little-noticed federal agency until it suddenly became the object of a fierce political battle over the limits of presidential power and the accountability of government bureaucracies. When the Trump administration closed the agency’s offices on Feb. 3 and later placed most employees on […]
