Inflation has been problematic for Americans for much of the last two years. Not only has it caused the prices of everyday items to surge, but it’s also resulted in a series of hikes to the federal funds rate courtesy of the Federal Reserve. And while the Fed hasn’t raised the benchmark rate since last summer, they haven’t lowered it …

Tel Aviv — Thousands of Israelis took the streets again Wednesday night with one clear message for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government: Free the hostages. The demonstrations were triggered by the release of a graphic video showing five female soldiers held in Hamas captivity. It was shot by the Hamas militants themselves, some of whom wore body cameras during their …

Manhattan prosecutors won’t be penalized for a last-minute document dump that caused former President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial to start later than scheduled, a judge ruled Thursday. Judge Juan Merchan rejected the defense’s request that prosecutors be sanctioned for a deluge of nearly 200,000 pages of evidence just weeks before the trial’s scheduled start. The documents were from …

As Donald Trump’s trial in New York City nears closing arguments, most Americans believe he is guilty of a crime in this case. But they are less sure what the jury will do after it deliberates next week. Fifty-six percent — a majority — say Trump is definitely or probably guilty of a crime in this case, in which he …

With recreational marijuana now legal in 24 states, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is moving to reclassify the drug to a less dangerous category under the Controlled Substances Act. This comes as daily marijuana users now outnumber daily drinkers for the first time ever, according to a new report from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. The change in preference is …

Astronomy fans can look up and see the Flower Moon this month as May’s full moon rises. May’s full moon will reach peak illumination on Thursday at 9:53 a.m. EDT, but it already appears full, according to NASA. The Old Farmer’s Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the U.S. The moon will be below the horizon …

The launch of Boeing’s star-crossed Starliner spacecraft on its first piloted test flight is slipping to at least June 1 to give engineers more time to assess a small-but-persistent helium leak in the capsule’s propulsion system, and its potential impact across all phases of flight, NASA announced Wednesday. Already years behind schedule and more than $1 billion over budget, the …

New research indicates the sun’s magnetic field originates much closer to the surface than previously thought, a finding that could help predict periods of extreme solar storms like the ones that slammed Earth earlier this month. The magnetic field appears to generate 20,000 miles beneath the sun’s surface. Previous calculations put the roots of this process more than 130,000 miles …

Persistent inflation issues have continued to impact the nation, but recent data shows that the inflation rate improved slightly last month, dropping to 3.4% in April compared to the year prior. That’s a significant decline from what we saw from 2021 to 2023, when inflation climbed a cumulative 16.9%. However, today’s inflation rate is still higher than the Federal Reserve’s …

Kristi Shirley has been captivated by the army of cicadas marching up trees at a park near her home in southern Illinois. “There’s nothing like it. It’s just like, wow, is this what we’re watching in front of our eyes?” Shirley said. By now, you’ve probably seen the headlines: two groups of periodical cicadasare emerging at the same time for …

Retirement is an exciting time. But, it also comes with its challenges. One such challenge is the high probability that you’ll need long-term care in your golden years. That care includes services like nursing homes and home health aides, which can be expensive. That’s what makes long-term care insurance such a valuable product. These insurance policies can help cover the …

Inside Fire Station 22 in Bellbrook, Ohio, Lt. Jay Leach helped remove buckets of firefighting foam known as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) — a tool undeniably effective at suppressing and smothering fires, but one also laced with PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals,” which are now linked to various cancers. “Most firefighters who got into this job know the inherent risks, …

It’s never too early to plan for the future. But for those with parents approaching retirement or even those already enjoying their golden years, planning for what’s to come is mandatory. This is particularly true for health care and the ways that older Americans will have to pay for it as they age. Fortunately, some insurance types on the market …

Have you heard about credit card debt forgiveness? These programs work with your lenders to cut your credit card balances in an attempt to offer you relief from overwhelming debt. And, if you owe $7,500 or more in credit card debt and you’re having a hard time making your payments, you may be a strong candidate for forgiveness. If that’s …

Independence, Mo. — A Kansas City-area man who’s charged with killing his hospitalized wife told police he couldn’t take care of her or afford her medical bills, court records say. Ronnie Wiggs made his first appearance Monday on a second-degree murder charge and was referred to the public defender’s office. A hearing was set for Thursday to review his $250,000 …