The Environmental Protection Agency is starting to feel the effects of the government shutdown.

While it did not have to implement a full furlough plan at the beginning of October because it operates with multi-year funding, the agency ordered its first large-scale furloughs this week.

As time goes by and the carryover funding goes down, the total lapse would be an 89% furlough at EPA, EPA head Lee Zeldin said. But again, were not there yet.

RELATED STORY | Senate rejects competing bills to pay federal workers amid government shutdown

The EPA is responsible for enforcing environmental laws, protecting air and water quality and conducting research on public health and the environment.

The agency had already been scaled back after President Donald Trump took office as part of an effort to reduce the size of the federal government. At the beginning of the year, the EPA had about 16,000 employees. Zeldin said he plans to reduce the workforce to about 12,500 employees, which he says will save the agency an estimated $750 million annually.

IN RELATED NEWS | Trump orders Pentagon to pay troops despite ongoing government shutdown

Zeldin argues the downsizing will help the agency operate more efficiently, including by increasing its use of AI.

Its all about setting priorities, focusing on our statutory obligations, he said.

To watch the full interview with Lee Zeldin, click play on the video above.

Millions of college students could face significant new obstacles paying for graduate school after federal loan limits were signed into law this summer as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans will be eliminated. Those loans previously allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance.

New borrowers will be limited to $200,000 for professional degrees like law and medicine. Students in other graduate programs can borrow up to $100,000.

WATCH: New federal loan limits eliminate Grad PLUS loans and cap borrowing at $100,000-$200,000

New federal loan limits threaten graduate school access for millions of students

The lifetime limit for all federal student loans is now $257,500 per person.

But experts say the average cost of a bachelor's degree can reach $224,000 at private universities. Add law and medical school, and the total can exceed $390,000.

"Getting Master's and PhDs are going to be out of the question for a lot of students in a lot of areas," said Rodney Coates, a global and intercultural studies professor at Miami University.

"They don't have people who can be a co-signer, so that's already an option taken away because of that," said Pranathi Suhas, a third-year medical student.

The new limits could especially impact students from less prosperous backgrounds who rely on federal loans to pursue advanced degrees. Students say private loans aren't always an option.

For medical students, the financial burden is particularly steep.

"First years, or even ones that are applying right now, will definitely need to reevaluate their financial situations," said Suhas. "Just because of this, medical school is already such a huge financial burden. People have loans that grew up to like $300,000, even more, depending on what school you go to."

Coates pointed to the broader implications for workforce shortages in critical fields.

"If you are already dealing with a shortage of individuals in these areas. Adding this to that only exacerbates this," said Coates. "The changes eliminate what was previously guaranteeing that they would have access to graduate school."

This article was written by De'Jah Gross for the Scripps News Group in Cincinnati.

The U.S. military is sending an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America, in the latest escalation and buildup of military forces in the region, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to deploy to U.S. Southern Command to bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post.

The USS Ford is currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea along with three destroyers. It would likely take several days for the ships to make the journey to South America.

Deploying an aircraft carrier is a major escalation of military power in a region that has already seen an unusually large U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela.

Hours before Parnell announced the news, Hegseth said the military had conducted the 10th strike on a suspected drug-running boat, leaving six people dead and bringing the death count for the strikes that began in early September to at least 43 people.

The Pentagon told reporters it had nothing further to add beyond the statement.

Hegseth said the vessel struck overnight was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. It was the second time the Trump administration has tied one of its operations to the gang that originated in a Venezuelan prison.

RELATED STORY | US carries out 10th strike on boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean

The pace of the strikes has quickened in recent days from one every few weeks when they first began to three this week, killing a total of at least 43 people since September. Two of the most recent strikes were carried out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, expanding the area where the military has launched attacks and shifting to where much of the cocaine from the worlds largest producers is smuggled.

In a 20-second black and white video of the strike posted to social media, a small boat can be seen apparently sitting motionless on the water when a long thin projectile descends, triggering an explosion. The video ends before the blast dies down enough for the remains of the boat to be seen again.

Hegseth said the strike happened in international waters and boasted that it was the first one conducted at night.

If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda, Hegseth said in the post. Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.

US focus on Venezuela and Tren de Aragua

The strike drew parallels to the first announced by the U.S. last month by focusing on Tren de Aragua, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization and blamed for being at the root of the violence and drug dealing that plague some cities.

While not mentioning the origin of the latest boat, the Republican administration says at least four of the boats it has hit have come from Venezuela.

The attacks and an unusually large U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela have raised speculation that the administration could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

In the latest move, the U.S. military flew a pair of supersonic heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela on Thursday.

The Trump administration maintains that its combating drug trafficking into the United States, but Maduro argues that the operations are the latest effort to force him out of office.

Maduro on Thursday praised security forces and a civilian militia for defense exercises along some 2,000 kilometers (about 1,200 miles) of coastline to prepare for the possibility of a U.S. attack.

In the span of six hours, 100% of all the countrys coastline was covered in real time, with all the equipment and heavy weapons to defend all of Venezuelas coasts if necessary, Maduro said during a government event shown on state television.

The U.S. militarys presence is less about drugs than sending a message to countries in the region to align with U.S. interests, according to Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Groups senior analyst for the Andes region.

An expression that Im hearing a lot is Drugs are the excuse. And everyone knows that, Dickinson said. And I think that message is very clear in regional capitals. So the messaging here is that the U.S. is intent on pursuing specific objectives. And it will use military force against leaders and countries that dont fall in line.

Comparing the drug crackdown to the war on terror

Hegseths remarks around the strikes have recently begun to draw a direct comparison between the war on terrorism that the U.S. declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Trump administrations crackdown on drug traffickers.

President Donald Trump this month declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and said the U.S. was in an armed conflict with them, relying on the same legal authority used by the Bush administration after 9/11.

When reporters asked Trump on Thursday whether he would request Congress issue a declaration of war against the cartels, he said that wasnt the plan.

I think were just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? Were going to kill them, you know? Theyre going to be like, dead, Trump said during a roundtable at the White House with homeland security officials.

Lawmakers from both major political parties have expressed concerns about Trump ordering the military actions without receiving authorization from Congress or providing many details. Democrats have insisted the strikes violate international law.

Ive never seen anything quite like this before, said Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who previously worked in the Pentagon and the State Department, including as an adviser in Afghanistan.

We have no idea how far this is going, how this could potentially bring in, you know, is it going to be boots on the ground? Is it going to be escalatory in a way where we could see us get bogged down for a long time? he said.

But Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who has long been involved in foreign affairs in the hemisphere, said of Trumps approach: Its about time.

While Trump is a president who obviously hates war, he also is not afraid to use the U.S. military in targeted operations, Diaz-Balart said.

I would not want to be in the shoes of any of these narco-cartels, he added.

On Sunday, October 26, Spotlight on the News will take viewers inside the New Economy Initiative and Gilbert Family Foundation's digital small business helper for Southeast Michigan entrepreneurs. We'll also introduce viewers to a unique program in Plymouth serving local youth called Growth Works. Our Sunday morning guests will include Wafa Dinaro, Executive Director, New Economy Intiative; Darnell Adams, V.P. of Detroit Community Initiatives for the Gilbert Family Foundation; and Nick Griswold, CEO, Growth Works.

Spotlight on the News, now in its 60th season, is Michigan's longest-running weekly news and public affairs television program. It airs every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 in Detroit, is streamed live on wxyz.com and broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on 23.1 WKAR-HD in East Lansing.

A new study suggests mRNA coronavirus vaccines effectively prolonged the lives of certain cancer patients.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, examined health records of patients who received the vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy for lung and skin cancer.

The researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center believe the vaccines awakened the body's immune system to the presence of cancer but exactly how isn't clear.

ICYMI | Former CDC director warns 'many people will suffer' from funding cuts to mRNA vaccine development

Researchers compared the records of more than 1,000 patients who received mRNA vaccines with those who hadn't.

According to the study, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines nearly doubled the median survival length of patients who received them.

The implications are extraordinary this could revolutionize the entire field of oncologic care, said co-senior author of the study, Dr. Elias Sayour, a UF Health pediatric oncologist and the Stop Childrens Cancer/Bonnie R. Freeman Professor for Pediatric Oncology Research.

The study's lead author says more research is needed. Other experts pointed out that while the findings are not yet proven to be causal, it marks a pivotal step in the ongoing research.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Trump administration has identified a new country where it intends to imminently send Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador earlier this year, the Department of Justice said in a court filing Friday.

The West African nation of Liberia has agreed to accept Abrego Garcia, the DOJ officials said, and the Department of Homeland Security is aiming for a removal date as early as Oct. 31.

Although [Abrego Garcia] has identified more than twenty countries that he purports to fear would persecute or torture him if he were removed there, Liberia is not on that list, DOJ lawyers wrote. Liberia is a thriving democracy and one of the United Statess closest partners on the African continent.

The Trump administration expects to file further notices pertaining to Abrego Garcias removal before a federal court in Maryland later Friday, the filing added, and U.S. officials have "received diplomatic assurances regarding the treatment of third-country individuals removed to Liberia from the United States and are making the final necessary arrangements for [Abrego Garcias] removal.

RELATED STORY | Kilmar Abrego Garcia moved to a Pennsylvania detention facility

In a statement to Scripps News, Abrego Garcias attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg blasted the DOJs new proposal.

"Having struck out with Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana, ICE now seeks to deport our client Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia a country with which he has no connection, thousands of miles from his family and home in Maryland. Costa Rica has agreed to accept him as a refugee, and remains a viable and lawful option. Instead, the government has chosen yet another path that feels designed to inflict maximum hardship. Their actions are punitive, cruel and unconstitutional, Sandoval-Moshenberg said.

Unless Liberia guarantees that it will not re-deport Mr. Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, then sending him to Liberia is no less unlawful than sending him directly to El Salvador a second time."

RELATED STORY | Abrego Garcia says he was subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail

Abrego Garcias name was thrust to the spotlight when he was deported to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison in March, despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation there due to fear of persecution. The Trump administration has claimed Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, though he and his attorneys deny that allegation.

He was returned to the U.S. in June, only to immediately face new charges of human smuggling in Tennessee.

Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty to those allegations and has sought to force Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to testify in an upcoming hearing concerning Abrego Garcia's claim that his prosecution was unconstitutionally vindictive in nature.

The DOJ on Wednesday said it opposed that request, describing it as an open-ended fishing expedition.

Judge Paula Xinis, overseeing Abrego Garcias case in Maryland, has barred his removal while hes awaiting trial in the Tennessee case. She had not yet weighed in on the DOJs new proposal to remove him to Liberia as of Friday afternoon.

More than 350,000 curling irons are being recalled due to a burn hazard.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the barrel on the Bio Ionic One-Inch Long Barrel Curling Iron can snap and detach during use. The agency said the company has received 258 reports of the barrel detaching, including six reports of minor burn injuries.

The recalled irons have model number LXT-CL-1.0 and a date code between 0722 and 1223.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Popular Coca-Cola products recalled for metal contamination in Texas

"Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled curling iron, unplug it, and contact Bio Ionic to register for a free replacement curling iron," the CPSC said. "Consumers will be asked to cut off the plug and return the plug to the recalling firm using a prepaid shipping label."

The curling irons were sold at beauty supply stores nationwide, including Ulta and Sephora, as well as online at Amazon and BioIonic.com from August 2022 through July 2024. They retailed for about $165.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Burritos sent to schools across the country recalled over listeria concerns

Nike announced it has launched Project Amplify, calling it the worlds first battery-powered footwear for walking and running.

The footwear is designed to help runners and walkers move a little bit faster and farther with less effort, the company said. Nike says the system augments lower-leg and ankle movement, providing an unparalleled boost to anyone who wants to move.

Nike compared Project Amplify to electric bikes, which have surged in popularity in recent years. The first-generation system includes a lightweight motor, drive belt and rechargeable cuff battery that integrates with carbon fiberplated running shoes.

The goal, according to Nike, is to make slower running, jogging and walking easier and more fun, focusing on athletes who run between a 10- and 12-minute mile pace.

RELATED STORY | Nike footwear prices set to rise; analysts cite impact of import taxes

Nike claims the footwear could help athletes running a 12-minute mile improve to a 10-minute mile.

Our job is to dream big while keeping athletes at the center, said Michael Donaghu, vice president of Create The Future, Emerging Sport and Innovation. Project Amplify started with a single question: What if we could find a way to help athletes move faster and farther with less energy and a lot more fun? At its core, Project Amplify is about seamlessly adding a little more power to your stride. The fun comes from realizing you can do more than you thought you could whatever more means to you.

The footwear system remains in the testing phase. Nike said it has tested Project Amplify with 400 athletes, logging 2.4 million steps.

A broader consumer launch is anticipated in the coming years.

New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

The Department of Justice alleges that James falsely claimed on mortgage paperwork for a Virginia home that it would be her primary residence, even though she primarily lived and worked in New York. Prosecutors say the misrepresentation allowed her to secure more favorable loan terms, saving her about $18,000.

James, who has sued Trump and his administration numerous times, has called the indictment politically motivated.

RELATED STORY | NY Attorney General Letitia James indicted in mortgage fraud case

"This is not about me. This is about all of us, and about a justice system which has been weaponized a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge," James said outside court. "This justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and stood up for the rule of law. And a justice system which unfortunately is being used as a vehicle of retribution."

In court documents obtained by Scripps News, James is seeking to have the case dismissed because the indictment was brought by interim United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan.

Halligan, President Trump's former personal attorney, replaced the previous U.S. attorney after they reportedly expressed concerns about bringing the charges.

Former FBI Director James Comey is also challenging Halligan's appointment after he was indicted for lying to Congress.

RELATED STORY | Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to federal charges

Popular Coca-Cola canned sodas distributed in Texas have been recalled due to potential metal contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recall includes more than 4,000 12-ounce cans of Coca-Cola, Sprite and Coke Zero in various size packages.

The recall is listed as a Class II risk, meaning "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

RELATED STORY | Burritos sent to schools across the country recalled over listeria concerns

Currently, only products distributed to Texas are covered under the recall.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Target said Thursday that it is eliminating about 1,800 corporate positions in an effort to streamline decision-making and accelerate initiatives to rebuild the flagging discount retailers customer base.

About 1,000 employees are expected to receive layoff notices next week, and the company also plans to eliminate about 800 vacant jobs, a company spokesperson said. The cuts represent about 8% of Target's corporate workforce globally, although the majority of the affected employees work at the company's Minneapolis headquarters, the spokesperson said.

RELATED STORY | Target and Ulta Beauty are ending their store partnership 

Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, who is set to become Target's next CEO on Feb. 1, issued a note to personnel on Thursday announcing the downsizing. He said further details would come on Tuesday, and he asked employees at the Minneapolis offices to work from home next week.

The truth is, the complexity weve created over time has been holding us back, Fiddelke, a 20-year Target veteran, wrote in his note. Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.

Target, which has about 1,980 U.S. stores, lost ground to Walmart and Amazon in recent years as inflation caused shoppers to curtail their discretionary spending. Customers have complained of messy stores with merchandise that did not reflect the expensive-looking but budget-priced niche that long ago earned the retailer the jokingly posh nickname Tarzhay.

Fiddelke said in August when he was announced as Target's next CEO that he would step into the role with three urgent priorities: reclaiming the companys position as a leader in selecting and displaying merchandise; improving the customer experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean; and investing in technology.

He cited the same goals in his message to employees, calling the layoffs a "necessary step in building the future of Target and enabling the progress and growth we all want to see."

"Adjusting our structure is one part of the work ahead of us. It will also require new behaviors and sharper priorities that strengthen our retail leadership in style and design and enable faster execution," he wrote.

Target has reported flat or declining comparable sales those from established physical stores and online channels in nine out of the past 11 quarters. The company reported in August that comparable sales dipped 1.9% in its second quarter, when its net income also dropped 21%.

The job cuts will not affect any store employees or workers in Target's sorting, distribution and other supply chain facilities, the company spokesperson said.

The corporate workers losing their jobs will receive pay and benefits until Jan. 8 as well as severance packages, the spokesperson said.

Organizers in Corktown are encouraging Detroit City Council to approve a plan to rename a street in honor of Greg Mudge, the founder of Mudgie's Deli.

First submitted in 2022, organizers are now asking people to make their voices heard and either attend the Detroit City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, call-in for support or email councilmembers.

Mudge, the founder of the beloved Mudgie's Deli in Corktown, died unexpectedly at the age of 46 in September 2021.

Watch below: Our 2021 report on Greg Mudge's passing

Beloved Corktown deli owner dies at the age of 46

"This campaign is dedicated to honoring Greg by officially naming a street after him in Corktown. Now in its fourth year, our movement is fueled by love, memories, and a shared belief that Greg deserves permanent recognition in the neighborhood he helped shape. With your help, we can get this across the finish line," the description on the Greg Mudge Street website reads.

In order to maximize turnout, organizers have gotten a 46-seat bus from Detroit Bus Co. to shuttle supporters from Mudge's in Corktown to City Hall and back on the day of the vote.

Watch below: Corktown mourns the loss of Mudgie's Founder Greg Mudge

Corktown mourns loss of Greg Mudge

"Greg gave his life to Detroit  not just with sandwiches, but with his energy, his advocacy, his love for the people around him. It's time the city gave something back. 'Greg Mudge St.' would enshrine his impact in Corktown forever," Mudgie's GM Benjamin Kehoe said.

Under the proposal, the secondary street sign would be located at the intersection of Porter and Brooklyn streets, the location of Mudgie's.

The U.S. military has conducted its 10th strike on a suspected drug-running boat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, blaming the Tren de Aragua gang for operating the vessel and leaving six people dead in the Caribbean.

In a social media post, Hegseth said the strike occurred overnight, and it marks the second time the Trump administration has tied one of its operations to the gang, which originated in a Venezuelan prison.

The pace of the strikes has quickened in recent days from one every few weeks in September when they first began to three this week. Two of the strikes this week were carried out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, expanding the area in which the military was launching attacks and where much of the cocaine from the worlds largest producers is smuggled.

In a 20-second black and white video of the strike posted to social media, a small boat can be seen apparently sitting motionless on the water when a long thin projectile descends on it, triggering an explosion. The video ends before the blast dies down enough for the remains of the boat to be seen again.

Hegseth said the strike happened in international waters and boasted that it was the first one conducted at night.

If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda, Hegseth said in the post. Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.

The strike also came hours after the U.S. military flew a pair of supersonic heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela on Thursday. The flight was just the most recent move in what has been an unusually large military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela that has raised speculation that President Donald Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro. Maduro faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino has told his military leaders that the U.S. government knows the drug-trafficking accusations used to support the recent actions in the Caribbean are false, with its true intent being to force a regime change in the South American country.

Hegseths remarks around the strikes have recently begun to draw a direct comparison between the war on terrorism that the U.S. declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Trump administrations crackdown on drug traffickers.

When reporters asked Trump on Thursday whether he would request Congress issue a declaration of war against the cartels, he said that wasnt the plan.

I think were just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? Were going to kill them, you know? Theyre going to be like, dead, Trump said during a roundtable at the White House with homeland security officials.

Lawmakers from both major political parties have expressed concerns about Trump ordering the military actions without receiving authorization from Congress or providing many details. Democrats have insisted the strikes violate international law.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said this week that expanding the geography simply expands the lawlessness and the recklessness in the use of the American military without seeming legal or practical justification."

Trump this month declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and said the U.S. was in an armed conflict with them.

Despite the concerns from some lawmakers, the Republican-controlled Senate has voted down a Democratic-sponsored war powers resolution that would have required the president to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes.

Millions of Social Security recipients will now know how much their checks will be in 2026 after new government data was released on Friday.

The Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will get a 2.8% bump in checks in 2026, which represents a $56 increase for the average retiree.

The announcement following the release of the monthly Consumer Price Index report. The Social Security Administration bases its cost-of-living adjustment on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance. Items like food, shelter and energy typically carry heavier weight.

Last years cost-of-living adjustment was 2.5%, which closely matched the 2.4% increase in consumer goods and services. About 75 million Social Security beneficiaries are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living adjustment starting in January. Nearly 7.5 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income will get the adjustment starting Dec. 31.

For the 12-month period ending in August, the consumer price index showed a 2.9% increase in prices.

"Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect todays economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security," said Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.

The Social Security Administration also said that the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase from $176,100 in 2025 to $184,500 in 2026.

RELATED STORY | US inflation rate climbs to 3% in September; highest this year

Recipients should get a letter in December notifying them of their new benefit amount.

There are long-term concerns over the future of Social Security payments.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said legislation passed in July will reduce Social Securitys revenue from the income taxation of benefits. The group says this change will cause Social Security to become insolvent sooner than previously expected. A report from Social Securitys trustees states there are enough funds to fully pay benefits until 2034, but without congressional intervention, benefits will be cut. The committee projects Social Security will become insolvent by the end of 2032.

Officials have long expressed concern about the stability of the program. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and birth rates decline, Social Security revenue is falling while its expenses are rising. Social Security paid out $1.5 trillion in benefits in 2024, accounting for about 23% of federal spending.

After its release was delayed due to the government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly consumer inflation report showing the price of goods and services increased 3% for the 12-month period ending in September.

The 3% increase marked the highest inflation rate in the U.S. since January 2025. The rate is up from 2.9% in August and 2.7% in July.

How much of a role President Donald Trump's tariff policies have played in inflation remains unclear. The inflation rate on items other than food and energy increased to 3% for the year ending in September.

Last week, the Budget Lab at Yale University said President Trump's tariffs would raise prices by almost 1.3% in the short run, costing the typical middle-class household more than $1,800 per year. Those figures have fluctuated as President Trump continues shifting tariff rates on various nations.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance; items like food, shelter, and energy tend to be weighted more heavily.

Over the last decade, prices have generally increased at a rate of 3.5% per year. Over the last 20 years, consumer inflation has typically risen by 3.3% annually. The Federal Reserve, however, has aimed to keep annual inflation at approximately 2%.

The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its 24th day with no clear path forward, as lawmakers remain deadlocked and the impacts on American families continue to escalate on multiple fronts.

The Senate adjourned yesterday afternoon after failing to reach an agreement to reopen the government, with members not scheduled to return until Monday evening. The lack of momentum on Capitol Hill has left negotiations completely stalled.

A bipartisan lunch held yesterday among lawmakers did not produce any breakthrough toward ending the shutdown, highlighting the deep divisions that persist between the parties.

SNAP benefits at risk for millions

The shutdown's effects are expanding beyond federal employees, with dozens of states announcing that SNAP benefits will run out on November 1 due to lack of government funding. This development threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical food assistance.

RELATED STORY | SNAP recipients brace for possible delay in benefits due to government shutdown

The looming SNAP crisis has created a difficult choice for Democrats on Capitol Hill. They must decide whether to continue fighting for Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, which expire at the end of this year, or vote to reopen the government to prevent the loss of food assistance programs.

If the ACA subsidies expire, millions of Americans could lose their health insurance coverage.

Lawmakers weigh difficult decisions

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, expressed concern about the potential SNAP benefit cuts affecting his state.

"In Illinois there are 1.9 million who receive SNAP and if we don't get this resolved by November 1st, there's questions whether they'll get any payment at all," Durbin said.

When asked if he would change his vote to reopen the government if SNAP benefits expire, Durbin remained noncommittal.

"We'll see," Durbin said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has downplayed the possibility of Democrats changing their position based on the SNAP deadline.

The prospect of millions of Americans suddenly losing access to critical food assistance during an ongoing shutdown raises questions about whether this development could shift the political calculus on Capitol Hill as the effects on the American people continue to worsen.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Alaska Airlines said its operations have resumed Friday after it had to ground its planes for hours because of an information technology outage.

The airline said in a statement that 229 flights were canceled because of the outage and that more flight disruptions were expected as it worked to reposition aircraft and crews.

Alaska Airlines said it is working on getting travelers affected by the disruption to their destinations.

It asked that passengers check their flight status before heading to the airport.

RELATED STORY | Passengers rate their favorite airlines. Heres who came out on top

The grounding Thursday affected Alaska Air and Horizon Air flights.

Hawaiian Airlines, which was bought by Alaska Air Group last year, said its flights were operating as scheduled.

In July, Alaska grounded all of its flights for about three hours after the failure of a critical piece of hardware at a data center.

There has been a history of computer problems disrupting flights in the industry, though most of the time the disruptions are only temporary.

President Donald Trump announced late Thursday he is ending negotiations with Canada after the provincial government of Ontario released a television advertisement critical of U.S. tariffs.

The ad featured the words of former President Ronald Reagan: When someone says let's impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes, for a short while, it works but only for a short time.

It continued: High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens: markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.

RELATED STORY | US liquor exports see steep losses as tariffs take effect

Trumps decision appeared to follow criticism of the ad from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which called it misleading.

The ad misrepresents the presidential radio address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks, the institute said.

It is unclear why Ontario would have needed permission, as the radio address is in the public domain.

Hours after the institutes statement, Trump said negotiations with Canada were off, noting the ad was not produced by the Canadian government itself.

TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Talks between the United States and Canada had continued after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Trump in the Oval Office on Oct. 7.

Although many Canadian goods have been exempt from tariffs, the United States has imposed 50 percent duties on steel and aluminum measures Carney has acknowledged have hurt Canadas economy.

Carney has sought to avoid escalating trade tensions, dropping some retaliatory tariffs imposed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The approach has drawn criticism.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told CBC this week he was looking for Carney to take a harder line against the United States if he cannot reach an agreement.

We are nice, nice, nice. Play nice in the sandbox, Ford said, according to CBC. I am sick and tired of sitting and rolling over. We need to fight back.

President Donald Trump said late Thursday that he was ending all trade negotiations with Canada because of a television ad opposing U.S. tariffs that he said misstated the facts and called egregious behavior aimed at influencing U.S. court decisions.

The post on Trump's social media site came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he aims to double his countrys exports to countries outside the U.S. because of the threat posed by Trumps tariffs. Trump's call for an abrupt end to negotiations could further inflame trade tensions that already have been building between the two neighboring countries for months.

Trump posted, The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.

The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts, Trump wrote on his social media site. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.

Carneys office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The prime minister was set to leave Friday morning for a summit in Asia, while Trump is set to do the same Friday evening.

Earlier Thursday night, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute posted on X that an ad created by the government of Ontario misrepresents the 'Presidential Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade' dated April 25, 1987. It added that Ontario did not receive foundation permission to use and edit the remarks.

The foundation said it is reviewing legal options in this matter and invited the public to watch the unedited video of Reagan's address.

Carney met with Trump earlier this month to try to ease trade tensions, as the two countries and Mexico prepare for a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement a trade deal Trump negotiated in his first term, but has since soured on.

More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the U.S., and nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border daily.

Trump said earlier this week that he had seen the ad on television and said that it showed that his tariffs were having an impact.

I saw an ad last night from Canada. If I was Canada, Id take that same ad also, he said then.

In his own post on X last week, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, posted a link to the ad and the message: Its official: Ontarios new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched.

He continued, Using every tool we have, well never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.

A spokesperson for Ford didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night. But Ford previously got Trumps attention with an electricity surcharge to U.S. states. Trump responded by doubling steel and aluminum tariffs.

The president has moved to impose steep U.S. tariffs on many goods from Canada. In April, Canadas government imposed retaliatory levies on certain U.S. goods -- but it carved out exemptions for some automakers to bring specific numbers of vehicles into the country, known as remission quotas.

Trumps tariffs have especially hurt Canadas auto sector, much of which is based in Ontario. This month, Stellantis said it would move a production line from Ontario to Illinois