A federal judge ruled late on Tuesday that the Trump administration must temporarily restore funds to a nonprofit group that provides legal and other services for tens of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children.

Judge Araceli Martnez-Olguns order runs through April 16 and requires the Trump administration to resume funding for the Acacia Center for Justice and other nonprofit groups.

Martnez-Olgun determined that nonprofit groups have legal standing to sue the government to preserve funding. Plaintiffs are arguing that theyre entitled to funds through the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.

Martnez-Olguns order prevents the termination of funding for legal representation for these children, allowing the Acacia Center for Justice to continue its services while legal proceedings continue.

RELATED STORY | Here's how migrants are contributing to the US economy

On March 21, the Trump administration announced it would stop funding the Unaccompanied Children Program. The program provides services and legal representation for thousands of children who are in the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian.

Acacias Unaccompanied Children Program provides legal representation to more than 26,000 children in and released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody, Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, said. These independent childrens rights attorneys protect children from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, helping vulnerable kids engage in a confusing and often tumultuous legal process and pursue their legal interests and options in a rapidly evolving immigration system.

Groups like the Acacia Center argued that the loss of federal funds would force them to lay off attorneys providing legal services to unaccompanied migrant children. A judge agreed that the termination of funding would be detrimental to these organizations, stating that terminating funding for direct legal representation for unaccompanied children, without any plan to ensure continuity in representation, potentially violates Congresss express directive.

The Court additionally finds that the continued funding of legal representation for unaccompanied children promotes efficiency and fairness within the immigration system, wrote Martnez-Olgun, who was appointed to the district court in 2023 by President Joe Biden.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center is warning residents of eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, and western Kentucky of severe weather that could produce long-track tornadoes and damaging winds on Wednesday.

The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a high risk of severe weather in the region. Memphis is among the cities facing the highest risk. Louisville, Indianapolis, and Nashville also face a significant threat of tornadoes.

A high risk of severe weather is a level 5 on the Storm Prediction Center's 0-5 scale. The Storm Prediction Center generally reserves the

declaration of a high risk for severe weather for what it forecasts to be among the most violent tornado outbreaks of a given year.

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"A tornado outbreak is expected today and tonight from parts of the lower Mississippi Valley into the Mid-South and lower Ohio Valley," said Storm Prediction Center forecaster Rich Thompson. "Numerous tornadoes, along with multiple EF3+ tornadoes, appear likely. In addition, tornadoes, significant severe wind gusts, and large hail to very large hail will be possible across a broad area from north Texas northeastward to the southern Great Lakes."

Several tornado watches were issued for areas west of the Mississippi River Wednesday morning. The storms were expected to move east, crossing the river by the afternoon. At that time, warmth from daytime heating is expected to cause the storms to grow even stronger.

The Storm Prediction Center also issued a high risk of severe weather on March 15. There ended up being a reported 73 tornadoes in the Southern U.S. that day. Those tornadoes were among 285 reported tornadoes in the month of March, potentially marking the most active March in decades for tornado activity in the U.S.

Wednesday's storms could strike areas that have recently been impacted by tornadoes. Dozens of tornadoes touched down in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri on March 14. Among them were several EF-4 and EF-3 twisters.

The front causing Wednesday's potential tornado outbreak is expected to stall out, causing a risk of severe weather in a swath from central Texas to Maryland on Thursday.

Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who ran for president in 2020, delivered a record-breaking 25-hour speech that garnered the support of his fellow Democrats.

The speech was meant as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's policies and a rallying cry for Democrats feeling disillusioned by the current administration.

In order for Booker to hold the microphone for so long, he had to remain on the Senate floor for the entire duration. That meant no bathroom breaks or sitting down. Booker didn't talk the entire time; other Democrats could give Booker's voice a rest by asking him questions.

He was also briefly interrupted for the Senate's daily prayer, which took place about 17 hours into his speech.

After 25 hours on the Senate floor without leaving, Booker explained how he was able to remain at the lectern for so long.

I really spent time dehydrating myself beforehand so I did not have to go to the bathroom," Booker said, adding he was not aided by a catheter. "My strategy? I think I stopped eating on Friday and then stopped drinking the night before I started on Monday. That had its benefits and its downsides.

Booker said that dehydrating himself led to cramps, which he described as the "biggest thing" he was fighting during the 25-hour speech.

He also mentioned that he emptied his pockets so he wouldn't be weighed down.

The New Jersey senator noted that he was well aware of the previous record for the longest Senate speech, which was held by Sen. Strom Thurmond, who spoke against the Civil Rights Act in 1957.

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Booker acknowledged Thurmond's record during his speech: "I always thought it was a strange shadow that hung over this institutionthat the longest speech, all the noble causes, I found it strange he had the record."

Booker had experience, as he and fellow Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy held the floor for 15 hours nine years ago. He said that during that session, he experienced back pain but learned from that experience.

Rhode Island man Tom Carroll is crediting Chick-fil-A for saving his life after he ate the restaurant's salads nearly every day for a year, helping him lose 132 pounds.

Carroll said he went from weighing 360 pounds to 228 pounds, having a Spicy Southwest Salad nearly every day since November 2023. He also cut his beer consumption and signed up for the gym, but Carroll gives most of the credit to his new-found love for the Chick-fil-A salad.

"Chick-fil-A saved my life, and I cant wait to be a loyal customer for many years to come. I know this diet works for me, and I cant wait to keep it rolling as the years unfold," he said on a post online.

RELATED STORY | Chick-fil-A to launch a new app featuring 'family-friendly' podcasts and shows

He told WBZ-TV in Boston that he "liked being the big guy that had a good time, that could go out aned eat pizza whenever, and go have a beer and not think about it."

Carroll explained that he did not go to the doctor for several years and when he finally did, he found out he weighed 360 pounds. He started to lose weight and by that December, his weight had dropped to below 300 pounds.

But even losing over 60 pounds wasn't enough to reverse years of poor habits. Doctors said in December 2023 that he had suffered a "cardiac event" and he would need to get his high blood pressure addressed.

"It was in that moment where my anguish shifted to empowerment," he said. "A few weeks prior, I had made a decision to change my life by eating a Chick-fil-A salad every day, and I could tangibly see the results."

Carroll said by July 2024, he had lost over 130 pounds, but was apprehensive about sharing his story. It wasn't until the one-year anniversary of his emergency room visit that he felt comfortable enough to explain what took place.

"Given everything that had led me to that moment, I felt like I could help the next version of me avoid the type of mess I went through to get to where I was at 228 pounds," he said. "I knew there were plenty of other guys just like me - big dudes who loved having a good time, where eating and drinking was central to making sure everyone in the crew was enjoying themselves no matter the situation. I knew I wasnt unique in that regard."

This month, the Cheesecake Factory is rolling out one of its largest menu overhauls in years, as it has eliminated 13 items and replaced them with 22 new items.

Gone from the previous menu are several long-time staples, such as the white chicken chili, mushroom burger, and spicy cashew chicken. The menu also no longer includes several SkinnyLicious items, such as the spicy shrimp pasta and the lemon herb parmesan chicken.

RELATED STORY | Waffle House tops the list for price increases in casual dining, report finds

Of the 22 new menu items, four are drinks and one is a childrens dessert. Cheesecake Factory President David Gordon noted that the new menu has items at wide price points. The menu includes a new double smash cheeseburger, steak frites, grilled steak and eggs, and Thai stir-fried noodles.

There are also several new appetizers, including honey roasted carrots, grilled asparagus, and charred sugar snap peas.

I think it crosses different price points, different cuisines, some very unique items and then some sort of right up the middle of the road Cheesecake Factory items like a smash burger that we put on the menu, Gordon said. There's also some great vegetarian options, some new baby roasted carrots, some Asian cucumbers, some Chicken and Jalapeno Fritters. So you name the type of cuisine. We've always said there's nothing that we can't put on our menu that America might want.

RELATED STORY | McDonald's has doubled its prices since 2014, data shows

Gordon said it was important that new menu items are a value for customers.

I think Cheesecake has always played well on the price point because of so many different options for guests, he said. And of course, the value proposition of the experience, the experience of the size of the portions that allows people to share and have leftovers for the next day. And the overall experience of dining at Cheesecake is a large part of the value proposition that people are looking for today.

The company boasted that its sales per unit reached $12.2 million in 2024, which it claims was nearly four times higher than Chilis and more than double that of BJs Brewhouse and Olive Garden.

In a ranking of 147 nations, Finland ranked as the happiest country in the world, according to a new analysis from the World Happiness Report.

The report uses data from the Gallup World Poll to help determine how happy the citizens of various countries are. The report looks at numerous factors, including a nations economy, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, charitable giving, perceptions of corruption, and dystopia.

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What the report found was that many European nations tend to perform better than other regions of the world. Behind Finland in the rankings were Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

While the U.S. wasnt at the top of the list, the nation ranked No. 24, just above the United Kingdom and just below Belize. It was, however, the lowest the U.S. has ever appeared in the rankings.

The report notes that the United States is among just a handful of nations where deaths of despair are on the rise. Deaths of despair include suicide, alcohol abuse, and drug overdose.

Another indicator of declining happiness in the U.S. is the fact that there are few people dining with others. COVID-19 has seemingly hastened the trend of Americans dining alone, and it has been a trend analysts have observed for two decades.

We find clear evidence that Americans are spending more and more time dining alone, the report reads. In 2023, roughly 1 in 4 Americans reported eating all of their meals alone the previous day an increase of 53% since 2003. Dining alone has become more prevalent for every age group, but especially for young people.

Of the 147 nations sampled, Afghanistan ranked at the bottom in terms of happiness.

It's possible that you could still be owed a $1,400 economic impact payment by the Internal Revenue Service, but you have just weeks to claim the money.

According to an IRS statement, an estimated one million people were still owed a $1,400 stimulus check as of the end of 2024. The IRS said it had identified some of the Americans still owed a check and planned on sending them a payment by the end of January.

But if someone didn't file a 2021 tax return, it's possible they were eligible for a check and did not receive one. The IRS said that Americans who did not file a return in 2021 have until April 15 to file an amended return to claim the $1,400 credit.

The IRS said that taxpayers who did not file must submit a tax return, even if their income was minimal or nonexistent, in order to get a stimulus check.

RELATED STORY | A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they?

Americans who believe they are owed a stimulus check can obtain a tax return form online.

There are also numerous Americans owed a tax refund beyond the economic impact payments.

As of last week, the IRS said it estimates there is nearly $1 billion in unclaimed tax refunds stemming from the 2021 tax season. The IRS estimates the median tax refund owed to Americans is $781 for 2021. The IRS estimates that 1.1 million Americans are still owed a tax refund for 2021.

Those taxpayers also have until April 15 to claim a refund.

A record $3.1 billion in legal bets is expected to be wagered on March Madness and the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments in 2025, according to the American Gaming Association.

In 2024, gamblers wagered $2.7 billion in legal bets, the organization said.

One big reason for the increase is that the number of states that permit legal sports betting has gone up in recent years. Legal sports betting is available in 38 U.S. states, and in 33 of those states, gamblers can make bets online.

March Madness is one of the most exciting times in American sports, with fans fired up for both the mens and womens NCAA tournaments, said AGA senior vice president of strategic communications Joe Maloney. As legal wagering expands across the U.S., more fans than ever have the opportunity to bet legally and responsibly.

However, with millions of Americans able to easily bet online comes the risk of gambling addiction.

Dr. David Streem, an addiction psychiatrist with the Cleveland Clinic, said that gambling online may seem like harmless fun, but it can become quickly addicting.

"There are neurotransmitters, neurochemicals in the brain that we know, again, both from human studies and animal studies, that can be released in very influential amounts when certain conditions are met. Humans and other primates are wired to like chance and to be attracted by it," he said.

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On Tuesday, the NCAA announced the "Don't be a Loser" campaign, which intends to address harassment that student-athletes are facing from sports gamblers. The NCAA said that one in three student-athletes have faced harassment tied to sports betting.

"The horrific messages we are seeing across online platforms are absolutely unacceptable," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "Angry fans are sending numerous abusive messages and threats to student-athletes, publicly and privately, because of lost bets placed on the athletes' performance in a game. These actions severely threaten student-athlete mental health and well-being, while harming the college athletics environment. We need fans to do better. We need states to do better and ban player props that target student-athletes and enable detrimental abuse."

One concern that Streem has for legal online sports betting is how vulnerable young adults have become to gambling.

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I think exposure to kids when the brain is still developing, and remember the brain keeps developing through our teenage years all the way through until we're about 26 years old. So, as you're exposing kids to these sorts of conditioning signals at these ages of brain development, is that going to affect how their brains develop? Absolutely," he said.

Inflation caused prices for many things to surge in recent years, and the restaurant industry is no exception.

According to a new report from FinanceBuzz, the cost of dining out at the nation's largest chain restaurants has increased. FinanceBuzz's report notes that prices at leading casual chain restaurants increased 42% from the start of 2020 to the start of 2025.

The two restaurants with the largest increases in prices happen to be places where eggs are prominently served on the menu. According to FinanceBuzz, menu prices at Waffle House have increased 96% over the last five years.

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"These increases aren't limited to one part of the Waffle House menu, however, as the price of every single item we collected data on rose by at least 71%, whether it be a breakfast item or part of its lunch and dinner menu," wrote Josh Koebert, senior data journalist for FinanceBuzz. "Prices more than doubled for a number of dishes, including a 150% increase in price for a grilled chicken biscuit, a 110% jump for a bacon Angus cheeseburger deluxe, a similar 110% increase on Waffle House's signature hashbrowns, and a 101% jump in cost for a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich."

According to FinanceBuzz, Waffle House has significantly raised prices on menu items that don't include eggs. For instance, the average price for a regular order of hash browns was $1.95. Now, it's $4.20. For a bacon Angus cheeseburger with hash browns, the cost went from $6.65 in 2020 to $13.95 in 2025.

Steak and eggs went from $8.85 in 2020 to $15.15 in 2025.

At IHOP, prices have jumped 82%.

According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the cost of food away from home has increased 29.9% since 2020. Food away from home can also include food served at fast food restaurants, schools, and vending machines.

In the meantime, food meant to be consumed at home has increased 27.7% since 2020. Consumer inflation overall has risen 23% since 2020.

Out of 16 restaurant chains, BJ's Brewhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse have had the smallest price increases. The two chains have increased menu prices by 26% in the last five years.

Besides Waffle House and IHOP, Texas Roadhouse, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's have had the largest price increases.

The report did not include fast food chains or fast-casual restaurants that don't offer sit-down service.

Here are the five restaurants with the largest increases:

1) Waffle House - 96%

2) IHOP - 82%

3) Texas Roadhouse - 46%

4) TGI Fridays - 45%

5) Applebee's - 41%

Here are the five restaurants with the smallest increases:

T1) Longhorn Steakhouse - 26%

T1) BJ's Brewhouse - 26%

T3) Buffalo Wild Wings - 29%

T3) Outback Steakhouse - 29%

5) Olive Garden - 30%

The full report is available on FinanceBuzz's website.

Dollar General announced on Tuesday plans to close 96 underperforming locations throughout the U.S. Despite the announcement, the company said it still plans to grow in 2025.

While it closes 96 stores, the company plans to open 725 new locations. All told, Dollar General expects to end 2025 with about 600 more stores than at the beginning of the year. The chain of discount general stores expects to have nearly 20,600 locations opened by the end of the year.

Dollar General had a net gain of 882 stores after opening 987 locations and closing 105.

As we look to build on the substantial progress we made on our Back to Basics work in fiscal 2024, we believe this review was appropriate to further strengthen the foundation of our business, said Todd Vasos, Dollar Generals chief executive officer. While the number of closings represents less than one percent of our overall store base, we believe this decision better positions us to serve our customers and communities. Vasos indicated during a call with investors that many of these closings will occur in urban markets.

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"While this is less than 1% of our overall store base, those stores, many of which are in urban locations, have become increasingly challenging to successfully operate," he said. "These stores likely would have been closed in the ordinary course of the store's lifecycle when their leases expired; however, we determined that closing these locations now will allow us to optimize our allocation of resources going forward."

Although Dollar General said it is on solid financial footing, the company told investors that pending tariffs could become a "headwind" for attracting customers.

"Given the already stressed financial condition of our core customer, we are closely monitoring these and any other potential economic headwinds, including any changes to government entitlement programs. Importantly, we remain focused on doing everything we can to deliver the value our customers want and need," Vasos said.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy may reduce depression in transgender adults, according to a new study published in JAMA Open Network.

The study followed more than 3,000 transgender individuals for four years and found that gender-affirming hormone therapy when integrated into primary care and provided through other low-barrier access options, improved mental health outcomes.

The study found that transgender people who sought gender-affirming care were 15% less likely to exhibit moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms.

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Transgender adults often experience high rates of depression, and while hormone therapy is linked to improved mental health, the United States lacks studies with diverse samples and longer-term follow-ups. This study aims to address that gap.

The study notes that transgender adults face a two- to fourfold increased risk of depression relative to cisgender adults.

"Findings support the mental healthpromoting role of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and contribute to the evidence base that GAHT is a medically necessary treatment that improves mental health outcomes longitudinally for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse (TGD) people who want it," the study concludes. "Study findings highlight the importance of gender-affirming care models delivered in primary care settings, low-barrier access to GAHT for TGD patients, and integration of GAHT into primary care with other services to address TGD mental health inequities.

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"Furthermore, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in this TGD cohort underscores the importance of universal screening for depression in this population, accompanied by appropriate systems to ensure diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for those with depressive symptoms."

For the first time in 31 years, an American won the Los Angeles Marathon men's division.

Matthew Richtman, 25, of Elburn, Illinois, completed the 26.2-mile course in 2:07:56, defeating the next closest runner by more than two minutes to win the Los Angeles Marathon.

RELATED STORY | Kenyan runner breaks barrier during world-record setting Chicago Marathon

His time also marked the sixth-fastest marathon by an American ever recorded. Richtman finished the Los Angeles Marathon course more than four minutes faster than any other American on record. He ran each mile at an average pace of 4:57 per mile.

Making his showing even more impressive, it was just Richtman's second marathon ever. He came in fourth place at October's Twin Cities Marathon, finishing the race in 2:10:47.

The result came as a surprise to Richtman. Its definitely a surprise, Richtman told the Los Angeles Times. You know, I came in feeling really good. Its really hard to judge where you stack up against competition, but it was a really good group out there today, and I was really happy to run with those guys and then ultimately win it.

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Prior to entering road races, Richtman competed for Montana State University in track and cross country. His fastest mile in college was 4:08, and he ran a 5k and a 10k in cross country in 28:07.

Sunday's race had over 21,000 finishers.

The marathon started near Dodger Stadium and finished in Century City. The race paid tribute to the victims of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The final leg of a nine-month journey to space is underway. The capsule bringing astronauts Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth has departed the International Space Station and is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida later today.

The deorbit burn is scheduled for 5:11 p.m., with the first potential splashdown occurring at 5:57 p.m. The landing is expected to occur off the coast of Florida.

Along with Wilmore and Williams, astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will complete their missions upon returning to Earth.

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What was supposed to be a one-week mission turned into a nine-month affair due to mechanical issues and NASA's decision to extend the mission. The Starliner, the craft that was expected to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth, experienced problems with its thrusters and helium leaks as it approached the space station in June.

Due to these issues, NASA decided not to have Wilmore and Williams return on the Starliner. Instead, after a six-hour remotely controlled flight, the empty capsule landed in New Mexico on September 6.

Instead of returning on the Starliner, SpaceX will bring Williams and Wilmore home today. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk, who is a close ally of President Donald Trump.

During the extended stay, Williams and Wilmore have participated in numerous experiments and spacewalks while at the station, including work with Astrobees, a type of free-flying robot.

Once home, both astronauts will undergo weeks of rehabilitation to readapt to their surroundings.

With President Donald Trump eyeing major tariffs on alcohol, a significant trade association warns that the decision could cause prices to soar.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America cautioned that tariffs could threaten to upend a market that relies on the availability of single-origin, geographically designated products that have strong consumer demand and are irreplaceable.

The group states that 30% of wine and spirits by volume are imported. Imported wine accounts for 35% of all wine and spirits revenue in the U.S., according to the association.

Given the challenges the wine and spirits industry has already facedespecially with 2024 being one of the most difficult years in decades, according to SipSource databusinesses across all three tiers, from suppliers to wholesalers to retailers, are in no position to absorb such drastic cost increases, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America President Francis Creighton said. While individual companies will make their own choices, the vast majority will struggle to manage these added expenses. At the end of the day, these tariffs, if implemented, wont just hurt our industry; they will directly raise prices for American consumers.

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In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, President Trump stated he would enact a 200% tariff on all alcoholic products coming from the European Union, claiming the tariffs would be "great for the wine and champagne business in the U.S." After the U.S. imposed a tariff on global aluminum and steel imports, the European Union retaliated by enacting a 50% tariff on whiskey from the U.S. This tariff is set to take effect on March 31.

President Trump indicated that if Europe does not lift its tariff on whiskey, he would impose the 200% tariff on all "wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming out of France and other E.U.-represented countries."

A tariff on imported wine and spirits will directly impact American workers, Creighton said. Rising costs will cause some consumers to stay at home, hurting the bartenders, servers, and other bar and restaurant workers who depend on customer traffic for tips and shift hours.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America is encouraging the Trump administration to reconsider imposing the tariffs.

Tariffs are an import tax charged to companies when products cross international borders. Economists believe companies will tend to pass the cost of tariffs on to consumers.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Friday night to dismantle multiple federal agencies in an effort to "save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities."

The agencies set to be gutted include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the United States Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Arctic Research Commission.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media is the parent agency of Voice of America, which is "the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in nearly 50 languages to an estimated weekly audience of more than 354 million people," according to the organization's website.

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According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Council on Homelessness is "the only agency at the federal level with the sole responsibility of ending homelessness. It works across 19 federal agencies and departments, and with partners in both the public and private sectors, to improve federal spending outcomes for homelessness."

The Trump administration says cutting organizations like these will eliminate unnecessary governmental agencies. It is part of a broader effort by the White House to downsize the scope of the federal government.

However, these organizations are relatively small within the scope of the federal government. Out of the $6.8 trillion spent by the government in 2024, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness had an annual budget of $3.6 million. The U.S. Agency for Global Media had a much larger budget, however, at $950 million.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars receives about 30% of its funding from the government. From 2019 through 2024, the organization states it received about $41 million in federal funds.

"The Wilson Center occupies a unique place in U.S. foreign policywe are congressionally chartered, scholarship-driven, and fiercely nonpartisan. It is our mission to help policymakers and stakeholders make sense of global developments. We are driven to offer the insights and analysis that can inform decision-making and forge a stronger America and a more secure world," the organization said.

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For the first time in nearly a decade, Canada has a new leader.

On Friday, Mark Carney was sworn in as the country's prime minister, replacing Justin Trudeau, who began his tenure in November 2015. Trudeau remains a member of Canada's Parliament until the nation's next election, which will be held no later than Oct. 20, 2025.

Carney also replaced Trudeau as leader of Canada's Liberal Party, which currently holds a plurality of seats in Parliament. The party has 153 of the body's 343 seats.

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Carney is expected to vie to remain the nation's prime minister following Canada's next election.

Despite Trudeau handing power to a fellow Liberal, Carney vowed to make changes as he was sworn in.

"Today, were building a government that meets the moment. Canadians expect action and thats what this team will deliver: a smaller, experienced cabinet that moves faster, secures our economy, and protects Canadas future," Carney said.

When Trudeau announced his resignation in January, he faced a sinking approval rating. His approval rating has since rebounded slightly, but recent polls show that a majority of Canadians still disapprove of his job performance.

"Thank you, Canada for trusting in me, for challenging me, and for granting me the privilege to serve the best country and the best people on earth," Trudeau said.

Until recent weeks, polling showed that Canada's Conservative Party was favored to win the nation's next federal election. Recent polling, however, indicates that Carney's Liberal Party is slightly ahead.

Carney was sworn in amid a growing trade war between the U.S. and Canada initiated by President Donald Trump. President Trump has called for broad 25% tariffs on most Canadian imports, although those tariffs have been delayed several times.

On Friday, Canada began imposing 25% tariffs on $29.8 billion in U.S. exports.

After the Food and Drug Administration abruptly canceled an advisory committee meeting tasked with recommending the composition of annual flu shots, a group of government doctors issued guidelines for vaccine makers.

The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet on March 13 to discuss the composition of the 2025-26 flu shots. Traditionally, the committee meets each winter to issue recommendations on the following season's flu vaccines. The committee is made up of non-government experts, and their report is then considered by the FDA. In years past, the FDA has used the committee's recommendations as part of its final guidelines for developing the annual flu shot.

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Influenza vaccines are adjusted annually to best target the most prominent strains of the virus. Vaccine manufacturers then have several months to translate these government recommendations into the following season's flu shot.

Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the committee, was among those who were not able to weigh in on the vaccine guidelines.

"I guess the FDA has decided they don't need an independent group of experts to help them out," he previously told Scripps News.

The government panel, made up of doctors from the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense, recommended a trivalent flu vaccine for the 2025-26 season. The trivalent flu vaccine will target three different strains of the virus.

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As of the start of March, an estimated 45.8% of U.S. adults had gotten this year's flu vaccine. While adulthood vaccinations have remained steady in recent years, the number of children getting a flu vaccines has dropped.

As of earlier this month, just 46.9% of children under age 17 have gotten vaccinated. In 2019-20, over 60% had gotten the vaccine by the start of March.

After President Donald Trump implemented broad tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Wednesday, he is apparently now eyeing major tariffs on alcohol.

In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, President Trump said he would enact a 200% tariff on all alcoholic products coming from the European Union, claiming the tariffs would be "great for the wine and champagne business in the U.S."

After the U.S. imposed a tariff on global aluminum and steel imports, the European Union retaliated by enacting a 50% tariff on whiskey from the U.S. The tariff is set to take effect on March 31.

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President Trump said if Europe does not lift its tariff on whiskey, he would impose the 200% tariff on all "wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming out of France and other E.U.-represented countries."

"The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% tariff on whiskey," he said.

The National Association of American Wineries, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation and the American Beverage Licensees have all previously said they oppose all alcohol tariffs.

"WineAmerica has long opposed tariffs, regardless of the Administration in power, because they ultimately hurt everyone from grape growers to wineries and consumers in a variety of ways. We are part of a coalition called 'Toasts not Tariffs,' which will continue to monitor the situation," the National Association of American Wineries said in a statement.

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The Observatory of Economic Complexity estimates that the U.S. imports $6.84 billion a year in wine while exporting just $1.54 billion. The U.S. imports about $2.53 billion in wine from France and $2.16 billion in wine from Italy each year.

The U.S. also imports about $10.8 billion in hard liquor a year while exporting a mere $2.33 billion. Nearly half of the United States' hard liquor imports come from Mexico, but France also makes up a significant portion as the U.S. brings in over $2 billion a year from there.

Tariffs are an import tax charged to companies when products are crossing international borders. Economists believe companies will tend to pass the cost of tariffs on consumers.

Southwest Airlines announced on Tuesday that it is eliminating its free checked bag policy "to drive revenue growth and reward its most loyal customers."

The airline said it will begin charging for checked bags for flights booked on or after May 28. The move puts Southwest in line with other major airlines, such as Delta, United, and American, which have charged for checked bags for many years.

Southwest Airlines said it will offer two free checked bags to those enrolled in its Rapid Rewards A-List members traveling on Business Select. The airline will also allow A-List Members and select other customers one free checked bag.

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A-List membership is available to customers who book 20 qualifying flights or rack up 35,000 qualifying points in a single year.

Rapid Rewards Credit Card members will have one checked bag credited. The lowest annual fee for a Rapid Rewards Credit Card is $69.

The airline said all other customers will need to pay for checked bags. The airline did not say how much checked bags would cost.

The airline also announced on Tuesday that it would implement a cheaper tier of ticketing, akin to other airlines' basic economy tickets. The new basic fare will also be implemented on May 28.

We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we dont compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect, said Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines CEO. We will do all this while remaining focused on whats made us strongour people and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning customer service only they can provide.

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The move comes after Southwest announced in late 2024 plans to offer premium seating options. Last year, the airline unveiled plans to implement assigned seats and add premium seats with longer legroom. Those with premium seats are now able to board first.