Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team and General Support Aviation Battalion to the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday to bolster security at the southern border.

The Defense Department stated that about 3,000 troops will be included in the deployment. This will bring the total number of military personnel at the U.S. border to 9,000.

These deployments will bring additional agility and capability to further efforts to stop the flow of illegal migrancy and drugs at the southern border, said Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of United States Northern Command.

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United States Northern Command noted that about 2,400 of the troops will be used for detection and monitoring; administrative support; transportation support; warehousing and logistics support; vehicle maintenance; and engineering support. An additional 500 soldiers will assist in the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies, and provide aerial medical evacuation capabilities.

It is unclear how long their deployment will last. Officials did not specify where along the border the troops will be located.

"These forces will arrive in the coming weeks and their deployment underscores the Department's unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States under President Trump's leadership," the Defense Department said in a statement on Saturday.

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Under U.S. law, troops are unable to directly conduct law enforcement missions at the border.

Both the outgoing Biden administration and the new Trump administration have reported a decline in border crossings in recent months.

Four years after resigning as New York's governor amid allegations of sexual misconduct, Andrew Cuomo announced he is running for mayor of New York City, potentially setting up a showdown between two controversial Democrats.

Cuomo resigned in August 2021 after New York Attorney General Letitia James investigated Cuomo and concluded that the governor had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Numerous Democratic Party leaders, including President Joe Biden, urged Cuomo to resign.

"We find that the governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and non-consensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women. Our investigation revealed that the governors sexually harassing behavior was not limited to members of his own staff, but extended to other state employees, including a state trooper on his protective detail and members of the public," James' report stated.

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Cuomo was about halfway through his third term as governor when he resigned.

Without acknowledging the allegations, Cuomo admitted to mistakes in the past.

"Did I always do everything right in my years of public service? Of course not," he said. "Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now? Certainly. Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely. But I learned from them, and I am a better person."

Cuomo's entry into the 2025 mayor race could set him up for a battle with current Mayor Eric Adams, who recently had his bribery and fraud charges dropped by the Trump administration.

A primary will be held on June 24 using ranked-choice voting ahead of the November general election.

President Donald Trump announced late Friday that he will deliver a posthumous pardon to Pete Rose, nearly six months after MLB's all-time leader in hits died.

Despite being MLB's all-time leader in base hits, Rose has been excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame and was banned from being directly involved with MLB after the league said it caught him betting on games in the 1980s. Rose was managing his hometown Cincinnati Reds at the time that MLB investigated him for gambling.

After being kicked out of MLB, Rose was convicted of falsifying his tax records, a federal crime. He spent five months in prison after being sentenced to seven months.

"A pardon is an expression of the Presidents forgiveness and can be granted in recognition of the applicants acceptance of responsibility for the crime and established good conduct for a significant period of time after conviction or completion of the sentence. It does not signify innocence," the Department of Justice said.

RELATED STORY | Baseball legend Pete Rose died of natural causes, coroner finds

For many years, Rose maintained that he did not gamble on baseball. It was not until 2003 that Rose said that he placed bets on baseball, including on the Reds while he managed the team.

In his post on Truth Social, President Trump said that Rose should also be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Major League Baseball didnt have the courage or decency to put the late, great Pete Rose, also known as 'Charlie Hustle,' into the Baseball Hall of Fame," President Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME! Anyway, over the next few weeks, I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldnt have been gambling on baseball but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING."

Rose had applied for reinstatement, which could have opened the door for inclusion in the Hall of Fame, but those efforts were denied by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

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Even if Manfred had reinstated Rose, his path into the Hall of Fame would have been challenging. Many players eligible for inclusion, with the bona fides to enter the Hall of Fame, have been excluded, including dozens of players tied to taking performance-enhancing drugs during the course of their careers.

President Donald Trump is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Friday as Ukraine attempts to maintain United States support against Russia.

President Trump has made some of America's European allies anxious by opening lines of communication with Russia for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He has stated that he has talked directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this month, President Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections" and added that "Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left."

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The Trump administration has insisted that Russia must be involved in peace talks to bring an end to the war.

In exchange for America's continued military backing of Ukraine, the White House expects Zelenskyy to sign an agreement allowing the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare minerals and energy sources. While the exact details of the agreement have not been published, White House officials have indicated that the deal does not come with security assurances.

The Trump administration has also discussed implementing a peacekeeping agreement, which could potentially see U.S. and European troops deployed to prevent Ukraine and Russia from fighting each other.

As President Trump prepares to welcome Zelenskyy, he seemingly walked back his earlier comments calling the Ukrainian leader a dictator.

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On Thursday, when asked if he regretted calling Zelenskyy a dictator, he responded, "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question."

Later in the day, President Trump was asked if he would apologize to Zelenskyy for the comment.

"I think we're gonna have a very good meeting tomorrow morning," he said. "We're gonna get along really well, OK? We have a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for him. We've given them a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you figure it."

Party City is set to go out of business on Friday as it winds down over two months of going-out-of-business sales.

Although the company is preparing to close the doors of its remaining locations this week, the battle over Party City's assets continues. Two low-cost retailers that often sell party favors, Five Below and Dollar Tree, are planning to purchase some of Party City's unexpired leases.

Dollar Tree has filed a motion to take control of 148 Party City locations. It's currently unclear how many locations Five Below intends to take over, and when those stores would reopen is also unknown.

RELATED STORY | Party City files for bankruptcy, announces all stores will close

In December, the chain of 700 party-goods stores announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company cited "an immensely challenging environment driven by inflationary pressures on costs and consumer spending, among other factors."

"It has been a true pleasure to be a part of your most special moments over the years, and in the coming weeks, we hope you stop by to say goodbye and pick up your favorite items, whether youre organizing a big celebration now or planning ahead for milestone moments to come," Party City said in a letter to customers.

A hearing regarding the sale of the 148 Party City locations to Dollar Tree is scheduled for Friday.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he plans to impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico after delaying plans to implement them earlier this month.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump claimed that drugs were coming across the border "from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels." The tariffs will go into effect March 4, President Trump says.

"We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled," President Trump wrote.

Trump had paused tariffs on both nations after their leaders said they would bolster border security and assist the U.S. in stopping the flow of illegal drugs.

President Trump also said that an additional 10% tariff will be imposed on goods from China. Additionally, the president said a planned 25% tariff on automobile, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports will begin on April 2.

Tariffs are fees charged to companies for importing their goods from another country. Many economists believe that most companies will pass the cost of a tariff to the consumer instead of absorbing the fee.

According to research released in October 2024 by Georgia State University, Arizona State University, and Colorado State University, tariffs might not only cause an increase in prices for consumers, but they can also disrupt supply chains.

China, Mexico and Canada are the United States' three largest trading partners, so their potential impacts could be widely felt if President Trump moves forward with them.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Mexico exports over $421 billion in goods to the U.S. annually. Mexicos next largest global trading partner is Canada, as it exports over $22 billion in goods there.

Mexico exports $36.8 billion in computers to the U.S., while exporting $34.1 billion in cars. The U.S. also gets about $31.8 billion in car parts from Mexico.

RELATED STORY | Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

The U.S. exports $294 billion to Mexico annually, the OEC reports.

Canada exports $438 billion in goods to the U.S. yearly. Its next largest trade partner is China, at $25.4 billion. About 36% of what the U.S. imports from Canada is oil and gas products. The U.S. also takes in about $27 billion a year in cars from Canada.

Motor vehicle parts, raw metals and wood are also major imports the U.S. gets from Canada.

The U.S. sends about $308 billion in exports to Canada.

The Food and Drug Administration abruptly canceled its advisory committee meeting, which is tasked with recommending the composition of annual flu shots.

The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet on March 13 and 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.

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, told Scripps News that the meeting would not be rescheduled. He added that the Food and Drug Administration will issue its own recommendations concerning flu vaccines without the help of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

In a statement, the FDA confirmed Offit's statement.

"The FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season," the agency said.

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

"We meet in March to pick flu strains for what is a six-month production cycle," he added. "Therefore, the vaccines can be ready by September. By canceling this meeting, that means that someone else is going to be making this decision, but it has to be made soon."

Offit notes that creating a flu shot is a "moving target" as the strain changes every year. He said members of his committee often look at what strains are circulating in the Southern Hemisphere in the spring as a potential clue for what strains could circulate in the U.S. the following flu season.

"We're not always right, but usually pretty close to being right," he said. "Not only does it sort of mutate from one year to the next so that natural infection or immunization the previous year doesn't protect you, but it even mutates during the season. So, the virus continues to change."

RELATED STORY | Fewer children getting a flu shot this season, CDC reports

The cancellation of this meeting follows the postponement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meetings, which were scheduled for this week. That committee was set to vote on recommending RSV vaccines for adults, along with making other recommendations for influenza, meningococcal, and chikungunya vaccines.

Additionally, the CDC committee was also scheduled to hear a presentation regarding Moderna's Phase 3 trial of a COVID-19 vaccine that the company has highlighted for its easier storage compared to other COVID-19 shots.

It is unclear whether these meeting disruptions are related to new leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, now leads HHS, which oversees the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC. Although he states he is not anti-vaccine, he has frequently expressed skepticism regarding the safety and efficacy of routine vaccinations. Kennedy had previously indicated that he would not reduce access to vaccines during his confirmation.

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The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has postponed hearings in the past. In May 2024, the committee delayed a meeting by several weeks to gather more information on COVID-19 vaccines before issuing a final recommendation for the 2024-25 vaccine.

The CDC reports this year has been more active for flu activity. So far, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths caused by the flu.

Millions of Americans who worked in the public service sector could soon see an increase in their Social Security benefits and potentially receive a retroactive check.

Nearly 3.2 million Americans are expected to be impacted by the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed by President Joe Biden in December.

The bill eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset for government workers. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduced the Social Security benefits of someone who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset reduced spousal Social Security benefits by two-thirds of a worker's government pension.

The Social Security Administration said on Tuesday that the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset no longer apply as of January 2024.

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Retroactive payments for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 are expected to be sent in March. Larger Social Security checks are anticipated to begin in April.

Social Securitys aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trumps priority to implement the Social Security Fairness Act as quickly as possible, said Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security. The agencys original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that cannot be processed by automation. The American people deserve to get their due benefits as quickly as possible.

The agency advised beneficiaries to wait until April to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the change will add $195.6 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years.

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As some restaurants have tacked on surcharges amid a sudden and dramatic increase in egg prices, a McDonald's executive stated that there will be no such increase at its locations.

In fact, the company is planning to offer its infamous Egg McMuffin sandwich at a lower price to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its invention.

According to Michael Gonda, McDonald's chief impact officer, McDonald's USA will not be issuing surcharges on egg products. In addition to McMuffins, eggs are served on biscuits, McGriddles, sausage burritos, and in the Big Breakfast.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Egg McMuffin, McDonald's announced that customers can purchase an Egg McMuffin or Sausage McMuffin with Egg through its app for $1 on Sunday. Customers can also get a buy one, get one free Sausage McMuffin with Egg through the McDonald's app from March 3 through March 30.

RELATED STORY | Denny's to implement egg surcharge amid nationwide shortage

McDonald's stated that the Egg McMuffin revolutionized the breakfast sandwich. The idea was presented by Herb Peterson to Ray Kroc to put an eggs benedict in the palm of a person's hand so it could be quickly enjoyed on the go.

When I watched my father introduce this idea to Ray Kroc, we could not have anticipated it would become the foundation for the renowned McDonalds breakfast menu, said Petersons son David Peterson, who is also a McDonald's franchise operator. Its been remarkable to see people embrace this innovation over the last five decades, and now we get to share that heritage with a new generation of breakfast fans.

According to the January 2025 consumer price index, egg prices increased by 53% between February 2024 and January 2025. This has prompted major chains such as Denny's and Waffle House to institute surcharges on products served with eggs.

Overall food prices increased by a mere 2.5% in the 12-month period ending in January.

RELATED STORY | Grocery retailers begin limiting egg purchases amid supply issues

The Trump administration announced that it will begin requiring immigrants in the U.S. illegally to register with the government or face a "fine, imprisonment or both."

The Department of Homeland Security is launching an online tracking tool aimed at compelling those in the U.S. without legal status to leave the country voluntarily.

The administration stated it will soon launch a portal requiring immigrants ages 14 and older to register and submit their fingerprints. Additionally, these immigrants will be required to notify the government of any change of address.

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The White House claims it has the authority to enforce registration under Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

This registry is a response to President Donald Trump's Day One executive order titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion."

President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream," said Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. "The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration lawswe will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.

However, the Trump administration has also started to limit legal pathways for entering the U.S. For instance, Homeland Security terminated temporary protected status for migrants from Venezuela and shortened the temporary protected status for migrants from Haiti by six months.

Additionally, according to Amnesty International, there are currently no legal pathways for migrants to apply for asylum in the U.S.

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The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that there is no longer a shortage of drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.

The semaglutide known as Ozempic is intended to be used for people with diabetes. Drugmaker Novo Nordisk later got approval to market Wegovy, a semaglutide that has a different dosage, for weight loss.

The drugs have been in short supply since 2022, soon after the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss purposes.

Novo Nordisk said it made a $6.5 billion investment to increase production in the U.S.

RELATED STORY | Weight-loss pill from Wegovy makers cut body weight by up to 13% in early trial

"We are pleased the FDA has declared that supply of the only real, FDA-approved semaglutide medicines is resolved, affirming that Novo Nordisk is meeting or exceeding current and projected nationwide demand. No one should have to compromise their health due to misinformation and reach for fake or illegitimate knockoff drugs that pose significant safety risks to patients," said Dave Moore, president of Novo Nordisk Inc. "Patient safety remains our top priority and, in line with our purpose to improve lives and health, we continue to partner, educate, and advocate for expanded, affordable access to our medicines for those who need and rely on them."

When the FDA declared a shortage in 2022, pharmacies were allowed to make compounded versions of the drug to meet demand. These drugs use the same active ingredients, but Novo Nordisk claimed this process put patients at risk. However, this also allowed pharmacies to offer these drugs at lower costs.

The list cost of Wegovy is $1,349, and one dose is generally taken every four weeks.

Non-FDA approved compounded drugs claiming to contain semaglutide with high levels of known impurities and unknown impurities pose significant risks to patients and may lead to serious and life-threatening reactions, said Novo Nordisk executive vice president of North America operations Doug Langa.

RELATED STORY |  So, you've lost weight using Wegovy. Does that mean you can stop taking it?

The company had brought numerous lawsuits against the FDA and companies selling compounded versions of the drug.

The FDA said companies have until May 22 to stop selling compounded versions of the drug and stated that it could take legal action against companies that have sold unsafe copies of the drug.

Medications like Wegovy are known as GLP-1 agonists, and many of these drugs were initially prescribed to manage Type 2 diabetes but have since gained popularity for helping patients manage weight.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, these medications help manage blood sugar levels by triggering insulin release from the pancreas. The drugs also help slow digestion, which causes less glucose to enter the bloodstream. Additionally, the medicine also affects satiety, allowing patients to feel full after eating, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert stating that it is investigating a deadly outbreak of listeria illnesses linked to frozen supplemental shakes.

According to the FDA, there have been 11 deaths and 37 hospitalizations associated with Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes. These shakes are commonly sold to hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The FDA reported that it was notified in November that the shakes may have been making nursing home residents sick. Some cases linked to this outbreak may date back to 2018. The FDA has confirmed that 20 of the illnesses were connected to the shakes in 2024 and 2025.

The FDA collected environmental samples and found the outbreak strain of listeria in the drinks.

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Cases have been reported in 20 states, according to the FDA.

According to Sysco, Lyons supplied Sysco with the shakes from a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sysco then distributed these products to facilities throughout the U.S.

Sysco stated that it has stopped the distribution of affected products and has notified customers regarding the recall.

Sysco expresses our most sincere condolences to those affected by this outbreak and their families. Food safety is and will continue to be our top priority, and our focus will always be on improving programs that protect our customers and our communities from foodborne illnesses, the company said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that listeria symptoms usually occur 1 to 4 weeks after consuming contaminated food but can start as soon as the same day or up to 70 days later. Listeria can cause those infected to experience symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches, according to the CDC. Pregnant individuals can face severe complications, including miscarriage, premature delivery, and life-threatening infections in newborns.

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A Canadian singer who performed "O Canada" prior to the start of Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off championship game changed one of the lyrics in an apparent protest.

Chantal Kreviazuk modified the line "all of us command" to "that only us command" in an apparent response to President Donald Trump's proposal to turn Canada into the 51st U.S. state. The line "all of us command" had been added to the Canadian national anthem in 2018 to replace the lyric "all thy sons command."

Before Thursday's game, Kreviazuk said she sang "all thy sons command" instead of the amended lyrics.

"During soundcheck I sang the wrong words, 'in all thy sons command,' out of habit, and when I analyzed the new line I thought, wow this could mean something so pertinent to our country in this moment with a change in just two words, three syllables," she said. "I didnt dream that such an effect would be had by deciding to go out there and do it. But it really felt like the right thing to do."

RELATED STORY | Trudeau jabs Trump proposal after Canada's comeback win over Team USA

Thursday's battle between Team USA and Canada was the second time in a week the countries' top hockey players met on the ice. When the two teams squared off in Montreal on Saturday, a smattering of boos could be heard during the U.S. anthem. Likewise, some booing came during the Canadian anthem from American fans.

After the U.S. won on Canadian soil on Saturday, Canada returned the favor on Thursday, toppling Team USA 3-2 in overtime to claim the 4 Nations Face-Off crown.

After Thursday's championship game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to take a shot at President Trump in a social media post.

"You cant take our country and you cant take our game," he said.

RELATED STORY | Proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico paused after countries agree to tougher border security measures

Following the game, Kreviazuk, a native of Winnipeg, said she received love and support for her protest.

"The anthem is not a lawful document; it is an expression of the collective, and it changes from time to time when the moment demands it should. So yes, in this very peculiar and potentially consequential moment, I truly believe that we must stand up, use our voices, and try to protect ourselves," she said.

Hockey was served over a dish of politics over the last week as Team USA and Team Canada twice competed against each other in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which also featured national teams from Finland and Sweden.

After the USA toppled Canada in a round-robin match last Saturday in Montreal, Canada came back to defeat the USA in overtime on Thursday in the tournament's championship game. The tournament marked the first time in nine years that the best hockey players from the U.S. competed against the best from Canada.

After Thursday's championship game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took an apparent shot at President Donald Trump in a social media post.

"You cant take our country and you cant take our game," he said.

The response came as President Trump has said numerous times that he would like the U.S. to annex Canada as a 51st state, a proposal Trudeau has said the U.S. leader is serious about.

RELATED STORY | Trudeau caught on hot mic: Trump serious about annexing Canada as the 51st state

President Trump has also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports, a move that economists say would devastate the Canadian economy, but could also make items more expensive for Americans.

The response Team USA received in Canada on Saturday was lukewarm, at best. During the U.S. national anthem in Montreal, a smattering of boos could be heard throughout the arena. Typically, when the U.S. anthem has been played in Canadian arenas, Canadians are known for singing along to the "Star-Spangled Banner."

President Trump also involved himself in the tournament. He called the team to wish players and coaches good luck prior to their face-off on Thursday.

Another way politics was involved in the tournament was that Russia was not represented in the tournament due to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Had the Russians been allowed to field a team, they might have been able to challenge Canada and the USA for a title, with star players Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy leading the way.

RELATED STORY | Proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico paused after countries agree to tougher border security measures

Battles between the U.S. and Canada are expected to become more frequent on the ice in the coming years. The NHL has agreed to send players to the next Winter Olympics in 2026 and 2030. The NHL has also said it plans to help organize a Hockey World Cup every four years, starting in 2028.

It meant a lot, putting the USA in the forefront of hockey, U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck told NHL.com. We have a great team in here, and it sucks to end like that.

The U.S. has not won a "best-on-best" hockey tournament since the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.

The U.S. Senate approved a budget "blueprint" early Friday by a nearly party-line vote as Republican senators seek to bolster defense and border patrol spending.

The resolution was approved by a 52-48 margin with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, joining all 47 Democrats in opposing the resolution. Friday's vote comes nearly a week after a House committee approved its blueprint that included nearly $2 trillion in cuts over the next decade, including sizable deductions to education, energy and agriculture spending.

The process still has a long way to go before being finalized, especially given the different philosophies between Republican senators and representatives.

The most notable difference is that the Senate proposal would break the budget process into two bills. The first would include funding some of President Donald Trump's initiatives, such as bolstering border security. The second bill would focus on extending tax cuts that are set to expire later this year.

The House's version would roll both proposals into one bill.

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I hope the House can pass one big bill that meets President Trumps priorities," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Budget Committee. "But this approach provides money that we needed yesterday to continue the momentum on securing our border, enforcing our immigration laws, and rebuilding our military. Time is of the essence.

This budget resolution allows the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees to spend up to $175 billion in total to implement President Trumps border security agenda. It instructs the Armed Services Committee to spend up to $150 billion to make our military more lethal. It also allocates up to $20 billion to be spent to modernize the Coast Guard," Graham added. 

The final vote came after Democrats introduced dozens of amendments as part of a "vote-a-rama," which forced the Senate's Thursday session to extend several hours into Friday.

Families lose and billionaires win. Thats the heart of the Republicans' budget resolution," said Sen. Jeff Merkley, the leading Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee. This Republican budget proposes $1 trillion cuts to programs for working families by the end of this fiscal year. The only way to cut $1 trillion by September 30 is to gut entire agencies and all of their services, which families rely on. Trump and Senate Republicans are showing who they truly care about as they slash programs for families to line the pockets of their billionaire friends. Trumps tax plan is the Great Betrayal of working families."

President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he expects to implement additional tariffs in April on auto, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports.

"I probably will tell you that on April 2nd, but it'll be in the neighborhood of 25%," President Trump said about auto imports.

He added that the semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports will also be subject to a 25% tariff.

"And it'll go very substantially higher over the course of a year," he added.

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The tariffs would expand on a 10% tariff on nearly all goods coming from China. The U.S. has also imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from China.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. imports about $100 billion a year in human and pet drugs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, about $1.8 trillion in automotive vehicles, engines and parts were imported into the U.S. in 2024.

The Observatory of Economic Complexity said the U.S. imported $25.4 billion in semiconductors in 2023, but there has been a significant increase in those imports in recent years.

Tariffs are fees charged for companies to import their goods from another country. Many economists believe that most companies will pass the cost of a tariff to the consumer instead of absorbing the fee.

According to research released in October 2024 by Georgia State University, Arizona State University, and Colorado State University, tariffs might not only cause an increase in prices for consumers, but they can also disrupt supply chains.

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"While tariffs can provide some protection to certain industries, they can also create inefficiencies for the industries they were designed to protect, as well as for their supply chain partners," the study said. The disruption to the supply chain could cause additional challenges to the economy.

"These findings demonstrate the ripple effect of unintended consequences that tariffs can lead to throughout supply chains, motivating further theoretical development and informing trade policy," the study said. But the Trump administration has contended that the tariffs can raise revenue for the U.S. and force manufacturers to produce more products in the U.S.

ALDI said it is planning its biggest year of expansion in 2025 by opening over 225 locations throughout the U.S.

Some of the openings will be through the conversion of Southeastern Grocers locations. Aldi also plans to expand and add locations in the Midwest and Northeast and expand its footprint in the West.

Aldi said about 100 of the 225 store openings this year will be from converted Southeastern Grocers locations. ALDI plans to convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations through 2027.

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Aldi also announced that it has sold 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores that are not part of the ALDI conversion plan. Aldi had purchased these locations last year with the intention of converting them into Aldi locations.

"When we announced our acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, we shared that we intended for a meaningful number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate, and we're delivering on that promise while also supporting ALDI's growth. Over the last year, we've seen firsthand how C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers, and their teams have continued to deliver great quality, service, and value to their customers, and we are confident they will lead the company successfully into its next chapter," said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI.

Market Force Information, a market research company that utilizes customer feedback to assist retailers, released a report in 2024 ranking consumer sentiment on grocery stores.

Market Force's data indicated that Aldi provides the most value for money among America's leading grocery stores. The survey included 45 chains throughout the U.S., including warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam's Club, as well as big-box retailers like Target and Walmart.

Aldi said that in 2024 it plans to open 800 new locations by 2028.

The Trump administration has restored numerous webpages containing health information following a judge's ruling earlier this week.

On a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage providing "fast facts" on HIV, the Trump administration said it disagreed with the information presented on the site.

"Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website as of 11:59PM ET, February 14, 2025," the message read. "Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities. This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department rejects it."

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The website shows that gay and bisexual men face a higher risk of HIV. It also shows that transgender people have a disproportionately higher rate of HIV infections. The website also provides basic information, such as symptoms and potential treatments.

A fact page on vaccines for Mpox was already restored this week, but that site does not contain the same message at the top.

Earlier this week, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration, preventing the White House from deleting additional information from several government health websites. Numerous pages belonging to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration have been deleted since January 20, after President Donald Trump took office. The deletions were due to Executive Order 14168, which ordered government agencies to limit discussions of sex and gender to male and female.

My Administration will defend women's rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male, the order states.

Doctors for America argued that the information being removed from government health websites includes a broad range of health-related data and other information used by health professionals and researchers. It added that the removal of key webpages and datasets creates a dangerous gap in the scientific data available to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, deprives physicians of resources that guide clinical practice, and takes away key resources for communicating and engaging with patients.

After a series of favorable decisions for conservatives, the U.S. Supreme Court's approval rating climbed above 50% for the first time in nearly three years, according to a new poll released by Marquette Law School.

The poll showed that 51% of Americans have a favorable view of the Supreme Court, compared to 49% who disapprove. It was the highest approval rating for the Supreme Court since March 2022. The Supreme Court's approval rating went from 54% to 38% after the court overturned Roe v. Wade, essentially eliminating national abortion rights.

Since May 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court's approval rating has gradually increased. Some of the major rulings since then have been seen as wins for conservatives.

Some of the major rulings to come down since then include:

Supreme Court sends Trump case back to lower court, giving him limited immunity

Supreme Court keeps hold on state laws that limit social media censorship

Supreme Court: DOJ went too far with charges against Jan. 6 rioters

Supreme Court overturns Chevron decision, weakening regulations on environment

Supreme Court rules cities can ban homeless encampments

Supreme Court rules to allow emergency abortions in Idaho

Supreme Court rejects challenge to efforts to remove social media misinformation

Supreme Court upholds ban on domestic abusers owning guns

Supreme Court strikes down federal ban on bump stocks

Supreme Court allows abortion drug mifepristone to remain widely available in US

The court's rulings come amid concerns over conflicts of interest among the court's justices. Some Democrats have called on Congress to implement ethics reforms as a December 2024 Senate review found Justice Clarence Thomas went on several unreported trips sponsored by billionaire Harlan Crow.