Allergy season is back.

I have noticed increased runny nose, also red eyes especially when I wake up in the morning, said Florida resident Simran Saini, who suffers from allergies.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies and are pollen-sensitive, youll likely start noticing symptoms like extreme congestion, itchy and watery eyes, sore throat, coughing, and wheezing.

People with allergies, theyre more prone to get sinus infections, bronchitis, especially at this time of the year, said Dr. Latha Chamarthy, an allergy specialist.

Shes seen more people come in with these symptoms recently.

When people have seasonal allergies in the springtime, we do recommend avoiding outdoor activities as much as possible," Chamarthy added. "Stay indoors."

Thats something she recommends to her patient, Saini.

When I do go outside, I do notice me getting a sore throat, even coughing. Sometimes I will get shortness of breath, said Saini.

RELATED STORY | Research finds climate change is making allergy season worse

Dr. Rima Sanka has also seen an increase in patients.

Patients are having the kind of early signs of it right now, in my opinion, and it will continue to get worse for the next two to three months, said Sanka, who is an allergy and asthma immunologist.

People can get a little bit of fullness and pressure in the sinuses, post nasal drip, throat clearing, she added.

Kids can have different allergy symptoms.

Oftentimes young children present with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, are the first sign of their allergies, and they may not develop the nasal and eye and throat symptoms until the next year or the year after, said Sanka.

If youre feeling symptomatic, Sanka said one of the best things you can do is try to control your indoor space. So do things like close your windows, change clothes once you get inside because they likely have pollen on them, leave your shoes at the door, keep your air conditioning running, and change the filter.

People dont think about how dirty their filters get when the pollen season is high. So if you typically change them once every three months, now you have to change them every month, said Sanka.

Taking a shower before you go to bed makes a tremendous difference. All that pollen that you see on your car windshield is also all over you. So washing your hair, washing your face, she added.

RELATED STORY | These are the 20 worst US cities for allergies

Go see a doctor if your allergies are affecting your quality of life. You can also get tested for different things to manage your symptoms better.

We use a plastic prick device And it introduces the allergen into the top layer of the skin, said Sanka.

Theres also over-the-counter medication that doctors recommend can help, too.

If youre having symptoms, you can also take antihistamines, nasal sprays, said Chamarthy.

You can feel better. Your quality of life is important. Your quality of sleep is important. Its worth investing in yourself, said Sanka.

This story was originally published by Larissa Scott with the

Scripps News Group.

Ukrainian Americans in Ohio weighed in following the tense discussion between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

This is not a game. This is not a gamble. This is evil. This is sovereignty, said Roman Skalsky.

Skalsky told the Scripps News Group he is disappointed, and said he expected the U.S. to listen to Zelenskyy to understand what is going on in Ukraine and what is needed to bring peace.

RELATED STORY | Rubio criticizes Zelenskyy, insists on apology after Oval Office 'fiasco'

"Its personal for me. Its personal for a lot of people in Parma and Cleveland-area. We have a lot of refugees that are worried whats going to happen to them. Can you imagine them going back to Ukraine? This is hard, said Skalsky.

Meanwhile, Diyana Alexandra Gabyak said she understands why it became tense and said she doesnt blame either side, but encourages everyone to trust the process.

It is crucial that we all remain calm about this whole situation because we understand that the stakes are very high, said Gabyak. As American people, we havent seen that accountability and clarity in the past years, but in that same way, we can understand Ukraine, Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian President. They are in a very tough situation.

While a deal was not reached to bring the war between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the U.S. to then receive a share of Ukraines mineral resources, Skalsky said he stands behind Zelenskyys request for security guarantees to prevent Russias aggression.

Im completely with him, but of course Trump, you know president, I respect, were praying for him we want him to understand you cannot play with evil, said Skalsky.

Meanwhile, Gabyak said she hopes there is a possibility for a partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine one day in the future.

My hope is that this whole deal actually comes to an end where President Trump really sees this as an opportunity to partner with Ukraine, and I believe if he will partner with Ukrainian people, with Ukraine for the future, it will also help America to stay stronger, said Gabyak.

As the Ukrainian community waits to see whats next, they ask for prayers and support from government officials to soon reach peace.

This article was written by Remi Murrey for the Scripps News Group.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated calls for an end to the war with Russia on Friday, but warned that Ukraine couldn't seek peace talks unless and until it had reliable security guarantees.

Speaking with Fox News host Bret Baier on Friday after high-profile talks with President Donald Trump at the White House devolved into recrimination and shouting, Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants the war to end but it needs to know that it can safely move forward.

"We are ready for peace but we have to be in strong position," he said. "What does it mean? Just to know that our army is strong. That our partners with us. And that we have security guarantees."

The deal in the works involving Ukraine's natural resources was meant to lock in some of those guarantees, and with them progress toward a lasting cease-fire.

Zelenskyy had emphasized the importance of the Friday meeting with president Trump, saying that while Europe supported Ukraine and agreed to security guarantees, it was critical to get the U.S. on board.

A source tells Scripps News that President Trump is taking a step back from the negotiations until he feels Zelenskyy is serious.

The setback in negotiations was bad for both Ukraine and the U.S., Zelenskyy said, and repeated that he did not want to lose the support and cooperation between the two countries.

"We have to be on the same side," Zelenskyy told Baier. "I respect president [Donald Trump] and I respect American people."

The Ukrainian people value their alliance with the U.S., he said, and hope "that America will stay with us, not with Russians."

RELATED STORY | Trump reflects on meeting with Zelenskyy: 'He very much overplayed his hand'

Following news of the White House meeting, there were swift and widespread messages of solidarity and support for Ukraine from leaders across Europe.

"We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor," said European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas. "Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. Its up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge."

President Trump, for his part, criticized Zelenskyy for not taking the negotiations seriously enough.

Zelenskyy "very much overplayed his hand," Trump said of the meeting. "We're looking for peace. We're not looking for somebody that's going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened."

RELATED STORY | What comes next after the sudden breakdown in talks with Ukraine?

Hundreds of weather forecasters and other employees are expected to lose their jobs as the Trump administration makes cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Multiple sources report dozens of people were fired Thursday, including forecasters working for the National Weather Service, which provides weather tracking and forecasting. The firings appear to have also heavily affected probationary employees, or those on the first months of their jobs.

Craig McLean, a former NOAA chief scientist, told The Associated Press Thursday as many as 1,300 employees may ultimately be cut, or roughly 10 percent of the NOAA workforce. He cited someone familiar with the firing plans.

U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman, a Democrat, warned in a statement Thursday the cuts would affect vital programs and put lives at risk.

"People nationwide depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information," Rep. Huffman wrote. "Purging the government of scientists, experts, and career civil servants and slashing fundamental programs will cost lives."

Weather experts echoed the warnings on social media.

"Even a temporary or partial interruption in NOAA/NWS 24/7/365 lifesaving services which are often used in an hour-by-hour (even minute-by-minute) context during extreme weather events and other emergencies would be devastating," climate scientists Daniel Swain wrote. "To be clear: If there were to be large staffing reductions at NOAA and NWS at appears is now indeed underway, with credible reports of larger further cuts on horizon there will be people who die in extreme weather events & related disasters who would not have otherwise."

RELATED STORY | Judge finds mass firings of federal probationary workers to likely be unlawful

Meanwhile on Thursday, a federal judge ruled that mass firings of federal probationary employees was likely illegal.

OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire or fire any employees but its own, he said.

The exact effect this ruling may have on firings at NOAA is not yet clear, but lawmakers have indicated legal challenges are likely.

"My Democratic colleagues and I will keep fighting back in state and federal courts, in the halls of Congress, and the court of public opinion. This is a betrayal of the American people, and it will not stand," Rep. Huffman wrote.

RELATED STORY | President Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' while visiting North Carolina

Next to President Donald Trump himself, no one has occupied the recent political spotlight as much as Elon Musk. Musk, the world's richest man, was not elected or confirmed by the Senate but he is still present in administration cabinet meetings and in the Oval Office.

In just 30 days, Musk and his special government employees have ripped up federal contracts, tossed DEI programs, put federal grants on ice, and fired or laid off tens of thousands of government employees all with a passionate energy that has delighted the MAGA base and horrified his many detractors.

RELATED STORY | Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings

Scripps News takes a hard look at Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, including Musk's claim to want to save the American taxpayer as much as a trillion dollars in federal spending. So far, the Department of Government Efficiency claims it has saved more than $60 billion but questionable accounting and retracted claims means the total may be somewhat less than that.

In Michigan, one of the big issues dividing parents, teachers, and students alike is the use of cell phones in schools. There's currently no statewide law requiring districts to set specific policies, but the state's governor wants to change that.

The governor's office says the focus of the effort is about supporting local school districts and their efforts to limit cell phone use in the classroom. Some parents and education officials have different takes.

RELATED STORY | Efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms try to reduce distraction

Giovanni De Jesus says monitoring the cell phone use of his sixth grader is a big deal in his household.

We have applications that can actually limit what they can and cant do during certain times," Giovanni explained.

But when it comes to limiting cell phone access outside of the home and inside school walls, local districts vary.

I actually would agree that we should limit that just a bit more," Giovanni said.

Its needed," Emily Tonkovich added. "We know that cell phones are not only a distraction but they also have an impact on kids mental health, well being ... I think it would be helpful to have a clean cut policy across the state that would help the schools enforce restrictions on cell phone use."

I dont think cell phones belong in the schools, theyre supposed to be there to learn not to be playing on their phone," Jan McQueen agreed.

RELATED STORY | Most Americans support banning cellphones in classrooms, Pew survey says

John Bernia, Superintendent of Warren Consolidated Schools, isn't so sure.

I'm just curious because from my perspective, I wonder what the state can do that is gonna be more effective than what I can do with my administrative team and what our school board can do through policies," Bernia said.

Grades K-8 in his district already have restrictions on cell phones in the classroom. Bernia said he's looking for state help in what he sees as bigger issues.

I understand where the governor is coming from," he said. "I want to minimize distractions. I see the harm that cell phones do, but that to me is a local issue, and I'd rather see us focus our energy statewide on things like math, reading, and attendance."

This story was originally published by Christiana Ford with the

Scripps News Group.

President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer laid out plans to pursue peace and long-term security in Ukraine Thursday, as they held a joint press conference from the White House.

President Trump said the White House was making progress toward a ceasefire that could lay groundwork for a long-term peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

But the president also said Ukraine's war shows EU nations that they should invest more in their own defense.

"After years of chronic underfunding, there's an urgent need for some countries to catch up" with their own defense spending, he said.

President Trump also mentioned a planned agreement to grant U.S. access to Ukrainian minerals and raw materials, which is widely expected to be signed this week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House.

The deal will "Stimulate the long-term prosperity that will help the Ukrainians rebuild their country," President Trump said.

RELATED STORY | Trump's 'America First' agenda faces European scrutiny as UK's prime minister visits

Prime Minister Kier Starmer hailed "a very good and very productive visit" with President Trump.

"In a moment of real danger around the world, this relationship matters more than ever," he said.

Starmer called the possibility of a peace deal for Ukraine a "moment of tremendous opportunity," but cautioned that any deal would need Ukraine's input and could not reward Russia.

"That is the prize, but we have to get it right," Starmer said.

The UK is prepared to secure a peace deal with "boots on the ground and planes in the air" Starmer said. He outlined plans under which the UK will increase both its aid sent to Ukraine and its defense spending as part of NATO.

But Starmer has made clear that such a peacekeeping mission would also need support from the U.S.

There has to be U.S. backing, because otherwise I don't think it will deter Putin, Starmer said earlier in the week.

Amid a slow start to the year for the U.S. fast food industry, Subway is bringing back a big discount on its trademarked Footlong sandwiches for a limited time.

The popular Connecticut-based restaurant chain announced Thursday the return of its $6.99 Any Footlong promotion a significant discount considering some Footlong sandwiches can typically cost as much as $14.

RELATED STORY | Subway switching from Coke to Pepsi in 2025

Starting on Feb. 28, sandwich lovers can take advantage of the deal by ordering any Footlong sandwich through Subway's app or website and entering the promo code 699FL.

Subway said the promotion applies to any of its chef-crafted sandwiches already on the menu, or customers can build their own custom sub.

The promotion comes as numerous fast food chains are looking to bring back customers who have shied away from rising prices.

RELATED STORY | Subway struggling to keep up with demand for new Footlong Cookie

"People continue to watch their spending but don't want to sacrifice quality, quantity and taste for value when dining on the go," Subway North America President Doug Fry said in a statement. "With the return of the $6.99 Any Footlong offer, Subway is delivering on all three, with freshly made, great-tasting sandwiches at an exceptional value."

Subway also ran its $6.99 Any Footlong promotion for a limited time last summer. And it appears to have done well, with the company bringing it back for a limited time in 2025.

Ascent Consumer Products Inc. is recalling one lot of the SinuCleanse Soft Tip Squeeze Bottle Nasal Wash System due to microbial contamination with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), the Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday.

This contamination poses serious health risks, particularly blood infections, for users with compromised nasal mucosa. Infections could lead to severe conditions such as endocarditis, bone and joint infections, and meningitis, though no adverse events have been reported so far.

The affected product lot has the number 024122661A1 and an expiration date of December 31, 2027, and was distributed nationwide in January 2025. Ascent is notifying distributors and customers to cease distribution of the product, which includes a squeeze bottle and 30 saline packets. Consumers are advised to stop using it immediately and return it to the place of purchase or dispose of it, the FDA said.

RELATED STORY | Recall alert: Supplemental shakes linked to deadly listeria outbreak

The FDA said the recall was initiated following a positive test.

For any questions, consumers are encouraged to contact Ascent via email. They should also consult their healthcare provider if they experience any health issues related to the product.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most infections can be treated with antibiotics.

This story was initially reported 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.

RELATED STORY | Food recalls in the US were more widespread and deadlier in 2024, report says

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday unveiled a $1 billion plan to curb the nation's largest bird flu outbreak in a decade in attempt to lower egg prices across the country.

The USDA described the plan as a "Five-Pronged Approach to Address Avian Flu," which includes efforts to expand biosecurity measures for all U.S. poultry producers beginning with egg-laying facilities.

The USDA also wants to increase relief to aid farmers and ramp up bird repopulation, remove "unnecessary regulatory burdens" on chicken and egg producers, explore pathways toward vaccines or therapeutics, and look to temporarily increase imports and lower exports of eggs.

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

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Scripps News that the Trump administration is already in talks with several countries about them exporting eggs to the U.S. And while she insisted that every option remains on the table, Rollins warned that consumers should not expect egg prices to come down anytime soon.

WATCH | U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks with Scripps News on bird flu impacting egg prices

'Not gonna happen overnight': US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on bird flu, egg prices

"I think it's important for people to realize that this is not gonna happen overnight," Rollins told Scripps News. "The price of eggs under Joe Biden went up 237%. Under Obama they were high, came back down under Trump deregulation, cost of inputs went down, went way back up under Joe Biden not just avian flu, but really a host of factors. So it's just going to take us a little bit of time. I would say a couple months."

Meanwhile, the USDA's Food Price Outlook predicts egg prices will continue to surge in 2025, ending the year 41.1% higher than at the end of 2024. Approximately 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by the avian flu in January, the USDA reported.

RELATED STORY | Egg prices may reach record-high this year despite Trump's promises to lower food costs

In the backdrop of this USDA effort to bring down prices is the Trump administration's effort to slash the federal workforce. Rollins said the cuts are not insignifcant, but explained that the Trump administration is being intentional, while also admitting when mistakes are made. She pointed to, for instance, the government recently letting go of workers focused on animal disease detection in particular.

This comes as a new memo to Trump administration agency heads went out Wednesday providing guidance on large-scale reductions, indicating plans need to be solidified by about mid-March.

President Donald Trump's cabinet appeared unified in executing his vision of cutting the size of the federal government, combating illegal immigration and tackling inflation.

The cabinet secretaries joined Donald Trump at the White House for their first meeting of his second term on Wednesday.

"I think we have really great people on every front. I'll let you know if they're not good, but I think they really are," Trump said as he opened the meeting in front of members of the press.

A few minutes later, Trump asked Elon Musk, who is not an official member of the cabinet as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, to speak about his efforts to help make the federal government more efficient.

"I actually just call myself humble tech support here ... as crazy as it sounds, that is almost a literal description of what DOGE is doing, is helping fix the government computer systems," Musk said. "Many of the computer systems are extremely old, they don't communicate, there are a lot of mistakes in the systems. The software doesn't work," Musk said.

While Musk appears to be leading DOGE, there's been confusion about his official role. The administration revealed in a court filing that Musk is not the administrator of the agency. Moreover, the White House said this week that a woman by the name of Amy Gleason is the acting administrator of the agency.

RELATED STORY | Who is Amy Gleason, the woman who actually heads DOGE?

Asked about the conflicting message, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields told Scripps News that Musk is a special government employee.

"He works on behalf of the president of the United States as an adviser to the president of the United States to ensure that, yes, DOGE is doing the will of what the President wants, but also a lot of other things," Fields said.

He added, "Elon Musk is an amazing brain here. He's a bit of an unusual suspect in Washington, D.C., right? You're not used to having CEOs come into Washington D.C. and make sure that the government is working like a business. That's exactly what the American people want."

The Trump administration says DOGE has been working with agencies across the federal government to streamline. Agencies received a memo from the Office of Management and Budget that requires them to reduce their budget while increasing productivity.

"We're cutting waste, cutting fraud, we're cutting abuse," Fields said. "We're looking under the hood, which really hasn't been done in American history, and taking proper stewardship of the American taxpayer dollars."

Thousands of jobs across the federal government have already been cut in Trump's first few weeks back in office, and more could be on the way. President Trump expressed support for an email that asked federal workers what they accomplished last week. Musk initially said those who didn't respond by Monday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern would lose their jobs. While Musk said he would give them a second chance to respond, President Trump essentially said their job security is on shaky ground.

"Those million people that haven't responded, though Elon, they are one the bubble," Trump said during the meeting. "I wouldn't say that we are thrilled about it."

RELATED STORY | Trump: People who didn't respond to 'what did you do' email are on the bubble

Scripps News spoke with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin Wednesday, following the first official meeting of President Donald Trump's cabinet in Washington.

The EPA has been a target of billionaire Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which announced this week it had worked with the EPA to cancel more than $60 billion in grant spending at the agency.

"The work with DOGE has been primarily on helping to identify grants that can be canceled, media subscriptions as well, where the agency was overpaying for certain subscriptions that weren't being utilized to the extent that the agency was paying," Zeldin said Wednesday. "A lot of it has been related to grants. We've canceled around 30 grants working with DOGE, totaling over $120 million of savings, which is a lot of money grants tied to DEI and environmental justice."

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin discusses spending cuts and agency priorities

Zeldin said more than 1,000 workers have left their jobs at the agency, through different avenues.

"There are people who took the Fork in the Road or VERA, the voluntary early retirement, there were probationary employees. As we return to work, some people may decide that they don't want to return to work, but that number all ended up a little over 1,000 as of right now."

"We're not going to lose sight of our core mission of protecting human health and the environment," Zeldin said, highlighting work the EPA has done in the first month of the Trump administration to respond to ongoing environmental projects in Flint, Michigan, western North Carolina, East Palestine, Ohio and the scene of this year's wildfires in Los Angeles.

"President Trump came in. He gave us a 30 day deadline to complete our phase one hazardous material removal work in Los Angeles, which was the biggest wildfire cleanup in the history of the agency. We got it done in less than 30 days."

RELATED STORY | Former congressman Lee Zeldin confirmed to lead Environmental Protection Agency

Zeldin, who was confirmed 56-42 to head the EPA at the end of January, has indicated he intends to focus on U.S. energy and manufacturing concerns.

President Trump has promised to reverse the environmental policies of the Biden administration, including power plant and automotive emissions regulations and electric vehicle incentives. The day he took office, President Trump signed executive orders directing the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and expand oil and gas drilling.

A Southwest Airlines jet had to abort a landing attempt at Chicago Midway International Airport Tuesday morning after a smaller plane taxied in front of it, nearly resulting in a collision.

Video showed the flight briefly touching down before the nose pulls up as a smaller aircraft rolls across the runway in the 737's path.

RELATED STORY | Southwest plane nearly collides with private jet at Chicago's Midway airport

Thankfully the Southwest plane was able to land safely after performing a go-around. The Federal Aviation Administration said the private business jet entered the runway without authorization.

According to FlightAware data, Flight 2504 had arrived in Chicago from Omaha, Nebraska around 9 a.m. local time.

The Scripps News Group's Molly Hudson was able to speak with one of the passengers aboard the Southwest flight who described how the entire incident went down.

The pilot had warned us that we were about to land, and we were all ready for it and then all of a sudden we just kind of took back off, like right before we hit pavement, and we were like 'okay this is kind of weird,' but honestly it was so calm," explained Emily Novak.

RELATED STORY | Parked Delta plane apparently clipped by Japan Airlines plane that was taxiing at Seattle airport

"So, we went back up in the air, the pilot a few minutes later was like 'hey there was a plane on our tarmac, we just have to circle around, its going to be about 10 more minutes, we will get you on the ground soon and you should make your connecting flight no problem,'" Novak added. "[The pilot] kept it very, very calm. No one knew what happened."

Novak noted that she didn't see what happened until she made it to Dallas and is grateful for the way the pilot handled the situation to keep all passengers safe.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they are investigating the incident.

This story was originally published by Molly Hudson with the

Scripps News Group.

The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York is asking supporters to be careful when sending photos to him in prison.

A message on Luigi Mangione's legal defense website warns supporters that every photo is screened by law enforcement. Mangione has asked supporters to send no more than five photos at a time.

The messages and photos are being send to the federal jail in Manhattan where Mangione is held. He receives photocopies of each letter and image mailed to him.

Since his arrest, supporters have raised more than $600,000 for Mangione's legal defense. Billboards proclaiming his innocence have also appeared in lower Manhattan in New York.

RELATED STORY | Luigi Mangione appears in court for the first time since his arraignment

Mangione appeared in court last week for the first time since his arraignment.

He is charged with 11 counts, including one of murder in the first degree "in furtherance of an act of terrorism" and two of murder in the second degree. He has pleaded not guilty to state charges but has not yet entered a plea for federal charges of murder.

If convicted on state charges, Mangione faces the possibility of a life sentence without parole. The federal murder charge carries the possibility of a death penalty sentence.

Nearly two weeks after Pope Francis was hospitalized with bronchitis, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said his condition has improved.

In a Wednesday evening update, the Vatican stated that blood tests confirmed improvement seen on Tuesday.

"The mild kidney insufficiency observed in recent days has subsided," the Vatican said. "A chest CT scan carried out last night showed a normal progression of the lung inflammation."

RELATED STORY | Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis after canceling meeting

Pope Francis is reportedly receiving a high flow of oxygen but has not

experienced any asthma-like respiratory episodes since Saturday.

"Despite the slight improvement, his prognosis remains guarded," the Vatican said.

The pontiff has received communion and is able to work, according to the Vatican.

Meanwhile, well-wishers have been traveling to Romes Gemelli Hospital, where the pope is being treated, to offer their prayers and light candles.

President Donald Trump shared a video promoting what it describes as a "golden future" for Gaza by transforming the Palestinian territory into a resort-style destination with skyscrapers, yachts and even a massive statue of himself.

The video, which the president shared on his Truth Social platform Tuesday night, was seemingly generated using artificial intelligence. It opens with what appears to be barefoot Palestinians walking through Gazan rubble, alongside a cue card reading "WHATS NEXT?"

"Donald's coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see," a voice sings over upbeat music. "No more tunnels, no more fear, Trump Gaza is finally here."

RELATED STORY | Trump proposes that the US 'take over the Gaza Strip'

The video also includes images of what appears to be billionaire Elon Musk with money falling around him, and another of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shirtless, lounging poolside and sipping beverages.

President Trump has previously proposed that the United States "take over" Gaza after Israel's war with Hamas concludes. The proposal is a significant departure from previous U.S. endorsements of a two-state solution in Gaza.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too," President Trump said earlier this month during a joint press conference with Israel's Netanyahu. "We'll own it, and we'll be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings."

Then in a later interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, when asked if Palestinians could ever return to Gaza, President Trump said, "No, they wouldn't."

RELATED STORY | Trump says under his proposal for taking over Gaza, Palestinians would have no right to return

Well build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is, President Trump said. In the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land."

The proposal rocked the international community and U.S. allies and adversaries alike denounced the idea. Egypt and Jordan both U.S. allies that President Trump proposed should take in more Palestinian refugees have already rejected the idea of moving Palestinians out of Gaza.

However, it remains unclear whether President Trump is actually planning to move forward with his idea of acquiring and transforming Gaza. In a recent interview with Fox News, he said his plan is only a recommendation.

"The way to do it is my plan, I think that's the plan that really works," he said. "But I'm not forcing it. I'm just going to sit back and recommend it."

President Donald Trump expressed support for an email asking federal workers, "What did you do last week?" while also issuing an ominous warning to those who did not respond.

"Those million people that haven't responded, though Elon, they are one the bubble. I wouldn't say that we are thrilled about it," Trump said during his first official cabinet meeting of his second term, which included Elon Musk, who was responsible for the email sent by the Office of Personnel Management.

Musk claimed the email had been misinterpreted as a performance review since it asked workers to list five accomplishments from the past week. However, he stated that the email was more to get a pulse of the workforce.

RELATED STORY | Unions sue over email that demands federal workers list accomplishments

"If you have a pulse and two neurons, you can reply to an email," Musk said.

The billionaire added, "We're literally just trying to figure out are these people real, are they alive and can they write an email

The email, which was sent on Saturday, caused a lot of confusion within the federal government. Some agencies, including the Department of Defense and FBI, told their employees not to reply due to the sensitivity of their jobs. However, other agencies including the Departments of Education and Treasury said their workers do have to respond.

The original email had a deadline to reply of Monday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. However, Musk said those who did not reply would get a second chance, however, no new timeline was mentioned.

In the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Price Outlook, egg prices are expected to continue surging in 2025, ending the year 41.1% higher than at the end of 2024.

Egg prices for the 12-month period ending last month increased by 53%.

Cartons of eggs have seen a rapid increase due to a shortage caused by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Approximately 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by HPAI in January 2025, the USDA reported.

RELATED STORY | USDA appears to walks back layoffs that could impact bird flu response

Brooke Rollins, the Trump administration's new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said she predicts egg prices will fall around summer.

"We are seeing probably even a little bit more increase up until Easter, which is actually normal because so many eggs are used around Easter. We also have only been in 30 days. I've been in 13 days. Its going to take a little while to get through, I think the next month or two, but hopefully by summer," she said.

Food prices as a whole are expected to increase by about 3.4% in 2025. In the last year, food prices have increased by 2.5%.

Despite the bird flu causing havoc for egg farms, poultry prices are expected to remain stable in 2025.

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The White House revealed that Amy Gleason is the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency after court documents revealed that Elon Musk is not the official person in charge of the agency.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 establishing that DOGE would "maximize governmental efficiency and productivity."

It was believed that billionaire Elon Musk was leading the agency as he had been instrumental in setting up the framework for what Trump wanted to accomplish.

However, in court documents stemming from a lawsuit challenging DOGE's authority, the administration said that Musk "has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself including personnel decisions at individual agencies." They noted he formally works under the White House, not as a member of DOGE.

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields further attempted to clarify Musk's role in a one-on-one interview with Scripps News.

"Elon Musk is an SGE (special government employee). He is not a DOGE, OK? He works on behalf of the president of the United States as an adviser to the president of the United States to ensure that, yes, DOGE is doing the will of what the president wants, but also a lot of other things," Fields said.

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After being pressed about who the actual administrator of DOGE was, the White House said it was Gleason.

"She's a career official," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Claire Leavitt. "She's doing her job as the administrator of this organization."

According to her LinkedIn profile, Gleason worked for the United States Digital Service between 2018 and 2021.

According to a profile on a government archives page, Gleason "spent years building and implementing electronic medical record and practice management technologies." The Associated Press reports that Gleason worked with the White House in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"She recognized that technology can improve healthcare, and spent years building and implementing electronic medical record and practice management technologies," Gleason's profile said.