Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is demanding answers after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents reportedly arrested two contractors working at a wildfire in Washington state on Wednesday.

The Seattle Times reported that officials required about 400 contractors helping battle the wildfire to identify themselves. KOMO-TV reported that two of those contractors were allegedly in the U.S. illegally, and one had an outstanding removal order.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed that the detained workers were firefighters. The agency said they were not actively fighting the fire but were assisting with firefighting efforts.

RELATED STORY | 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainee faced 'life-or-death situation,' attorney says

"They were there in a support role, cutting logs into firewood. The firefighting response remained uninterrupted the entire time," Homeland Security said. "No active firefighters were even questioned, and U.S. Border Patrols actions did not prevent or interfere with any personnel actively engaged in firefighting efforts."

Murray condemned the arrests and said she is demanding immediate answers from the Trump administration about conducting immigration enforcement during active wildfires.

"This administrations immigration policy is fundamentally sick. Trump has wrongfully detained everyone from lawful green card holders to American citizensno one should assume this was necessary or appropriate," Murray said. Here in the Pacific Northwest, wildfires can, and have, burned entire towns to the ground. We count on our brave firefighters, who put their lives on the line, to keep our communities safethis new Republican policy to detain firefighters on the job is as immoral as it is dangerous."

After nearly three decades, Lee Corso donned a college mascot head for the final time Saturday on ESPNs College GameDay.

Earlier this year, the longtime analyst announced he would retire from the college football-themed show. Corso joined ESPN in 1987 and first put on mascot headgear in 1996, choosing Brutus Buckeye, Ohio States mascot.

As fate would have it, the biggest game on the opening full week of the college football season was at Ohio State, where the defending national champions hosted No. 1 Texas.

This pick has become iconic. Not because of the matchup, but because of the man, College GameDay co-host Kirk Herbstreit said.

Saturdays broadcast marked the 431st time Corso wore a mascot head. It was also the 46th time he chose Brutus.

This is one of the easiest picks Ive ever made, Corso said before putting on Brutus head for the last time.

Corso's prediction came true as No. 3-ranked Ohio State toppled No. 1 Texas 14-7.

Before his College GameDay career, Corso was head coach of the USFLs Orlando Renegades and served as head coach at Indiana and Northern Illinois.

Former Major League Baseball All-Star Mark Teixeira announced he is running for an open U.S. House seat in Texas as a Republican in 2026.

He is seeking to replace Rep. Chip Roy, who plans to run for Texas attorney general next year.

Teixeira said he intends to support President Donald Trumps immigration, economic, and energy policies, among others.

"As a proud Texan and lifelong conservative who loves our country, I'm ready to fight for the principles that make Texas strong and America exceptional," Teixeira said. "It takes teamwork to win, and I'm ready to help defend President Trump's America First agenda. Texas families, and individual liberty."

Teixeiras MLB career spanned from 2003 to 2016, during which he played for four teams. He debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2003 before being traded to Atlanta in 2007. He joined the Angels in 2008 and finished his career with the New York Yankees from 2009 to 2016.

While with the Yankees, Teixeira won his only World Series title in 2009, when he also led the American League in home runs and RBIs. He was a three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his department's report investigating an increase in autism rates will be released next month.

"We have will announcements as promised in September, finding interventions, certain interventions now that are clearly or almost certainly causing autism. We're going to be able to address those in September," he said.

Kennedy has said he expected to have a report by the fall, but earlier this year, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya told CBS News that it will take longer for research to be completed.

The number of autism diagnoses in the U.S. has increased in recent years, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found that 1 in 31 children born in 2014 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A previous CDC report indicated that among children born in 2012, 1 out of 36 had been identified with autism spectrum disorder by age 8. Among children born in 1992, that proportion was 1 in 150, according to the CDC.

No one knows why autism rates have spiked in the past 25 years, but scientists think much of it is due to a broader definition of the disorder and better detection. They also say genetics and exposure to chemicals may play a role.

"We're seeing the rates of autism go up because we're doing a better job of understanding what autism is," Dr. Jessica McCarthy, a licensed clinical psychologist, previously told Scripps News. "We're doing a better job of assessing it and diagnosing it in greater areas around the country, both in terms of targeted areas of the country and also in populations that we know are chronically underserved in healthcare."

Kennedy, however, disputed a CDC report's conclusions that enhanced screenings are behind the increase.

"One of the things that I think we need to move away from today is this ideology that the autism diagnosis, that the autism prevalence increases, the relentless increases, are simply artifacts of better diagnosis, better recognition, or changing diagnostic criteria," he said.

While Kennedy has expressed skepticism over vaccines, he insisted in an interview with Fox News on Thursday that there are many causes.

"This is a crisis, there is not a single cause, there are many, aggregation of causes. We are now developing sufficient evidence to ask for regulatory action on some of those or recommendations," he said.

Kennedy's announcement comes as the Trump administration has announced it has fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Susan Monarez.

It has been since May 31 that anyone has hit all six numbers in the multistate Powerball lottery, causing the jackpot to grow with each drawing.

On Wednesday, the streak of drawings without a winner grew to 38, as no one matched the five white balls and one Powerball. The jackpot was worth $815 million. Without a winner, Saturday's jackpot will be even larger, making it the biggest jackpot for a Powerball drawing in 2025 and the sixth-largest in the lottery's history.

Saturday's $950 million jackpot marks the highest for any multistate lottery this year. If someone wins the jackpot, they have the option of choosing the $950 million payment spread over 29 years, or a lump sum worth about $429 million before tax.

The last time the Powerball jackpot exceeded $900 million was on April 6, 2024, when Cheng Charlie Saephan of Oregon hit all six numbers.

Although Wednesday's drawing did not result in a jackpot winner, six players won at least $1 million by matching all five white ball numbers.

RELATED STORY | Jackpot claimed: About the $1.3 billion Powerball win

The numbers for Wednesday's drawing were 9, 12, 22, 41, 61 and red Powerball 25.

The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million.

Powerball also offers prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million, and the odds of winning a smaller prize are about 1 in 25.

Powerball is played in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Since Powerball lengthened the odds of hitting all six numbers in 2015, the multistate lottery has generally had six to nine winners a year. All 10 of its largest jackpots have also occurred since 2015. The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $2.04 billion, won on Nov. 7, 2022.

President Donald Trump weighed in on Cracker Barrel's decision to revert to its old logo after facing backlash for creating a logo that no longer featured "Uncle Herschel" sitting in a rocking chair. Instead, it only displayed the words "Cracker Barrel."

President Trump had been among those who expressed discontent for the revamped logo.

"Congratulations 'Cracker Barrel' on changing your logo back to what it was," the president wrote on Tuesday. "All of your fans very much appreciate it. Good luck into the future. Make lots of money and, most importantly, make your customers happy again!"

Prior to Cracker Barrel's reversal, the White House mocked the company by saying "Go Woke, go broke."

President Trump suggested that all of the hubbub over the logo would give Cracker Barrel "a billion dollars of free publicity if they play their cards right."

"Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate poll), and manage the company better than ever," President Trump wrote.

President Trump added, "Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again."

The company admitted earlier on Tuesday that it could have done a better job with unveiling the new logo.

"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain," Cracker Barrel said in a statement on Tuesday.

Many of the restaurant's customers said they liked the nostalgic feel the old logo had.

"The biggest reason I always loved Cracker Barrel was because of the old-timey feeling it gave me. The big ole fireplace and the rockers on the front porch. All the old things handing on the walls. You take all that away and its just another restaurant. Sorry. Wont be stopping there anymore," one customer wrote on the company's Facebook page.

"Sometimes old is best. Leave the logo original. The rocking chairs in front of the restaurant is the whole country feel, we sit and rock while waiting for a table sometimes. Sharper isnt t always better. Classic will always be classic," another person wrote.

When it announced the logo change, Cracker Barrel said that most of the nostalgic features fans enjoy about the restaurant will not change.

RELATED STORY | Why do longtime restaurant chains keep shuttering locations?

The Trump administration is ending the de minimis exemption for packages entering the U.S., meaning customers buying directly from overseas sellers may soon face higher fees and delays.

The de minimis rule has allowed shipments valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. But as President Donald Trump ramps up tariff enforcement, that exemption will end for most countries on Friday. The administration already removed the benefit for shipments from China earlier this year.

Customs and Border Protection says the rule has become a pathway for narcotics and other illegal goods.

"The drug trafficking organizations use de minimis to import precursor chemicals, pill presses, and pill dies to manufacture counterfeit pharmaceuticals that would lead someone to believe that, Oh, thats just oxycodone, when, in fact, the pills were produced illicitly and laced with deadly amounts of fentanyl, xylazine, and nitazene compounds, Andrew Renna, assistant port director for cargo operations at JFK Airport, said in a CBP article.

CBP estimates that 92% of all cargo shipments to the U.S. utilize this exemption. The Trump administration also contends it served as a loophole for avoiding tariffs. Although this particular rollback is happening under President Trump, the Biden administration had also proposed significantly reducing the threshold near the end of his presidency.

A small carve-out remains: personal gifts valued under $100 will still be allowed duty-free.

Impact on Etsy and TikTok sellers

E-commerce sellers using platforms like Etsy and TikTok could face the largest burdens under the new rules. Etsy recently advised vendors to use the Delivered Duty Paid option when shipping internationally. Sellers using Delivered Duty Unpaid or Delivered At Place risk having customers charged duties upon delivery.

Several carriers, including Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri, and Royal Mail, have temporarily suspended cargo shipments to the U.S. as they adjust their systems to comply with the new requirement.

Less than a week after unveiling a new logo, Cracker Barrel announced it would revert its changes and return to using its original signage.

"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have.  Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain," Cracker Barrel said in a statement on Tuesday.

The proposed changes drew backlash from patrons and from President Donald Trump.

The chain said it "couldve done a better job" as the new emblem created controversy among fans of the iconic restaurant chain.

Last week, Cracker Barrel unveiled the new logo while celebrating 55 years in business. The new design no longer featured "Uncle Herschel" sitting in a rocking chair. Instead, it only displayed the words "Cracker Barrel."

Many of the restaurant's customers said they liked the nostalgic feel the old logo had.

"The biggest reason I always loved Cracker Barrel was because of the old-timey feeling it gave me. The big ole fireplace and the rockers on the front porch. All the old things handing on the walls. You take all that away and its just another restaurant. Sorry. Wont be stopping there anymore," one customer wrote on the company's Facebook page.

"Sometimes old is best. Leave the logo original. The rocking chairs in front of the restaurant is the whole country feel, we sit and rock while waiting for a table sometimes. Sharper isnt t always better. Classic will always be classic," another person wrote.

When it announced the logo change, Cracker Barrel said that most of the nostalgic features fans enjoy about the restaurant will not change.

RELATED STORY | Why do longtime restaurant chains keep shuttering locations?

"The things people love most about our stores arent going anywhere: rocking chairs on the porch, a warm fire in the hearth, peg games on the table, unique treasures in our gift shop, and vintage Americana with antiques pulled straight from our warehouse in Lebanon, Tennessee," the company said. "We love seeing how much you care about our old timer.' We love him too. Uncle Herschel will still be on our menu (welcome back Uncle Herschels Favorite Breakfast Platter), on our road signs and featured in our country store. Hes not going anywhere hes family."

Cracker Barrel said its focus will remain in the kitchen despite headlines focusing on its logo.

"We know we wont always get everything right the first time, but well keep testing, learning, and listening to our guests and employees," the company said. "At the end of the day, our promise is simple: youll always find comfort, community, and country hospitality here at Cracker Barrel. Uncle Herschel wouldnt have wanted it any other way."

It has been since May 31 that anyone has hit all six numbers in the multistate Powerball lottery, causing the jackpot to grow with each drawing.

On Monday, the streak of drawings without a winner grew to 37, as no one matched the five white balls and one Powerball. The jackpot was worth $750 million. Without a winner, Wednesday's jackpot will be even larger, making it the biggest jackpot for a Powerball drawing in 2025 and the seventh-largest in the lottery's history.

Wednesday's $815 million jackpot marks the highest for any multistate lottery this year. If someone wins the jackpot, they have the option of choosing the $815 million payment spread over 29 years, or a lump sum worth about $368 million before tax.

The last time the Powerball jackpot exceeded $800 million was on April 6, 2024, when Cheng Charlie Saephan of Oregon hit all six numbers.

Although Monday's drawing did not result in a jackpot winner, two players won at least $1 million by matching all five white ball numbers.

RELATED STORY | Jackpot claimed: About the $1.3 billion Powerball win

The numbers for Monday's drawing were 16, 19, 34, 37, 64 with a Powerball of 22

The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million.

Powerball also offers prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million, and the odds of winning a smaller prize are about 1 in 25.

Powerball is played in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Since Powerball lengthened the odds of hitting all six numbers in 2015, the multistate lottery has generally had six to nine winners a year. All 10 of its largest jackpots have also occurred since 2015. The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $2.04 billion, won on Nov. 7, 2022.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre's family released a statement on Saturday saying they are "outraged" one day after the Department of Justice released transcripts of the Deputy Attorney General's interview with Ghislaine Maxwell.

Jeffrey Epstein's associate, Maxwell, said the convicted sex offender did not keep a client list. Maxwell was convicted in 2022 on federal sex trafficking charges and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The release of the interview materials comes as the Trump administration faces increased scrutiny over transparency related to the so-called Epstein files.

"During DAG Todd Blanches bizarre interview, she is never challenged about her court-proven lies, providing her a platform to rewrite history," Giuffre's family said. "This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure her conviction, including our sister."

RELATED STORY | 'There is no list': Transcripts from Maxwell's interview with DOJ released

Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year, several years after giving detailed testimony on Epstein, Maxwell and others' involvement in a sex trafficking ring. Giuffre was a former attendant at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's private Florida resort.

In the transcript released by the DOJ, Maxwell said President Donald Trump was always very cordial and kind to her when they interacted in social circles in the 1990s.

Describing Trumps relationship with Epstein, Maxwell said, "I think they were friendly like people are in social settings. I don't -- I don't think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of -- I don't recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance," Maxwell said. "I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects."

Giuffre's family said the Trump administration's decision to move Maxwell to a minimum security prison "sends a disturbing message that child sex trafficking is acceptable and will be rewarded."

"The Department of Justice serves the people of the United States. We continue to call upon the DOJ to do its job by investigating and holding accountable the many rich and powerful people who enabled Ghislaine Maxwells and Jeffrey Epsteins crimes," the family wrote.

The Mississippi State Department of Health has declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp rise in infant mortality across the state.

Newly released data show that Mississippis infant mortality rate in 2024 reached its highest level in more than a decade, with 9.7 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. The increase was especially pronounced among newborns less than 28 days old, with 5.9 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Officials said the leading causes of infant mortality include congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday, said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. This is deeply personal to me not just as a physician, but as a father and grandfather. Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted, and a future cut short. We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality. Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives.

The emergency declaration serves as a call to action, with the health department planning to implement several measures aimed at reducing infant mortality. These include expanding access to obstetric care, strengthening community health programs, and educating families on safe sleep practices.

According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi had the highest infant mortality rate in the U.S., followed by Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts recorded the lowest rates that year.

Nationally, the 2024 infant mortality rate was 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. Rates tended to be higher in rural areas compared with suburban and urban regions.

RELATED STORY | After Roe was overturned, US had infant mortality spike, researchers say

Researchers at Ohio State University, in a study published in late 2024, found that infant mortality rates increased after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The study cited a 7% nationwide increase in infant mortality and a 10% rise in infants born with genetic and chromosomal disorders in the 7 to 14 months following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health decision.

Im not sure that people expected infant mortality rates to increase following Dobbs. Its not necessarily what people were thinking about. But when you restrict access to health care it can cause a broader impact on public health than can be foreseen, said Maria Gallo, an OSU professor of epidemiology.

Following Dobbs, most abortions became illegal in Mississippi.

There are events that happen once in a blue moonbut events that happen once in a black moon occur just as often.

This weekend, the world will experience a black moon. The moon itself wont actually turn black.

The term black moon refers to either two new moons in the same month or four new moons in a single season.

The summer of 2025 will have four new moons, and the third of them this season receives the black moon designation.

Black moons are rare occurrences. A new moon happens about every 29.5 days. Since most months are 30 or 31 days long, and a season is roughly 91 days, a black moon usually requires a new moon to fall on the first day of a month or season.

A blue moon happens just as oftenwhen there are two full moons in a month or four in a single season.

One thing that makes a black moon more exciting for astronomers than a blue moon is that the new moon phase offers darker skies for viewing stars and planets. In contrast, the bright light of a full moon tends to wash out other objects in the night sky, making them harder to see.

The next full moon will occur on Sept. 7 and will coincide with a lunar eclipse. Unfortunately for Americans, this eclipse will happen during the daytime, meaning only viewers in Asia, Europe, and Africa will be able to see it.

This new moon will also bring a partial solar eclipse, but that event will only be visible in parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that interest rates could begin falling again, warning that new job reports indicate the U.S. economy may be slowing.

On Friday, speaking at a major gathering of investors and Federal Reserve Board members in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell explained that the Fed has been cautious about cutting rates.

Powell noted that lowering interest rates can help fuel job growth; however, lower rates can also lead to higher inflation.

After the annual inflation rate surged to 9% in 2022, the Fed implemented its highest federal interest rate in two decades. The central bank was able to do so as unemployment remained low and job creation was robust.

RELATED STORY | Fed Chair Powell under fire from Trump ahead of tense Jackson Hole address

But recent job reports suggest that hiring in the U.S. economy is slowing, while inflation remains above the Feds 2% target.

Risks to inflation are tilted to the upside, and risks to employment are tilted to the downside a challenging situation, Powell said.

Complicating matters, Powell suggested inflation could rise as new tariffs on imported goods are imposed. However, with weaker job numbers, he said the balance of risks appears to be shifting between employment and price stability.

Powell alone does not have the power to raise or lower interest rates. At the Feds last meeting in late July, when members voted to keep rates steady, two members dissented marking the first time in 30 years that two opposing votes were cast on the same decision.

In September 2024, the Fed cut rates from a 23-year high by 50 basis points, followed by two 25basispoint reductions later that year.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the Fed has not adjusted rates a stance that has angered Trump, who argues that high interest rates are hurting the economy. Powell has countered that the rates remain necessary due to elevated inflation and a stable job market.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the home of former National Security Adviser John Bolton as part of a national securityrelated investigation, a source told Scripps News on Friday.

According to the source, the raid is connected to classified documents, including the possible theft and unauthorized retention of those materials. The source said the raid occurred as FBI Director Kash Patel posted on the social media platform X: "NO ONE is above the law @FBI agents on mission."

Bolton served as President Donald Trumps national security adviser from 2018 to 2019.

Since leaving the White House, Bolton has become a vocal critic of Trump. He clashed with the administration over the publication of his memoir, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir."

The Trump administration alleged that Bolton included classified information in the book and attempted to block its release.

Reporting by Scripps News' Liz Landers was included in this story.

In response to Texas potentially changing its congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm election to benefit Republicans, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the "Election Rigging Response Act," which will ask voters to allow California to also change its U.S. House districts in the middle of the decade.

Typically, House districts are drawn at the start of each decade following the decennial census. However, President Donald Trump has called on Texas to redraw its districts after Republicans received a boost from Latino voters in the last election. Texas' redrawn maps could potentially give Republicans an advantage in five seats currently held by Democrats.

Lawmakers in California approved three bills that seek to neutralize the impact of Texas' new maps. One bill allows California voters to adopt a new, temporary congressional map. Another bill outlines the procedure for a statewide election in November, and a third bill stipulates that if voters approve the new maps, they will be used for the 2026 midterms.

RELATED STORY | Texas House votes to approve controversial redistricting maps

Californians have been uniquely targeted by the Trump Administration, and thanks to the hard work of the California legislature, they will have a choice to fight back and bring much needed accountability to Trumps efforts to undermine the democratic process.

Republicans won 220 out of 435 seats in 2024, meaning Democrats would need to flip three seats to gain a majority. Historically, the party not in control of the White House performs better in midterm elections.

Texas' decision to potentially change its maps ahead of 2026 has prompted other states to consider altering their congressional boundaries.

However, changing maps comes with a risk: in trying to maximize the number of seats a party holds in the House, the less safe those districts become.

The Texas Senate could vote as soon as Friday to send its redrawn maps to Gov. Greg Abbott for final approval.

Theres no question that the WNBAs popularity has surged since Caitlin Clark entered the league last year, and attendance data backs that up. On Wednesday, the league surpassed its all-time single-season attendance record of 2.501 million fans, a mark that had stood since 2002. The record was set across 226 games30 fewer than the number of games played in 2002.

The league also hit the record with several weeks remaining in the regular season.

A major factor in the attendance surge appears to be the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, who led the league with an average of 18,064 fans per game and reportedly sold out every home game this season. Clarks Indiana Fever rank No. 2 in attendance, just ahead of the New York Liberty. The Fever have averaged 16,746 fans per game, while the Liberty average 16,425.

In 2002, when the league had 16 teams, only four teams averaged more than 10,000 fans per game. A decade ago, no team averaged more than 10,000. This season, seven of the leagues 13 teams have averaged over 10,000 per game.

The 2024 season posted a 48% attendance increase over 2023.

The Federal Trade Commission announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the parent company LA Fitness following allegations that the chain of gyms makes it difficult for customer to cancel their memberships.

In its complaint filed with the U.S. Distrcit Court of Central California, the Federal Trade Commission claims that LA Fitness's cancellation methods are "opaque, complicated, demandingfar from simple. The government's complaint also says that LA Fitness has "not adequately disclosed how to cancel when consumers are signing up for their memberships," and has "presented different, often contradictory, cancellation requirements during sign up, in membership agreements, and on the Defendants websites."

The lawsuit was filed against Fitness International, LLC, the parent company of LA Fitness.

RELATED STORY | FTC delays rollout of new rule to simplify subscription cancellations

The lawsuit claims that LA Fitness instructed customers to log into the gym's website through a "cumbersome" process, and print a document to return to the gym. The FTC then says that customers would be required to present the document during limited hours and to a specific manager who was authorized to process the forms.

The FTC says that if customers were unable to reach the manager, they would be forced to return at a later time to process the cancellation.

The lawsuit says that customers could also print and send the same form through the mail, but would be required to use certified or registered mail, which comes at an additional cost than standard mail.

The FTCs complaint describes a scenario that too many Americans have experienced a gym membership that seems impossible to cancel, said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Tens of thousands of LA Fitness customers reported difficulties cancellation was often restricted to specific times or required speaking to specific managers who were often not present or available. The FTC will not hesitate to act on behalf of consumers when it believes companies are stifling consumers ability to choose which recurring charges they want to keep.

The FTC says these allegations violate the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act.

"We are disappointed that the FTC has chosen to pursue this complaint. The allegations are without merit, and the statute the FTC relies upon the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act (ROSCA), enacted almost 15 years ago was designed to address only online retail transactions, does not require any specific method of cancellation, and has never before been applied to the health club industry. We remain confident that we will prevail in court," Fitness International, LLC said in response to the suit.

"It is important to note that most of our memberships, and all of our personal training memberships, are purchased in person at our club locations. Even so, 18 months before the FTCs new Click-to-Cancel rule was scheduled to take effect, we proactively launched an online cancellation option for all members, regardless of how they originally signed up. With just a few clicks, members may cancel online a step we voluntarily implemented well ahead of regulatory deadlines. Although a federal court of appeals recently invalidated the FTCs Click-to-Cancel rule, we have chosen to keep our online cancellation program in place to provide members with yet another simple way to cancel. Members also have always had the option to cancel in person at any club, or by mail, and those who wish to do so can and do cancel in such fashion."

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver the keynote address Friday at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, where he is expected to address potential interest rate cuts.

At its most recent meeting, the Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.50%, where it has remained since December 2024.

RELATED STORY | Federal Reserve Chair Powell to address interest rate outlook at Jackson Hole

In September 2024, the Fed cut rates from a 23-year high by 50 basis points, followed by two 25-basis-point reductions later that year.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the Fed has not adjusted rates a stance that has angered Trump, who argues that high interest rates are hurting the economy. Powell has countered that rates remain necessary due to elevated inflation and a stable job market.

However, earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an abrupt slowdown in hiring over the summer. With these new figures, analysts will be watching Powells remarks for clues on whether rate cuts are coming.

While mortgage and consumer loan rates are not directly tied to the federal funds rate, changes in the rate can influence borrowing costs.

This years meeting in Wyoming comes at a tense moment for the central bank. The July 2025 decision to hold rates steady marked the first time in 30 years that at least two board members cast dissenting votes.

Powells term ends in May 2026, and President Trump has been openly courting possible replacements, making a reappointment unlikely.

Tensions deepened when President Trump called for Fed board member Lisa Cook to resign after U.S. Director of Federal Housing William Pulte accused her of mortgage fraud and sent a criminal referral letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has accused the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) of engaging in a "pay-to-play scheme" after the organization released updated guidance on childhood COVID-19 vaccines.

For decades, the AAPs vaccine schedule has followed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, this year the CDC no longer recommended COVID-19 vaccines for children. In response, the AAP issued guidance urging parents of children aged 6 to 23 months to continue vaccinating their children against COVID-19.

The AAP also recommends COVID-19 shots for children ages 2 to 17 who are at high risk of severe illness.

Kennedy alleges that the AAP has a conflict of interest, noting that some of the largest donors to its Friends of Children Fund are manufacturers of COVID-19 and other childhood vaccines. He specifically named Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, and Sanofi.

RELATED STORY | Upcoming White House health report stirs debate over kids diets and food Ads

"These four companies make virtually every vaccine on the CDC-recommended childhood vaccine schedule," Kennedy said. "AAP is angry that CDC has eliminated corporate influence in decisions over vaccine recommendations and returned CDC to gold-standard science and evidence-based medicine laser-focused on childrens health."

Kennedy further claimed the AAPs updated recommendations are corporate-friendly, and added: "The Trump Administration believes in free speech and AAP has a right to make its case to the American people. But AAP should follow the lead of HHS and disclose conflicts of interest, including its corporate entanglements and those of its journalPediatricsso that Americans may ask whether the AAPs recommendations reflect public health interest, or are, perhaps, just a pay-to-play scheme to promote commercial ambitions of AAPs Big Pharma benefactors."

The AAP responded to Kennedy's accusations.

"This attack on the integrity of pediatricians is unfortunate, but it does not change the facts. For nearly a century, the American Academy of Pediatrics' mission has focused on one thing: following the science to best protect children's health," the AAP said in a statement. "Our immunization recommendations are rooted in decades of peer-reviewed science by the nation's leading health experts. We are transparent about our funders, follow rigorous conflict-of-interest disclosures and maintain safeguards to ensure the integrity and independence of our guidance. We welcome an opportunity to sit down with the Secretary to review our recommendations and restore our seat at the table."

On its website, the AAP states it "accepts financial and in-kind support from corporations, foundations, individuals, and other organizations only if such acceptance would not pose a conflict of interest and in no way impair the AAPs objectivity, influence, priorities, and actions."

Both the AAP and CDC assert their vaccine recommendations are guided by the latest science.

While the decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccine ultimately rests with families and their doctors, the CDCs update raises questions about insurance coverage for childhood vaccines. The AAP has stated that insurance companies should continue to cover COVID-19 vaccinations for children if parents choose to have them vaccinated.