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Yesterday β€” 1 June 2025Main stream

Mom runner wins 100K ultramarathon, breastfeeding along the way

31 May 2025 at 18:14

Runner Stephanie Case completed the 100-kilometer (62 miles) Ultra-Trail Snowdonia ultramarathon in 16 hours and 53 minutes, winning a race that also involves over 21,000 feet of climbing.

Adding to her impressive feat was the fact that she stopped at aid stations along the way to breastfeed her 6-month-old daughter, Pepper. Case said she breastfed three times during the race.

Because she had taken some time away from running, she was not among the "elite" runners who were able to start ahead of her. This meant that when she crossed the finish line, Case had no clue that she had won.

"I have gained way more joy and strength from this sport as a mom than I ever did before. While it broke my heart to leave little Pepper at the aid stations, I wanted to show herboth of ushow amazing mom runners can be," Case said in an Instagram post.

While Case acknowledges that not all new moms can go out and run an ultramarathon, she believes they should not be afraid of setting big goals.

"Whether you are thinking of being a mom, are pregnant, or are a new mom yourself, dont be afraid to keep setting big goals for yourself. Everyone has an opinion about what new moms should or shouldnt be doing, and that doesnt open up a lot of space for 'out there' ideas like running an ultra," she said. "Should I spend this much time away from my baby? Is it harmful to my body? What about my milk supply? My coach helped me navigate these questions and the social pressures that come with being a new mom runner, but we need to work together to remove the pressure in the first place and provide more support."

Race officials called her an "inspiration."

"Thanks to her openness about the highs, lows, and everything in between, shes a real inspirationmotivating new moms everywhere to carve their own paths and do what feels right for them," Ultra-Trail Snowdonia said on social media.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Taylor Swift celebrates owning her music: 'It's a miracle'

30 May 2025 at 16:16

Pop star Taylor Swift announced on her website Friday that she now owns the rights to all the music she has produced throughout her career after a lengthy battle with Scooter Braun and later Shamrock Capital.

Swift now owns all the music videos, concert films, lyrics, and recordings from her first six albums. She has re-recorded four of those albums in recent years, adding the tagline "Taylor's Version" to each.

"All I ever wanted was the opportunity to own my work," she said in a letter on Friday. "To own the life I poured my heart into. To be able to stand on the stage at 34 and say 'I own it' is the most satisfying experience of my career. And to have it happen now, while Im writing new music, is a memory Ill hold onto forever. Its a miracle."

The re-release of these four albums generated significant buzz as she embarked on her recent tour.

RELATED STORY | End of an Economic Era: Taylor Swift's global tour was the highest-grossing of all time

"For 20 years Ive been tirelessly trying to buy my masters back," Swift said. "I was denied that chance, and it made me realize that claiming ownership of my work was about a lot more than just my past. It was and is about my future too. Every artists dream is to own their work, and I am beyond elated to announce that my re-recorded albums and the ones I have released since 2019 I now own."

Swift also addressed rumors that she would re-release her "Reputation" album.

"What about Rep TV? Full transparency, Ive been so in the zone for making new music that Ive just been having fun with it," she said. "Ive been working on Tortured Poets since right after Midnights and Ive kept writing all the way through the U.S. tour, and now, between legs of the Eras Tour, were putting the finishing touches on it. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, I never want to stop making music. Im so lucky to call this my job."

Phil Robertson of 'Duck Dynasty' dies at 79, family confirms

26 May 2025 at 11:33

Phil Robertson, who starred in the hit A&E show "Duck Dynasty," died at age 79, several family members confirmed on social media.

Robertson's daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, shared the news on her Facebook page on Sunday.

"Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again," she said.

Korie Robertson added that in addition to a private ceremony, there would be a public celebration of his life.

Robertson's son Jase recently revealed that his father was not doing well after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Jase Robertson also wrote about his father's death on social media.

"My dad has gone to be with the Lord today! He will be missed, but we know he is in good hands, and our family is good because God is very good! We will see him again!" he wrote.

"Duck Dynasty" followed the Robertson family and their family-owned business, Duck Commander, which makes products for duck hunters. The show ran from 2013 to 2018 and was, at the time, one of the most popular unscripted television shows on cable.

House oversight chair questions Biden's health following stage 4 cancer announcement

24 May 2025 at 17:38

Despite being out of office for more than four months, Republican lawmakers are still making the health of former President Joe Biden a priority.

This week, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer sent letters to Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, and three former White House aides, demanding that they testify before the committee. The letter was sent just days after Biden announced that he has developed stage 4 prostate cancer.

The letters from Comer suggested that they "covered up" his mental decline.

The letters also come as several new books have been released detailing the concerns White House staffers and Democrats more broadly had about Biden's health in the closing months of his presidency.

RELATED STORY | Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer

"The cover-up of President Bidens obvious mental decline is a historic scandal," Comer said. "The American people deserve to know when this decline began, how far it progressed, and who was making critical decisions on his behalf."

Biden has insisted that he has the ability to run for a second term, despite a disastrous debate performance that ultimately led him to drop out of the race. His wife, Jill Biden, echoed those sentiments during a recent interview on "The View."

The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us, and they didnt see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean, hed get up, he put in a full day, and then at night he wouldI'd be in bed, you know, reading my bookand he was still on the phone, reading his briefings, working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop, she said.

3.2 million Americans could lose food stamp benefits under new work requirements, CBO projects

23 May 2025 at 17:51

The Congressional Budget Office released projections showing that potential new work requirements would cause over 3.2 million Americans to lose access to food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The updated work requirements were included in a Republican-backed spending bill passed by the House on Thursday, called the "Big Beautiful Bill." The legislation will soon be considered by the Senate.

Currently, able-bodied adults ages 18 to 54 who do not have dependent children are required to meet certain work-related requirements to be eligible for SNAP. The proposal would increase the upper age limit to 64.

RELATED STORY | USDA urges states to reinforce work requirements for SNAP recipients

Currently, adults ages 18 to 54 who do not meet work requirements can receive food stamps if they have a dependent child under the age of 18 in their household. Changes in the bill would reduce that age from 18 to 7.

Among the 3.2 million people who would lose benefits would be 1 million able-bodied adults ages 55 to 64. There would also be 800,000 able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64 who live with children aged 7 or older, and 1.4 million able-bodied adults aged 18 to 54 who do not live with dependents but currently receive a waiver or exemption from the requirements under current law would lose benefits, the CBO projects.

The CBO also projects that the government would save $92 billion from 2025 to 2034 if these changes are implemented.

Another change in the bill would prohibit those without citizenship or permanent residency status from obtaining food stamps. This group would include those who are lawfully present in the U.S., such as individuals on temporary protected status. This change would likely result in 120,000 to 250,000 people losing SNAP benefits, the CBO estimates.

As of 2023, 42.1 million people, or 12.6% of U.S. residents, were receiving monthly SNAP benefits.

Billy Joel cancels all upcoming concerts, including November Ford Field show

Rock star Billy Joel announced he is canceling all of his upcoming concerts after developing normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition that causes fluid to build up inside the skull and press on the brain.

Among the shows cancelled is the November 15, 2025, performance at Ford Field with Stevie Nicks. That show was postponed in March, about two weeks before the original scheduled date of March 29, after Joel said he had recently had surgery and was undergoing physical therapy.

Ford Field posted the following information about refunds for the show:

You don't need to take any action to receive your refund. It will be automatically processed back to the original payment used for the purchase. Please be aware that the refund will go to the original purchaser if the tickets were transferred to you.

In a social media post on Joel's Instagram page, his managers said that his condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances and led to problems with his hearing, vision and balance.

"Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health," the post reads. "He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."

Joel released a brief statement regarding the cancellation of upcoming shows.

"I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding," said Billy Joel.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, normal pressure hydrocephalus typically affects people over age 65. Joel is 76 years old. The Cleveland Clinic adds that it affects about 0.2% of people between the ages 70 and 80, and about 5.9% of people over 80.

It adds that the disorder is reversible with early diagnosis and fast treatment.

Billy Joel cancels all upcoming concerts, diagnosed with brain disorder

23 May 2025 at 17:08

Rock star Billy Joel announced he is canceling all of his upcoming concerts after developing normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition that causes fluid to build up inside the skull and press on the brain.

In a social media post on Joel's Instagram page, his managers said that his condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances and led to problems with his hearing, vision and balance.

"Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health," the post reads. "He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."

Joel released a brief statement regarding the cancellation of upcoming shows.

"I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding," said Billy Joel.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, normal pressure hydrocephalus typically affects people over age 65. Joel is 76 years old. The Cleveland Clinic adds that it affects about 0.2% of people between the ages 70 and 80, and about 5.9% of people over 80.

It adds that the disorder is reversible with early diagnosis and fast treatment.

Refunds for Joel's upcoming concerts will be automatically processed to the original purchaser.

Joel had 17 shows listed on his upcoming schedule, including 14 in the U.S. Joel last performed in February, and had rescheduled several shows postponed for this spring.

Trump threatens 25% tariff on Apple iPhones, 50% import tax on European Union

23 May 2025 at 12:27

President Donald Trump threatened to impose new import taxes on the European Union, cutting short a 90-day reprieve from the Liberation Day tariffs he had imposed in April.

Minutes after threatening to impose tariffs on European Union imports, President Trump also told Apple CEO Tim Cook that he expects their iPhones to be manufactured and built in the U.S., or the company should expect to pay 25% tariffs.

Many Apple products made in China were exempted from tariffs after Customs and Border Protection released guidance indicating that smartphones, computers, and certain chips would be exempt from the import taxes on products from China.

President Trump said he is now recommending a 50% import tax on the European Union starting June 1.

On April 2, President Trump announced a 20% tariff on the European Union, but days later said he would issue a 90-day pause to facilitate negotiations. Those negotiations, he said, "are going nowhere."

RELATED STORY | President Trumps tariff pause prompts EU to hold back on countermeasures

He claimed that the European Union has been "very difficult to deal with," alleging that the bloc of European nations has taken a number of actions to create a large trade deficit.

President Trump has also imposed global 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. In response to those duties, the EU said it would impose 25% tariffs on goods from the U.S. However, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen took notice of President Trumps decision to pause "reciprocal" tariffs in April and saw it as a sign that the United States is open to negotiations.

"If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in. Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues. As I have said before, all options remain on the table," she said in April.

President Trump stated he decided to pause the retaliatory tariffs after people began getting "yippy" amid market turmoil.

Tariffs are charged to companies importing the items, and many companies, including Walmart, said some of those costs will be passed on to consumers.

Deadline to stop selling cheaper, off-brand versions of GLP-1 medications nears

21 May 2025 at 18:38

After the Food and Drug Administration announced in February that there is no longer a shortage of drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, companies were given until May 22 to stop selling compounded versions of the drugs.

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.

RELATED STORY | Hims and Hers likely to stop selling cheaper versions of GLP-1 medications

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.

The FDA stated that it could take legal action against companies that have sold unsafe copies of the drug.

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

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

Novo Nordisk brought numerous lawsuits against the FDA and companies selling compounded versions of the drugs.

The FDA has claimed that as of April 30, it has received 1,000 reports of adverse side effects caused by compounded GLP-1 medications.

Hims had sold one-month doses of compounded GLP-1 semaglutides starting at $165 per month. The list cost of Wegovy is $1,349, and one dose is generally taken every four weeks. More recently, Hims announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to sell Wegovy for $599 a dose.

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.

Most sunscreens may contain harmful ingredients, research group says

20 May 2025 at 18:47

An annual report by the Environmental Working Group claims that 77% of sunscreens on the market offer inadequate skin protection, contain potentially harmful ingredients, or both.

Out of more than 2,200 products analyzed by EWG, fewer than 500 meet its criteria for effectiveness and safety, the nonprofit, which advocates for the removal of toxic chemicals from products, said.

The group emphasizes the importance of applying sunscreen, as it helps prevent sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. However, it advises consumers to be aware of what they are applying to their bodies.

Wearing any sunscreen is much more important and offers better sun protection for your skin than not applying anything, said EWGs acting chief science officer David Andrews. But not all sunscreens are created equal. EWGs guide is a valuable and trusted resource that consumers can turn to every year to find the sunscreens that offer the strongest broad-spectrum protection without the use of concerning ingredients.

RELATED STORY | Only 1 in 4 sunscreens on the market are safe and effective, new study finds

The guide for 2025 showed varying levels of concern even within specific brands of sunscreen. For instance, the popular sunscreen brand Coppertone had several products considered "low hazard," while others were listed as "moderate hazard" or "high hazard."

The group also notes that many sunscreens contain the ingredient butyloctyl salicylate, which could inflate a product's SPF rating. EWG states that sunscreens containing butyloctyl salicylate might give misleading SPF ratings.

Even if a sunscreen delivers its labeled SPF, it may fall short by containing concerning ingredients, Andrews said. Our top-rated products offer balanced protection from UVA and UVB radiation.

In the last five years, there have been efforts to impose stricter regulations on sunscreens. The Food and Drug Administration advises using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 for the best protection.

EWG also urged caution with spray sunscreens, which it says account for 26% of the products on the market. The group argues that these products can be inhaled and are less effective when sprayed outdoors.

Dr. ElizabethΒ Buzney, outpatient clinical director of the Department of Dermatology at Brigham and Womens Hospital, told the Skin Cancer Foundation that all sunscreens are made out of chemicals and that sunscreen is one way to help prevent damage to skin cells caused by the sun.

"I want to stress that when you think about sun protection, sunscreen is important, but you should also thinkbeyondsunscreen. The safest and most effective method, used throughout history, is to minimize your exposure to the sun and wearclothing, hats and sunglasses. Any discussion of sun protection has to start with those," she said.

Click here to see EWG's guide to sunscreens.

Memorial Day weekend gas prices expected to be among the lowest in decades

20 May 2025 at 11:27

When adjusted for inflation, gas prices are expected to be among the lowest for a Memorial Day weekend in recent decades, according to an analysis by GasBuddy.

The average gallon of gas for Memorial Day weekend is expected to be around $3.08. When adjusted for inflation, gas prices for Memorial Day weekend 2025 should be the second-lowest since 2003.

Gas prices in 2020, when the United States was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and few people traveled, averaged $1.96 a gallon, which would equal $2.45 in 2025 dollars.

RELATED STORY | Memorial Day weekend travel set to break records, AAA reports

This Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest for the holiday in U.S. history for road travel, according to AAA. The organization expects 39.4 million Americans to drive at least 50 miles during the weekend.

GasBuddy says that Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest travel weekend of the summer, behind Independence Day and Labor Day.

GasBuddy also projects that gas prices will remain lower than in past summers throughout the entire season.

While were forecasting the lowest summer gas prices in years, economic jitters are slightly dampening optimism but we still expect a robust travel season, with millions of Americans hitting the road, many for extended trips, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. Rather than canceling plans, travelers are becoming more strategic with their spending."

RELATED STORY | Memorial Day weekend travel set to break records, AAA reports

According to AAA, gas prices nationally are averaging about 40 cents less per gallon than at this time a year ago.

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