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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 | 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.

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. Elizabeth 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.

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.

Days after Walmart announced price hikes would be coming later this month due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Trump said that Walmart should "eat" the costs.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said, "Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, 'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. Ill be watching, and so will your customers!!!"

Trump's comments came a day after he stated that the U.S. was unable to secure trade agreements with numerous countries.

"We'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States," he said.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told investors on Thursday that his company is preparing to raise prices, saying it cannot absorb all of the costs associated with tariffs implemented by Trump. McMillon indicated that Walmart began experiencing increased costs in late April due to tariffs, with those costs substantially rising in the first two weeks of May. He said customers could notice price increases on a broad range of items, even after Trump reduced the tariff rate he imposed on China from 145% to 30%.

RELATED STORY | Walmart to adjust prices due to tariff-related costs, CEO says

Currently, the U.S. has imposed a 10% tariff on most imported goods and a 25% duty on aluminum and steel products, in addition to the 30% tax on Chinese goods. These tariffs are charged to companies importing the items.

Trump had implemented tariffs on goods from dozens of nations but later opted to pause them for 90 days to facilitate negotiations. When the 90-day pause ends in July, it remains unclear how much importers will have to pay.

Many companies, including Walmart, have stated that some of these costs will be passed on to consumers.

"We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible, but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure, given the reality of narrow retail margins."

Trump has insisted that tariffs would help facilitate the return of manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Walmart has said that in recent years it has been purchasing more from U.S. suppliers, but many items must still be imported.

RELATED STORY | Trump tariffs aimed at reviving US jobs, but experts warn of complex challenges

President Donald Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday that he intends to speak separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week to foster a peace agreement between the two warring nations.

President Trump stated he will be speaking with Putin at 10 a.m. on Monday.

"THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," Trump wrote in all caps.

In addition to speaking with Zelenskyy, President Trump said he will also discuss the war with NATO leaders.

"HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END," Trump added.

RELATED STORY | Trump plans meeting with Putin to broker peace in Ukraine-Russia conflict

President Trump's announcement came after Putin decided not to accept Zelenskyy's invitation for a face-to-face meeting. However, delegations involving officials from Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey met on Friday. The talks in Istanbul represented the first time government officials from Russia and Ukraine have met face-to-face since 2022.

The Associated Press reported that the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. They also agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals and to arrange a meeting by their heads of state, the AP reported.

President Trump indicated that Putin would not meet with Zelenskyy unless the American leader was present.

"They all said Putin was going and Zelenskyy was going. And I said, If I don't go, I guarantee Putin is not going, and he didn't go. And I understand that, but we're going to get it done," President Trump said on Friday.

On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The State Department stated that Rubio presented Lavrov with a "comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States."

RELATED STORY | As eyes turn toward Turkey, here's what to know about Russia-Ukraine peace talks

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that a proposed change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would risk the benefits of 11 million Americans receiving assistance.

The report examined a recent bill proposed by Republican Reps. Dusty Johnson, Randy Feenstra, and Warren Davidson. One notable aspect of the legislation is that it would increase the age for complying with SNAP's work requirements from 55 to 65.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this proposed change would eliminate benefits for 1.4 million American adults. Another 300,000 people living in households with adults aged 55-64 would be at risk of losing benefits.

The proposal would also modify SNAP's work requirement exemptions for parents. Currently, adults with a dependent child under age 18 are exempt from SNAP's work requirements. The bill would change the age limit from 18 to 7.

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

This proposed change would eliminate benefits for 3.1 million American adults ages 18 to 64 if signed into law. An additional 4.5 million Americans would be at risk of losing benefits because of the proposed change, 4 million of whom are children. If enacted, 500,000 seniors age 65 and older could lose benefits.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated that the changes could affect roughly one in four SNAP participants.

"With the risk of a recession rising and the Trump administrations tariff policies likely to increase the cost of groceries and other essentials, SNAPs role in supporting people who are temporarily out of work or dont earn enough to afford basic needs is especially critical," the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities wrote. "Taking food away from more people who dont meet a harsh, red tape-laden work requirement or are unable to prove they qualify for an exemption would worsen food insecurity and hardship while undermining SNAPs vital role as an economic stimulus."

A similar proposal in 2023 estimated that such changes would save the federal government between $90 billion and $120 billion over the course of a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Most individuals and families are already subject to some form of work requirements to be eligible for SNAP.

Work is a powerful pathway out of poverty, said Johnson. Time and time again, work requirements for able-bodied adults have proven to be effective. My bill makes improvements, including closing loopholes some states use to game the system.

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

RELATED STORY | Kennedy Jr. advocates for a ban on soda purchases with food stamps

Doughnut purveyor Krispy Kreme announced this week that it is pausing adding its products to McDonald's menus throughout the U.S.

Joshua Charlesworth, CEO of Krispy Kreme, told investors that Krispy Kreme doughnuts are now available at 2,400 McDonald's locations throughout the U.S. For now, that number won't go up.

That means that only about 17% of U.S. McDonald's locations will serve Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the foreseeable future.

"We are seeing that after the initial marketing launch, demand drops below our expectations, requiring intervention," he said. "To deliver sustainable, profitable growth, we are partnering with McDonald's to increase sales by stimulating higher demand and cutting costs by simplifying operations.

"At the same time, we are reassessing our deployment schedule together with McDonald's while we work to achieve a profitable business model for all parties. Given this, we do not expect to launch any additional restaurants in Q2."

RELATED STORY | Krispy Kreme celebrates 87 years in business after a humble start in North Carolina

McDonald's began serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the second half of 2024. The companies had expected full nationwide availability by the end of 2026. Three varieties of Krispy Kreme doughnuts are available: Original Glazed, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles, and Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled.

Charlesworth seemed to think the partnership could resume expansion at a future time.

"I remain confident in the long-term national opportunity, but we need to work together with them to identify levers to improve sales, simplify operations, and once we're positioned for profitable growth, we'll expand further," he said.

Although the McDonald's expansion is on pause, the company said it is continuing with placing doughnuts in more Costco and Sam's Club locations in the coming months.

The Federal Reserve is kicking off a two-day meeting today to discuss the state of the economy. A major topic for discussion will be the economic impacts of the Trump administrations tariffs and the potential for a recession due to the ongoing trade war.

At the end of the meeting on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will announce an interest rate decision. Most financial experts do not expect the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates this month.

President Donald Trump has urged Powell to cut rates, even suggesting that Powell's termination as Fed chair "couldn't come fast enough."

President Trump would not say if he regrets nominating Powell, who became Federal Reserve chair during the president's first term. "The only thing that's going up actually is interest rates because we have a federal reserve chairman that is playing politics," he said. President Trump has since backed off those comments.

RELATED STORY | Rite Aids 'comeback story' cut short as pharmacy chain files for bankruptcy again

Powell has stated that the Federal Reserves goal is to balance keeping unemployment low while managing inflation. Experts believe lower interest rates tend to help employment numbers, but low inflation can drive up the inflation rate.

When interest rates go up, it slows the economy but can also cool inflation.

The Federal Reserve's target range for the federal funds rate remains at 4.25% to 4.50%, which is 1 percentage point lower than this time a year ago, when it was at a 23-year high.

The federal interest rate was nearly 2 percentage points lower at its highest point during President Trumps first term.

New federal regulations requiring companies to provide upfront pricing for services such as vacation rentals, hotels, and event tickets go into effect on Monday.

The new rules were initiated by the Biden administration in January and are being enforced under a new administration. They are set to take effect 120 days after being finalized in January.

The rule is intended to eliminate "junk fees," the added costs that are tacked on when a consumer goes to checkout for a purchase. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it expects the new rule will save consumers up to 53 million hours per year of wasted time spent searching for the total price of tickets and lodging.

RELATED STORY | Federal Trade Commission issues ban on ticket, hotel 'junk fees'

On Monday, the FTC issued final guidance for companies to follow to comply with the law. The regulation states that these businesses must disclose the upfront cost of most mandatory fees. Taxes, shipping charges, and charges for optional goods and services are not required to be shown upfront.

"The Rule prohibits bait-and-switch pricing and other tactics used to hide total prices and mislead people about fees in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries. These unfair and deceptive pricing practices can harm consumers and undercut businesses trying to compete fairly on price," the FTC said.

The new rule had the support of four out of five FTC commissioners at the time. Andrew Ferguson, who became chair of the commission after President Donald Trump took office, was the lone dissenting vote.

Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has increased the prices of several products, including its consoles and controllers. The price increases went into effect immediately.

Starting Thursday, the cost of the Xbox Series S 512 console jumped from $299.99 to $379.99. Its more expensive Xbox Series S 1TB console has increased by $100, now costing $429.99.

The price hikes come as President Donald Trump has implemented a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 145% tax on imports from China.

While Microsoft has not directly blamed tariffs for the price hikes, most Xbox products are made in China.

RELATED STORY | Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders begin with technical problems

"We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players," Microsoft said.

The company said that the standard price for new high-end games will increase from $69.99 to $79.99 around the end of the year.

Last month, President Trump exempted some electronics made by American companies from the import tax on products being shipped from China. Video game consoles, however, were not listed in the exemption.

Previously, Nintendo announced it was postponing presales for its highly anticipated Switch 2 video game device because of the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. Nintendo stated that presales of the Switch 2 devices would begin April 9 at select U.S. retailers. The company mentioned that sales of the Switch 2 systems would begin June 5 and would cost $449.99.

Nintendo ended up deciding to keep the price of Switch 2 systems at $449.99 after President Trump delayed implementing tariffs on Japan, where Nintendo is based.

After nearly three decades guiding the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich is stepping down as the club's head coach but will remain with the organization as the team's president of basketball operations, the franchise announced on Friday.

Popovich's coaching tenure ends after 29 seasons and 1,422 regular-season wins, the most in NBA history. He won five NBA titles as Spurs' head coach.

Prior to Friday, he was the longest active head coach among the four major sports leagues in North America.

Popovich missed most of the 2024-25 campaign after having a stroke early in the season. Mitch Johnson served as the interim coach for the majority of the season.

"While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," Popovich said in a statement. "I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are meaningful to me."

Popovich's Spurs won NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. He was the NBA's Coach of the Year 2003, 2012 and 2014.

After his tenure got off to a rocky start in 1996-97, his squads made the playoffs 20 consecutive years. That streak, however, was broken in 2019-20. The Spurs have not made the playoffs since.

The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services announced the development of a "next-generation, universal vaccine platform," intended to create a universal COVID-19 and influenza shot that won't require updates.

Currently, the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which are administered separately, are updated every year to best combat the active strains of the viruses. Government officials say vaccines developed under Generation Gold Standard could help prevent the next pandemic.

Generation Gold Standard is a paradigm shift, said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. It extends vaccine protection beyond strain-specific limits and prepares for flu viral threats not just todays, but tomorrows as well using traditional vaccine technology brought into the 21st century. Government health officials say they will begin clinical trials in 2026, hoping to have such universal vaccines available by 2029.

RELATED STORY | HHS cuts are sparking fears of a setback in vaccine availability

Our commitment is clear: every innovation in vaccine development must be grounded in gold standard science and transparency, and subjected to the highest standards of safety and efficacy testing, said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Several efforts have been made to create a joint COVID-19 and influenza vaccine. Moderna's mRNA1083 vaccine candidate showed positive data as it completed Phase 3 testing in June 2024. After receiving feedback from the Food and Drug Administration, Moderna said it now expects an extended review timeline and is targeting approval in 2026.

RELATED STORY | HHS to mandate placebo testing on 'all new vaccines'

Guidance for updated flu shots typically comes from the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, a group of non-governmental scientists who advise the FDA. Earlier this year, HHS canceled a scheduled meeting of the committee, and the FDA used its own staff to create guidance for the 2025-26 flu vaccine.

The United States added 177,000 jobs in April, despite nearly 9,000 federal workers losing their positions, according to a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Friday's report, the BLS indicated that there was no change in the unemployment rate between March and April, as it remained at 4.2%.

The U.S. government has been in the process of shrinking its workforce since President Donald Trump took office in January. Since then, the federal workforce has decreased by 26,000. However, the report notes that federal employees who have been placed on paid leave or severance are still counted as employed.

RELATED STORY | McDonald's sales sink in the worst quarter for the company since the pandemic

On average, the U.S. has added 152,000 jobs per month over the last year. In the past decade, the country typically added 1.9 million jobs per year, or approximately 160,000 workers per month. The unemployment rate has generally held steady over the last two years, remaining around 4% throughout most of 2023 and 2024.

This announcement comes at a time of uncertainty regarding the economy's future. President Trump implemented 10% tariffs on most imports into the U.S., along with 25% duties on steel and aluminum imports. Additionally, the president imposed a 145% import tax on Chinese-made products.

Whether these impacts are positive or negative for the U.S. job market remains to be seen, but they have prompted anxiety on Wall Street.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration says parents will choose quality over cost in toy purchases

President Trump has defended the tariffs, claiming they would help revive the manufacturing industry, which has lost over 5 million workers since the beginning of the century. As of April, there has been no significant change in manufacturing employment since he took office.

U.S. workers have also continued to see their earnings improve relative to inflation. In April 2025, U.S. workers were making 3.8% more per hour compared to April 2024. Workers were also earning 4.1% more per week last month compared to a year prior.

The most recent consumer inflation rate, reflected in March's consumer price index report, was 2.4%.

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to take away Harvard University's tax-exempt status amid a spat between his administration and the Ivy League institution.

The announcement comes weeks after Harvard said it would not agree to a list of demands made by the Trump administration which included calls to change its admissions and hiring policies, end all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and audit programs and departments that the administration alleges "fuel antisemitic harassment or reflect ideological capture."

Non-profit organizations must follow certain guidelines in order to maintain tax-exempt status, such as avoiding political activity.

RELATED STORY | Harvard University fights Trump administration's demand, faces $2.2 billion funding freeze

Harvard's $53.2 billion endowment would potentially be subject to millions in taxes every year if the Trump administration is successful in stripping Harvard's tax-exempt status. However, such a move could be fought in court.

"We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve!" Trump wrote Friday morning on Truth Social.

According to the Association of American Universities, most universities are given tax-empty status "because of their educational purposespurposes that the federal government has long recognized as fundamental to fostering the productive and civic capacity of its citizens."

"Income from activities that are substantially related to the purpose of an institutions tax exemption, charitable contributions received, and investment income are not subject to federal income tax," the AAU said. "The federal tax code classifies tax-exempt colleges and universities, and their foundations, as public charities. Consequently, they have historically not been subject to tax on investment income, payout requirements, or other rules that apply to private foundations."

RELATED STORY | Harvard University sues Trump administration over $2B funding freeze

Previously, the Trump administration announced that it was stripping Harvard of $2.2 billion in research grants, a move that Harvard is suing over.

Before taking punitive action, the law requires that the federal government engage with us about the ways we are fighting and will continue to fight antisemitism. Instead, the governments April 11 demands seek to control whom we hire and what we teach," said Harvard President Alan Garber.

National Council of Nonprofits President Diane Yentel said the decision would set a "chilling precedent."

"Americas academic institutions are staffed by dedicated individuals working to advance education, scientific discovery, and public service. Their contributions range from researching cures for diseases like Alzheimers and cancer to addressing critical issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and the impacts of emerging technologies. Make no mistake, this action would not improve American lives, but instead actively harm them," she said.