There is a new food pyramid, and analysis shows that following the updated guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture could cost Americans significantly more.

Data compiled by market analysis firm Numerator indicates a typical household would spend $1,012 more annually to follow the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans compared with the previous version. The guidelines, published every five years, place greater emphasis on meat and fat sources, such as butter, and less on whole grains and plant-based proteins, such as beans.

According to Numerator, grocery bills would rise by nearly one-third under the new guidance. Changes involving protein have the biggest effect: The new guidelines recommend Americans eat nearly twice as much protein especially from meat as prior guidelines.

The report advises adults to consume 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. For example, a 200-pound person should eat between 109 and 146 grams of protein each day. Previous recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration for a person that weight were about 73 grams.

RELATED STORY | New US dietary guidelines urge more protein, fewer ultraprocessed foods

Numerators data show that in November 2025, a typical American spent about $37.33 per month on meat-based proteins to meet previous serving sizes. Under the new guidance, that figure would climb to $71.27 monthly to meet recommended protein intake.

Grains, which are relatively inexpensive, saw smaller changes. Reducing grain consumption would save the typical American about $2.24 monthly.

The new guidelines also put more emphasis on whole foods unprepared fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy and less on ultraprocessed and prepackaged items. According to Numerator, nearly 49% of total grocery sales come from the center of stores, where foods are typically already processed. About 42% of sales come from the perimeter, where fresh produce, meat and dairy are sold, with the remaining 9% from frozen aisles.

The guidelines help shape policy and influence menus for school lunches, Meals on Wheels and other federally funded food programs. While Numerators research does not address the impact on schools and government-funded programs, it suggests those following the updated guidance could face higher costs.

RELATED STORY | Whole milk returns to schools but is it the healthier choice?

Reducing ultraprocessed foods has widespread support, but some parts of the new guidelines have faced criticism notably the potential increase in saturated fat consumption, which scientists say can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages on saturated fat intake. Earlier this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the government was ending its war on saturated fat by promoting meat-based proteins and fat sources such as butter and beef tallow in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Kennedys department largely ignored a panel of experts who favored plant-based proteins such as beans and lentils. However, the new guidelines retain the recommendation to limit saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories.

By all indications, Artemis IIs landing was a success, as it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after a nine-day journey that included a flyby of the moon.

After traveling more than 250,000 miles from Earth, the Artemis II Orion spacecraft landed within a mile of its intended target, reaching speeds of up to 24,664 mph.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II crew splashes down in Pacific, ending historic moon mission

This crew has said time and again that they were going for all of humanity. And today we fulfilled that objective by completing their journey and returning them safely to Earth, said Rick Henfling, Artemis II entry flight director.

The mission was the first to send humans toward the moon in more than 50 years and was designed as a stepping stone for future lunar missions. Artemis III, scheduled for launch in mid-2027, will not travel to the moon as originally planned. Instead, the crew will use the flight to test equipment and docking capabilities.

NASA plans to send astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028 with the Artemis IV mission.

One key set of data could determine whether NASA can stay on schedule.

Problems emerged after Artemis Is landing in 2022, when engineers found issues with the Orion spacecrafts heat shield. NASA said the shield exhibited more cracking and charring than expected.

In response, NASA changed how the heat shield was applied to Orion and adopted a different landing angle to minimize stress on the shield. Officials said late Friday it was too soon to know how successful those changes were, but they expect to have answers soon.

RELATED STORY | New reentry strategy guides Artemis IIs historic return to Earth

Lori Glaze, deputy associate administrator for NASAs Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said data from the spacecraft was sent instantly to Mission Control and is now being analyzed.

She added that divers photographed the heat shield while Orion was still in the ocean, before recovery.

Howard Hu, Orion program manager, said the spacecraft will undergo a 30-day inspection period culminating with a report. He said NASA expects to reuse 286 components from Artemis II.

Amid a spike in gas and energy prices in March following U.S. attacks against Iran, the consumer price index posted its largest month-over-month increase in nearly four years.

Prices for goods and services rose 0.9% in March. For the 12 months ending in March, inflation climbed 3.3%, up from 2.4% in February.

Since 2000, the average annual inflation rate has been 2.1%. The Federal Reserves target is 2%, but inflation well below that level has often signaled a recession.

RELATED STORY | Inflation was already high before Iran war drove up gas prices, new report shows

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance, with food, shelter and energy carrying more weight.

Energy costs surged 10.9% in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Food and shelter costs have remained above 2% over the past year, indicating inflation more broadly is still a concern.

Workers continue to see pay increases. Average weekly wages rose 3.5% over the past year, with private-sector employees seeing particularly strong gains, according to ADP.

The latest data could signal the Federal Reserve may hold off on lowering interest rates in 2026. The Fed had projected a quarter-point cut this year, but it typically raises rates during periods of high inflation.

RELATED STORY | How long could gas prices stay high? Forecasting the Iran war

With streaming services now offering live sports, finding games on television has become a more expensive and burdensome process.

In addition to cable subscriptions, fans often need several streaming services to locate the games they want to watch. Amazon Prime Video holds rights to NFL and NBA games. Netflix has acquired rights to MLB and NFL contests. Peacock airs college football, college basketball, NFL, NBA and MLB games. Apple TV+ carries MLB and MLS matchups. ESPN+ and Hulu stream some NHL games.

RELATED STORY | Scripps launches free sports network featuring live games, womens leagues

In response to rising costs, two Democratic lawmakers asked the Federal Communications Commission to use its broad authority to protect the public interest and noted that Congress has previously directed the commission to actively promote economic competition.

We encourage the Commission to closely examine the trends that have directly contributed to the current state of sports streaming, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Patrick Ryan wrote to the FCC.

In March, the FCC requested public comment, seeking proposals to address concerns about television access to live sports.

For decades, Americans have enjoyed turning on their television sets and quickly finding the games they wanted to watch for free on over-the-air broadcasts, the FCC said. Many games are still available for free over broadcast TV, but there has been a surge in recent years of games going behind the paywalls of various streaming services. While this can increase the number of games and sports available to fans, many consumers today find it more difficult to locate the events they want to watch, and are now paying to sign up for one or more video distribution platforms that can be difficult to navigate.

RELATED STORY | MLBs 2026 opener highlights growing shift to streaming, costing fans more

The lawmakers cited examples of alleged anti-competitive practices that have increased costs for sports fans. Those include Fubos merger with Disney, parent company of ESPN, and forced bundling of cable and streaming services with channels or platforms sports fans dont use.

For sports fans, the cost of watching live sports on television or via streaming becomes more expensive every year, and the options for tuning in become even more complicated, Warren and Ryan wrote. Mergers involving already-dominant distributors, streamers, and sports leagues themselves threaten to make matters worse, leaving viewers spending more and more money to watch the sports they care about.

The lawmakers suggested the FCC take a more active role in reviewing transactions.

Costco is facing a class-action lawsuit from a California man who alleges the company violated the states law on auto-renewals for memberships.

Russel George claims Costco failed to comply with a law requiring companies to give customers a renewal notice at least 15 days and no more than 45 days before an annual membership expires. Costco offers two membership tiers: a $65 annual membership and an executive membership costing $130 a year.

The lawsuit says George does not use his membership enough to justify keeping it.

Had the plaintiff been provided this notice in a timely manner, he would have canceled his membership and not gone forward with the auto-renewal, the complaint states.

Scripps News has contacted Costco for comment.

RELATED STORY | Costcos $1.50 hot dog combo faces inflation. The CEOs answer?

Costcos policy allows members to cancel memberships by calling a toll-free number or visiting a store location.

California law requires that consumers must be able to cancel using the same method of communication as used to enroll in the plan or the method that the consumer generally interacts with the business. Businesses must also offer a toll-free phone number, email address, or other easy-to-use cancellation method, according to the California Attorney Generals Office.

The Federal Trade Commission tried to implement similar nationwide auto-renewal rules in 2024 under the Biden administration. A federal appeals court struck down the rule in July 2025, with opponents arguing the FTC failed to follow proper rulemaking procedures.

Under the proposed rule, businesses would have been required to make cancellation at least as easy as enrollment for example, if signing up took one click, canceling would have been just as simple. It also would have required annual reminders and confirmations for renewals of non-physical goods.

Georges case against Costco is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in June.

RELATED STORY | Costco sues over Trump's tariffs, seeks full refund for fees it says are illegal

With the moon at their backs, the Artemis II crew is preparing for its return to Earth on Friday after becoming the first humans in more than 50 years to venture around the moon.

The four astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans have ever gone. They captured striking images of the moon, Earth and the galaxy while studying for potential future missions to the moon and beyond.

NASA is targeting an 8:07 p.m. Eastern time splashdown of the crews Orion spacecraft. Before reentry, the crew will pressurize their spacesuits and lower their visors to protect themselves from the intense heat generated during descent.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II mission completes successful transit around the far side of the moon

Rick Henfling, NASAs flight director for Artemis II, said ground crews are monitoring wave conditions, winds and precipitation. As of late Wednesday, he said, We have some really favorable conditions.

NASA said Orion is capable of landing even if it experiences multiple contingencies, but flight controllers will still monitor its mechanics before splashdown.

Were really looking at things that affect guidance, navigation and control, and the propulsion systems, Henfling said. We want to ensure that the spacecraft can still fly safely home. We have some ways to alter the landing profile, which shortens our entry path.

On the uncrewed Artemis I mission, NASA discovered significant issues with Orions heat shield. Rather than burning away in a controlled manner, the shield had more layers and pieces that were charred and cracked than expected.

NASA adjusted how it applies the heat shield material to Orion as a result of the excessive charring. The spacecraft will also reenter Earths atmosphere in a different way.

RELATED STORY | What Artemis II astronauts eat: NASA space menu for moon mission

Artemis I used a skip reentry, bouncing in and out of the atmosphere before landing. Artemis II will take a more direct path to its splashdown site.

Mission controllers say they lose some flexibility in potential landing zones with the lofted entry approach, but Orion program manager Debbie Korth stressed that changing the reentry method was part of the plan well before launch.

NASA also tests the tiles surrounding Orion for damage, specifically from tiny bits of debris in space.

We really didnt see anything (concerning), Korth said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will not be far away when World Cup games are played in Canada, the CBC reported.

The report comes amid questions about ICEs involvement in the World Cup after the agency deployed agents to Italy for the Olympics.

According to the CBC, ICE agents will not be permitted to carry weapons or make arrests. Instead, they will work with Canadian authorities on joint investigations involving narcotics, weapons smuggling and human trafficking.

RELATED STORY | ICE arrests newlywed wife of Army soldier at military base just days after they were married

The agents will be from the agencys Homeland Security Investigations branch. HSI has offices in five Canadian cities where the U.S. maintains consulates, including two World Cup host cities: Vancouver and Toronto.

Toronto City Council voted in late March to express opposition to ICEs presence and instructed city staff to avoid supporting ICE actions within Toronto, particularly during the World Cup.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a component of ICE within DHS, operates in close partnership with Canadian law enforcement to combat transnational crime and protect communities on both sides of the border. HSI special agents investigate and enforce laws related to transnational crime, including human trafficking, child exploitation, weapons and drug smuggling, financial fraud, and more, wrote Baxter Hunt, consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.

RELATED STORY | Authorities probe shooting involving ICE agents in California; suspect injured

Hunt cited several partnerships between U.S. and Canadian authorities that disrupted narcotics and firearm smuggling between the two countries.

Hunt added that there will not be a deployment of additional ICE agents to Canada during the World Cup.

The World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

An essential part of this cooperation is the extraordinary joint effort of the United States, Canada and Mexico to ensure the safety of the event, Hunt wrote.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot a man during an arrest attempt in Patterson, California, on Monday.

ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons said officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who he described as a suspected gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection with a murder.

Lyons said Mendoza Hernandez tried to run over an officer as agents approached the vehicle.

RELATED STORY | Airport bottlenecks ease as TSA workers get paid, but shutdown continues

Officers then opened fire, striking Mendoza Hernandez, who was taken to a local hospital. His condition was not immediately disclosed.

The FBI is investigating the incident.

The Modesto Bee reported last week that there had been 36 arrests by ICE within Stanislaus County since President Donald Trumps second term began.

As of 2020, over 11% of the countys population comprises of non-U.S. citizens.

RELATED STORY | Police video shows arrest of 19-year-old immigrant who died in ICE custody

Forecasters predict an El Nio climate pattern will dominate global weather starting this summer with some calling for what could be a super El Nio.

El Nio is part of a cycle in which waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean become warmer than average. Sea surface temperatures in the region where El Nio forms are expected to be 2.5 degrees Celsius above normal.

Meteorologists say anything more than 2 degrees could be considered a super El Nio. Only one El Nio in the past five decades has been stronger than whats forecast for this fall.

RELATED STORY | Your winter might be nothing like last year. Heres why

El Nio patterns typically occur every three to seven years. When the next one arrives, forecasters expect record heat. The most recent El Nio developed in late 2023 and early 2024.

Historically, El Nio brings wetter conditions to the southern United States but drier weather to the North. It also tends to produce milder winters across much of the country.

One potential benefit: El Nio can suppress hurricane activity because strong upper-level winds disrupt developing storms.

Yale climatologists Jeff Masters and Bob Henson wrote that, based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations forecast released Monday, the world should prepare for an unusually strong El Nio.

RELATED STORY | Earths climate is now 'out of balance,' new global report warns

Even if El Nio forms, they said the effects are unlikely to show up in North American weather patterns until after summer.

The problem is that most of the seasonal effects in North America from a building El Nio or La Nia event dont kick in till after summer, they wrote. This is largely because the atmospheric reverberations from El Nio-Southern Oscillations home base in the eastern tropical Pacific are more powerful when they play off against the stronger jet stream that sets up in fall and winter.

President Donald Trump spoke Monday to the four-member crew of Artemis II, hours after the three Americans and one Canadian completed a flyby of the moon.

The mission marked humanitys first trip to the moon in more than 50 years and was the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. During the flyby, the crew recorded images of the moon never before captured by humans.

NASA designed the mission to test the Orion spacecrafts life-support capabilities as it plans future missions to the moon and beyond.

Today, you've made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud, Trump told the astronauts. "We'll plant our flag once again, and this time we won't just leave footprints. We will establish a permanent presence on the moon, and we'll push on to Mars. That will be very exciting. I'm waiting for that so much. I would love to be there, but maybe we won't quite make it in terms of timing. But we will be up on the moon.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II mission completes successful transit around the far side of the moon

The astronauts described to Trump what they saw while orbiting the far side of the moon the side that cannot be seen from Earth.

The call came just after the astronauts witnessed a solar eclipse, with Earth blocking the suns light.

We saw sights the Orientale (lunar sea) sights that no human has ever seen before, not even in Apollo, and that was amazing for us, Artemis II Commander Reid Weisman said. And then the surprise of the day: we just came out of an eclipse. We could see the corona of the sun, and then we could see the planets line up and then Mars. All of us commented on how excited we are to watch this nation and this planet become a two-planet species."

During the flyby, astronauts lost contact with Earth for about 50 minutes, an expected outage as the spacecraft moved out of direct line of sight with Earth.

I said a little prayer, but then I had to keep rolling, pilot Victor Glover told Trump. I was actually recording scientific observations of the far side of the moon. Thats the time when we were the farthest and the closest to the moon, so we were able to make some of our most detailed observations up close.

RELATED STORY | What Artemis II astronauts eat: NASA space menu for moon mission

The Artemis II crew is now heading back to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft and is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday.

Tuesday marks the deadline imposed by President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face bombings of civilian infrastructure, including power plants.

Iran has given no indication it will meet Trumps deadline. The administration has said negotiations toward a cease-fire are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached.

Trump has set deadlines in the past, later extending them in hopes of securing a peace agreement.

I can tell you theyre negotiating. We think in good faith, were going to find out. Were getting the help of some incredible countries that want this ended because it affects them, Trump said.

On Tuesday, Trump echoed his past statements, claiming, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."

But he warned that if Iran does not come to an agreement, Theyre going to have no bridges. Theyre going to have no power plants. Stone Ages.

Trump has not shied away from outlining in detail the consequences for Iran and its citizens if an agreement is not reached.

"We have a plan because of the power of our military," Trump said on Monday. "Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night. Every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition, by 12 o'clock. And it will happen over a period of four hours if we want it to. We don't want that to happen. We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation. And you know what? If that's the case, the last thing we want to do is start with power plants, which are among the most expensive thing, and bridges."

The administration is facing domestic pressure as U.S. gasoline prices have risen sharply since the war began. AAA reported the average price for a gallon of regular gas reached $4.14 on Tuesday and could climb further if the conflict continues.

Although the United States produces more oil than it consumes, crude is traded globally and the Straits closure has reduced supply worldwide, driving prices higher.

The U.S. has received little international support for the bombing campaign. Israel has joined in striking Iranian targets, but other traditional American allies have declined Trumps request for assistance in reopening the Strait.

RELATED STORY | With hours to go, Trump warns Iran: Open Hormuz or face all hell

European Council President Antonio Costa said on X that a bombing campaign targeting power plants and bridges could be considered a war crime.

Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable. This applies to Russias war in Ukraine and it applies everywhere. The Iranian civilian population is the main victim of the Iranian regime. It would also be the main victim of a widening of the military campaign, he said.

McDonalds has announced a new value menu featuring eight items priced at $3 or less, along with a $4 breakfast meal deal.

The eight items include:

Sausage McMuffin Sausage Biscuit Sausage Burrito Hash Browns McChicken McDouble 4-piece Chicken McNuggets Small Fries

For generations, McDonalds has been committed to delivering great value our fans can count on, said Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer for McDonalds USA. As our customers expectations evolve, were making it easier for them to get the value theyre looking for on their terms. McValue offers more choice, more flexibility, and more ways to build a meal that fits their day and budget.

The $4 breakfast meal includes a choice of a Sausage McMuffin or Sausage Biscuit, served with Hash Browns and a small McCaf Premium Roast Coffee

RELATED STORY | McDonalds to debut Big Arch Burger, its most calorie-dense yet, March 3

The $1 menu, once a staple, is long gone. Labor and food costs have surged since the pandemic, forcing fast-food chains like McDonalds to adjust prices.

How it compares to past value items

In late 2017, McDonalds introduced its 3-2-1 value menu.

$1 items: Sausage Burrito, McChicken, Cheeseburger, any size soft drink $2 items: Sausage McGriddles, 2-piece Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, Bacon McDouble, small McCaf beverage $3 items: Sausage McMuffin with Egg, Classic Chicken Sandwich, Triple Cheeseburger, Happy Meal

The 3-2-1 menu remained for several years.

In 2019, McDonalds launched a buy-one-get-one-for-$1 deal on Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets.

Following the pandemic, the company shifted toward meal bundles rather than individual value items.

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In 2024, McDonalds introduced a $5 value meal that included a McDouble or McChicken, small fries, a 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, and a small soft drink. Many locations still offer that deal.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Friday that service members will now be allowed to carry personal firearms on military bases while off duty.

The new policy rescinds a long-standing Defense Department rule that restricted most troops from carrying personal weapons on base. Previously, troops were required to register firearms before bringing them onto an installation, and only military police could carry them outside training or guard duty. Concealed carry permits were not valid on military property.

Before today, it was virtually impossible for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with the state laws where we operate our installations, Hegseth said.

RELATED STORY | Do police need military weapons? 

Under the new rules, service members must still register their firearms, but installation commanders will be directed to presume approval for requests made for personal protection.

The memo Im signing today directs installation commanders to allow requests for personal protection to carry a privately owned firearm with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection, Hegseth said.

The policy still prohibits carrying personal weapons inside military police buildings.

Hegseth said the change was prompted by active-shooter incidents at military facilities, most recently at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico on March 17.

RELATED STORY | Trump seeks $1.5 trillion defense budget, proposes cuts to programs at home

U.S. employers added 178,000 jobs in March, even as businesses faced higher costs from oil and rising inflation.

The upbeat job numbers, released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, exceeded many analysts expectations. Human resources provider ADP had projected a 62,000-job increase in the private sector for March. Because the U.S. lost government jobs, according to the BLS, the latest figures indicate 186,000 private-sector jobs were added.

Coupled with recent BLS data on job turnover, the report suggests many employees are staying put while businesses freeze hiring. The February hiring rate was the lowest since April 2020, when the pandemic halted much of the nations job growth.

There were notable gains in the construction and manufacturing sectors, but health care jobs again accounted for the bulk of the growth.

"It's a really tricky time if you don't work in healthcare," said economist Heather Long. "It's still going to be a rough few months, I think, for hiring."

RELATED STORY | Gen Z trades tech for tools: Rise of the toolbelt generation

While finding new jobs may be more difficult, the data show most workers are holding onto the ones they have. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3% in March.

Workers also continue to see pay increases. Average weekly wages rose 3.5% over the past year, with private-sector employees seeing particularly strong gains, according to ADP.

Overall hiring is steady, but job growth continues to favor certain industries, including health care, said Dr. Nela Richardson, ADPs chief economist. In March, this solid performance was accompanied by a boost in pay gains for job-changers.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics newest data doesnt yet take into account much of the impact of the war with Iran.

The conflict has sent the price of gas soaring, and Americans anticipating the wider economic ripple effects from the war could help explain why consumer sentiment remains low.

According to a new survey, 77% of Americans say economic conditions are poor and fewer than one in three approves of President Trumps handling of the economy.

As the war in Iran continues, and with President Donald Trump suggesting strikes could continue for weeks, gas prices hit another recent high Thursday.

According to AAA, a gallon of regular gas now averages $4.08 in the U.S., the highest in four years. Gas prices surged above $4 a gallon in the months following the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2022.

During that conflict, prices briefly hit $5.02 a gallon the only time in U.S. history the national average has topped $5. Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said prices will likely range between 4.25 and $4.45 a gallon, but he could not rule out a further jump into record territory.

RELATED STORY | Gas prices near $4 a gallon as the ongoing war in Iran limits oil movement in the Strait of Hormuz

Consumers have only seen the $4-a-gallon average reached nationally for 157 days, going back to 2009. So, this is starting to get into a consumer mindset an uncomfortable level, he said. And while many Americans have increased median incomes compared to what they did in 2009 and 2022, it still is uncomfortable for many consumers seeing the dollar amounts on those gas pumps going up much faster than gallons.

He also expects diesel prices to hit $6.05 a gallon, which would set a record. High diesel costs could trickle down into higher prices for consumers.

Crude oil prices surged Thursday morning as Iran continues to limit shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of the worlds oil supply passes.

Although the U.S. produces more oil than it consumes, oil is traded globally, and tighter global supply is driving prices higher.

RELATED STORY | How long could gas prices stay high? Forecasting the Iran war

Trump addressed rising gas prices during his prime-time address from the White House on Wednesday.

Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home. This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers in neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict, he said.

The launch of Artemis II Wednesday evening, marking humanitys return to the moon, was largely a success, but there was one stinky problem inside the Orion spacecraft.

As astronauts performed a burn to adjust the spacecrafts altitude while orbiting Earth, the crew noticed a blinking fault light on the toilet. NASA officials said the toilet appeared to be jammed after liftoff.

The crew and ground teams resolved the issue within several hours.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II astronauts lift off for historic mission around the moon

It was among several problems NASA addressed after liftoff.

We had a controller issue with the toilet when they spun it up, so we've got to work through that, NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said.

He also noted communications were briefly intermittent and that a water tank was temporarily closed due to the shaking of the spacecraft.

The new toilet system, officially named the Universal Waste Management System, is far different from the one Apollo astronauts used on their journeys to the moon. Apollo astronauts urinated into diapers and bags, and stored solid waste in bags mixed with bactericide to bring back to Earth.

Orions toilet uses airflow to pull fluid and solid waste away from the body and into the proper containers. NASA says the toilet also has an automatic airflow feature that helps control odor.

Pretreated urine, which prevents the generation of ammonia from the breakdown of the urine, is stored in a urine tank and then vented overboard each day by the crew, much like the space shuttle, NASA said. Solid waste is collected in fecal canisters, which the crew replaces every few days, and stored in Orion for the 21-day mission. The canisters have filtered caps to control odor and gas buildup generated within the cans.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II to take 4 astronauts farther from Earth than ever before

The four-person crew is spending most of Thursday in low-Earth orbit. Thursday evening, the astronauts will perform a burn to leave low-Earth orbit and head toward the moon.

The astronauts are expected to reach the far side of the moon Monday before using a slingshot maneuver to return to Earth.

More than two months after a medical emergency aboard the International Space Station abruptly ended his crews mission, astronaut Michael Fincke still doesnt know what caused his sudden illness.

Fincke said he experienced a brief period in which he was unable to speak, describing the episode as something that came out of the blue.

We were getting ready for a spacewalk on Jan. 8, and the evening before we had just met with the doctors, he said. I was feeling super. Everyone was feeling super. And then I wasnt.

Four crew members returned to Earth in January after their five-month mission was cut short. NASA did not comment on the severity of the medical issue, citing privacy concerns.

RELATED STORY | NASA announces ambitious plans for a space station on the moon

Fincke said he was eating dinner when he suddenly could not talk.

My crewmates saw I was in distress and immediately started taking care of me, he said. One of the Russian crewmates went to get the others, and it was all hands on deck within seconds.

Within moments, flight doctors on the ground were looped in via video and guided the crew through initial diagnostic tests.

Unlike on Earth, there are no hospitals in space. NASA stocks medical supplies aboard the station, but they are minimal compared to what is available on the ground.

I did my own echocardiogramwe have ultrasounds thereand it looked like I did not have a heart attack, Fincke said. We ran a few other tests to rule out some big issues. Eventually, we felt comfortable saying we didnt know what was going on, but to rule out serious possibilities, we needed to come back to Earth.

During their mission, the crew marked the 25th anniversary of continuous operations on the ISS and completed more than 140 experiments.

RELATED STORY |First medical evacuation from International Space Station brings crew safely home

Fincke believes his sudden illness may have been linked to prolonged exposure to microgravity.

He hopes the experience will help NASA develop strategies to keep astronauts safe during longer missions.

The incident comes as NASA prepares to send a crew on a lunar flyby, potentially as soon as this week. The Artemis program is designed to pave the way for a crewed mission to Mars a journey that could keep astronauts away from Earth for years.

Its a really interesting time right now, Fincke said. As we prepare to spend more time on the moon and Mars, the space station is showing its value in low Earth orbit, helping us understand how humans and microgravity interact.

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about potentially contaminated Raw Farm-brand raw cheddar cheese after nine illnesses were reported in California, Texas and Florida.

The illnesses may be tied to Raw Farm block and shredded cheddar cheeses, the FDA said. Those who became ill showed symptoms of E. coli, and three were hospitalized. Eight patients reported consuming raw milk products, including seven who said they used Raw Farm products.

The FDA said Raw Farm declined to voluntarily remove its products from store shelves. Although federal testing has not detected E. coli in the brands cheddar cheeses, the agency noted that lab analysis of isolates from sick patients showed they were closely related genetically, indicating a likely common source of infection.

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Raw Farm President Aaron McAfee said company testing also found no E. coli in its cheese. He added that the company is cooperating with the FDA investigation.

We want them to see what we have, that all of our cheese is negative, McAfee said.

Democratic members of the congressional Food Safety Caucus have urged the FDA to take action to remove the products from shelves.

The FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from sale after they determined it was the likely source of an ongoing E. coli outbreak, caucus members said. Raw Farm refused. We have one message for Raw Farm and FDA: Get it off the shelves now.

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Raw Farm does not pasteurize its dairy products. The FDA advises against consuming unpasteurized milk, noting that pasteurization is a proven process with a 100-year history of protecting public health and is effective at eliminating bacteria that can cause illness.

Federal regulations allow cheese made from raw milk if it is aged for at least 60 days.

The U.S. Senate on Saturday failed to advance two proposals attached to the SAVE America Act, a measure tied to election reforms backed by President Donald Trump.

Both amendments needed 60 votes to be adopted into the bill.

In a rare weekend session, Senate Republicans fell short of the threshold for language that would block federal funding for programs allowing transgender women those assigned male at birth to participate in womens sports at the high school or college level. The amendment, intended to ban such participation, received 49 votes, with Democrats opposing. Ten senators did not vote.

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A second amendment, pushed by Senate Democrats, would have provided funding for the Transportation Security Administration, which remains unfunded amid a partial government shutdown. TSA is among the Department of Homeland Security agencies without funding for more than a month, as Democrats press for changes to immigration enforcement.

TSA agents have been working without pay, leading to increased call-outs and longer security lines at some airports. Officials have warned that if the shutdown continues, some smaller airports may have to close because of rising absenteeism.

The two amendments were considered as Republicans moved to invoke cloture on voting reforms that would require voters to present photo identification at polling places and proof of citizenship when registering.

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The SAVE America Act has already passed the House but would return there for another vote if the Senate adds any amendments.