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.

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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.

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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.

Doctors from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare told reporters on Friday that all six people who were hospitalized after Thursday's mass shooting at Florida State University are expected to recover.

The hospital received all six surviving people who had gunshot wounds from Thursday's shooting. Two people were killed in the shooting.

Dr. Brett Howard said two of the patients could be released from the hospital on Friday. Howard could not say if all six of the patients were victims, or if one of the patients included the alleged gunman.

RELATED STORY | Lawmakers react after deadly shooting at Florida State University

Howard added that hospital officials were notified of the incident on Florida State's campus shortly before noon on Thursday and started preparing to accept patients. He said victims came in with wounds to the face, chest, extremities and abdomen. Three of the six victims went to the operating room.

"We do feel that all will make a full recovery," Howard said.

While Howard said hospital staff train for mass shooting incidents, he said the most challenging issue is "you don't know how many patients you are going to receive."

"We do at least one simulation a year," he said. "We were prepared, we always like to say we learn something from every interaction and event, but if anything, I am just proud of everybody."

Howard called all of the victims "very, very brave."

RELATED STORY | Suspect in deadly FSU shooting is son of sheriff's deputy and used her weapon, officials say

"There's a moment of shock but all were able to talk to us, give us where they are feeling pain," he said. "All of them were very clear-minded and able to converse with us."

While possible changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are being considered, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins reiterated to state agencies that individuals receiving government benefits to offset food costs need to work if they are able.

Most individuals and families are already subject to some form of work requirements to be eligible for SNAP. Rollins said the memorandum requires states to make clear that people who can work, do.

Adults ages 18-54 are required to be employed or participate in a work program unless they are disabled, pregnant, have some one under age 18 in their household, experiencing homelessness or a veteran.

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

Since my confirmation, I have reiterated the states are our partners, and this includes ensuring our nutrition programs are tied to putting Americans back to work, said Rollins. It is important to remind states that Congress conditioned the receipt of benefits by able-bodied adults without dependents on satisfying work requirements. Many states have abused the system by requesting work requirement waivers. Today marks the start of a new era for SNAPprioritizing work, career and technical education, and volunteering rather than idleness, excess spending, and misapplication of the law.

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

According to Pew, 61.6% of adult SNAP recipients in 2021 said they had not been employed at all that year.

Governors in several states are pushing for changes to SNAP benefits that would disqualify soda and other junk foods from coverage. The proposed changes align with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda.

RELATED STORY | FDA vaccine chief Marks resigns, blasts RFK Jr. over vaccine misinformation

President Donald Trump's tariffs could affect rent prices in several growing markets, according to a new report from Realtor.com.

According to the report, average rent prices have fallen $65 per month in the last three years as inflation has subsided. But the report suggests that several growing markets could prices go up again.

President Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports could drive up the cost of newly built residences. Those costs, Realtor.com, could be passed along to consumers. The report also suggests some builders might opt not to go through with finishing construction due to increased costs.

RELATED STORY | Half of US renters are 'cost-burdened' by their housing

The report suggests that Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and Memphis, Tenn., are having the fastest growth in permitted multifamily homes.

Six other markets Cleveland, Columbus, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Birmingham and San Diego - could also face increasing rents.

"While the median asking rent is down $65 monthly or over $700 annually, in nearly every major U.S. metro rents are still considerably higher than 2019," said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com. "We have seen declines in rents largely due to robust multi-family building and permitting adding more rental options in many metros. This tailwind is currently under threat as developers grapple with the short-term and long-term impacts of new and evolving tariffs on building materials. For renters in cities with declining rents, it might be a good time to lock in a good rate for the next year or beyond."

The report notes that even markets that aren't growing could be impacted the tariffs, "As rising construction costs could further dampen new development plans, restricting supply and continuing to exert upward pressure on rental prices," said Berner.

Realtor.com says the average cost of monthly rent in March 2025 was $1,694.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is urging the Department of Justice to investigate an arson at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's mansion as an antisemitic hate crime.

Schumer sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, citing search warrants that indicated the alleged arsonist was motivated by Shapiro's views on the Israel/Gaza conflict.

Both Shapiro and Schumer are Jewish, and the fire came hours after the start of Passover.

RELATED STORY | Man planned to attack Pa. governor after setting fire to mansion, police say

"Given the deeply troubling allegations that the suspect targeted Governor Shapiro based in part on his religious identity, the April 13 incident warrants immediate and serious federal scrutiny," Schumer said. "While the Shapiro family slept inside, the suspect allegedly set the home ablaze, causing extensive damage and leaving lasting anguish not only for the victims but for Americans across the country. The suspect has since been charged with attempted homicide, terrorism, and aggravated arson."

Cody Balmer has been charged in connection with Sunday's arson at the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. Police said that he admitted to setting the residence on fire.

An affidavit of probable cause stated that Balmer said, "Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to know that he '... will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.' The report also said that Balmer told dispatchers "our people have been put through too much by that monster."

Shapiro would not speculate on the alleged arsonist's motives.

"Prosecutors will ultimately determine what motivated this. The district attorney and the Department of Justice can comment on that further. But right now I think what we're trying to do is find the good in society, not be deterred from our work, not be deterred from practicing our faith proudly, and to continue to move forward. You know, as parents and continue to move forward as governor and first lady," he said.

Bondi called the incident "horrific."

RELATED STORY | Man to face attempted murder charge for fire at Pennsylvania governor's home

"I firmly believe that they wanted to kill him. The defendant allegedly said he was going to use a hammer if he could have gotten to the governor. I've known the governor for many, many years. It is horrible, and yes, we are working with state authorities to do it's now a pending investigation anything we can to help convict the person that did this and keep them behind bars as long as possible," she said.

As the federal government continues its standoff over funding for Harvard University, the Department of Homeland Security announced it is canceling $2.7 million in grants and is "declaring it unfit to be entrusted with taxpayer dollars."

The funds were for two programs: the $800,303 Implementation Science for Targeted Violence Prevention grant and the $1,934,902 Blue Campaign Program Evaluation and Violence Advisement grant.

The Trump administration alleged that the Implementation Science for Targeted Violence Prevention grant "branded conservatives as far-right dissidents in a shockingly skewed study," while claiming the Blue Campaign Program Evaluation and Violence Advisement grant "funded Harvards public health propaganda."

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

Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism driven by its spineless leadership fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvards position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars.

Earlier this week, Harvard said it would not comply with a list of demands from 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."

RELATED STORY | Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard over campus activism

"The administrations prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government," Harvard President Alan M. Garber said. "It violates Harvards First Amendment rights and exceeds the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge. No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

Additionally, reports surfaced on Wednesday that the Internal Revenue Service is considering whether to revoke the university's tax-exempt status. The New York Times cited three anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The report comes after President Donald Trump called on Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly announced on Thursday that it has successfully completed a Phase 3 study of a daily pill that could lower blood sugar and aid weight loss. The pills could serve as an alternative to popular but costly GLP-1 injections such as Ozempic.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, less than 30% of Phase 3 studies are successful.

According to Eli Lilly, both the safety and efficacy of its candidate medication, Orforglipron, provided results similar to those of standard GLP-1 medications. Known side effects of GLP-1 medications include numerous adverse gastrointestinal reactions. Headaches, sore throats, and tiredness can also occur as side effects of these drugs.

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According to Eli Lilly's study, the average 199-pound participant lost 9.7 pounds when taking a 3-milligram dose for 40 weeks. The weight loss increased to 12.2 pounds for those taking 6-milligram doses and 16 pounds for those on a 36-milligram dose.

Participants given a placebo lost 2.9 pounds.

The study also found that participants lowered their A1C levels by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% from a baseline of 8.0%.

"We are pleased to see that our latest incretin medicine meets our expectations for safety and tolerability, glucose control, and weight loss, and we look forward to additional data readouts later this year," said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. "As a convenient once-daily pill, Orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world."

Many of these drugs were initially prescribed to help manage Type 2 diabetes but have since gained popularity for helping patients manage weight. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these medications 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 affects satiety, allowing patients to feel full after eating, the Cleveland Clinic said.

RELATED STORY | Ozempic, Wegovy may be linked to increased risk of condition that causes blindness, new study shows

The company did not set a timeline for when it would seek approval from government regulators.

A new study shows that CT scans are likely an "important cause of cancer" in the United States, resulting in over 100,000 cases annually.

The new research was published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday by University of California, San Francisco scientists.

The study indicated that CT scans could account for 5% of cancer cases throughout the U.S., more than tripling previous estimates. UCSF estimates that 93 million CT scans were performed in the U.S. in 2023.

The researchers noted that the number of CT scans performed in the U.S. has increased by 30% since 2007. UCSF scientists say that this should give pause to medical professionals about whether the benefits of CT scans outweigh the risks. UCSF noted in a press release that its research might indicate that CT scans are being overused for instances of upper respiratory infections and common headaches.

Few patients and their families are counseled about the risks associated with CT examinations, study co-author Malini Mahendra, UCSF assistant professor of Pediatric Critical Care, said in a press release. We hope our studys findings will help clinicians better quantify and communicate these cancer risks, allowing for more informed conversations when weighing the benefits and risks of CT exams.'

RELATED STORY | RFK Jr. weighs options for Medicare, Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 medications

The researchers stated in a press release that the largest number of cancers in adults was due to CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis, while children faced a higher risk of cancer following CT scans of the head.

The Cleveland Clinic states that CT scans use ionizing radiation to help capture images but generally carry little risk. CT scans can help show heart disease, blood clots, bone fractures, certain types of cancer, among other conditions.

"A CT scan is an imaging test that helps healthcare providers detect diseases and injuries," the Cleveland Clinic says. "It uses a series of X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of your bones and soft tissues. A CT scan is painless and noninvasive. You might go to a hospital or imaging center for your CT scan."

The UCSF researchers believe that there are some instances where CT scans should either be performed at a lower intensity or avoided altogether.

Given the large volume of CT use in the United States, many cancers could occur in the future if current practices dont change, said the study's first author, Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a UCSF radiologist. Our estimates put CT on par with other significant risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and excess body weight. Reducing the number of scans and reducing doses per scan would save lives.

RELATED STORY | Ozempic, Wegovy may be linked to increased risk of condition that causes blindness, new study shows

The Trump administration announced a $25 billion increase for Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, marking a significant rise over previous projections.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated that projected payments should increase by an average of 5.06% from 2025 to 2026, a rise of 2.83 percentage points from earlier estimates.

"This change is primarily due to the inclusion of additional data on fee-for-service expenditures, including payment data through the fourth quarter of 2024, which was not included due to the early Advance Notice publication," CMS said.

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Fee-for-service expenditures refer to what the government pays providers for individual services rather than per patient.

Following the government's announcement, several major insurance companies saw their stock prices surge. UnitedHealthcare's stock increased by 8% by Tuesday afternoon, while Humana's stock rose by 9% late Monday and into Tuesday.

According to KFF, over 54% of the Medicare-eligible population is enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Previous federal data indicates that an estimated $540 billion will be spent on Medicare Advantage this year.

KFF reports that UnitedHealthcare and Humana are the two largest providers of Medicare Advantage in the U.S.

Medicare Advantage differs from original Medicare by allowing recipients to utilize private insurance rather than the government program. This results in different out-of-pocket costs for recipients.

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After spending seven years as America's top casual restaurant, Olive Garden is no longer No. 1.

Texas Roadhouse has displaced Olive Garden as America's leading casual restaurant, Restaurant Business Magazine reported, citing Technomic 500 data.

According to Texas Roadhouse's latest investor report, the company generated nearly $5.4 billion in revenue in 2024, which is up 16% from the year earlier. In comparison, Olive Garden generated about $5.1 billion, which is up just 1% from the year prior.

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

The combination of a growing number of locations and increased sales at existing locations contributed to Texas Roadhouse's explosive growth in 2024. Texas Roadhouse finished the year with 26 additional locations compared to the start of the year.

At Texas Roadhouse locations in the U.S., comparable restaurant sales were up 6.3% in 2024.

Despite falling in the rankings, Olive Garden continues to grow, adding 10 new locations in 2024.

Another restaurant vying for the top spot, Chili's, ranked No. 3 after growing nearly 15% in 2024.

Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings rounded out the Top 5.

Here is the top 10:

Texas Roadhouse Olive Garden Chili's Applebee's Buffalo Wild Wings LongHorn Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse Cheesecake Factory Red Lobster Red Robin