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."

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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.

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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.

RELATED STORY | RNC chair calls Save America Act past due as Senate vote nears

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.

RELATED STORY | Trump says GOP cant win without voting law changes, demands action from Senate

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

Robert S. Mueller III, the FBI director who transformed the nation's premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and who later became special counsel in charge of investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump's presidential campaign, has died. He was 81.

With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away on Friday night, his family said in a statement Saturday. His family asks that their privacy be respected.

At the FBI, Mueller set about almost immediately overhauling the bureaus mission to meet the law enforcement needs of the 21st century, beginning his 12-year tenure just one week before the Sept. 11 attacks and serving across presidents of both political parties. He was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush.

The cataclysmic event instantaneously switched the bureaus top priority from solving domestic crime to preventing terrorism, a shift that imposed an almost impossibly difficult standard on Mueller and the rest of the federal government: preventing 99 out of 100 terrorist plots wasnt good enough.

Later, he was special counsel in the Justice Departments investigation into whether the Trump campaign illegally coordinated with Russia to sway the outcome of the 2016 presidential race.

FROM THE ARCHIVES, THE MUELLER PROBE EXPLAINED:

Trump posted on social media about Muellers death: Robert Mueller just died. Good, Im glad hes dead. The Republican president added, He can no longer hurt innocent people!

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

A second act as an investigator of a sitting president

The second-longest-serving director in FBI history, behind only J. Edgar Hoover, Mueller held the job until 2013 after agreeing to Democratic President Barack Obamas request to stay on even after his 10-year term was up.

After several years in private practice, Mueller was asked by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to return to public service as special counsel in the Trump-Russia inquiry.

PAST REPORTING | Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Report Is Out. What Now?

Muellers stern visage and taciturn demeanor matched the seriousness of the mission, as his team spent nearly two years quietly conducting one of the most consequential, yet divisive, investigations in Justice Department history. He held no news conferences and made no public appearances during the investigation, remaining quiet despite attacks from Trump and his supporters and creating an aura of mystery around his work.

All told, Mueller brought criminal charges against six of the presidents associates, including his campaign chairman and first national security adviser.

His 448-page report released in April 2019 identified substantial contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia but did not allege a criminal conspiracy. He laid out damaging details about Trump's efforts to seize control of the investigation, and even shut it down, though he declined to decide whether Trump had broken the law, in part because of department policy barring the indictment of a sitting president.

But, in perhaps the most memorable language of the report, Mueller pointedly noted: If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment.

The nebulous conclusion did not deliver the knockout punch to the administration that some Trump opponents had hoped for, nor did it trigger a sustained push by House Democrats to impeach the president -- though he was later tried and acquitted on separate allegations related to Ukraine.

The U.S. Senate this week passed a bill that would prohibit members of Congress from bypassing standard airport security screenings at commercial airports.

The vote comes nearly a month into a partial government shutdown that has left Transportation Security Administration employees without pay. The shutdown has contributed to longer security lines due to higher rates of employee call-offs.

The End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act passed by unanimous consent and now heads to the House for consideration.

RELATED STORY | Don't let the government shutdown slow you down: How to deal with long TSA lines

The bill would also ban members of Congress from using federal funds to pay for expedited security screenings. While lawmakers can have travel between Washington and their home districts paid for by the government, they would be responsible for covering any costs for faster screenings.

The bill also specifies that a lawmakers participation in the Trusted Traveler Program would not be based on their congressional status.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, sponsored the measure.

RELATED STORY | Government funding impasse is making the TSA travel experience even worse

As many Americans probably dont know but most of us in Washington do airports around the country allow members of Congress to bypass the usual TSA security screening process at airports nationwide, Cornyn said. In other words, they get to skip the line. This should end today.

Members of Congress are getting an unfair perk. We know trust in Congress is at an all-time low, but today, thank goodness, the Senate has taken an important step toward restoring the trust of the people we are here to represent.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a higher-dose version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy through a pilot program designed to accelerate drug approvals.

The agency said Thursday that 7.2-milligram injectable doses of Wegovy are now approved for certain adult patients. Those eligible include people with obesity and overweight patients with at least one underlying health condition.

The drug is available only after a patient has tolerated a 2.4-milligram dose of Wegovy for four weeks and additional weight loss is clinically indicated.

RELATED STORY | Popular weight loss drug Wegovy is available in pill form only if you pay cash

Novo Nordisk said 31.2% of people on the higher dosage achieved weight loss of at least 25% of their body weight, compared with about 15% of patients on the 2.4-milligram dose. Practically no patients on a placebo lost 25% of their weight.

The FDA approved the higher dose 54 days after Novo Nordisk applied, making it just the fourth drug to be cleared through the Commissioners National Priority Voucher pilot program.

The program aims to shorten the approval process for certain medicines from 10 to 12 months to under two months. It was created to address public health crises, large unmet health needs, affordability concerns or innovative breakthrough therapies.

The new FDA is moving with unprecedented efficiency on products that advance national priorities, said FDA Commissioner Martin Makary. Todays approval is another demonstration of what the FDA can accomplish when we try bold new things.

The higher-dose Wegovy is expected to be available in pharmacies starting in April.

GLP-1 medications have been used for decades to treat diabetes and have recently gained popularity for weight loss. In addition to helping people with diabetes control symptoms, drugmakers say GLP-1 medicines improve cardiometabolic markers in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with obesity.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, GLP-1 medications manage blood sugar by triggering insulin release from the pancreas and slowing digestion, which reduces the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream. They also help patients feel full after eating.

Potential risks include gastrointestinal issues, headaches, sore throat and fatigue, which were observed during clinical trials.

RELATED STORY | Without lifestyle changes, doctor says weight loss from GLP-1 drugs wont last

NASAs Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft reached the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center on Friday morning as the agency prepares for humanitys return to the moon.

The rocket and spacecraft returned to the pad nearly a month after a wet dress rehearsal flagged several issues, delaying the launch.

The rocket was moved about four miles from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pad.

Last week, NASA said the crew could lift off as soon as April 1, with additional launch opportunities later that month. The astronauts began a two-week prelaunch quarantine Wednesday.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will remain in isolation in Houston before flying to Florida five days ahead of the April 1 launch window.

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The latest delay came after engineers discovered an interrupted flow of helium to the rockets interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The mission had previously been postponed about four weeks after a rehearsal revealed a leak in Orions liquid hydrogen tank, which released excessive propellant into the rockets core stage.

Artemis I, launched in 2022, was the first mission in NASAs Artemis program, which aims for deep space exploration beyond the moon. While Artemis I was uncrewed, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby.

NASA initially planned for Artemis III to be the first crewed lunar landing, but the mission will now test an uncrewed lander. Artemis IV is set to be the programs first crewed landing.

The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972.

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Somehow, nearly 14,000 people who filled out an NCAA mens basketball tournament bracket picked all 16 games played Thursday correctly.

An estimated 36 million brackets were submitted on major sites including the Mens Bracket Challenge Game, ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Most were busted after the very first game, as more than 20 million picked Ohio State to defeat TCU a prediction that quickly fell flat.

While a No. 9 seed beating a No. 8 is typically more of a toss-up than an upset, Thursday still delivered several stunning results. And yet, 14,000 people nailed them all.

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The biggest upset of the day came when No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin. Somewhat less surprising was No. 11 VCU defeating North Carolina, which was without top player Caleb Wilson.

Another upset: No. 11 Texas over No. 6 BYU.

The day nearly featured the rarest of upsets a No. 16 over a No. 1. Duke trailed Siena for portions of the second half but rallied late for a 71-65 win.

Last year, about 36,000 perfect brackets remained after the first day of a tournament with few major surprises. In 2024, only 2,100 survived Day 1. How many will remain perfect after today? The tournaments overall No. 1 seed, Arizona, faces Long Island University this afternoon.

RELATED STORY | 6 players accused of throwing games, gambling ties lose NCAA eligibility

Costco CEO Ron Vachris addressed the future of the warehouse chains iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo in an Instagram post Wednesday.

The hot dog price will not change as long as Im around, Vachris said.

The video shows Vachris eating a Costco hot dog and appearing to enjoy it. The post follows one from McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski, who was seen trying the companys new Big Arch Burger. That video drew mockery online, as viewers suggested he seemed uncomfortable eating the large sandwich.

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

Costco has kept the price of its staple hot dog-and-soda deal steady for decades, despite rising costs. According to NPR, the price of a Costco hot dog and soft drink has remained $1.50 since 1985. Had the price kept up with inflation, the hot dog and fountain drink would now cost $4.65.

One recent change: Costco switched from Pepsi products to Coca-Cola.

Other food court items, however, have not been immune to inflation. The price of a soda rose from 59 cents to 69 cents in 2022, and to 79 cents in 2025. That same year, Costco increased the cost of its chicken bake from $2.99 to $3.99.

Membership fees have also gone up. In 2024, the annual basic membership rose from $60 to $65. Executive members began paying $130, a $10 increase.

The fee hikes did little to slow Costcos growth. In 2024, it had 75.5 million members, including 34.5 million executive members. As of February 2026, it has 82.1 million members, with 40.1 million executive members. Store count has also grown to 629, up from 614 when membership fees last increased.

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

The calendar may say its still winter, but an extreme heat wave is gripping the western United States, with areas experiencing record warmth more typical of summer.

The high temperature in Phoenix on Thursday is expected to reach 105 degrees, breaking the citys March 19 record of 96. Temperatures there are forecast to stay above 100 through at least next Tuesday.

Las Vegas is expected to hit 98 Thursday, 8 degrees warmer than the citys previous record for the date. Inland parts of Los Angeles are expected to reach the upper 90s, also shattering daily records.

Nearly 20 million people in the Southwest are under excessive heat warnings, and another 20 million face heat advisories.

RELATED STORY | Rising temperatures could make millions of people more sedentary, new study finds

The National Weather Service says heat waves this early in the year are extremely rare.

The early, prolonged nature of this heat with limited seasonal acclimation will increase the risk of heat impacts, especially among sensitive populations or those without effective cooling, the Weather Prediction Center said. Heat-related advisories and warnings have been posted across the Desert Southwest and along central and southern California.

The sudden shift from winter has raised concerns that mountain snowpacks could melt quickly, leading to flooding.

Elsewhere, the Rockies and Central Plains are expecting temperatures nearly 20 degrees above normal, with highs in the 80s reaching as far north as Montana and South Dakota.

RELATED STORY | Trump admin plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research over 'climate alarmism'

After a chilly start to the week, the Midwest is warming up, with highs reaching the 60s in Indianapolis and the 70s in St. Louis.

Temperatures in the Northeast should stay closer to average, with New York City expecting weekend highs near 60.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that other nations will send ships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open amid fears that Iran may restrict the flow of oil and other goods through the vital waterway.

Nearly one-fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Irans new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to close the strait as the U.S. and Israel continue their bombing campaign against the country.

RELATED STORY | Trump says war in Iran is 'pretty well complete,' but does not give specific end date

In the weeks since the U.S. and Israel began their war with Iran, oil prices have surged. A barrel of oil averaged around $65 last month before the strikes began. This week, prices climbed to more than $110, before settling at $97 on Saturday.

The price spike has pushed U.S. gas prices up 70 cents per gallon over the past month, according to AAA.

Trump suggested that nations affected by Irans actions will join the U.S. in efforts to protect shipping through the strait.

Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Irans attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe, Trump said on Saturday. We have already destroyed 100% of Irans Military capability, but its easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are. Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.

RELATED STORY | Crude oil prices spike near $120 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that the Trump administration is growing desperate.

The touted U.S. security umbrella has proven to be full of holes, inviting trouble rather than deterring it, Araghchi said. The U.S. is now begging others, even China, to help make Hormuz safe. Iran calls on brotherly neighbors to expel foreign aggressors, especially as their only concern is Israel.

After another delay to NASAs planned mission to return humans to the moon, the four-member crew of Artemis II has been given a new launch window.

NASA said the crew could lift off as soon as April 1, with additional launch opportunities later in the month. Officials plan to roll the Artemis II rocket and its Orion spacecraft off the launch pad on March 19. The astronauts will also begin a two-week prelaunch quarantine in the coming weeks.

The latest delay came after engineers discovered an interrupted flow of helium to the Space Launch System rockets interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The mission was previously postponed for about four weeks when a rehearsal revealed a problem with Orions liquid hydrogen tank, which leaked excessive propellant into the rockets core stage.

RELATED STORY | Potential Artemis II liftoff date set as astronauts prepare for moon flyby

Artemis I, launched in 2022, was the first mission in NASAs Artemis program, which aims to enable deep space exploration beyond the moon. While Artemis I was uncrewed, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby.

While I am comfortable and the agency is comfortable with targeting April 1 as our first opportunity, keep in mind we still have work to go, said Lori Glaze, deputy associate administrator for NASAs Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. There are still things that need to be done within the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) and out at the pad. And as always, we'll be guided by what the hardware is telling us, and we will launch when were ready.

RELATED STORY | NASAs next moon mission faces new setback launch delayed by a month

Artemis III was originally planned as a crewed landing on the lunar surface. NASA now intends to use the mission to test an uncrewed lunar lander, making Artemis IV the first crewed landing of the program.

The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972.

Nearly 830,000 Americans could experience delays in receiving their tax refunds this season after the Internal Revenue Service stopped issuing paper checks.

According to Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, 500,000 filers have received notices to provide the IRS with direct deposit information. Another 300,000 filers are expected to receive the notices.

The National Taxpayer Advocate estimates that about 10 million Americans received paper checks for their refunds last tax season. The group says 4.2% of U.S. households lack a bank account.

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It said eliminating paper checks particularly affects Americans living abroad, taxpayers with religious constraints, victims of domestic violence, and taxpayers with disabilities.

The IRS says that once a taxpayer provides bank account information, refunds will be released after six weeks.

Democratic Reps. Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Terri A. Sewell of Alabama sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying many of the affected Americans lack bank accounts and could struggle to access their refunds.

Having reviewed the IRS notice and called the IRS phone lines, we learned that there is no simple process for these taxpayers to request an immediate release of their refund by paper check without waiting at least 10 weeks, the lawmakers wrote. Effectively, the president, unilaterally through his executive order, is causing undue hardship on millions of Americans by delaying their paper refunds for months.

RELATED STORY | Easy way to find unclaimed funds in your name

The Trump administration implemented the near-elimination of paper checks in September to cut costs. The Treasury Department estimates it costs about 50 cents to issue a paper check, compared with less than 15 cents for an electronic funds transfer.

David Protein, a fast-growing brand known for its high-protein, low-calorie bars, is facing a class-action lawsuit that could shake the health-conscious snack market. Three consumers allege the companys products contain far more calories and fat than advertised, potentially undermining their appeal to people trying to manage weight.

RELATED STORY | Protein tops Americans' 2026 nutrition priorities, survey finds

The lawsuit targets David Proteins parent company, Linus Technology, accusing it of deceptive practices. Plaintiffs say independent testing shows the bars contained 78% to 83% more calories than stated on their nutrition labels.

Calories explained

A calorie measures the energy food contains, derived from three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat. Each gram of carbohydrates and protein has four calories, while each gram of fat has nine.

The body turns calories into energy, muscle and fat, and consuming more calories than the body uses leads to weight gain.

Rules for nutrition labels

The Food and Drug Administration requires calorie counts on labels but allows a 20% margin of error. That means a product advertised as having 100 calories could legally contain between 80 and 120 calories.

Testing results for David Protein bars

David Protein bars are marketed as having roughly 150 calories and at least 20 grams of protein. But plaintiffs say their testing revealed much higher numbers.

For example, they claim the companys red velvet bar advertised at 150 calories and 28 grams of protein contains 271 calories. They attribute the discrepancy mostly to fat content: the nutrition label lists 2.5 grams of fat, while testing found 12.2 grams.

Several other bars allegedly tested at more than 270 calories.

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Had Defendant complied with the law, the statement of the total and correct number of calories and fat would have revealed to consumers that the Products provide significantly more calories and total fat than claimed, the lawsuit says. Defendant has been able to charge a price premium for the product as a result of these misrepresentations and omissions.

Relative to other protein bars, David Protein products are expensive; a 12-pack sells for about $40.

David Protein defends its pricing on its website:

Our bars deliver exceptional value to our customers by offering the highest protein-to-calorie ratio on the market. We are less expensive and more convenient than our closest competitor: boiled cod, the company said.

Scripps News has contacted David Protein for comment on the lawsuit.

Why it matters

Plaintiffs say the marketing is aimed at consumers seeking healthier options.

Not only are Defendants misrepresentations misleading, they are material, the lawsuit reads. As Defendant is well aware, many American consumers are health-conscious and routinely rely upon nutrition information when selecting and purchasing food items.

They add that overconsumption of calories and fat is a major risk factor for overweight and obesity, and that about half of consumers annual food spending, and a third of their calorie and fat intake, comes from purchases outside the home.