Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Hundreds of music legends and rising stars are calling on Congress to make major radio companies equitably pay artists when their songs are played on air. Popular 90s R&B group Boyz II Men met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a bill aiming to require corporate radio stations to compensate performers while protecting small, local broadcasters. The meeting happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 to coincide with World Radio Day. The Philadelphia-based singers of the hit song "End of the Road" spoke with three leaders in the House of Represent…
American Teacher Marc Fogel Returns Home After Release From Russian Prison American Teacher Marc Fogel Returns Home After Release From Russian Prison
American Teacher Marc Fogel Returns Home After Release From Russian Prison Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania teacher detained in Russia since 2021, is back in the United States following a negotiated exchange facilitated by President Donald J. Trump and his administration, officials announced on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Fogel, who had been serving a 14-year sentence for possessing medical marijuana prescribed for chronic pain, was freed after diplomatic efforts led by Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. His return follows years of advocacy from his family and lawmakers across the political spectrum. Fogel, Family Express Gratitude In his first public remarks since return…
American Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange American Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange
American Teacher Marc Fogel Freed From Russia In Prisoner Exchange A Pennsylvania teacher is finally free after years in a Russian prison, following a high-stakes diplomatic deal brokered at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021, is back on American soil after President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff orchestrated a negotiated exchange. Fogel, a former teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was serving a 14-year sentence for possessing medical marijuana prescribed for chronic pain. Witkoff left Russian airspace with Fogel earlier on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, as part of…
Gulf Of America Name Change Activated By Google Maps, FAA Gulf Of America Name Change Activated By Google Maps, FAA
Gulf Of America Name Change Activated By Google Maps, FAA The Gulf of America, the area that has been known for centuries as the Gulf of Mexico, is now being used by the US government and some online platforms. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Google Maps have implemented the controversial name change.  The shift follows an official update by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and was reinforced by a proclamation from President Donald Trump, who on Sunday, Feb. 9, declared the date as the first-ever Gulf of America Day. The announcement came directly from US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who posted on social m…
Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why
Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why President Donald Trump is calling for an end to the production of pennies, arguing that the cost of minting them far exceeds their actual value.  As he departed the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday night, Trump took to Truth Social to announce his directive to halt penny production, calling it a "wasteful" government expense. "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump wrote. "Let's rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it's a penny at a time." The financial burden of the penny has long been debated. Acco…
Supermarkets Running Out Of Eggs As Anger, Frustration Among Americans Mounts Supermarkets Running Out Of Eggs As Anger, Frustration Among Americans Mounts
Supermarkets Running Out Of Eggs As Anger, Frustration Among Americans Mounts Egg shortages driven by a devastating outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have now resulted in some supermarkets running out of this beloved staple. In various grocery stores across the country, customers have encountered shelves with limited or no egg cartons available.  Customers who do find cartons available are getting sticker shock, with a dozen eggs priced as high as $15 at some stores. Some supermarkets have started setting limits on the number of cartons that may be purchased. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a d…
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Just hours after a similar agreement was reached with Mexico, the United States has agreed to paused planned tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The deal was reached late Monday afternoon, Feb. 3 after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded their second conversation of the day. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau said in a statement announcing that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border plan  "reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increase…
Valentine's Day Spending To Hit Record High—And Not Just On Romantic Partners: Survey Valentine's Day Spending To Hit Record High—And Not Just On Romantic Partners: Survey
Valentine's Day Spending To Hit Record High—And Not Just On Romantic Partners: Survey Gift buying and date expenses for Valentine’s Day may reach new heights as Americans plan to spend more than ever on loved ones, a new survey said. US consumers will spend an estimated $27.5 billion in 2025, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That would surpass the previous record of $27.4 billion in 2020 and 2024's total of $25.8 billion. Valentine's Day shoppers will spend an average of $188.81, slightly up from $185.81 in 2024. More than 56 percent plan to celebrate the holiday, an increase from 53 percent in 2024. M…
US, Mexico Reach Deal To Delay 25% Tariffs US, Mexico Reach Deal To Delay 25% Tariffs
US, Mexico Reach Deal To Delay 25% Tariffs Mexico and the US have reached an agreement to delay steep tariffs that were set to take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Click here for a new, updated story: Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deal Monday morning, Feb 3. It will pause the 25 percent levies for a month, and follows negotiations between Mexican officials and the Trump administration on border security and drug trafficking.  Mexico committed to deploy 10,000 troops dedicated to stopping illegal drugs and migrants from…
Canadian Hockey Fans Boo US National Anthem After Tariffs Ordered Canadian Hockey Fans Boo US National Anthem After Tariffs Ordered
Canadian Hockey Fans Boo US National Anthem After Tariffs Ordered In a striking display of discontent, Canadian hockey fans booed the US national anthem during NHL games, expressing their displeasure hours after President Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect on Saturday, Feb. 1.  This reaction underscores the growing tension between the two neighboring countries. At the Ottawa Senators game against the visiting Minnesota Wild, fans jeered during "The Star-Spangled Banner," signaling their frustration with the US administration's trade policies.  Similarly, in Calgary, spectators at a Flames game against the De…
Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say
Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say US tariffs on goods from its three largest trading partners -- neighboring nations Canada and Mexico as well as China -- have gone into effect after President Trump signed an order late Saturday afternoon, Feb. 1. Canada and Mexico have been slapped with 25 percent tariffs. The rate for China, America's main economic rival, is 10 percent. Canada also has an adjusted 10 percent rate for energy products, include crude oil. Mexico and Canada account for about 70 percent of US crude oil imports. Now, many economists are warning that American consumers will be paying more for a host of staple i…
Elon Musk Lieutenants Given Access To US Treasury Department’s Payments System: Report Elon Musk Lieutenants Given Access To US Treasury Department’s Payments System: Report
Elon Musk Lieutenants Given Access To US Treasury Department’s Payments System: Report Representatives from a team led by billionaire businessman and political activist Elon Musk have been granted access to the US Treasury Department’s payments system, a move that could significantly impact federal spending oversight, according to a new report. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent authorized the change late Friday, Jan. 31, giving Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team access to the federal payment system, which manages disbursements for the entire US government, The New York Times says.  The decision follows a standoff with David Lebryk, a longtime Treasury …