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United States

Trump Halts Mexico Tariffs Amid Rising Trade Tensions, Domestic Economic Fears Trump Halts Mexico Tariffs Amid Rising Trade Tensions, Domestic Economic Fears
Trump Halts Mexico Tariffs Amid Rising Trade Tensions, Domestic Economic Fears President Donald Trump is reversing course on tariffs against Mexico, stepping back from a trade war he started with the nation's southern neighbor. In a Thursday, Mar. 6 post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he struck a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to delay tariffs on goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The pause will be in effect until Tuesday, Apr. 2. "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum," Trump posted. "Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, to…
US Layoffs Surge To 2020 Levels As Economic Turmoil Grows: Study US Layoffs Surge To 2020 Levels As Economic Turmoil Grows: Study
US Layoffs Surge To 2020 Levels As Economic Turmoil Grows: Study Layoffs are sweeping across the country at a pace not seen in years, hitting government workers, retail employees, and tech professionals the hardest, according to a new study. US employers announced 172,017 layoffs in February, the highest total since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020, according to a report released by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas on Thursday, Mar. 6. Last month's cuts were 245 percent higher than January and more than double the job losses from February 2024. February marked a dramatic spike in job losses, as businesses and federal age…
Trump Moves To Dismantle Education Department With Executive Order Trump Moves To Dismantle Education Department With Executive Order
Trump Moves To Dismantle Education Department With Executive Order In a striking shift in policy, President Trump is poised to issue an executive order on Thursday, March 6, that could lead to the dissolution of the Education Department.  According to sources familiar with the matter, this directive will task Education Secretary Linda McMahon with initiating the necessary steps to close the department, asserting that federal control over learning has faltered. The draft order, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, articulates a resolute stance: “The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars — and the unacco…
Get Ready To Spring Forward: Here's When Daylight Saving Time Begins Get Ready To Spring Forward: Here's When Daylight Saving Time Begins
Get Ready To Spring Forward: Here's When Daylight Saving Time Begins Like it or not, it’s almost that time again—when we sacrifice an hour of sleep but gain extra sunlight in the evening. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is just around the corner, bringing the annual ritual of setting clocks ahead one hour. The time shift happens in March, marking the transition to longer, brighter days as we move closer to spring. So, when exactly do we “spring forward”? This year, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. That’s when clocks jump ahead by an hour—meaning sunrise and sunset will each occur later in the day compared to Saturday, March 8. The idea b…
You Make The Call: Gulf Of America Or Mexico? Vote Now You Make The Call: Gulf Of America Or Mexico? Vote Now
You Make The Call: Gulf Of America Or Mexico? Vote Now After President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, there's been a simmering controversy. Mexico is threatening to sue Google for going with Gulf of America for users in the United States, noting that much of the body of water lies outside US maritime borders in regions controlled by Mexico and Cuba. Apple Maps has also begun labeled it as the Gulf of America. What do you think it should be called? Vote in our poll above. Meanwhile, another platform is pushing back in a unique way — by letting users name the gulf themselves. While renaming …
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico President Donald Trump is giving US automakers a brief delay on tariffs imposed against Canada and Mexico as trade war tensions escalate and concerns rise domestically about the economy. The pause was confirmed at a news briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Mar. 5. The move came one day after Trump officially placed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods while raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. The country's "Big Three" automakers — Stellantis (formerly Chrysler), Ford, and General Motors — talked with Trump abou…
Private Job Growth Hits Lowest Point In Months As Trump's Trade Wars Shake Economy Private Job Growth Hits Lowest Point In Months As Trump's Trade Wars Shake Economy
Private Job Growth Hits Lowest Point In Months As Trump's Trade Wars Shake Economy Job growth in the private sector slowed to its weakest pace in seven months, as hiring lags amid economic uncertainty and rising trade tensions, according to new data. Private employers added just 77,000 jobs in February, the ADP said in its National Employment Report released on Wednesday, Mar. 5. That number marks the smallest job growth since July 2024 and was down sharply from January's revised total of 186,000. February's data is the latest in a wave of troubling economic indicators during the first two months of President Donald Trump's return to office. "Policy uncertainty…
Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect
Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect US tariffs on goods from its three largest trading partners -- neighboring nations Canada and Mexico as well as China -- have gone into effect as of midnight Tuesday, March 4. Canada and Mexico have been slapped with 25 percent tariffs. The rate for China, America's main economic rival, is 20 percent.  Mexico and Canada account for about 70 percent of US crude oil imports. Earlier Report: Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears Now, many economists are warning that American consumers will be paying more for a host of staple ite…
Price Hikes Likely At Best Buy, Target As Trade Wars Escalate, CEOs Say Price Hikes Likely At Best Buy, Target As Trade Wars Escalate, CEOs Say
Price Hikes Likely At Best Buy, Target As Trade Wars Escalate, CEOs Say Shoppers at Best Buy and Target should prepare for higher prices as new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China disrupt supply chains, according to the companies' CEOs. The heads of the retail giants sent out warnings about likely price hikes for everything from fresh produce to expensive electronics. On Tuesday, Mar. 4, President Donald Trump officially enacted 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, along with raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said the chain heavily relies on China and Mexico as its top two…
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight'
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, and China are responding to President Donald Trump officially placing tariffs on the three nations, escalating tensions with the US's key trading partners and increasing concerns about rising costs for American consumers. The US officially imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods on Tuesday, Mar. 4. On the same day, the US also raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the solution to the trade wars is bringing more businesses into the country. "IF COMPANIES MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES, …
Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears
Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect in less than a day, sending the stock market tumbling amid fears of a trade war. Trump said on Monday afternoon, March 3, that the US will impose 25 percent rates on imports from the two neighboring nations and the United States’ primary trading partners, effectively quashing any last-minute hopes for a negotiated agreement. “There’s no room left for Mexico or for Canada” to negotiate to prevent the tariffs from taking effect on Tuesday, March 4, Trump said at the White House, adding, “They’re all set.” The…
Alexis Ohanian Joins Bid To Buy TikTok, Promises 'Revitalized' App Protecting User Data Alexis Ohanian Joins Bid To Buy TikTok, Promises 'Revitalized' App Protecting User Data
Alexis Ohanian Joins Bid To Buy TikTok, Promises 'Revitalized' App Protecting User Data A co-founder of Reddit is looking to get involved with another popular online platform: TikTok. Entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian is joining "The People's Bid for TikTok" as a strategic advisor. Project Liberty, a nonprofit aiming to build a "people-powered internet," announced Ohanian's addition to the bid in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3. Led by billionaire founder Frank McCourt, Project Liberty's bid for TikTok was submitted to the app's parent company ByteDance earlier in 2025. The group aims to rebuild TikTok on a decentralized framework that prioritizes security for its 17…
120 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across CT, New Study Says 120 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across CT, New Study Says
120 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across CT, New Study Says Drinking water in some Northeast states contains some of the highest levels of contaminants in the country, according to new data. The latest update to the Environmental Working Group's tap water database analyzed nearly 50,000 water systems nationwide between 2021 and 2023. The nonprofit identified 324 contaminants in drinking water, many at levels exceeding health-based guidelines. New York had the highest number in the region with 197 contaminants detected since 2013. New Jersey followed with 131, Pennsylvania with 123, and Connecticut with 120. Massachusetts recorde…
Recall Issued For 60,000 Volkswagen, Audi Vehicles Recall Issued For 60,000 Volkswagen, Audi Vehicles
Recall Issued For 60,000 Volkswagen, Audi Vehicles More than 60,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles in the United States are being recalled. The move follows an announcement made by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday, Feb. 28, which highlighted that the recalled electric vehicles fail to display some gear positions.  This oversight poses a significant safety risk, as it could result in the cars rolling away if the parking brake is not engaged. The recall specifically impacts fully electric Volkswagen 2021-2023 ID.4, and 2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron, and Q4 e-Tron Sportback vehicles, the NHTSA said. A safety reca…
JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash
JD Vance Accuses Zelenskyy Of 'Campaigning For The Opposition' In Fiery Oval Office Clash In a dramatic Oval Office confrontation on February 28, 2025, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance lambasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of disrespecting the United States. The tension escalated when Vance referenced Zelenskyy's September 2024 visit to Pennsylvania, suggesting it was a politically charged move that undermined U.S. support for Ukraine. Contentious Meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting, intended to discuss ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia, quickly turned confrontational. President Trump and Vice Presiden…
Trump Executive Order Will Make English Official Language Of US Trump Executive Order Will Make English Official Language Of US
Trump Executive Order Will Make English Official Language Of US President Trump is set to sign an executive order declaring English the official language of the US, White House officials confirm. Despite nearly 250 years of history, the US has never declared an official language at the federal level.  A multitude of languages are spoken across the country, reflecting its rich immigrant heritage. The order will roll back a mandate from former President Bill Clinton requiring federal agencies and grant recipients to provide language assistance for non-English speakers.  However, agencies may still offer services in other languages, per a White…
Hostile Oval Office Meeting Turns Into Shouting Match Between Ukraine President, Trump, Vance Hostile Oval Office Meeting Turns Into Shouting Match Between Ukraine President, Trump, Vance
Hostile Oval Office Meeting Turns Into Shouting Match Between Ukraine President, Trump, Vance In an unprecedented and explosive televised confrontation, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance loudly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the Oval Office which resulted in the cancellation of a planned agreement between the two nations. The exchange early Friday afternoon, Feb. 28 marked a dramatic departure from traditional diplomatic decorum between the United States and foreign leaders. During the heated exchange, Trump and Vance criticized Zelenskyy for what they perceived as a lack of gratitude for US support in Ukraine’s three-year-old war with…
24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises 24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises
24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises A grassroots movement calling on people across the country to pause all non-essential purchases has begun its first "economic blackout" in a protest against corporate greed and financial inequality. The group called The People's Union USA organized the "24-Hour Economic Blackout" on Friday, Feb. 28. Supporters were asked to avoid all non-essential spending, including purchases from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, as well as gas and fast food. Supporters of the blackout were asked to only buy "absolutely necessary" items like food, medicine, and eme…
Trump Strikes Deal With Ukraine For Rare Earth Minerals Trump Strikes Deal With Ukraine For Rare Earth Minerals
Trump Strikes Deal With Ukraine For Rare Earth Minerals The Trump Administration has successfully negotiated an agreement with Ukraine regarding the development of the nation’s rare earth mineral resources.  The move is anticipated to strengthen diplomatic ties and pave the way for a long-term US security commitment amid Ukraine’s ongoing, three-year-old war with Russia. It's also seen as a form of reimbursement for the hundreds of billions of dollars of assistance and weapons the United States has provided to Ukraine. This significant development was initially reported by Ukrainska Pravda and the Financial Times late Tuesday afternoo…
21 Resign From Elon Musk's DOGE Saying They Refuse To 'Dismantle Critical Public Services' 21 Resign From Elon Musk's DOGE Saying They Refuse To 'Dismantle Critical Public Services'
21 Resign From Elon Musk's Doge Saying They Refuse To 'Dismantle Critical Public Services' A mass resignation has struck the newly created Department of Government Efficiency
 (DOGE), overseen by billionaire Elon Musk.  “We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the group of 21 employees said in a letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, according to the Wall Street Journal. The workers reportedly includes product managers, engineers, and data scientists. The development comes amid a wave of legal challenges aimed at halting or …
These States Seeing Highest Rates As Flu Hospitalizations Spike Amid Worst Season In Years These States Seeing Highest Rates As Flu Hospitalizations Spike Amid Worst Season In Years
These States Seeing Highest Rates As Flu Hospitalizations Spike Amid Worst Season In Years The flu is surging across the United States, reaching its highest severity in 15 years. Overcrowded hospitals, long ER wait times, and visitor restrictions have made this one of the worst flu seasons in recent history. In early February, flu-related doctor visits and hospitalizations hit their highest levels since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, according to the CDC. The agency reports that at least 33 million Americans have already been sickened during the 2024–2025 flu season. Key Figures  (as of Feb. Friday, 21, per CDC estimates): 33 million illnesses 430,000 hospitalizations 19,00…
Right-Wing Podcaster Dan Bongino Named FBI Deputy Director Right-Wing Podcaster Dan Bongino Named FBI Deputy Director
Right-Wing Podcaster Dan Bongino Named FBI Deputy Director Popular right-wing podcaster - and staunch Trump supporter - Dan Bongino has been named as the FBI deputy director in a surprise move. The former Secret Service agent who went on to become an instructor in Maryland, earned a master's degree from Queens College and an MBA at Penn State University. He will serve under recently appointed FBI Director Kash Patel, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency's dozens of field offices. "Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY…
Home Sales Plummet, Prices Hit New January Record: How Tariffs Could Drive Costs Higher Home Sales Plummet, Prices Hit New January Record: How Tariffs Could Drive Costs Higher
Home Sales Plummet, Prices Hit New January Record: How Tariffs Could Drive Costs Higher Home sales fell in January as prices continued soaring, showing the financial strains potential buyers are facing. Existing-home sales declined 4.9 percent from December 2024 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.08 million in January, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in a news release on Friday, Feb. 21. The median home price climbed 4.8 percent year-over-year to $396,900, the highest amount ever in a month of January. In the Northeast, sales fell 5.7 percent from December to an annual rate of 500,000 homes, though they increased 4.2 percent from January 2024. The m…
Trump Fires Nation's Senior Military Officer Trump Fires Nation's Senior Military Officer
Trump Fires Nation's Senior Military Officer President Donald Trump announced on social media that he has just fired the nation's senior military officer and named a successor. General Charles Q. Brown Jr., age 62,  made history as only the second African American to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Trump appointed retired three-star general John D. Caine to fill Brown's position as he seeks to reshape military leadership. “Today, I am honored to announce my nomination of Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Friday evening, Feb…
New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy
New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy As economic uncertainty looms, a new poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating has slipped, with growing numbers of Americans expressing concern over the nation's financial direction. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 4,145 US adults nationwide over a six-day period ending Tuesday, found Trump's overall approval rating at 44 percent, down from 45 percent in a poll conducted Friday, Jan. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 26.  His disapproval rating climbed to 51 percent, a notable increase from 41 percent in polling taken just after he returned to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20 to T…
‘Survivor’ Holding Casting Call At CT's Mohegan Sun: Do You Have What It Takes? ‘Survivor’ Holding Casting Call At CT's Mohegan Sun: Do You Have What It Takes?
‘Survivor’ Holding Casting Call At CT's Mohegan Sun: Do You Have What It Takes? Reality TV hopefuls will get their shot at island glory when the producers of the popular series “Survivor” roll into Mohegan Sun for an open casting call next month. Contestants who think they can outwit, outplay, and outlast the competition will have a chance to prove it in front of the show's producers at the Shops at Mohegan Sun on March 13 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in The Shops Concourse at the hotel and casino.  Anyone who dreams of braving the elements, forging alliances, and competing for the $1 million prize must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States. …
CT Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says CT Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says
CT Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says Inflation and soaring grocery prices are squeezing US households at the beginning of 2025, but a new study says Northeast families are spending less of their income on food than other parts of the country. A study from WalletHub called States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries was released on Thursday, Feb. 13. Despite higher food costs, residents in many Northeast and mid-Atlantic states spend a smaller share of their incomes on groceries compared to others. WalletHub said the cost of groceries has surged more than 25 percent since 2019, straining household…
Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns
Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns After a solid holiday season, US retail sales took a surprising step back to start 2025, snapping a streak of growth and fueling worries about the economy. Retail and food services sales fell 0.9 percent in January, according to Census Bureau data released on Friday, Feb. 14. The decline reversed the trend from December 2024's revised increase of 0.7 percent, signaling that consumers may be feeling the squeeze from rising prices. Economists had predicted only a slight decline, with Dow Jones estimating a 0.2 percent drop, NBC News reported. The sales totals were seasonally adjusted but…
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…