More from Karah Rucker
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Cuba frees prisoners after Biden announces plan to lift terror designation
Cuba started to release some prisoners after President Joe Biden announced Tuesday, Jan. 14, that he’s removing the island nation from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The Catholic church had been negotiating with Cuba’s communist-run government over their release. Cuba jailed most of the prisoners following unprecedented island-wide government protests in July 2021.… -
Newsom bans some offers to buy destroyed Calif. properties after fires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, signed an executive order this week to stop what he calls predatory real estate investors from taking advantage of wildfire victims. The order makes it illegal for anyone to make an unsolicited offer on property for an amount less than the fair market value in areas impacted by the Palisades… -
Canada weighs own tariffs, oil export limits to US in response to Trump threat
Canada is considering its own tariffs on U.S. goods in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threat. As part of a potential retaliatory move, Canada could impose tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of U.S. products. The possibility of limiting oil exports to the U.S. is also reportedly under consideration. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,… -
Governors push to ban smartphones in schools in New Jersey and New York
Two governors along the East Coast are taking steps to limit smartphone use in schools. New Jersey and New York are considering new policies aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom. States who have issued bans have distinguished between smartphones like iPhones and basic cellular phones that can only call or text. In New Jersey,… -
Washington Post staff send Jeff Bezos letter requesting meeting amid woes
Staff members at The Washington Post are calling on the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, to meet with them in person amid growing employee concerns. The staff’s dissatisfaction culminated in a letter signed by more than 400 employees, urging Bezos to meet with them to discuss the paper’s leadership and direction. Well-known reporters and editors request… -
Former LAFD official: Resources should have been in Palisades prior to fire
The Palisades Fire has become the most destructive fire ever recorded in Los Angeles. As firefighters continue to battle the historic blaze, which was only 19% contained as of the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15, questions about the fire’s origins persist. According to Los Angeles Fire Department officials and a review of internal documents by… -
International nonprofit wants to protect moon sites from space tourism
For the first time ever, the World Monuments Fund, whose mission is to preserve cultural heritage sites around the globe, is now setting its sights beyond Earth. The organization, founded in 1996, announced on Wednesday, Jan. 15, that the moon is among 25 at-risk sites, with the expectation that trips to the lunar surface will… -
FDA bans Red No. 3 in food and drinks due to potential cancer risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to remove the synthetic dye Red No. 3 from food and beverages, decades after it was linked to cancer risks. Originally approved in 1907, the additive has been a staple in many popular foods, including candy, cereal, cherries and dietary supplements. In 1980, studies raised alarms… -
Walgreens CEO says locking up popular items hurts more than it helps
Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth said the company’s added security efforts to prevent theft, such as locking up popular items behind glass doors, have backfired over the years. Wentworth’s acknowledgment came during the company’s first-quarter earnings call with investors on Tuesday, Jan. 14. “It is a hand-to-hand combat battle still, unfortunately,” Wentworth said. “But it does… -
Democrats and Republicans criticize Biden over Cuba terror list removal
One of President Biden’s final foreign policy decisions in the White House to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list has caused criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Sources tell The Associated Press that senior Biden administration officials who previewed the plan say dozens of political prisoners and others considered by… -
Chinese drone company won’t stop users from flying over sensitive US sites
The United States’ top-selling hobby drone producer, DJI, is implementing a major change to its drone technology. The company announced on Monday, Jan. 13, it is abandoning its previous “geo-blocking” feature, which locks up a drone and initiates a mechanism forcing it to hover in place around a “geofenced” area if it entered a sensitive… -
TikTok plans for Sunday shutdown, US employees to stay on payroll after ban
Unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes, TikTok plans to shut down for U.S. users on Sunday, Jan. 19, according to company insiders who spoke with The Information. The long-anticipated TikTok ban in the U.S. is just days away and new details are emerging about what that will look like for users. While the law banning… -
Proposed new criteria could reduce classified obesity population by 20%
A group of global experts is proposing a new way to diagnose obesity. Under new recommendations released Tuesday, Jan. 14, obesity would no longer be determined solely by body mass index (BMI). A person’s BMI is determined using a person’s height and weight. Under the new recommendations, other factors would also be taken into account,…