The Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency have targeted the Internal Revenue Service. Reports indicated the IRS will lay off between 6,000 and 7,000 workers Thursday, Feb. 20. The IRS employs over 90,000 employees, and the deadline to file 2024 income tax returns is approaching. Who will the government terminate? Like recent layoffs…

Iran executed nearly a thousand people last year in what is described as a “horrifying escalation” of its use of capital punishment, according to a pair of human rights watchdogs. The joint report published on Thursday, Feb. 20, from Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and France’s Together Against the Death Penalty shows an increase from…

Have a baby or get your money back. That’s the promise a San Francisco company is making by creating the first nationwide in-vitro fertilization (IVF) insurance in the United States. Future Family compares the offering to auto or trip insurance, with the couple paying 20% up front before starting an IVF cycle. How much does…

Full Story Kentucky Fried Chicken is relocating its U.S. corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas, according to a press release from its parent company, Yum! Brands. The move will see about 100 corporate employees make the transition over the next six months. A push for greater collaboration Yum Brands said the decision aims…

Full Story Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced he is retiring at the end of his current term and will not seek reelection in 2026. It marks the end of a 40-year tenure in the Senate, during which he oversaw a transformation of the nation’s federal courts.  “Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to…

Full Story Ukraine has intensified its drone strikes on Russian energy facilities, hitting multiple refineries and a key oil pipeline on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The latest wave of attacks has forced shutdowns at several oil-processing plants and disrupted crude shipments, putting additional economic pressure on Moscow. Which Russian refineries were targeted? Ukraine has struck at…

Arizona lawmakers aim to give its police agencies more power in the fight against drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. A bill introduced this month would allow local and state law enforcement to shoot down cartel-operated drones. This act is unlawful and falls on federal authorities to take action. The legislation known as House Bill…

Full Story A new experimental vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer is showing promise in a phase 1 clinical trial. In a study published on Wednesday, Feb. 19, researchers with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found the mRNA vaccine reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer returning after surgery. Why do we need a pancreatic cancer vaccine? Pancreatic…

Walmart’s stock sank Thursday morning, Feb. 20, after the company announced lower-than-expected profit growth expectations for the upcoming year. Walmart said the projections did not factor in possible tariffs.  Within the first 30 minutes of trading on Feb. 20, Walmart’s stock fell nearly 7%, even though Walmart’s quarterly earnings beat expectations. Walmart said it saw…

Full Story Two British citizens are in custody in Iran, facing espionage charges after an adventure on their motorcycles turned into an international incident. Craig and Lindsay Foreman crossed the Iranian border with Armenia in late December 2024 and were hoping to make it to Pakistan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard detained them in early January…