Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday admitted he and his family had lunch on the private island of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein years earlier. “I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation” in 2012, Lutnick said in testimony before the Senate Appropriations … Read more
Young Carol Giuliani was excited about her school project and put her heart, soul, and endless evenings into crafting it – especially portraying her favorite crop, corn. The result was spectacular, until disaster struck. Giuliani shares her childhood memories in “From Our Readers.” I was so excited that day in the fifth grade in 1952, I … Read more
A study looking at how transcendental meditation affects genetic expression found that this popular form of mediation suppressed the activation of genes associated with stress responses. Okay, no surprise there—mediation is a calming, relaxing activity. However, the authors report evidence that the same genes found to be associated in stress response have been newly associated … Read more
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) speaks with reporters after a vote in the U.S. Capitol June 3, 2025. Annabelle Gordon | Reuters Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., on Tuesday slammed Democrats for conditioning Homeland Security Department funding on a requirement that federal immigration agents must obtain judicial warrants to carry out key enforcement activities. Johnson, in … Read more
Consumer activity slowed sharply for the December holiday shopping season amid a spate of rough weather, tariff impact and persistently higher inflation, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Retail sales were flat on the month following a 0.6% increase in November, according to numbers adjusted for seasonality but not inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had … Read more
A red-necked ostrich – credit, Shlomi Chetrit via PikiWiki Israel CC 2.5 If you pull out a world map to see where you could find some space to stick a few endangered species without the risk of bothering human settlements, the Arabian Peninsula comes to mind as an obvious location. With virtually the entire population … Read more
If you haven’t already fallen in love with the majestic Matterhorn and the town of Zermatt, travel pro Rick Steves explains why you should. I have a confession: I’m in love with the Matterhorn. There’s just something about this triangular peak of Disneyland fame – the most recognizable mountain on the planet. Just seeing it … Read more
Trowbridge in Somerset, England, on March 15, 2025. Anna Barclay | Getty Images News | Getty Images British oil giant BP on Tuesday posted fourth-quarter profit in line with expectations and suspended share buybacks, seeking to shore up its balance sheet as lower crude prices take their toll. The London-listed energy firm reported underlying replacement … Read more
A walleye caught in the Don River – Photo courtesy of TRCA Now, Canada’s National Observer brings us a story of the Don River going from a state of pollution to rival the Thames of London, to a biodiverse ecosystem home to over 20 species of fish. As with so many rivers that bisect cities … Read more
It’s that time of the year when tax documents start to appear. The 1099s, W-2s, Social Security, and pension statements all start arriving. And you might be wondering, did I overpay or underpay? So let’s address a common misconception, that tax planning for 2025 ended on December 31. True, many moves that can lower taxes … Read more