According to Lending Tree, the average monthly cost of full-time infant care at a center comes out to $1,282, about 25% less than the average monthly cost of $1,716 to rent a two-bedroom space. But that’s only for one child; the cost of child care is significantly more for families who have two or more young children.
“Spending almost $1,300 a month on child care is a massive burden for parents, but most families don’t have another choice,” said Lending Tree’s Matt Schulz.
“They can’t stay home. They don’t have family or friends they can rely on for child care. They have no other option but to put up a ton of money each month for child care. It makes an already difficult financial situation that much more challenging.”
The findings also revealed that Springfield, Massachusetts, had the highest child care-to-rent cost gap in the country. Monthly infant care in the city costs $1,996, while the average rent for a two-bedroom place is $1,734.
Behind Springfield was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Wichita, Kansas, which had a 14.8% and 14.3% difference.
“High child care costs may require some sacrifice, but it’s important to remember that day care isn’t a forever expense,” Schulz added. “With that in mind, it might make sense to focus on keeping housing costs down during that period in which you’re paying for child care regularly.”
According to Child Care Aware of America, the average cost of child care rose 13.3% from 2023 to 2024. The cost was up 35.5% from five years prior.
(NEXSTAR) – The No. 1 app in America last week wasn’t A.I. or some form social media. The hottest new download is a little bean that just wants to knit.
Fans say the simple but effective app actually helps them put down their phones and focus on tasks that matter.
“I spend too much time mindlessly scrolling, mostly tik tok, instead of doing things I actually like to do,” said one review on the Apple App Store. “Just using this app for one day has cut my screen time in half.”
Another reviewer said it helped them focus on cleaning their house for a full hour without taking a “small break” on their phone (which usually turns into a long break, let’s be honest). Another put it simply: “More… I want.. MORE BEAN.”
Last week, it rose to the top iOS app, beating out ChatGPT, Threads and Google, the app’s developer (and mega-popular YouTuber) Hank Green noticed.
Here’s how it works: Once you download the app, you meet your little cartoon bean and give it a name. This bean really loves to knit socks, but it keeps getting distracted when you mess around on your phone. So to give it dedicated knitting time, you can set a focus timer to last anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Once you hit start, the countdown clock is on, and your little bean gets to work with its knitting needles. If the bean knits enough socks, you can trade them in for furniture to decorate its room.
The timer doesn’t actually force your phone into lockdown. Instead, in order to get you to focus, it plays with your heart. Because if you interrupt your bean, it gets really sad, hunched over and mopey. And no one wants to see their little bean like that.
Green said the app is meant to give your attention back to whatever you care about, resisting the temptation to mindlessly scroll. He said he uses it to force himself to stay present with his family at the dinner table or even to watch a movie without distractions.
“We need these tools because all the smartest people in the world are focused on keeping our attention,” he said, referencing the addictive qualities of many other apps and platforms.
“The anti-app is the top app!” he explained excitedly on YouTube. “We’re winning, you guys! We’re going to take our minds back!”
The app is free and doesn’t collect any personal data, Green says. It doesn’t even require a sign-in. There are in-app purchases that allow you to further customize your bean and its room.
(The Hill) — The cost of college in the U.S. is going … down?
With lower tuition, less student debt and more grant aid, College Board data released last week shows a hopeful future for higher education costs, despite public perception.
The report shows that over the past few years, the cost of college and the number of students graduating with debt have decreased even while concerns among the public about the price of school have risen.
Experts say the state of the economy and misperceptions around the sticker price of universities and the actual cost paid by a student could skew reality.
The report is “pointing to what we think are positive trends and a result of our institutions, their boards, their legislators and their governors placing priority on keeping a public higher education affordable,” said Mark Becker, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
The College Board found that in-state tuition for a public university is down to $11,610 a year, compared to $12,140 a decade ago. After grant aid is applied, the average student would pay $2,480, a decrease from the 2014-2015 school year, when that amount totaled $4,140.
For private schools, the net price is $16,510 a year, down from $19,330 in 2006.
Even sticker prices, the cost that is displayed by schools before any aid is applied, have mostly gone down in the last decade. The report said sticker prices in the last decade rose only 4 percent at private, nonprofit schools, decreased 4 percent at public four-year colleges and went down 9 percent at public two-year ones.
Around 18 million individuals are in higher education in the U.S. , with around 13 million in public institutions and 5 million in private colleges, according to Statista.
“All this data are turning in the right direction. The average sticker prices have declined the last five years across all three major sectors,” said Jennifer Ma, co-author of the report and executive research scientist at the College Board.
The good news can be surprising amid headlines blaring about how some schools are nearing $90,000 a year.
“Of course, that’s depending on where the school you’re going to is, depends on the state you live in, but your own situation might be different, so that’s one thing,” Ma said when discussing public perceptions. “And another thing is […] every student’s situation is different, and tuition fees is not the only thing that students have to pay. So they have to live, they have to eat, and they also have to pay for school course materials and other supplies. So there are all these other expenses as well.”
The report also showed that student debt overall is down.
Those graduating in debt with bachelor’s degrees are down 10 percent, or $5,600, from a decade ago, with the average debt among borrowers now at $27,100.
Becker said there’s been “real progress over the past decade.”
“I think just the ability to see over time that the reliance on debt has actually been decreasing — because in Washington, student debt, college debt has been a major political issue and certainly a focus of the Biden administration,” he said.
“We’re also seeing that the amount of debt that students are taking on has come down dramatically, and so I think both of those are important realizations of what’s happened over the past decade. Part of the narrative out there in the public is higher education is getting more and more expensive, but when you look at in-state students, in particular public institutions, that’s actually not the case,” he added.
More than 40 million Americans hold student debt, and the Biden administration has forgiven more student loans than any president in history.
What the future will look like for the cost of higher education is unclear as a big reason for the decrease in prices has been from increases in federal, state and local funding.
“So one of the reasons for these low increases in sticker prices in the last five years is the increase in state and local funding for higher education, as well as the increase in federal grants. So the federal grants really are in the form of COVID Relief Fund,” Ma said.
“With local funding, it looks like it’s been increasing since the end of the Great Recession of 2008,” she added. “The federal funding, COVID relief funding, is over. But on the other hand, local funding largely, largely depends on the state of the economy. So as long as the economy is doing well, we can expect to see that funding continue to increase, but the net impact is hard to know.”
And Stephanie Hall, acting senior director of higher education policy at the Center for American Progress, said she is overall “a bit pessimistic” as the current trend may prove impossible to maintain.
“If prices are being held down below inflation, that’s great, but someone’s being squeezed at that point. So if it’s not the institution that’s being squeezed, it’s the state. If it’s not the state or the institution, it’s the students. And if it’s not all of the students, it’s some of the students. So I am worried about just the unsustainability of what I see in equities and how we fund higher ed,” Hall said.
FALL CITY, WASH. (AP) — Law enforcement officials found five people killed in a shooting inside a home southeast of Seattle on Monday morning and took a teenager into custody, police said.
Several people called 911 around 5 a.m. to report a shooting in Fall City, Washington, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Mellis said at a media briefing Monday afternoon.
Arriving deputies immediately took one teen into custody while another teenager who had been hurt was taken to a Seattle hospital, Mellis said. Both teens live at the house, Mellis said.
Deputies entering the home found the bodies of five people, he said. Two were adults and three were described by Mellis as young teenagers. No names have been released yet.
“Once bodies were discovered, clearly we understand that this is a hugely significant crime scene,” he said.
Police arrive on the scene of a shooting in Fall City, Washington, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Kevin Clark/The Seattle Times via AP)
Mellis said the shooting appears to involve members of a family, but added that they didn’t yet know how they were related. He also said there was no ongoing threat to the community.
“I have no reason to think that there will be any additional arrests,” he said.
The teen in custody was booked into King County’s juvenile detention facility, according to Mellis. The teen will appear in court for a first hearing on Tuesday or Wednesday, a spokesperson for the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in an email.
A neighbor told KING-TV that a couple and their five children lived in the home.
“I’m just in total shock, I keep bursting into tears,” Lynne Trowern, told the news outlet.
Sheriff Patricia Cole-Tindall told KING-TV that she was “very sad, very disturbed” to learn about the shooting.
FALL CITY, WASH. (AP) — Law enforcement officials found five people killed in a shooting inside a home southeast of Seattle on Monday morning and took a teenager into custody, police said.
Several people called 911 around 5 a.m. to report a shooting in Fall City, Washington, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Mellis said at a media briefing Monday afternoon.
Arriving deputies immediately took one teen into custody while another teenager who had been hurt was taken to a Seattle hospital, Mellis said. Both teens live at the house, Mellis said.
Deputies entering the home found the bodies of five people, he said. Two were adults and three were described by Mellis as young teenagers. No names have been released yet.
“Once bodies were discovered, clearly we understand that this is a hugely significant crime scene,” he said.
Police arrive on the scene of a shooting in Fall City, Washington, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Kevin Clark/The Seattle Times via AP)
Mellis said the shooting appears to involve members of a family, but added that they didn’t yet know how they were related. He also said there was no ongoing threat to the community.
“I have no reason to think that there will be any additional arrests,” he said.
The teen in custody was booked into King County’s juvenile detention facility, according to Mellis. The teen will appear in court for a first hearing on Tuesday or Wednesday, a spokesperson for the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in an email.
A neighbor told KING-TV that a couple and their five children lived in the home.
“I’m just in total shock, I keep bursting into tears,” Lynne Trowern, told the news outlet.
An emailed statement Monday evening from King County Councilmember Sarah Perry said the shooting involved a family of seven people.
Sheriff Patricia Cole-Tindall told KING-TV that she was “very sad, very disturbed” to learn about the shooting.
(NEXSTAR) — Absentee voting allows registered voters to cast their ballots by mail, offering a convenient alternative for people who can’t make it to polling places on Election Day. But what happens if you lose your absentee ballot before November 5?
While misplacing a ballot can be stressful, there are still ways to make sure your vote is counted. Depending on your state’s rules, you have a few options.
Here’s a look at what some of those are:
Contact your local election office immediately
First, you can contact your local election office after realizing your ballot is missing, according to the non-partisan U.S. Vote Foundation.
Election officials are equipped to guide you through the process of requesting a replacement. While all states have provisions for lost absentee ballots, the deadlines to request and return these ballots can differ dramatically between states.
Request a replacement ballot
In most states, if you lose or damage your absentee ballot, you can request a replacement.
For example, in Pennsylvania, you can submit an application for an absentee ballot through your county election office, as long as it’s before 5 p.m. on October 29. The replacement ballot will need to be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day for it to be counted.
Similarly, voters in states like California, Hawaii, and Kansas, can request a replacement up until seven days before Election Day. On the other hand, New York and Iowa have earlier deadlines, requiring you to request a replacement at least 15 days before the election.
You can also track the status of your ballot online to confirm it has been mailed to you and received by election officials.
To request a replacement, you’ll generally need to provide personal information such as your name, address, and possibly an ID number to verify your identity.
Vote early in-person — or wait until Election Day
Another option is to take advantage of early in-person voting if you can’t get a replacement in time. Early voting has already begun in 22 states, including key battlegrounds like Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina, as reported by USA Today.
And next week, early voting will open across even more states.
If you’re still without your absentee ballot by Election Day, voting in person is most likely your final option. In most states, you can still vote provisionally if there’s concern your absentee ballot was lost or never received by election officials.
For example, in Ohio, if your absentee ballot hasn’t been received and logged, you can go to your polling place and request a provisional ballot. After Election Day, election officials will check to ensure your absentee ballot wasn’t counted before accepting your provisional ballot.
In Georgia, if you lose your absentee ballot, you can also fill out and sign an affidavit confirming you didn’t vote by mail. This will allow you to cast a regular in-person ballot.
It’s important to arrive at your polling place early on Election Day, as provisional ballots may take additional time to process. As a reminder, always check with your state or local election office for the most accurate information on absentee voting rules, deadlines, and available options.
(NewsNation) — Child labor violations are increasing, and over two dozen states have made moves that are exacerbating the issue, a recent report by Governing for Impact, the Economic Policy Institute and Child Labor Coalition says.
“Many assume that children working long hours in dangerous jobs is a thing of the distant past in the United States,” the report’s authors said. “Unfortunately, they’re wrong.”
Injury rates almost doubled among workers under 18 between 2011 and 2020, the report said.
The Fair Labor Standard Act, passed by Congress in 1938, authorized some restrictions on child labor. Still, the report says, in recent years there have been “noted increases” in child labor violations, workplace injuries and chronic absenteeism from school.
In FY 2023, the Department of Labor concluded 955 investigations and reported that it found a 14% increase in violations from the previous year. Nearly 5,800 children were working in ways that didn’t follow the laws, and the department assessed more than $8 million in penalties, an 83% increase from FY 2022.
Organizations, in their report, detailed the stories of a 16-year-old boy who was killed while deep cleaning a piece of machinery in the deboning area of a Mississippi chicken processing plant. Proper supervision and precautions failed him, the report said.
Another teen near Orlando, Florida, died at the construction site of a two-story house in 2019 when he fell from a height of 8 feet off a step ladder while holding a 24-foot flooring joist. The joist fell on the boy’s chest and killed him, the report said.
A number of factors can lead to youth getting hurt on the job, including which occupation they’re employed in, the report said. Agriculture is an industry where the risks to child workers are the highest and regulations are the weakest, for example, according to the report.
“Instead of addressing the troubling increase in workplace injuries among children, industry-aligned groups like those behind Project 2025 have actually proposed to change federal regulations to let more young people work in more dangerous jobs,” the report said.
Project 2025 is a nearly 1,000-page handbook from conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, as well as other organizations, that serves as a guide for what they want done under a Republican presidential administration.
While Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, dozens of people who worked closely with him during his time in the White House are involved in it, a fact Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ campaign has pointed out.
Authors of Project 2025 wrote that some young adults “show an interest in inherently dangerous jobs.”
“Current rules forbid many young people, even if their family is running the business, from working in such jobs. This results in worker shortages in dangerous fields and often discourages otherwise interested young workers from trying the more dangerous job,” Project 2025 authors said. “With parental consent and proper training, certain young adults should be allowed to learn and work in more dangerous occupations. This would give a green light to training programs and build skills in teenagers who may want to work in these fields.”
Along with those in the industry pushing for less child labor protections, legislators in more than 30 states have taken steps to weaken them since 2021, Governing for Impact, the Economic Policy Institute and Child Labor Coalition wrote in their report.
“Citing labor shortages and under pressure from industry groups, these states have taken steps to: allow children under 18 — often much younger — to work in dangerous occupations, limit employer liability when their child workers are injured, and let employers schedule children for overnight shifts,” the report said.
What can be done to prevent child labor violations?
Since 2021, the Department of Labor has “ramped up enforcement” of current federal regulations and given employers who have committed “some of the worst abuses” the maximum penalties, the report notes. However, “the regulations themselves are out of date and insufficient.” the report said.
“Even with full-throated enforcement of these regulations, it’s not enough to sort of protect kids from what’s going on now in the economy,” Reed Shaw, policy counsel at Governing for Impact and co-author of the report, told The Guardian.
Report authors had some suggestions for changes the department can make. These include expanding the list of occupations deemed too hazardous for workers under 18 years old; increasing protections for child workers in hazardous agricultural jobs; and issuing regulations prohibiting employers from scheduling certain child workers for overnight shifts, as well as requiring rest breaks and one-day off a week for others.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Video images in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.
UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR) — Police in Utica, N.Y., have released footage from officers’ uniform-worn cameras which appears to show a teenager pointing an object at them seconds before he was tackled to the ground and fatally shot.
The boy’s family is now demanding justice.
Shortly after 10 p.m. EDT on Friday, police in Utica stopped two 13-year-old boys because they matched the description of a pair of suspects wanted for two recent robberies in the West Utica area, according to a department spokesperson. Officers also noted one of the teens was walking in the road, a violation of state traffic law.
“The suspects were described as Asian males who brandished a black-in-color firearm and forcibly demanded and stole property from victims,” police said, “… one being on foot and the other on a bicycle.”
Footage from the uniform-worn cameras shows an officer asking if he can search the teenagers for weapons. Nyah Mway is then seen running from officers, who then chase him.
The footage, some of which is seen in the video player below, then shows Mway apparently pointing an object at the officers.
“Gun! Gotta gun!” an officer can be heard shouting as they chase Mway.
Officer Bryce Patterson caught up with Mway, tackled and punched him, and as the two wrestled on the ground, Officer Patrick Husnay opened fire, body-camera video showed.
Officers called for help and rendered their own first-aid before an ambulance arrived. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference Saturday that the single shot hit the youth in the chest.
Along with the video, police released photos, seen below, which show the weapon found with Mway’s body. Police have since determined it is a pellet gun with the brand name, “Glock.”
The pellet gun Utica Police say 13-year-old Nyah Mway pointed at them before an officer fatally shot him on June 28, 2024. (Utica Police)The pellet gun Utica Police say 13-year-old Nyah Mway pointed at them before an officer fatally shot him on June 28, 2024. (Utica Police)
“We will fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office,” Williams said on Saturday morning. “They will ultimately make the decision whether or not the shooting of the individual is justified or not.”
Three officers involved — Patterson, Andrew Citriniti, and Husnay, who fired the shot — are on paid administrative leave, a policy of the department’s after an officer-involved shooting.
Under New York law, the attorney general’s office looks into every death at the hands of law enforcement. The Utica Police Department’s probe, meanwhile, will explore whether officers followed policies and training.
The police chief called the shooting “a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
Family, community demand accountability
While the official investigations continues, Mway’s family and outraged community members have demanded accountability for the death of the teen, who was born in Myanmar and was a member of its Karen ethnic minority.
Utica residents of Karen descent planned to meet Sunday afternoon with Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime, said Daniel Cribb, who works with a Karen community group. A message seeking comment was sent to the mayor’s office.
At a vigil Saturday night, Mway’s brother, Lah, said through an interpreter that he wouldn’t be satisfied until the officers “are put in jail,” Syracuse.com reported.
Nyah Mway and his family came to the United States nine years ago, according to speakers at the vigil.
Others at the vigil questioned officials’ account of the shooting.
“None of it adds up,” said Kay Klo, one of those at the gathering.
(WDKY) — A man vowed to never eat bologna again after he and his son won the top prize on a scratch-off lottery ticket earlier this month in Kentucky.
Jody and his father took home a lump sum of $700,000 after hitting the $1 million jackpot on a Casino Nights scratch-off, per the Kentucky Lottery. Jody requested not to share his last name, and his father’s name wasn’t released.
The dad had purchased the $20 ticket on June 8 at the Adairville Market, a convenience store located roughly 12 miles away from Springfield, Tennessee, where Jody lives.
After buying the ticket, Jody’s father couldn’t wait to scratch it.
“I said [to the clerk], ‘If I hit this million dollars, I ain’t ever eating bologna again,’” the dad said.
According to lottery officials, the top $1 million prize was revealed within the first couple of rows, where all three key symbols matched.
“It kind of shocked me,” the father said.
(Courtesy of Kentucky Lottery)
He told lottery officials that he immediately called Jody to share the exciting news.
Jody recalled his father saying, “You’ll never believe what I just did.”
“And, I said, ‘What?’” Jody continued. “He said, ‘We just won $1,000,000!’ I was sitting there thinking, ‘Yeah, right, I don’t believe you!’”
Jody said his dad drove to his home to show him the ticket, and they made plans to travel to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters on June 10 to claim their prize.
The big win didn’t change Jody’s weekend plans, however. He still decided to mow the lawn.
As for what he plans to do with the money, Jody said he wants to invest it.
“Houses are paid off. Cars paid off, done. We will be bill-free probably next week,” Jody said. “You become debt free, and you don’t have any bills.”
Since they opted for the lump sum, they went home with a check for $504,000 after taxes, lottery officials said.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A Tennessee man is accused of posting videos of himself and a minor having sex on the social media platform X. According to reports, on Jan. 27, the mother of a 16-year-old told police that she found videos on social media showing her daughter having sex with an adult man.
Barron Sorrell was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and statutory rape.
Investigators were able to find two videos that showed the teenage girl with Sorrell.
A search warrant was executed on Sorrell’s home, and it was confirmed that the videos had been filmed there, police say.
Records obtained from X, formerly known as Twitter, revealed that the videos had been uploaded by an account controlled by Sorrell, which he accessed from the home.
At the time the videos were posted, police say the girl was 16 years old and Sorrell was 22 years old.
He is being held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 1.
There’s still a good chance we’ll see one of those galactic gems — the northern lights — again this summer.
Back in May, we saw solar storms strong enough to bring the northern lights as far south as Florida and Hawaii, areas that rarely see the aurora.
A communications tower is silhouetted against the northern lights Saturday, May 11, 2024, near St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
MOUNT MITCHELL, UNITED STATES – MAY 10: Unusual sun activity created a G5 Geostorm on Earth sparks northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, United States on May 10, 2024. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
SMITHFIELD, MAINE – MAY 11, 2024: The northern lights dance in the sky as it reflects in the still water of North Pond in Smithfield, Maine on May 11, 2024. The aurora borealis, commonly referred to as the northern lights, are electrically charged particles that are interacting with gases in outer space. This recent display was the strongest seen since 2003 rating a G5 on the geomagnetic scale. (Photo by Michael Seamans/Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA, USA – MAY 11: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky of San Francisco North Bay as seen from China Camp Beach in San Rafael, California, United States on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
CALIFORNIA, USA – MAY 11: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky of San Francisco North Bay as seen from China Camp Beach in San Rafael, California, United States on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Aurora Borealis or the northern lights are seen from Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
While much of the U.S. has not seen the northern lights recently, that could soon change.
What causes the northern lights?
It’s solar storms — specifically solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs — that cause the northern lights. CMEs are, essentially, explosions of plasma and magnetic material being hurled from the sun and into space.
If that material travels in just the right direction, it can collide with Earth’s magnetic field, sending particles flowing toward the North and South Poles. Those particles will interact with the gasses in our atmosphere, creating excess energy that becomes bursts of light, better known to us as the aurora.
How far south the northern lights travel in the U.S. is due to the strength of the geomagnetic storms — the stronger they are, the further south the aurora can appear.
Why have the northern lights been so active recently?
The recent bouts of auroral activity we’ve seen are largely due to where we are in Solar Cycle 25. During solar cycles, the sun flips its poles. As it reaches the peak of the cycle, the sun also becomes far more active.
Earlier this year, the largest solar flare in years was detected, and even more have been reported since. That includes an M9.3 flare detected on June 23 in the same region that has produced six X-class flares (flares are ranked among four classes, starting at B, then C, M, and finally, X). Unfortunately, the flare was not forecasted to bring the aurora to the U.S.
We may not reach solar maximum for a few months yet, according to Mark Miesch, a researcher with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, tells Nexstar. At least, if you consider solar maximum when we see the maximum number of sunspots or the maximum energy flux of certain radio waves.
Miesch, however, views solar maximum “as a period of enhanced activity.”
“Like space weather’s version of hurricane season,” he explained. “By this definition, solar maximum can last about 2 years or more. And, if you define solar maximum this way, then I would say that we are already in solar maximum and that it is likely to continue through the end of 2024 and into 2025.”
Will we see more northern lights soon?
According to Miesch, more strong solar storms are expected through the rest of this year, throughout 2025, and potentially even into 2026.
While the SWPC and scientists around the world do keep an eye on the sun and try to predict what activity, if any, will ultimately impact us, it can be difficult to tell exactly when CMEs will hit Earth. Once CMEs are within 1 million miles of our planet, it becomes easier, but the lead time drops to about 15 to 45 minutes.
If the current predictions are correct, and solar maximum activity continues for the coming months, at least some Americans will have the chance to see the northern lights again soon. As for whether they’ll reach Florida and Hawaii again, you’ll have to stay tuned.
(NEXSTAR) — Martin Mull, an actor known for various TV and film roles, including “Clue,” “Roseanne,” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” has died at 80. The actor’s daughter confirmed the news via Instagram on Friday night.
“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,” wrote daughter Maggie Mull. “… He was never not funny. My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists and comedians and musicians, and — the sign of a truly exceptional person — by many, many dogs.”
Mull made his television debut in 1976 in the comedic soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” for which he appeared in 49 episodes. His further TV work included sitcoms like “Taxi,” “The Golden Girls,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Cool Kids.” His final television role was in two episodes of the Apple TV+ sitcom “The Afterparty” in 2022. Millennials may best know Mull as the nosy principal Willard Kraft from ABC’s “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” for which Mull appeared in over 70 episodes.
Mull was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role as Bob Bradley in four episodes of HBO’s “Veep.”
The actor’s first film role was in 1978’s “FM” and his final film appearance was in 2018’s “A Futile and Stupid Gesture,” alongside comedian Will Forte. Among Mull’s most notable film roles included parts in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Jingle All the Way,” and “101 Dalmatians.” In film, Mull was likely best known for his portrayal as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 cult classic comedy “Clue.”
In a tribute to Mull on Friday night, former “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star Melissa Joan Hart posted a photo of her and Mull from the show with a caption that read in part: “Rest in Peace my friend. The incredible #MartinMull (Principal Kraft) has left us for his eternal rest… He once told me that he takes every job he’s offered just in case the train comes to an end, which in this business tends to halt quickly.”
Hart also mentioned that she still has some of Mull’s artwork hanging in her home. Mull was a painter and has even published books of his work. Additionally, Mull also worked in music, working both on his own as a solo artist in the 1970s, and as a songwriter. Mull’s best-known penned song is Jane Morgan’s 1970 single, “A Girl Named Johnny Cash.”
In her tearful dedication to her father on Friday, Maggie Mull signed off, saying: “I loved him tremendously.”
The two men tried to make their appeals to voters as concerns swirled over both of them. But it was Biden’s faltering answers in the first 30 minutes of the debate that largely overshadowed everything else.
The debate came as Trump narrowly leads in most, but not all, national polls. The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s national polling average shows Trump with nearly 45 percent of support while Biden has nearly 44 percent.
Here are five memorable moments from the debate.
Biden stumbles with his answers early on
In a moment that arguably did more than any other to define the narrative of the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while mixing up the terms Medicare and COVID.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, while the two men were discussing the topic of immigration. “I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper had pressed Biden on why voters should “trust” him to secure the border, pointing to the record number of migrants crossing into the U.S. While Biden touted his support of a bipartisan border security deal and his recent crackdown on the border, he appeared to trip over his words before concluding his answer.
“I’m going to continue to move until we get to total ban — on the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more border patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said before Trump shot back.
A source familiar with Biden’s campaign told The Hill that the president had a cold during the debate, explaining away his slow start and raspy voice.
Biden snaps at Trump over veterans: ‘My son was not a loser’
Biden got heated with Trump after the former president attacked his record on veterans’ issues, lashing out at Trump about 30 minutes into the debate.
“My son served in Iraq,” Biden said, referring to his oldest son Beau. “He lived next to burn pits. He came back with glioblastoma…. He [Trump] called veterans suckers and losers. My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. You’re the loser. You’re the sucker.”
Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, believed to be from his exposure to burn pits from his Army National Guard service in Iraq.
Trump denied ever calling fallen veterans “suckers and losers,” saying the quote was made up.
“That was a made-up quote. ‘Suckers and losers.’ They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine that’s failing — like many of these magazines. He [Biden] made that up. He put it in commercials. We had 19 people who said I didn’t say it.”
Despite his claims to the contrary, however, Trump’s own former chief of staff John Kelly previously confirmed Trump called dead veterans “suckers” in 2018. Trump reportedly made the comment after saying he did not want to visit a cemetery for fallen American World War I soldiers in France.
Biden, Trump call each other criminals
Trump quickly hit back at Biden after the president called him a “convicted felon.”
“The only person on this stage is a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden had said, before Trump responded.
Trump then called out Hunter Biden, the president’s son, after he was found guilty of federal gun charges earlier this month.
“When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon, at a very high level,” he responded, adding that he believes Hunter will be convicted more times. Hunter faces a felony trail on tax charges in September.
Trump then labeled Biden a criminal.
“Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he’s done, he’s done horrible things,” Trump said. “This man is a criminal. This man, you’re lucky, you’re lucky, I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting.”
Biden: Trump has ‘morals of an alley cat’
The president hit Trump over his legal trouble and alleged past affairs in a moment of the debate that got personal, as Trump claimed numerous his legal cases were politically motivated.
“The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have,” Biden said. “How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties or for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things.”
“For having sex with a porn star… while your wife was pregnant?” he continued. “What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat.”
Trump hit back, denying the affair which was at the center of his New York criminal trial. The former president was found guilty of illegally covering up payments made to hide the affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
“We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, Democrat,” Trump said. “The prosecutor were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people. Both the civil and the criminal. He [Biden] basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me.”
Trump faces three remaining criminal trials over claims related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and to hide classified documents, though none are expected to be decided before the election. Civil cases earlier this year found the former president liable for sexual assault, business fraud and defamation.
Trump tangles with Biden over abortion
The two candidates traded arguments over their stances on abortion, one of the most highly debated issues ahead of the election.
Trump touted his role in overturning Roe v. Wade—the landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected the national right to an abortion. He emphasized his belief that the issue should be left up to the states, while maintaining that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
He also said that he supported the Supreme Court’s decision to hold up the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, the drug that is used in most abortions across the country.
“I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Biden repeatedly reiterated his support for Roe. He said overturning the landmark ruling was a “terrible thing.”
“The idea that states are able to [ban abortion] is a little like saying we’re going to turn civil rights back to the states,” he said.
The two men tried to make their appeals to voters as concerns swirled over both of them. But it was Biden’s faltering answers in the first 30 minutes of the debate that largely overshadowed everything else.
The debate came as Trump narrowly leads in most, but not all, national polls. The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s national polling average shows Trump with nearly 45 percent of support while Biden has nearly 44 percent.
Here are five memorable moments from the debate.
Biden stumbles with his answers early on
In a moment that arguably did more than any other to define the narrative of the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while mixing up the terms Medicare and COVID.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, while the two men were discussing the topic of immigration. “I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper had pressed Biden on why voters should “trust” him to secure the border, pointing to the record number of migrants crossing into the U.S. While Biden touted his support of a bipartisan border security deal and his recent crackdown on the border, he appeared to trip over his words before concluding his answer.
“I’m going to continue to move until we get to total ban — on the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more border patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said before Trump shot back.
A source familiar with Biden’s campaign told The Hill that the president had a cold during the debate, explaining away his slow start and raspy voice.
Biden snaps at Trump over veterans: ‘My son was not a loser’
Biden got heated with Trump after the former president attacked his record on veterans’ issues, lashing out at Trump about 30 minutes into the debate.
“My son served in Iraq,” Biden said, referring to his oldest son Beau. “He lived next to burn pits. He came back with glioblastoma…. He [Trump] called veterans suckers and losers. My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. You’re the loser. You’re the sucker.”
Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, believed to be from his exposure to burn pits from his Army National Guard service in Iraq.
Trump denied ever calling fallen veterans “suckers and losers,” saying the quote was made up.
“That was a made-up quote. ‘Suckers and losers.’ They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine that’s failing — like many of these magazines. He [Biden] made that up. He put it in commercials. We had 19 people who said I didn’t say it.”
Despite his claims to the contrary, however, Trump’s own former chief of staff John Kelly previously confirmed Trump called dead veterans “suckers” in 2018. Trump reportedly made the comment after saying he did not want to visit a cemetery for fallen American World War I soldiers in France.
Biden, Trump call each other criminals
Trump quickly hit back at Biden after the president called him a “convicted felon.”
“The only person on this stage is a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden had said, before Trump responded.
Trump then called out Hunter Biden, the president’s son, after he was found guilty of federal gun charges earlier this month.
“When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon, at a very high level,” he responded, adding that he believes Hunter will be convicted more times. Hunter faces a felony trail on tax charges in September.
Trump then labeled Biden a criminal.
“Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he’s done, he’s done horrible things,” Trump said. “This man is a criminal. This man, you’re lucky, you’re lucky, I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting.”
Biden: Trump has ‘morals of an alley cat’
The president hit Trump over his legal trouble and alleged past affairs in a moment of the debate that got personal, as Trump claimed numerous his legal cases were politically motivated.
“The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have,” Biden said. “How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties or for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things.”
“For having sex with a porn star… while your wife was pregnant?” he continued. “What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat.”
Trump hit back, denying the affair which was at the center of his New York criminal trial. The former president was found guilty of illegally covering up payments made to hide the affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
“We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, Democrat,” Trump said. “The prosecutor were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people. Both the civil and the criminal. He [Biden] basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me.”
Trump faces three remaining criminal trials over claims related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and to hide classified documents, though none are expected to be decided before the election. Civil cases earlier this year found the former president liable for sexual assault, business fraud and defamation.
Trump tangles with Biden over abortion
The two candidates traded arguments over their stances on abortion, one of the most highly debated issues ahead of the election.
Trump touted his role in overturning Roe v. Wade—the landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected the national right to an abortion. He emphasized his belief that the issue should be left up to the states, while maintaining that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
He also said that he supported the Supreme Court’s decision to hold up the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, the drug that is used in most abortions across the country.
“I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Biden repeatedly reiterated his support for Roe. He said overturning the landmark ruling was a “terrible thing.”
“The idea that states are able to [ban abortion] is a little like saying we’re going to turn civil rights back to the states,” he said.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Stargazers will want to keep a close eye on the sky in the coming days. A comet with a 69-year orbit is set to pass by Earth.
It is called Comet 13P/Olbers, named after astronomer Heinrich Olbers, who is credited with first identifying the comet in 1815. P stands for periodic, which means the comet takes less than 200 years to complete its orbit. The comet was given the number 13 because it was the 13th periodic comet to be identified.
According to NASA, the comet is considered a “Near Earth Asteroid” because of its orbit’s proximity to Earth but is not considered potentially hazardous. On this pass, the comet will come as close as 1.9 astronomical units away from Earth’s orbit — 1.9 of the average distance between the Earth and the sun or approximately 284 million kilometers.
A wide view of the orbit of Comet 13P/Olbers. (Courtesy NASA)
A zoomed-in view of the orbit of Comet 13P/Olbers. (Courtesy NASA)
On its orbit, the comet will come within 1.18 AU of the sun and stretch as far as 32.64 AU away from the sun. The comet is currently approaching its perihelion — its closest point to the sun. It will reach that point on Sunday, June 30. It will reach its closest point to Earth on July 20.
The comet’s orbit is elliptical and takes 25,400 days to complete its trip. According to SpaceReference.org, the comet was last observed by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center on Sept. 12, 1956.
StarWalk says the comet should be visible on Sunday with binoculars and reach a maximum brightness of 6.5. The comet is passing through the bottom end of the Lynx constellation and starts crossing above Leo Minor in mid-July.
There are several maps that can help stargazers spot the comet, including the Sky Tonight app.
ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) — Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombard’s First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018.
Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombard’s vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit. Bombard denied that but says he did curse and display the middle finger once the initial stop was concluded.
Bombard was stopped again and arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, and his car was towed. He was jailed for over an hour and cited to criminal court, according to the ACLU. The charge was eventually dismissed.
This image taken from police dashcam video shows Gregory Bombard getting arrested on Feb. 9, 2018 in St. Albans, Vt. (American Civil Liberties Union/Vt. State Police via AP)
This image taken from police dashcam video shows Gregory Bombard getting arrested on Feb. 9, 2018 in St. Albans, Vt. (American Civil Liberties Union/Vt. State Police via AP)
Under the settlement signed by the parties this month, the state has agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and $75,000 to the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for legal fees.
“While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place,” said Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont, in a statement. “Police need to respect everyone’s First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting.”
The Vermont State Police did not have a comment on the settlement. Vermont did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the deal.
Bombard said in a statement provided by the ACLU that he hopes the Vermont State Police will train its troopers “to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops.”
(WJET/WFXP) — Olive Garden has announced that it will continue to raise prices following a drop in sales last quarter.
The CEO stated that the company is still avoiding offering discounts to attract customers, despite a decrease in sales and loss of customers. During the company’s earnings call held on Thursday, executives attributed the sales slump to the financial stress of inflation, which is affecting some customers more than others.
“The pullback is mostly at the below-median household income … our other [customer] groups are stable or growing,” said Raj Vennam, chief financial officer of Olive Garden parent company Darden Restaurants.
Darden Restaurants, which also owns and operates restaurants like Longhorn Steakhouse and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, reported they will be increasing prices company-wide by an average of 2% to 3% over the next year.
Olive Garden had already seen a 1% increase in menu prices last year. Vennam pointed out Olive Garden menu price hikes have been lower than inflation in recent years.
With this plan, Darden estimates they will see a 1% to 2% growth in sales in 2025, the company said in the recent earnings call.
Prices at restaurants – from locally owned spots to major chains and fast food franchises – have jumped substantially in recent years to keep up with the increasing cost of doing business.
As rising prices turn some customers away, many chains have begun offering discount deals in an attempt to attract people back. McDonald’s recently announced a new $5 meal deal attempting to address concerns over the rising prices.
Wendy’s and Starbucks also joined in offering value meals. Wendy’s offers a $3 breakfast and Starbucks offers a $6 breakfast sandwich and coffee combo.
(KAZT) — A 1-year-old Arizona boy with an infectious smile is the newest Gerber Baby.
The family brand announced on Tuesday that Akil McLeod, whose nickname is “Sonny,” won Gerber’s 14th annual photo contest, impressing judges with his bright personality.
“Sonny immediately captured our hearts with his joyful smile and his family’s inspiring demonstration of what it means to grow with love,” said Chandra Kumar, president of Nestlé Infant Nutrition, in a press release.
The toddler’s family is dedicated to serving their Phoenix community and often volunteers with local organizations, Gerber officials said.
During an appearance on the “Today” show, Sonny’s mom, Dominque McLeod, told the co-hosts that she entered her son into the contest but didn’t tell anyone — not even her husband, Akil Sr.
“I thought, well, what are the odds, right?” she said.
When Sonny became a finalist, Akil Sr. said that he was excited that his baby had an actual chance of winning.
Akil “Sonny” McLeod has been announced as the 2024 Gerber Baby. (Photo courtesy of Gerber)
Aside from playing peekaboo with his big sister, Sage, Sonny enjoys reading his ABC book, playing with toy cars, and watching football. He also recently celebrated his first birthday.
“Every day it’s an honor to watch Sonny conquer so many tiny achievements, from giggles, to trying new foods, to standing up and everything in between,” his mom said in a statement. “We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate his first birthday than to be chosen as the 2024 Gerber Baby.”
As the 2024 Gerber Baby, Sonny will appear in the company’s marketing campaigns throughout the year. His family will also receive $25,000 along with free Gerber products and new clothes provided by Gerber Childrenswear.
The original Gerber Baby logo was introduced in 1928 when the company began its baby food campaign and was eventually adopted as Gerber’s official trademark in 1931.
The baby’s identity was kept secret until 1978; many believed the baby grew up to be a famous movie star like Humphrey Bogart or Elizabeth Taylor, the Gerber website says, but it was revealed to be mystery novelist and retired teacher Ann Turner Cook, who died in 2022 at the age of 95.
According to the Gerber media release, the Photo Search was inspired by “countless” photos sent in by parents of babies that resembled the original logo depicting Ann Turner Cook, so in 2011, they began their yearly search for a “spokesbaby.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Savannah (Missouri) Police Department confirmed on Monday that one of its K-9 officers died last Thursday after being left in a hot car overnight.
According to Savannah Chief of Police David Vincent, K-9 Officer Horus died after completing his overnight patrol shift in the small town where he had served for over three years.
Vincent said the death is under investigation.
“Due to this being an open investigation, there will be no further information released until the investigation is completed,” he said. “The entire department would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we deal with the loss of our partner, Horus.”
The name or status of the law enforcement officer responsible for K-9 Horus’s death has not been revealed nor has there been an explanation for the animal’s death.
Since Horus’ death, the community of Savannah and many others have been expressing their outrage and seeking justice on social media for the loss of the young German Shepherd.
The big questions are whether the police officer and caretaker of Horus will be held accountable in a Missouri court, whether the police department will reprimand or revoke the officer’s law enforcement license, and whether the death was accidental or intentional.
“The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is deeply saddened to learn of K-9 Horus’ passing,” Andrew County prosecuting attorney Monica J. Morrey, who has taken on the case, told Nexstar’s WDAF. “We are grateful to him for his service to our community. I have requested a special investigation through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I will await the results of this investigation prior to making any determination of necessary action.”
A bill was recently sent to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk after a St. Joseph K-9 was killed in the line of duty in 2021. Called Max’s Law, it would increase penalties for injuring and killing animals in law enforcement. It states that if a law enforcement animal is assaulted and dies, the person responsible could face a Class D felony charge in Missouri.
A Class D felony is the second-lowest class of felonies in the state and could lead to a prison sentence of no more than seven years, one year in a county jail or a court-imposed fine of up to $10,000.
(The Hill) — Two federal judges in Missouri and Kansas halted sections of a Biden administration initiative intended to lower student loan payments, raising questions for the millions of Americans impacted by the program.
In Kansas, Judge Michael Crabtree ruled that the Department of Education can’t enact the full scope of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program. Program participants with undergraduate student loan debt were scheduled to see their payments half next month, from 10 percent to 5 percent of their income 225 percent above the poverty line.
Crabtree, an Obama appointee, said the department did not get explicit authority for that portion of the program from Congress.
That challenge was led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) and joined by 11 other Republican states. Crabtree ruled earlier this month that eight of the 12 states did not have standing in the case, leaving only Alaska, Texas and South Carolina.
In Missouri, Judge John Ross—also an Obama appointee—ruled that the Department of Education cannot forgive any loans under SAVE, finding that forgiving federal loans illegally deprives state loan operators of revenue.
Five other states joined Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s (R) challenge. The argument is the same that the Supreme Court sided with in ruling against President Biden’s initial attempt at mass student loan forgiveness.
“Congress never gave Biden the authority to saddle working Americans with half-a-trillion dollars in other people’s debt. A huge win for the Constitution,” Bailey wrote in a social media post on X.
Ross also remarked that SAVE may be too broad to fit under its Congressional mandate, leaving the door open to future challenges over the entire program’s legality.
SAVE has canceled over $5.5 billion in debt for over 400,000 borrowers since its inception, as Biden attempted to maneuver around the Supreme Court block of his more sizable forgiveness plan. More than 8 million people have enrolled.
The program is Biden’s marquis student loan forgiveness policy, though is separate from efforts to cancel debt of public sector workers and for those defrauded by for-profit schools.
SAVE will continue to operate as the two lawsuits continue to be litigated, though Monday’s ruling effectively freezes the program’s extent and pauses all future loan forgiveness.
The Hill has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.
