NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, with a planned launch around the moon on April 1, marking humanity's return to lunar orbit after over 50 years. The nine-day mission will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen on a free return trajectory around the moon, aiming to test critical systems despite previous technical delays involving helium flow and hydrogen leaks. Artemis II is a key milestone in NASA’s broader Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon and pave the way for future lunar landings and Mars exploration.
Posts tagged as “COVID-19”
In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term, federal spending has increased by approximately $220 billion compared to the same period in 2024, despite promises to reduce expenditures. This rise in spending, highlighted by CBS News through Treasury Department reports, surpasses levels seen in most of the past decade, with the exception of 2021's COVID-19 response. Analysts and policymakers are focused on this spending increase, which contrasts with the administration's fiscal conservatism goals and raises questions about the long-term implications for the federal budget and economic landscape.
In February, Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted by rodents, and an investigation revealed she had been researching flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques prior to her death. Gene Hackman died approximately a week later from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a contributing factor, and the couple's property in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was found to have rodents, although their main living quarters were not infested. The report provides insight into the health challenges the couple faced and clarifies the circumstances leading to their deaths, highlighting Arakawa's concerns about overlapping symptoms with COVID-19.
In February, the United States saw a dramatic rise in layoffs, with 172,017 job cuts announced, marking the highest monthly total since July 2020 and a 245% increase from January, largely due to reductions in the federal workforce. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, played a significant role in these layoffs by targeting government waste and fraud, resulting in widespread job losses across federal agencies. This surge in layoffs is reminiscent of the early COVID-19 pandemic period and highlights the current challenges facing the U.S. labor market.
Former Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby was convicted of two counts of perjury by a federal jury on Thursday, stemming from her alleged misuse of retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mosby had been indicted by a federal grand jury and is accused of lying about the finances of a side business to improperly access retirement funds, which she used to buy two Florida homes. The jury reached a verdict on Thursday after a trial beginning on Monday, and Mosby awaits sentencing for the perjury charges.
The upcoming Kentucky gubernatorial election is a tight race between incumbent Democratic Governor Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Recent polls have put the two candidates in a dead heat, with Beshear's approval ratings being bolstered by his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the number of former President Donald Trump's supporters who plan to vote for Cameron has increased significantly, making the outcome of the election uncertain. The race will be a key indicator of the national political environment ahead of the 2024 election.
The Social Security Administration announced a 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits in 2024, which is higher than the historical norm of 2.6%. This will result in an average monthly payment increase of $50 to $1,907, and is intended to help seniors and other beneficiaries keep up with the rising cost of living. However, experts warn that with inflation still far from pre-pandemic levels, recipients may be at risk of losing financial ground with the smaller adjustment.
Key takeaways: The COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out. The CDC has issued guidance to states and local health departments to help them transition…