Are the U.S. seeing a surge in book bans? That depends on where where people get data and what they qualify as a “ban.” The American Library Association (ALA) and PEN American both released reports offering different insights about the ongoing conflict taking place in schools and public libraries. In its annual list of the…

The Biden administration recently announced an initiative to cap child care copay expenses for approximately 100,000 low-income working families in the United States. Instead of paying set fees, those families will pay 7% of whatever their total income is as a copay for the government-subsidized daycare program. The program also hopes to fully cover all…

Researchers at Washington State University have discovered that some of the deadliest bacteria likes to feed on human blood. Scientists are calling it “bacterial vampirism.” The new study reveals that these organisms are attracted to nutrients in human blood. The learnings from the study could pave the way for medical innovations like curing bloodstream infections.…

A recent report from Reuters has exposed a scheme between Russia and China involving copper, a metal expected to skyrocket in value and hit record highs next year. Once the Russian metal arrives, Chinese companies are shredding these copper rods down to disguise them as scrap. This is because of the difference in tariffs between…

After Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, the world awaits the next move by the two countries. For the first time in history, a former U.S. president will stand trial on criminal charges, as Donald Trump’s hush money trial begins. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, April 15, 2024.…

March’s sticky inflation report has thrown into question the timing of the Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate cuts. In fact, some have said Americans can’t rule out the Fed going in the opposite direction and hiking the rate instead. The Federal Reserve penciled in three quarter-percentage point rate cuts in 2024, but that was before…

As federal COVID relief funds dwindle, public school districts across the United States are contending with budget deficits, prompting layoffs of teachers and staff. According to David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, approximately 1,600 California educators and school personnel recently received layoff notices — a substantial surge compared to previous years, as reported…

Analysts are scratching their heads trying to figure out why gold is on a tear right now. The commodity hit another record high Tuesday, April 9, ahead of Wednesday’s inflation report and the release of the Federal Reserve meeting minutes, where investors get a behind-the-scenes look at what the Fed is thinking in terms of cutting…

In a year where Americans are anxiously waiting for interest rates to drop, the CEO of the world’s largest bank warns rates may go even higher than they are today and don’t count out a recession. There are two CEOs in this country whose annual letters to shareholders are more widely anticipated than the rest:…

The American economy is booming, with high GDP growth, record-low unemployment, and wage gains for median workers. Over the past few quarters, U.S. economic growth indicators have consistently outperformed official projections. But the U.S. Federal Reserve recently conceded that its policies might be too restrictive, hindering the full potential of the U.S. economy, which the…