Keeping Up With America

12-year-old accused of hate crime after 2 Muslim students attacked at Connecticut school: A 12-year-old Connecticut student who police say assaulted two of her Muslim classmates has been accused of a hate crime in the attack. Four seventh-grade students were involved in an altercation at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut, earlier this month, and two 13-year-old Muslim girls were injured, police said.

Chuck Schumer rejects calls to step down as Senate Democratic leader: A defiant Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed that he won’t step aside as the chamber’s top Democrat, rejecting calls from some House colleagues and liberal advocates critical of his move to help pass a Republican funding bill.

Protesters gather outside Tesla showrooms and dealerships to denounce Elon Musk and DOGE: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Tesla showroom in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan today as a part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement. For weeks now, protests have been organized by groups including People Over Profits and Disruption Project to denounce Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his involvement in the federal government.

After two murder trials and a conviction, woman accused of poisoning her boss awaits news of whether she'll be tried again: Her first trial ended with a hung jury. Her second finished with an acquittal on the most serious charge — second-degree murder — and a conviction for the lesser crime of manslaughter.

Trump administration moves to end temporary status for 530,000 Cubans, Venezuelans and others: The Trump administration is moving to end temporary legal status for more than 530,000 people who arrived in the U.S. from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela through Biden-era temporary parole programs, according to a Federal Register document posted on Friday.

Around the World

Pope Francis to be released from the hospital: Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday, his doctors at Gemelli Hospital said.

'You started this': Attacks on Alawites in Syria highlight deep divisions: Sudan’s military said Friday that it had retaken the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the last heavily guarded bastion of rival paramilitary forces in the capital, after nearly two years of fighting.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Michigan nuclear plant shows the challenges the U.S. will face in safely restarting old reactors

Crypto’s long battle with SEC comes to a close with Ripple victory

‘Some more banana skins in front of us’: Why investors may want to increase exposure to bonds

Richer, Wiser, Happier

How much does a $250,000 home equity loan cost monthly in 2025?: Borrowing money comes with major concerns in today's economic environment, thanks to a frozen federal funds rate that has kept costs high on everything from mortgages to personal loans and more. One borrowing option that has remained relatively affordable, however, is reserved for homeowners via home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). And in the current climate in which home prices are high, there's an average of $313,000 worth of equity to utilize. That said, you won't necessarily be able to borrow all of that money.

Warren Buffett's Simple Cash Trick That Could Keep You Out of Debt | Jake FitzGerald, Fool. Warren Buffett is best known for his investing success, but one of his smartest financial strategies can work for anyone: maintaining a strong emergency fund. Buffett knows that a financial emergency can cost his company, Berkshire Hathaway, dearly, so he keeps a ton of cash — often hundreds of billions of dollars — on hand. Berkshire's massive cash pile kept the company out of debt during the 2008 financial crisis. This strategy works for anyone — even if you don't have billions in the bank. By following Buffett's blueprint, you can be prepared to handle an emergency car repair or medical bill with no stress.

Credit card debt forgiveness dos and don'ts to know in 2025: Hopes that the Federal Reserve would resume its interest rate cut campaign, while dim, were eliminated this week after the bank continued to keep its federal funds rate on pause. And while that inaction was largely anticipated, it did little to help borrowers currently saddled with high interest rates on a variety of products. While a cut to that rate would have done little to alleviate the burden being felt by credit card holders, in particular, since rates there are determined largely by the prime rate, it could have at least been a small step in the right direction. Now credit card holders will have to explore alternative ways to tackle their high-rate debt, if they haven't already.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Saints sign WR Brandin Cooks on 2-year, $13M deal, source says | Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis injures head, leaves loss to Kings

Rosie O’Donnell Questions ‘Why’ Donald Trump Won Every Swing State Considering He Is ‘Best Friends’ With a ‘Man Who Owns and Runs the Internet’: ‘I Would Hope that Would be Investigated’ | Hollywood’s Box Office Woes Continue: ‘Snow White’ Stumbles Overseas With $44 Million, Robert De Niro’s ‘Alto Knights’ Bombs With $1.8 Million

Conan O'Brien receives Mark Twain Prize amid Kennedy Center revamp | Laura Prepon, ex Ben Foster accuse each other of 'inappropriate marital conduct' in divorce battle

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

How To Clean Your Carpet: A Step-By-Step Guide

The #1 WORST food for sleep

8 Ways to Eat Sorrel, a Citrusy Spring Green That Brings Fresh Flavors

Should You Be Washing Your Bedding In Hot Water? Experts Weigh In