Keeping Up With America

Kansas child said 'monster' was under their bed; babysitter finds man hiding there: In a scene straight from a horror movie, a babysitter in Kansas was checking for "monsters" to reassure a scared child — and discovered a man hiding under the child's bed.

Man arrested in connection with arson attack on Tesla location in Las Vegas: A Las Vegas cinematographer who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails and opened fire on Teslas earlier this month will face state and federal charges following his arrest, authorities said Thursday.

Michigan man charged with stealing 8 Corvettes worth $1.2M in Kentucky heist: A 21-year-old man faces charges in a $1.2 million Corvette heist after law enforcement recovered eight luxury vehicles stolen from a Kentucky plant.

Transgender bathroom restrictions take effect as Montana governor signs law: Transgender people in Montana can no longer use bathrooms in public buildings that do not align with their sex assigned at birth after Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed new restrictions into law Thursday.

At a hearing on campus antisemitism, Democrats question gutting of civil rights staff: Democratic senators said in a Thursday hearing that the Trump administration is undermining its own goal of addressing antisemitism on college campuses by firing the federal staffers who investigate civil rights issues in schools.

Around the World

King Charles released from hospital after experiencing side effects from cancer treatment: King Charles III experienced unspecified side effects of his cancer treatment and was briefly in the hospital on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said.

Six dead as tourist submarine crashes off the coast of Egypt: At least six people have died after a tourist submarine crashed in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt early Thursday.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Detroit automaker shares fall after Trump’s tariff announcement

AppLovin shares plunge 20% after third short-selling firm slams company’s ad technology

Lululemon shares drop more than 10% as CEO says inflation, economic concerns are weighing on spending

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Considering a $100,000 home equity loan? Here are 3 homeowners who could qualify.: On the surface, borrowing from your accumulated home equity may seem like an unwise and potentially risky decision. After all, it took years, if not decades to build up that equity and borrowing from it will reduce your home's value. And, if you fail to make your repayments, you could even potentially lose your home to the lender. But while those concerns are fair and legitimate, in today's unique economic climate, borrowing with a home equity loan, specifically, can still be a cost-effective and valuable move.

Social Security Spousal Benefits: One Misconception That Could Trip You Up | Maurie Backman, Fool. Millions of Americans qualify for Social Security by working and paying into the system throughout their careers. Since Social Security is primarily funded by payroll taxes, it takes a certain amount of earnings to be able to get benefits in retirement. To be eligible for Social Security, you'll need to accumulate 40 work credits in your lifetime and can rack up a maximum of four credits per year. The value of a single work credit, however, changes from one year to the next.

What to know before investing in gold in 2025, according to experts: Gold has had quite the run-up in recent years. In fact, if you had invested in gold at the start of 2023, your investment would have grown by about 68% by March 2025. The surge in gold prices comes down to many factors, but high inflation and geopolitical tensions are chief among them. These uncertain economic influencers push investors toward safer, less volatile assets — among which gold is typically king. But gold isn't the same as other assets you might invest in. And while it can certainly be a good addition to your portfolio, it's important to be educated about the process before jumping in. Learn how to add gold to your investment portfolio today.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Warriors optimistic Stephen Curry will return vs. Pelicans | Wild's Kirill Kaprizov resumes skating after January surgery

L.J. Smith, ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Author, Dies at 66 | Steven Yeun Joins Paramount’s Untitled Animated Aang ‘Avatar’ Film (EXCLUSIVE)

Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly welcome first child: 'She's finally here' | Drake Bell reminisces on former Nick co-star Amanda Bynes: A 'dynamite force of nature'

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

Seven Ways to Make Your Home's Entryway More Secure

Trump’s Tariff Move Has Created A Massive Opportunity for 401(k)s

How to Up-Pot Your Seedlings Without Messing Them Up

Use These Seven Tests to Decide If a New Neighborhood Is Right for You