News

Official as of September 2, 2025: The policy change announced on July 25 will affect most tourist visa cases

by
Map of the United States behind a suited official raising a fist, illustrating new tourist visa interview policy effective Sept. 2, 2025.

Embassy spokesperson Michelle Angulo says deterring illegal immigration is the Trump administration’s top priority. The U.S. Embassy announced it will end interview waivers for most non-immigrant visa applications to reduce immigration fraud and combat irregular migration. Michelle Angulo, spokesperson and communications and press attaché in Santo Domingo, shared the update during a visit to Santiago. … Read more

A QR code on a gift package could install malware and put your banking information at risk, according to the FBI

by
Person scanning QR code on package with smartphone as FBI warns about quishing scam risk

New wave of “quisling” turns surprise deliveries into phishing traps. The FBI’s message is simple: don’t scan codes you didn’t request. QR codes are everywhere—from restaurant menus to real estate signs—but not on mystery boxes at your door. Some packages arrive with printed codes that link to fake portals or download malicious software. Who’s at … Read more

T-Mobile finalizes $4.3 billion UScellular acquisition, promising enhanced rural connectivity nationwide

by
Exterior of a T-Mobile store sign after completion of UScellular acquisition boosting rural connectivity.

Four million customers, hundreds of stores, and a wide slice of rural spectrum now move under the magenta umbrella—without any forced plan changes. T‑Mobile’s purchase of UScellular is finally a done deal, closing the book on the country’s last major regional player. The carrier is paying $2.6 billion in cash and assuming $1.7 billion in debt, bringing 3,000 additional towers, … Read more

With just few days left Google must uproot Play Store monopoly and open Android to new possibilities

by
Hand holding smartphone displaying Google homepage with a laptop and coffee mug in the background

An appeals court has ordered sweeping changes to Google’s Android marketplace, and the countdown has already started. Google’s window to begin dismantling key sections of its Play Store monopoly is now just two weeks. A federal appeals court has upheld Epic Games’ landmark antitrust victory, forcing the Mountain View giant to rewrite policies it has … Read more

Workers in South Carolina can’t believe their eyes: they discover a wasp nest with radiation levels ten times higher than the legal limit

by
Yellow radioactive hazard sign beside a close-up of a wasp head

Tiny invaders picked up more than ten times the allowable radiation levels, but officials say no people or environment were harmed. The Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed that a wasp colony discovered on July 3 inside the Savannah River Site (SRS) carried radioactive contamination exceeding federal limits by more than a factor of ten. … Read more

Say goodbye to the iconic pancake, coffee, and story restaurant: it’s closing its doors after 62 years

by
Interior of Ravenna Varsity Restaurant showing its chalkboard menu and patrons seated at booths during the breakfast rush

The community favorite served its last cup of coffee this weekend on August 3, after losing its lease. North Seattle woke up without the Ravenna Varsity Restaurant, after more than six decades of pancakes, stories, and cups of filtered coffee. Last Sunday, it closed its doors for good, ending a journey that began in 1963. … Read more

It’s official: Spirit Airlines confirms job cuts with 270 pilots laid off following restructuring plan

by
Spirit Airlines yellow Airbus A320 at gate B15 with ground crew preparing flight

Cost-cutting move starts Nov. 1, 2025 and signals deeper turbulence for budget carrier’s loyal passengers. Spirit Airlines, the country’s best-known ultra-low-cost carrier, will let go 270 pilots beginning Nov. 1 as it battles a six-year profit drought and the lingering effects of its November 2024 Chapter 11 filing. The decision, officials say, aligns staffing with … Read more

The economist who won millions in the lottery 14 times: he was banned from playing again and saw the rules rewritten

by
Hand marking multiple Powerball lottery tickets at a convenience-store counter

Stefan Mandel’s numbers-driven scheme scooped prizes on three continents—and forced lotteries to tighten their own odds. When was the last time you bought a ticket and dared to picture fourteen ringing jackpot bells? In the 1990s, Romanian-born economist Stefan Mandel did just that, turning elementary math into a globe-trotting lottery-winning machine. His run ended with … Read more

Confirmed: JPMorgan announces new agreement with Coinbase to give customers access to these services

by
JPMorgan building with logo as bank announces new crypto partnership with Coinbase

Step-change for 80 million Chase clients as loyalty points, checking balances, and credit limits open new on-ramps to digital assets. JPMorgan Chase has signed a wide-ranging deal with Coinbase that promises to turn everyday banking tools into crypto gateways. Beginning this fall, Chase credit cards will fund Coinbase purchases; by 2026, Ultimate Rewards points and … Read more

These newly discovered microbes offer hope for the development of radiation-resistant coatings for spacecraft and vaccines

by
Petri dish of green microbial colonies held by gloved hands with decommissioned nuclear cooling towers visible behind.

Tiny radiation-fuelled organisms discovered in Cold War-era waste pools hold surprising promise for medicine and space exploration. Scientists from the University of Idaho have confirmed colonies of photosynthetic microbes flourishing in lakes once written off as lifeless nuclear relics. These single-cell pioneers behave much like the famed Chernobyl fungi, absorbing gamma rays with dark melanin … Read more

Farewell to chef Ivan Torres’ food truck: Fans bid him goodbye under the lights of Brooklyn Avenue

by
Chef Ivan Torres leaning out of the Mai O Mai food truck serving window at Tony’s Siesta on Brooklyn Avenue

Fans of the Asian-Mexican fusion spot can grab a final bite on July 31 before the truck retires after four flavorful years. Tony’s Siesta, the lively downtown bar on Brooklyn Avenue, is about to lose one of its most beloved partners: the Mai O Mai food truck. After four years of sizzling noodles, kimchi-laced burgers, … Read more

Construction material prices are rising: how much does it cost to build a house in the United States?

by
Single-family home under construction in the United States showing scaffolding and brick exterior, reflecting rising building costs.

Sky‑high lumber bills, stubborn inflation, and a tight labor pool are pushing the cost of a brand‑new house higher than ever. Americans planning to pour foundations next year need to know what they’re up against—and where they might trim fat. By early 2025 the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) still pegs the average cost … Read more

New fines of up to $1,000 for buying or selling electric bicycles: these people cannot buy them, according to Gavin Newsom

by
Governor Gavin Newsom announcing new California electric bicycle fines law

AB 965 closes the purchase loophole for Class 3 electric bicycles and introduces fines that can top $1,000. California’s youngest riders will soon find it harder to buy the fastest electric bicycles. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 965, a measure that bars retailers from selling Class 3 e‑bikes to anyone under 16, turning a previous riding ban into a purchase … Read more

Retired at 71, she traded her dream home in Arizona for a simpler life in this country

by
"Retired woman smiling at temple in Bali after moving from Arizona, next to map and airplane symbolizing her travel journey

Former treasurer Victoria Kjos, 71, sold her Phoenix home and convertible to fund a one‑way ticket east. Her journey shows that reinvention is possible long after retirement. Once a fixture of upscale theater nights and gallery openings in Arizona, Kjos began questioning the pricey rhythm around her. “I wondered if I wanted to spend the rest of my … Read more

Goodbye to your neighborhood teller – U.S. Bank to shutter 40 branches across 17 states before year‑end

by
U.S. Bank branch sign on brick building, representing upcoming closure of 40 branches in 17 states.

Digital banking keeps winning, and U.S. Bank is betting big on that trend. The Minneapolis‑based lender has confirmed it will close 40 brick‑and‑mortar sites in 17 states this year, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Weekly Bulletin. Customers who still prefer face‑to‑face service may need to plan a longer drive—or make peace … Read more

Obtaining a driver’s license is complicated for young people in this state: the law requires 50 hours of driver safety training

by
Young driver in Florida practicing driving skills for mandatory 50-hour driver safety training with adult supervision

Florida’s updated driver‑education law takes effect August 1, and families with would‑be teen motorists need to act fast. A sweeping overhaul signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis now requires every learner aged 15–17 to finish a state‑approved 50‑hour Driver Education/Traffic Safety course—on top of the long‑standing four‑hour TLSAE class—before they may touch the wheel legally. What exactly does … Read more

Clocks in the United States are set back one hour at the end of daylight saving time: this is the exact day

by
Two red alarm clocks showing different times placed on a map of the United States with an American flag, symbolizing the end of daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time began on March 9, but the return to standard time arrives sooner than usual—at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025. If you rely on afternoon daylight, pay attention: all states except Arizona and Hawaii will roll clocks back one hour at 2:00 a.m., instantly making it 1:00 a.m. The shift happens a day earlier than last year … Read more

Goodbye to junk food: Six more states have just banned it for SNAP recipients starting in 2020

by
SNAP benefits logo and healthy food contrasted against Snickers candy bars symbolizing junk food ban in six states

Millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas will soon find chips, candy, and sugary drinks off‑limits when they swipe their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved new waivers allowing each of these states to redefine what can—and cannot—be bought with SNAP … Read more

The famous discount chain plans to open six new stores in the United States this August: here are the dates and locations

by
Interior view of a TJ Maxx store featuring clothing racks and electronic accessories ahead of new store openings.

A half‑dozen fresh storefronts are on the horizon for bargain hunters who swear by a treasure hunt. The off‑price retailer confirms openings will roll out from August 10 to August 28, touching four states and the nation’s capital. Shoppers in Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, North Dakota, and Washington, D.C., stand to gain first dibs on new markdowns. The move follows … Read more

The well-known home decor chain extends its list of store closures to 30: here are the locations

by
Interior of a home decor store displaying furniture and home accessories, highlighting store closures across the U.S.

The home‑goods chain says its brick‑and‑mortar footprint will shrink even further as Chapter 11 winds its way through court. Customers hoping to snag a last‑minute bargain at At Home may need to move fast. The Coppell, Texas–based retailer confirmed it will shutter 30 stores by September 30, citing heavy debt and weak sales. The downsizing, outlined in bankruptcy filings on June 16, mirrors … Read more