NASA is overhauling its Artemis program, abandoning plans for the Lunar Gateway to focus on a permanent outpost at the lunar South Pole. The agency will now partner with private companies for launches and landings, aiming for rapid, sustained deployments and near-monthly moon missions starting in 2027. The changes include workforce rotations and a push for nuclear power, marking a bold new direction for U.S. lunar exploration.

The Justice Department has unveiled a sweeping settlement shielding President Trump, his family, and business entities from any IRS audits or enforcement on past tax returns. In exchange, Trump dropped his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The unprecedented agreement arrives as the administration launches a controversial $1.8 billion fund for those it deems victims of politically motivated prosecutions, drawing intense scrutiny and debate.

New federal data shows wholesale prices jumped 6% in April from a year earlier, the biggest rise since late 2022. Economists were surprised as final demand surged 1.4% in just one month, raising fears the slowdown in inflation is stalling. With consumer inflation already up 3.8%, the latest numbers could foreshadow higher prices at the register this summer.

A new DOT-backed reality series featuring Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his family is drawing sharp ethics questions in Washington. The show’s corporate sponsors include companies regulated by the department, and critics say the timing is tone-deaf as gas prices rise. Duffy says ethics officials approved it and no one was paid. The series is set to debut on YouTube in June.

President Trump is signaling support for suspending the federal gas tax to ease pain at the pump, but he cannot do it by executive order. Any “gas tax holiday” would require Congress and could drain the Highway Trust Fund that pays for highways and transit. Sen. Josh Hawley says he plans to introduce a bill, but key details remain unclear.

Spirit Airlines’ final commercial flight landed in Dallas-Fort Worth before the carrier abruptly shut down operations, leaving an estimated 600,000 ticketed passengers stranded. A last-ditch deal fell apart as creditors rejected a loan-for-equity offer, with fuel costs surging in the background. Now, liquidation begins as workers and travelers scramble for options.

A long-dormant part of the 25th Amendment is back in focus. Rep. Jamie Raskin and 50 Democratic co-sponsors have introduced a bill to create a bipartisan Commission on Presidential Capacity, a potential alternative “other body” to evaluate whether a president can discharge the powers and duties of office. The bill would bar sitting officials and rely on former leaders and medical experts.

A new federal law will shift Selective Service registration to an automatic system for eligible men, using existing government records to enroll them within 30 days of turning 18. Officials say it modernizes the process and could save millions, while stressing it does not reinstate a combat draft.

The U.S. national debt has surpassed $39 trillion, with annual interest costs now approaching $1 trillion, according to Treasury data. Lawmakers remain divided over spending cuts and tax policy, while shifting foreign holdings and renewed talk of “de-dollarization” raise questions about long-term demand for U.S. debt.

A new theory about how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built is surging online with more than 10 million views. Architectural researcher Dami Lee highlights Huni Choi’s idea that the pyramid was “unbuilt” from a larger temporary stone mass with integrated ramps, later carved down and recycled across the Giza complex. The hypothesis remains unconfirmed.

President Trump categorized the ongoing military conflict with Iran as a nearly finished "excursion" during an interview with CBS on Monday, a statement that triggered a late-afternoon rally on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average had spent the majority of the day in negative territory, but prices shifted sharply upward just before the closing bell as investors reacted to the prospect of a swift resolution.

Iranian missile and drone strikes hit sites across Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, targeting energy infrastructure and U.S. military facilities as Gulf air defenses respond. The turmoil is paralyzing the Strait of Hormuz and driving a sharp oil-price spike, with shipping firms rerouting and officials weighing emergency measures as damage assessments continue.

Trump has removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary amid escalating pressure over DHS spending, including a $220 million immigration ad campaign and questions about how the contract was awarded. Trump named Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as his pick to lead the agency, pending Senate confirmation. Oversight inquiries are expected to continue.

Federal health officials are warning families not to reach for suction-based anti-choking devices first in an emergency. The FDA says standard Red Cross and American Heart Association protocols remain the most effective, and device setup can cost crucial seconds. The agency has authorized only one such device for U.S. marketing and cites reports of failures and injuries.

President Donald Trump delivered a 1 hour and 48 minute State of the Union, the longest on record, using the address to roll out aggressive proposals ahead of the midterm elections. Plans included forcing major tech firms to generate power for AI data centers, banning corporations from buying single-family homes, creating matched retirement-style accounts, and backing a ban on lawmaker insider trading.

President Donald Trump and the EPA have rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding that underpinned federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The administration says the move will cut costs and save the economy $1.3 trillion, while health and environmental advocates warn it could worsen air quality and respiratory illness. Legal experts expect years of litigation.

A growing petition drive is pushing back on a proposal to turn Brook Park’s historic IX Center into a large-scale AI data center. Organizers cite worries about power and water use, potential noise and utility price increases, and the loss of a major regional venue. City leaders face mounting pressure as land-use talks continue.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told the House Judiciary Committee that active investigations into the Jeffrey Epstein case are still underway, challenging earlier signals that the probe had stalled. Lawmakers pressed for answers on why more associates have not been charged, as survivors in the room said they have offered evidence and interviews but were never contacted by the Justice Department.

Letter carriers across Northeast Ohio plan a Feb. 22 rally outside Akron’s West Market Post Office, citing contract concerns over pay for new hires, a staffing crunch and mandatory overtime. Union leaders also point to safety risks, including crimes targeting carriers and thefts of arrow keys, and are calling for stronger security measures.

Ohio officials warn of fraudulent postcards targeting residents on Medicare and Medicaid. The mailers use a MyCare-like name and promise up to $2,880 a year for groceries, OTC items and utilities, then direct recipients to call and share sensitive personal and banking information. Agencies say never respond to unsolicited benefit offers; report suspected fraud to 1-800-HHS-TIPS.