Stories from United States

Small Business Administration disaster recovery teams will conduct door-to-door visits in Kinkakee County today. The teams are visiting areas affected by severe weather from last month.

US President Donald Trump announced in October that the United States has ordered 11 icebreakers from Finland. Four of these vessels will be constructed at Finnish shipyards, while the remaining seven will be built in the United States.

The United States will spend $2 billion to provide crews for 11 new Arctic icebreakers. US Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Landry announced the funding. The expenditure aims to ensure operational readiness for the new vessels.

The Commonwealth Fund reported finding racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access across all 50 United States. David Radley noted that many minorities struggle with the affordability of medicine and doctor co-payments. States such as New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts are performing better due to Medicaid program expansions under the Affordable Care Act. These states have reportedly gone beyond standard requirements to make various services available. Minority groups, specifically Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations, struggle most with healthcare access. These struggles follow cuts to Medicaid and the expiration of Obamacare premium tax credits. Radley noted that Asian Americans and white people tend to receive the best healthcare services. Black, Hispanic, and indigenous populations, including Alaska Natives and American Indians, tend to struggle the most.

The United States communications regulator is reevaluating the federal license that authorizes ABC television broadcasting. The chair's action requires Disney-owned stations to apply for license recertification earlier than expected. Gomez described the move as an egregious violation of the First Amendment. She has called on media companies to resist the effort. The investigation is reportedly looking back to March. The announcement follows a Supreme Court reaffirmation regarding the use of race for preferences under the Communications Act. The Enforcement Bureau is tasked with reviewing the matter. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Brandon Carr, is investigating whether it can intervene regarding broadcasting licenses for eight local ABC-affiliated television stations. The investigation is reportedly being driven by Trump-aligned interests.

McLean-based Hilton reported opening 1,600 new rooms during the first quarter. The company stated it has more rooms currently under construction than any other hotel chain. Hilton's business related to the conflict with Iran accounts for only 3 percent of its operations.

Quante Spinks faces charges including first-degree murder and use of a firearm in Baltimore County. The charges stem from a September 2024 incident in Harbor East where Spinks fatally shot 36-year-old Antonio Peeples. Investigators found that at least 27 rounds of various calibers were fired during the shooting. Peeples' girlfriend also survived being shot during the incident, which surveillance footage suggests began as a robbery. Former guitarist for the band Turnstile, Brady Ebert, is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge. A 41-year-old former University of Maryland Medical Center pharmacist, Matthew Bethula, is facing federal charges. Investigators allege Bethula hacked hospital computers to secretly collect intimate photos and videos of nearly 200 victims. He is accused of stealing passwords to access personal accounts over an eight-year period and hacking email accounts.

A new UMBC poll of more than 600 Baltimore City residents and more than 600 Baltimore County residents finds that many do not trust their local government. Only 11% of Baltimore County residents say it has not impacted life at all. Confidence regarding the bridge reconstruction is low, with 55% of Baltimore County residents feeling not at all or just a little confident. 42% of those residents expressed being somewhat or very confident in the reconstruction timeline. The Southern District Community Coalition rallied outside Baltimore City Hall on Thursday to deliver a petition. More than 800 residents signed the petition addressing quality of life concerns. The group is calling on city leaders to address issues involving dirt bikes, open air drug markets, and illegal parking.

Sumit Sarkar, Director of Translational AI at Iowa State University, stated that home AI robots are expected to arrive in approximately five years. These robots will likely begin as advanced household appliances capable of performing tasks more complex than current models. Sarkar noted they will not necessarily walk on two legs or use human-like hands and fingers. Current warehouse robots are already performing difficult tasks such as carrying heavy objects. These robots will initially function as advanced household appliances rather than humanoid machines. Current technology lacks the fine motor skills and dexterous manipulation required to match human capabilities.

The City of Everett says it requires an additional $10 million to complete the design of a new ballpark. The stadium is intended to be the new home for the Everett Aqua Sox. According to the Seattle Times, the new facility would help the team meet new field requirements imposed by Major League Baseball. The request covers a period of 10 years. Local baseball remains a factor in the city's discussions regarding the project. The project includes a new outdoor event center with a total cost of $120 million.