The Health and Human Services Department said Thursday it is reviving a federal task force created to improve the safety of childhood vaccines, saying it's needed to reaffirm its commitment to vaccine oversight.
Why it matters: The move could be a prelude to changes to the federal childhood vaccination schedule and comes just months after the anti-vaccine group Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. founded backed a lawsuit against him that sought to re-establish the task force.
President Trump signeda proclamation Thursday celebrating the 90th anniversary of Social Security and promoting the program's improvements under his leadership.
Why it matters: Reports from inside the agency tell a different story. Social Security advocates are questioning whether the administration may be weighing changes to the popular program that would be harmful to its long-term success.
Prices for wholesalers rose at the fastest pace in three years in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Thursday.
Why it matters: It is the latest warning that inflation might be reigniting across the U.S. economy as businesses grapple with higher tariff-related costs.
President Trump on Wednesday ordered his health officials to secure a six-month supply of advanced pharmaceutical ingredients for drugs the administration determines are critical for national health and security.
Why it matters: The move continues efforts started during the Biden administration to reshore the medical supply chain and reduce the reliance on overseas manufacturers, especially China.
An experimental vaccine targeting one of the most common genetic drivers of hard-to-treat pancreatic and colorectal cancers prevented their recurrence, raising hopes for an "off the shelf" treatment that can train the immune system to attack malignancies.
Why it matters: If shown effective in further trials, the vaccine could become a particularly important tool in staving off the return of pancreatic cancer, which sees roughly 80% of surgically removed tumors recur within five years.
People with low credit scores can expect to pay nearly $2,000 more annually on average for home insurance compared to those with high scores, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: Credit scores aren't necessarily indicative of somebody's ability to pay their bills — and tying them to insurance prices can disadvantage low-income and minority homeowners, among others.
If you want to be happier, try acting like the CEO of your own life.
That's what behavioral scientist Arthur Brooks, who teaches at Harvard and contributes to The Atlantic, says in his new book "The Happiness Files," a collection of essays.
The big picture: "Your life is the most important management task you will ever undertake. It is, in fact, like a startup, where you are the founder, entrepreneur, and chief executive. And if you treat your life the way a great entrepreneur treats an exciting startup enterprise, your life will be happier, more meaningful, and more successful than it otherwise would be," Brooks writes in "The Happiness Files."
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday made it illegal to sell 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound found in some kratom products, by classifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance in the state.
Why it matters: The announcement makes Florida the first state to ban this concentrated kratom byproduct, which acts like an opioid and has been dubbed "legal morphine" by researchers.
Cottontail rabbits in Colorado have been spotted with "wart-like" growths on their faces. But don't worry — they're OK.
Why it matters: The viral infection causing the horn-like growth spurts can come from ticks, according to public officials, which is yet another sign of this summer's unusually "out of control" tick season.
The percentage of U.S. adults consuming alcohol has hit a new low, according to Gallup data released Wednesday.
The big picture: The share of Americans who say that drinking in moderation is detrimental to one's health hitting a historic high, a belief that's echoed by recent scientific research.
Twelve states are seeing higher positivity rates for COVID-19 tests compared to the rest of the country, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why it matters: Positivity rates are popping off as the "stratus" COVID variant surges throughout the country
President Trump is opening the door to reclassifying marijuana, potentially allowing the GOP to claim another health issue that's long been associated with Democrats.
Why it matters: The administration has already flipped the political script when it comes to banning food dyes, calling for an end to animal lab testing and embracing psychedelics for mental health.
Prominent MAGA leaders are urging President Trump to back off his plans to review federal restrictions on marijuana, warning of a one-way ticket to societal ruin.
Why it matters: Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would open the door to expanded research and deliver a major boost to the legal cannabis industry, which is currently constrained by a patchwork of state laws.
The number of New York City office workers actually going to those offices is now higher than pre-pandemic levels — the first time that's happened since COVID hit, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: It's an I-told-you-so moment for those who rejected the once-dire predictions that the pandemic would change New York — and the way people work — forever.
Mexico extradited 26 suspected high-ranking drug traffickers to the U.S. on Tuesday — including several linked to groups the Trump administration has designated as global terrorist organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel, per the Department of Justice.
The big picture: The extraditions come after months of pressure from President Trump, who has threatened to hit Mexico with hefty tariffs if Mexican officials don't do enough to stop the flow of drugs.
