Business

Warren Buffett offers Donald Trump some advice while celebrating Berkshire Hathaway’s success

Feb. 23, 2025

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In his annual letter to shareholders Saturday, Warren Buffett celebrated the successes of Berkshire Hathaway’s companies last year and in the 60 years since he took over a struggling New England textile company and began converting it into a massive conglomerate while offering some advice to President Donald Trump. Buffett opened the letter by acknowledging that he has occasionally made mistakes over the years without offering many specific examples, but he assured shareholders that the man he has chosen to one day succeed him as CEO, Greg Abel, isn’t one of them. He wrote that Abel will be ready to act whenever he spots significant investment opportunities, and he will continue writing an annual report like Buffett’s to update shareholders. Buffett’s letters are always popular among investors because of the insights he offers and his remarkable track record.

Business

California governor asks Congress for nearly $40 billion for Los Angeles wildfire relief

Feb. 23, 2025

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires, which he said could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Newsom sent a letter Friday asking for support from lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the House Appropriations Committee chair. “Los Angeles is one of the most economically productive places on the globe, but it can only rebound and flourish with support from the federal government as it recovers from this unprecedented disaster,” Newsom wrote.

Business

Thieves used a stolen card to buy a $523,000 lottery ticket. The victim wants to share the winnings

Feb. 23, 2025

PARIS (AP) — Thieves used a stolen card to buy a winning French lottery ticket worth 500,000 euros ($523,000). But they vanished before cashing in —- and now they’re among France’s most famous fugitives. The man whose card was stolen, identified in police documents as Jean-David E., is offering to split the cash with the lucky winners. He wants his wallet back, too. The thieves, meanwhile, face the risk of arrest. As of Saturday, the state lottery operator La Française des Jeux, or FDJ, said that no one had submitted the ticket to cash out. ″It’s an incredible story, but it’s all true,″ Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Health

Dementia risk could be lowered by doing this for 5 minutes a day: study

Feb. 23, 2025

Think five minutes isn't enough time to make a difference in terms of health and well-being? It could actually be enough time to stave off a disease that afflicts many people in their later years. Just five minutes of light exercise a day could help prevent dementia, even for frail older adults, new research has found.

Health

New bat coronavirus discovered in China sparks pandemic concerns

Feb. 23, 2025

The discovery of a new bat coronavirus in China has sparked concerns about another pandemic. The virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, is similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in that it targets the same human receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), according to a report in the South China Morning Post. HKU5-CoV-2 could potentially lead to human-to-human or even cross-species transmission, the researchers found.

Health

Couple breaks record for longest living marriage

Feb. 22, 2025

Two centenarians broke the Guinness World Record for longest marriage of a living couple, as reported by Jam Press and confirmed by LongeviQuest, a database on the life and times of the world’s oldest people. Manoel Angelim Dino, 105, first met Maria de Sousa Dino, 101, while collecting sweets in Brazil in 1936. They remained acquaintances until they met again in 1940.

Health

Children with autism may see speech improvements with off-label prescription drug

Feb. 22, 2025

An off-label prescription drug has been shown to help some non-verbal children with autism discover the ability to speak. The drug, leucovorin, is a prescription vitamin that functions similarly to folic acid, helping to restore folate levels in patients who may have difficulty absorbing or using it, according to Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and the CEO and co-founder of Vitalize, a private supplement company.

Sports

Which star NFL players will cash in next? Top candidates for massive contract extensions

Feb. 22, 2025

A rising salary cap is cause for all NFL players to celebrate. But the additional spending capacity – this year estimated to be at least an extra $20 million – should be a particular source of joy for the league's elite. The continuing surge in cap space has coincided with the accelerated growth at the top of the market for several premium positions, including quarterback, wide receiver and edge rusher. With the arrival of the NFL offseason, several more stars in key spots could be in line to cash in with sizable new agreements.

Travel

Man with lifelong fear of flying reveals why Americans shouldn't worry as expert also weighs in

Feb. 22, 2025

Nervous travelers have been worrying about taking to the air given recent airplane crashes in the news. Even so, one man with aerophobia, or a fear of flying, believes there's nothing to be afraid of — and he's on a mission to help others address their concerns. Brian Morris of Salt Lake City, Utah, created "Flight Deck: Fear Of Flying Flash Cards" to help anxious flyers calm themselves about takeoff procedures and the travel experience.

Weather

Drought Will Worsen From Plains To Florida, NOAA Predicts

Feb. 22, 2025

NOAA has released their seasonal drought outlook and is expecting a substantial drought expansion in parts of the Southern Plains. Increasing drought is expected for states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Georgia & Florida. Here is what is expected.