Americans are down on the economy, but CEOs are full of optimism
Consumers are jittery, in part because of fears that new tariffs could worsen inflation. Executives, however, are hopeful about fewer regulations and are planning to boost investments.
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Judge orders ban on DOGE from accessing sensitive Treasury data
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas said there’s a public interest in protecting the security of personal information and banking information for Americans.
Trump’s pro-union labor secretary pick highlights GOP tensions
While Trump loyalists have rallied behind Lori Chavez-DeRemer, she faces skepticism from some GOP senators whose support she may need.
USDA tries to reverse mistaken firing of bird flu response workers
Last week, some firings in the Energy Department were also initiated, then paused, after they sparked alarm about the effect on nuclear defense programs.
Women’s basketball players formed an advocacy group. They can’t get a meeting.
The association has at least one rep from every Big Ten team and a majority of SEC programs. Both conferences declined to meet.
U.S. reverses plan to shut down free COVID test program
Internal documents show that officials at HHS had been considering whether to continue the program or dispose of millions of tests.
Calumet subsidiary draws down $782M as part of first Trump-approved energy loan
Montana Renewables said the money will help make it become the biggest producer of sustainable aviation fuel in the world.
Trump casts psychiatric and weight-loss drugs as threats to children
President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to scrutinize the “threat” to children posed by antidepressants, stimulants and other common psychiatric drugs.
Musk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS
The news comes as roughly 150 million taxpayers prepare to file returns by the April 15 deadline.
As Musk reshapes the government, some ask: Where are the guardrails?
In the long term, it’s still possible that many existing fire walls could stop or slow Musk’s efforts to collect mountains of data and slash thousands of federal jobs.
How NIH research funding works, and why universities are worried
At the heart of the debate over support for scientific research is a not-widely-known element of the federal grant process known as the “facilities and administrative,” or indirect costs.
Trump closes down federal worker buyout offer after judge lifts hold
Unions representing more than 800,000 federal workers had filed a lawsuit to stop the program, calling it an “arbitrary, unlawful, short-fused ultimatum.”
UPDATE: Crafts and fabric retailer Joann closing 533 stores nationwide
The retailer’s closure list includes 20 stores in Indiana, including a pair of local stores.
Inflation rose in January as prices for groceries, housing picked up
Wednesday’s data could strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to remain in an extended pause mode while the economy is strong and inflation remains elevated.
Trump OKs $782M loan to Indianapolis company’s sustainable jet fuel subsidiary
Montana Renewables is a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP. Calumet launched Montana Renewables in 2021 with the goal of becoming one of the top renewable diesel producers in North America.
Trump executive order vows substantial cuts to federal workforce
The executive order gives billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE, tasked with finding government inefficiencies, even more power than it has amassed in the first three weeks of the new administration.
Chinese tariffs to take effect, ratcheting up trade war with U.S.
While the leaders of Canada and Mexico managed to strike political deals to delay the implementation of the tariffs Trump had slapped on their products, China has not struck such a deal.
NIH cuts billions of dollars in biomedical funding, effective immediately
The National Institutes of Health said the change would save more than $4 billion a year, effective immediately.
Judge to hear federal worker lawsuit, with buyout offer set to expire tonight
More than 40,000 people had accepted the offer as of Wednesday evening, a person familiar with the matter said.
Store closings may accelerate as retailers face problems far beyond tariffs
Brick-and-mortar retail had a tough year last year, and it’s only going to get harder in 2025, experts say.