Infant care costs at least 10% of family budgets in most states: Study
It’s no secret having kids is expensive — from keeping them fed and clothed to making sure they’re cared for at all times — but it’s hard to say exactly how expensive they are. Now, for the first time, we’re getting an idea, at least when it comes to babies.
A newly released study by Brankrate shows care for just one infant costs at least 10% of a family’s yearly income in nearly every state. Child care has become one of the biggest expenses for parents nationwide, and Bankrate’s analysis found full-time center-based care in the U.S. cost an average of more than $14,000 in 2023 alone.
Bankrate found that’s more than a household’s average yearly budget for things like groceries ($9,985/year), health care ($6,159/year) and transportation ($13,174/year). In fact, the only big yearly expense Bankrate found costs more than infant care is housing, which costs an average of $25,436 a year.
Bankrate found there are only two states in the U.S. where child care adds up to less than 10% of a family’s yearly budget: North Dakota and South Dakota. Although North Dakota is pretty close, averaging 9.8%, South Dakota comes in at 8.7%
Infant care is the least affordable in New Mexico and Hawaii where it eats up more than 20% of a household’s budget every year. On average, American families spend about 15% of what they make on full-time center-based child care and for half the states, it’s more.
The nonprofit Child Care Aware America said most of the cost of child care goes to staffing because care centers are required to have a high ratio of adults to children for health and safety reasons. Even still, a recent analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago found the median wage paid to child care workers is in the bottom 5% of all occupations.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’ at his golf club: FBI
For the second time in just over two months, authorities say former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent “attempted assassination.” We have the latest on the investigation. And the red carpet was rolled out for TV’s biggest stars Sunday night. We recap who won at the 76th Emmy Awards. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.
FBI: Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’
The FBI is investigating what it said “appears to be an attempted assassination” of former President Donald Trump near his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, Sept. 15. Authorities said Trump was playing a round of golf when Secret Service agents spotted the gunman a few hundred yards away pointing a weapon through the bushes.
The agents fired five to six shots at the gunman. The suspect dropped his weapon, described as an AK-47-style rifle, and fled in his vehicle. It was not clear if the suspect had fired any shots.
The suspect was soon taken into custody during a traffic stop in a nearby county.
Authorities said the rifle with a scope was found in the shrubbery along with two backpacks, ceramic plates, and a GoPro camera.
Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for the Republican presidential nominee said Trump was safe. Trump later sent out a letter to supporters saying, “Nothing will slow me down! I will never surrender.”
Law enforcement sources have told multiple news outlets the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii. Authorities are said to be looking into Routh’s possible motives, including his reported grievances about the war in Ukraine. The New York Times reported the paper interviewed Routh last year about recruiting Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.
During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw spoke about the Secret Service’s presence protecting Trump at the time of the assassination attempt.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have this entire golf course surrounded,” Bradshaw said. “Well, because he’s not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible. So, I would imagine the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.”
Biden said he has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service “has every resource” necessary for Trump’s “continued safety.” Harris said, “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”
Late Sunday night, Trump posted a message on Truth Social thanking law enforcement for “an incredible job done” and saying, “It was certainly an interesting day.”
I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible… pic.twitter.com/mV15rJygOR
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 16, 2024
Israel says Houthis will pay ‘heavy price’ after attack on Tel Aviv
Israel’s Prime Minister has vowed retaliation after a missile fired by Houthi rebels reached central Israel for the first time. A Houthi spokesman said the hypersonic ballistic missile, fired from Yemen, traveled more than 1,200 miles in just over 10 minutes Sunday.
Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from Yemen and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the missile mid-air, but it most likely fragmented as it approached Tel Aviv. Israel said there were no direct casualties from the missile, but at least nine people suffered minor injuries.
This is just the latest attack by the Houthis, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, in support of Hamas.
At least 8 dead as torrential rain triggers flooding in central Europe
At least eight people are confirmed dead as torrential rain continues to pound central Europe, causing widespread flooding. Thousands of people evacuated their homes in the Czech Republic Sunday as rivers overflowed their banks in various parts of the country.
A storm system named Boris has caused heavy downpours from Austria to Romania, leading to the worst flooding the Czech Republic and Poland have seen in nearly 30 years.
The relentless rain is expected to last at least through Monday.
US Coast Guard hearing into deadly Titan submersible implosion begins
Former employees of OceanGate are expected to testify. The company was behind the experimental submersible that imploded while on its way to the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023, killing all five people on board.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Coast Guard released a statement saying the hearing “aims to uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The hearing will take place in Charleston County, South Carolina and is expected to last about two weeks. Witnesses scheduled to appear include one of OceanGate’s co-founders and the company’s former engineering, operations, and scientific directors.
Apple’s AI-powered operating system to launch Monday
Apple’s latest operating system, featuring the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities, is set to go live Monday. iOS 18 will come with changes for all compatible iPhone models, but Apple Intelligence will be the highlight of the update for iPhone 15 Pro and later models.
Some tech experts say this is Apple’s biggest update since it originally launched the iPhone.
Apple usually releases its updates at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.
‘Shogun,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘The Bear’ win at the 76th Emmy Awards
History was made at the 76th Emmy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. The big winner was the historical drama Shogun.
“Shogun” became the first non-English language series to win best drama. It claimed a total of 18 wins, including lead actor, actress, and directing.
Hawaii’s new open carry law: Balancing rights and public safety
Hawaii dramatically shifted its weapons laws in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. Hawaii, which is known for strict weapons restrictions and low gun violence rates, now allows open carry of weapons, including firearms, battle axes and blades, in public spaces.
State lawmakers passed a law allowing open carry of deadly or dangerous weapons in public following both the Bruen decision and a subsequent circuit court ruling striking down the state’s ban on butterfly knives. The law also increased penalties for weapon-related crimes.
The law explicitly prohibits carrying weapons in a manner that threatens or terrorizes others, reinforcing the state’s focus on preserving public order and security.
This change reshaped iconic tourist destinations like Waikiki, known for its beaches and surfing. The beach is now seeing the presence of armed individuals openly carrying weapons.
The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office emphasized that the new law does not create a “free-for-all” scenario. The office said the state remains committed to maintaining public safety while complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Hawaii continues to adapt to this new legal landscape, facing the ongoing challenge of balancing constitutional rights and public safety.
While open carry is now generally permitted in Hawaii, concealed carry remains a misdemeanor.
Runway clears for Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines merger after DOJ review expires
A proposed merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines has flown past a review by the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision clears the runway for the first major airline merger since 2016.
“This is a significant milestone in the process to join our airlines,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement about the expiring DOJ review period.
Instead of becoming one company under a single brand, both names will remain intact. Alaska said it is committed to maintaining the Hawaiian brand, jobs and continuing service between, to and from the islands.
The airline industry has become more and more consolidated in recent decades but there hasn’t been a major airline merger since Alaska acquired Virgin America for $2.6 billion in 2016.
The Justice Department has successfully put the brakes on big airline acquisitions in recent years. It stopped JetBlue from buying Spirit Airlines and halted a proposed partnership between JetBlue and American for service in the Northeast.
On Aug. 13, a federal judge in Hawaii dismissed a consumer lawsuit to stop this merger on claims it would decrease routes while increasing prices.
Dying with medical assistance is latest form of ‘health tourism’: Report
Living with a terminal illness can be miserable both mentally and physically, even with advances in modern medicine and technology. That is why many who face the end of their natural lives look to do so on their own terms. However, in the U.S. that is rarely an option.
A new report from KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, shows dying with medical assistance, which used to be called physician-assisted suicide, is a new form of medical tourism.
Medical tourism, also known as health tourism, is when someone travels from their home, in this case, out of state, to receive treatment that would otherwise be denied or not even be an option.
Right now, dying with medical assistance is legal in only 10 states: Vermont, California, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and Montana, as well as Washington, D.C.
Nine of those states and the District of Columbia have laws dictating the process for choosing to die with medical assistance. In Montana, there is no specific law on the subject. However, it is not illegal after the state’s Supreme Court ruled there is no statute prohibiting health care providers from assisting patients in dying.
And while it is a sensitive topic, dying with medical assistance is being talked about in more and more states. This past legislative session, 18 states considered aid-in-dying laws. The Delaware Legislature passed one, however, that bill is still awaiting the governor’s approval.
These laws tend to apply only to residents of the individual state where dying with medical assistance is legal, but Vermont and Oregon lifted their residency requirements in 2023.
Since then, KFF says at least 26 people have traveled from other states to Vermont to die. That represents 25% of the assisted deaths reported there from May 2023 through June of this year.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, 23 people from out-of-state died with medical assistance in 2023, which is about 6% of the state’s total.
In every state that tracks medical aid in dying, more people got the prescription than actually used it, most commonly because their illness overcame them. A terminal form of cancer is often why patients seek medical assistance in dying.
Lahaina fire survivors make steps toward recovery on anniversary of disaster
There are signs of recovery one year after the deadly fires on the island of Maui, Hawaii. But there is a long road ahead for many who call the town of Lahaina home.
Reportedly, 102 people were killed in the fast moving firestorm. It was the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century. What used to be piles of smoking rubble and ash has now been largely cleared by contractors and the Army Corp of Engineers. This is leaving behind smooth lots where homes and businesses once stood.
With their town razed to the ground, thousands of survivors continue to struggle to find secure housing in a market saturated with short-term vacation rentals.
“Housing remains the number one issue.” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii said. “Businesses still need help as tourism lags and people of all ages need expanded access to mental health resources and other health care. Every part of the government, whether it’s federal, state or county, has a responsibility to help the survivors get back on their feet.”
“Building housing is going to be critical in the second year.” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, D, said. “We’re changing the laws around short-term rentals, hoping to bring as many as 7,000 short-term rentals back to the market for local families on Maui.”
Lahaina was a cultural and economic hub in the islands and its loss is still sorely felt. Despite the difficulties faced by the survivors, there is hope for a stable life after the disaster. A $4 billion global settlement was reached just days before the anniversary, offering a path forward for the thousands of plaintiffs affected by the wildfires.
Next to the hollowed out skeleton of the old Lahaina courthouse there is new growth. The massive 151-year old sacred banyan tree, the oldest banyan in the state, is covered in green shoots.
“For the people of Lahaina,” Schatz said. “The past year has been a year of uncertainty and unease. Unspeakable grief and heartache, impossible choices, a year of what ifs and what’s next. Nothing will ever fully replace the people and the things that were lost on that harrowing day about a year ago. But what we can do is be there for them as they recover. For as long as it takes every step of the way. That is our responsibility and that is our promise.”
Insurance companies want half of Maui wildfire victims’ $4B settlement
Nearly a year after wildfires tore through Maui, claiming over 100 lives and destroying thousands of structures, the aftermath continues to unfold in legal battles and proposed settlements. The wildfires, fueled by drought conditions, high winds and downed power lines, marked Hawaii’s worst natural disaster on record.
Over 2,000 structures were reduced to ashes, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
In response to the disaster, thousands of residents initiated legal action against Hawaiian Electric, the island’s utility provider, blaming it for the fires. Recently, a tentative settlement agreement emerged from court-ordered mediation, proposing a $4 billion payout from Hawaiian Electric and other implicated companies to compensate impacted families.
However, the proposal sparked controversy.
A significant portion of the settlement amount is being contested by insurance companies, including major players like Allstate and State Farm. These insurers are seeking approximately $2 billion from the settlement fund as reimbursement for claims they paid out following the wildfires. Residents and affected parties expressed criticism and argued that insurers are prioritizing profit over the needs of wildfire victims.
“This action arises out of the greed of Hawaii’s insurance industry to put their own selfish profits ahead of the suffering of the people of Maui who are the true victims of the Maui fires,” the lawsuit filed against the insurers states.
As of now, the insurers named in the suit have not publicly commented on the allegations. The lawsuit, brought by homeowners who lost their homes and loved ones in the fires, challenges the insurers’ claim for reimbursement before fully compensating their policyholders for their losses.
Meanwhile, despite the tentative agreement, the $4 billion settlement deal has not yet received final approval from the court. While it was a product of consensus during mediation sessions, the judge overseeing the case has yet to sign off on the proposal.
For the residents of Maui still grappling with impact of the wildfires, the resolution of these legal matters will determine the extent to which justice and recovery are achieved.
Hawaii youth-led climate change case reaches historic settlement
The state of Hawaii settled a landmark case with a group of youth alleging the state was violating their rights with pollution-causing infrastructure. The group called on the state to commit to a transportation system with zero emissions by 2045.
The case, Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, is the world’s first youth-led constitutional challenge to address transportation climate pollution.
Gov. Josh Green announced the settlement Thursday, June 20, praising the young people who he said had been “suing the crap out of me for the better part of the last couple years.”
“The passion demonstrated by these young people in advocating for a healthy, sustainable future for their generation and those to come, is laudable,” Green said.
Thirteen youth from Hawaii brought the case forward in the summer of 2022, and the Hawaii government has spent around $3 million arguing against it. The settlement came just a couple days before the expected June 24 trial.
As part of the settlement, the Hawaii Department of Transportation will create a plan to reach zero emissions for all transportation systems in the islands, land, air, and sea, by 2045. The state already had a pre-existing goal of becoming carbon neutral by that year.
“Climate change is indisputable,” Hawaii Director of Transportation Ed Sniffen said. “Burying our heads in the sand and making it the next generation’s problem is not pono.”
In Hawaii, the word pono means to be righteous and upstanding.
The department will also set aside at least $40 million to build additional public electric vehicle charging stations by 2030. These efforts will be advised by a volunteer youth council that will be established in the coming years.
“We’re the most isolated land mass on the planet.” Green said. “We’re too dependent on fossil fuels. We’re vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events as we saw in Maui, coral bleaching – which is devastating to the fauna that are in the ocean – so it’s very important that they stand up for the future.”
The nonprofit law firm Our Children’s Trust, one of the parties representing the youth, is also supporting several other groups of young people in suing their state governments for accelerating climate change through both their policies and inaction. This is the first of its kind to reach a resolution.
Rylee Brook, one of the plaintiffs, called out to other youth to be active in their climate advocacy.
“Today is a testament to what can be achieved when we stand together with purpose and conviction to hold our governments to their promises for our planet,” Brook said.
Airlines sue Biden Administration over new fee disclosure rule
Several major U.S. airlines, including Delta, American, United, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Alaska, filed a lawsuit against the Transportation Department. The group filed the lawsuit in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, May 10.
In April, the Biden administration unveiled new rules that apply to checked bag fees. These rules require airlines and ticket agents to be more upfront about fees for seat selection, baggage and changing flight reservations.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit claims that the new rule is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise contrary to law.”
Airlines for America, a trade organization that represents several major U.S. airlines, released a statement asserting that airlines already disclose all fees and that the new rules will confuse customers and complicate the buying process.
A study conducted by travel experts at IdeaWorks found that the top 20 airlines in the world collected nearly $118 billion in extra fees in 2023. That number included $33 billion in bag fees.
As of now, the Transportation Department has not responded to the lawsuit. Southwest Airlines did not join the suit.
