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Missouri lawmakers approve tougher penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers

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Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation that would give the state attorney general significantly expanded powers to investigate and penalize businesses accused of knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants.

House Bill 2366, sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Vernetti, was approved during the final weeks of the legislative session and now awaits action from Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Supporters say the measure is aimed at businesses that deliberately circumvent labor laws and gain unfair competitive advantages by employing unauthorized workers outside legal hiring systems. [Read more…] about Missouri lawmakers approve tougher penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers

RFK Jr. says America faces a sperm crisis – but scientists disagree on what it means

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has once again drawn attention to declining sperm counts in men, describing the issue as an “existential crisis” for the United States.

Speaking at a White House event on maternal health last week, Kennedy argued that men today have significantly lower sperm counts than previous generations and suggested the trend reflects a broader decline in American health and fertility.

“The fertility crisis for women began in 2007; for men in 1970,” Kennedy said during the event. “Men had twice the sperm count as our teenagers do today. This is an existential crisis for our country.” [Read more…] about RFK Jr. says America faces a sperm crisis – but scientists disagree on what it means

As America turns 250, teachers face a difficult question: How should the nation tell its story?

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary next year, teachers across the country are wrestling with a question that has become increasingly complicated in modern America: How should the nation’s history be taught?

For generations, American students often learned a relatively straightforward version of the country’s founding story – one centered on heroic revolutionaries, the Declaration of Independence and the promise of freedom and democracy.

Today, many educators say the challenge is no longer simply teaching historical facts, but helping students understand a more complicated national story that includes both America’s founding ideals and its contradictions. [Read more…] about As America turns 250, teachers face a difficult question: How should the nation tell its story?

Why one FDA resignation could affect abortion access across America

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The planned resignation of Marty Makary from the US Food and Drug Administration is creating fresh uncertainty over abortion access across the United States, particularly regarding the future of abortion pills prescribed through telehealth and delivered by mail.

Makary, who faced criticism from anti-abortion groups during his tenure as FDA commissioner, is expected to leave the agency amid growing political pressure from conservative activists and internal tensions within the Trump administration.

The development matters because the FDA now sits at the center of one of the country’s most significant legal and political battles over abortion access. [Read more…] about Why one FDA resignation could affect abortion access across America

US cheese production rises as Italian varieties continue to dominate market growth

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American cheese manufacturers produced more than 1.26 billion pounds of cheese in March 2026, according to newly released figures from the United States Department of Agriculture, highlighting the continued strength of the country’s dairy processing industry.

The latest USDA data showed total cheese production, excluding cottage cheese, increased 1.2 percent compared with March last year and rose 8.1 percent from February 2026 levels.

Italian-style cheeses remained the largest category by volume, with production reaching 542 million pounds during March. That represented an increase of 2.3 percent compared with the same month last year. [Read more…] about US cheese production rises as Italian varieties continue to dominate market growth

Scientists thought Antarctica would resist global warming for longer – now they’re worried

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For decades, Antarctica appeared to behave differently from the rest of the warming planet.

While Arctic sea ice declined rapidly as global temperatures rose, the frozen sea surrounding Antarctica seemed surprisingly resilient. In some years, Antarctic sea ice even expanded slightly, leading scientists to believe the southern polar region might respond more slowly to climate change than other parts of the world.

But that assumption may now be breaking down. [Read more…] about Scientists thought Antarctica would resist global warming for longer – now they’re worried

Trump’s China diplomacy could weaken Russia’s influence

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The summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping last week was closely watched around the world, particularly in Moscow, where Russian president Vladimir Putin may have seen signs that improving relations between Washington and Beijing could gradually reduce Russia’s global influence.

While the meeting focused publicly on trade, technology, Iran and Taiwan, the broader geopolitical significance may lie in the possibility that the United States and China are attempting to stabilize one of the world’s most important relationships after years of growing tension.

For Russia, that could create new challenges. [Read more…] about Trump’s China diplomacy could weaken Russia’s influence

Why Trump’s meeting with Xi matters to American jobs, prices and manufacturing

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The meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping last week was dominated by familiar geopolitical flashpoints – trade, technology, Iran and Taiwan – but the broader significance for ordinary Americans may lie much closer to home.

While headlines focused on tensions over Taiwan and military posturing in the Asia-Pacific region, economists and manufacturers will be watching for something more practical: whether Washington and Beijing can stabilize a relationship that remains deeply intertwined with the American economy.

Even after years of tariffs, reshoring initiatives and political hostility between the world’s two largest economies, the United States still relies heavily on China for manufacturing, industrial supply chains, electronics, consumer goods and critical materials. [Read more…] about Why Trump’s meeting with Xi matters to American jobs, prices and manufacturing

Missouri opens applications for specialty crop grants as state seeks to expand fruit and vegetable production

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The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for a new round of grants designed to support specialty crop production across the state, with funding available for projects involving fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, honey, nursery crops and other nontraditional agricultural products.

State officials said applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program must be submitted by May 28. Individual producers, universities, nonprofits, research institutions and community organizations are eligible to apply for projects intended to strengthen Missouri’s specialty crop sector.

The program, funded through the US Department of Agriculture, offers grants of up to $50,000 for projects running over a two-year period. [Read more…] about Missouri opens applications for specialty crop grants as state seeks to expand fruit and vegetable production