Month: April 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled a plan on Tuesday to begin phasing out eight synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply, aiming for full removal by the end of next year.

Synthetic dyes are found in everything from candy and cereal to medications; however, the long-term health effects of these dyes remain under scrutiny. Other countries have already banned them or required warning labels, but the U.S. has lagged behind in regulatory action.

According to a release from the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA will give the food industry roughly two years to transition from petroleum-based synthetic dyes to natural alternative; and will also authorize four new food dyes it says are derived from natural sources in the coming weeks.

During a press conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared that federal agencies will collaborate with food manufacturers to eliminate the use of these additives in various products: “this is not the moment to let up. We need to push harder. We have momentum now, and we’re going to win this fight. In four years, either these chemicals will be gone from our food, or consumers will be clearly warned before they buy them.”

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary also. announced at the press conference that they plan to revoke the approval of two artificial colorings while partnering with companies to eliminate six more from commonly consumed products like yogurt, cereal, snacks, and frozen desserts. Citing research linking synthetic colorings made from petroleum to various health concerns such as ADHD, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and gastrointestinal issues, Makary said: “the FDA is taking decisive steps to remove petroleum-derived dyes not just from foods, but also from medications. For decades, our children have been surrounded by a mix of synthetic chemicals. It’s time for change .. why are we risking our kids’ health? Nearly 41% of children in this country suffer from at least one chronic condition, and one in five are on prescription drugs. Instead of relying on more medications like Ozempic or ADHD treatments, we must address what’s causing these issues in the first place.”

The Biden administration began the process of banning Red No. 3 earlier this year ear (which is linked to cancer in animal studies). That dye must be eliminated from food by 2027 and from medications by 2028.  FDA officials asked manufacturers to accelerate efforts to remove Red No. 3 from their products at Tuesday’s press conference.

The FDA plans to begin the process of withdrawing approval for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B in the coming months; with an additional six dyes set for phase-out by late 2026 including: Red No. 40, Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Green No. 3, and Blue Nos. 1 and 2.

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As the world continues to pay tribute to Pope Francis following his death yesterday at the age of 88, the Vatican released the Pontiff’s death certificate, which states he died from a stroke that prompted irreversible heart failure. The Vatican shared details of Francis’ final moments, saying that he started to feel unwell at around 5:30 a.m. on Monday and was promptly attended to by his team. Calling his passing “discreet and nearly sudden,” the Vatican’s official media channel said that after the Pope slipped into a coma, he did not endure prolonged suffering. His time of death was listed as 7:35 a.m. on Monday.

On Monday, the pontiff’s body was placed in a coffin within the chapel at Santa Marta, and the Vatican released  photos and footage on Tuesday showing Francis in a wooden coffin, dressed in a red liturgical robe, with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary entwined in his hands.

Following a meeting of the College of Cardinals held at the Holy See’s headquarters in central Rome, the Vatican also announced that the funeral for Pope Francis will be held at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern Time) on Saturday at St. Peter’s Basilica.   On Wednesday morning, a solemn procession will transport the pope’s coffin from Casa Santa Marta, his place of residence and where he died, to St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinals will accompany the transfer, marking the beginning of the formal funeral rites.

American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s interim administrator and an Irish-American prelate, has become the acting head of the Vatican until the College of Cardinals chooses the pope’s successor following his funeral. Farrell led both the procession and the ceremonial transfer of the pope’s remains to St. Peter’s. Pope Francis will lie in state at the basilica ahead of his funeral Mass beginning Wednesday morning, which will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. Following the funeral Mass, Pope Francis’ coffin will be transported to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome for intermen, located outside Vatican City approximately four miles away.

The Vatican confirmed that the Pope’s funeral will include a number of world leaders and dignitaries; as of press time, among those who have confirmed to be in attendance were: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz are also scheduled to be present, as well as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

From the European royal families: Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are expected to attend; and Kensington Palace announced Tuesday that Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will represent the British royal family on behalf of King Charles III.  King Charles and Queen Camilla had met with Pope Francis just two weeks prior to his death.

The College of Cardinal Electors will convene at the Vatican within two to three weeks of the Pope’s passing to begin the process of selecting the new pope. The conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel, is attended only by cardinals under the age of 80, currently numbering around 135. During the conclave, cardinals will vote in secrecy within the Sistine Chapel. Each round of voting concludes with the burning of ballots: black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope.

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A Delta Airlines flight with more than 200 passengers on board caught fire Monday in Florida while on the runway, with the passengers forced to evacuate onto the tarmac at Orlando International Airport after one of the plane’s engines caught fire.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Delta Airlines Flight 1213 was preparing for takeoff from OIA at approximately 11:15 a.m. when the fire broke out in the tailpipe of one of the two engines of the aircraft, an Airbus A330. Following standard safety procedures, the crew initiated the evacuation after the flames were spotted.

Emergency slides were deployed, and all 282 passengers (along with 10 flight attendants and two pilots) exited the aircraft safely. The flight was en route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Delta confirmed there were no immediate reports of injuries, and a replacement aircraft was arranged to complete the journey for affected passengers. An Orlando International Airport spokesperson confirmed the fire was extinguished after emergency crews responded quickly to the scene.

Delta said in a statement Monday: “We are grateful for our customers’ understanding and sincerely apologize for the disruption. We thank our customers for their patience and sincerely apologize for the situation. Safety is our top priority, and our teams are working diligently to ensure passengers reach their destinations as quickly as possible.”

The exact cause of the engine fire is still unknown. Delta stated that its maintenance team would inspect the aircraft, and the FAA has launched an investigation.

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The man responsible for a racially motivated attack that left 23 people dead at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019 entered a guilty plea to capital murder charges in a Texas state courtroom on Monday. His guilty plea means he will receive an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole. At the federal level, he has already been handed 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to hate crimes and firearms violations.

Patrick Crusius, now 26, formally admitted to the crimes in court on Monday. Crusius admitted to intentionally targeting Hispanic people on August 3, 2019, when he opened fire at a busy Walmart in the border city, filled with shoppers from both the U.S. and Mexico.

Judge Sam Medrano asked Crusius during the proceedings if he was pleading guilty solely because he was indeed guilty; Crusius replied without hesitation: “Yes, your honor.”  Crusius was then directly addressed in court by Judge Medrano, who condemned his actions and emphasized the strength and unity of the El Paso community in the aftermath: “You came here to spread fear and destroy lives, targeting a community that would have embraced you. Instead of sowing division, you brought people together. Instead of silencing them, you amplified their voices. El Paso stood tall — more united, more courageous.”

According to El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya, the death penalty was taken off the table after prosecutors consulted with the victims’ families, many of whom expressed a desire to bring the case to a close. Defense attorney Joe Spencer revealed that Crusius had long struggled with schizoaffective disorder — a condition associated with hallucinations, delusions, and severe mood disturbances — and that he had fallen under the influence of radical content online.

At the time of the shooting, Crusius was a 21-year-old college dropout from near Dallas. Authorities say he drove over 700 miles to El Paso, posted a white supremacist manifesto online referring to a so-called “Hispanic invasion,” and then opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle in and around the Walmart. The victims included a 15-year-old student athlete, elderly grandparents, immigrants, a retired bus driver, a teacher, skilled tradesmen, and multiple Mexican citizens who had crossed the border on everyday shopping trips.

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Pope Francis has died at 88, the Vatican has confirmed. The Vatican said Francis died just after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, a day after he appeared outside the Vatican on Easter Sunday to greet well-wishers. His death on Monday comes after a series of worsening health problems, including a respiratory crisis that left him in critical condition in recent months.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, formally announced Francis’ death on Monday, with a statement saying: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis’ body will be put on display in an open coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, where pontiffs have been buried for more than 100 years. But in accordance with Francis’ wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls. His successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals who are charged with electing a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican.

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On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis made an appearance in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican to offer his traditional blessing, following a short earlier meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic (per ABC NEWS).

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Vice President Vance arrived at Casa Santa Marta—Pope Francis’ residence—shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time. A photo shared by the Vatican shows the pontiff greeting Vance and his accompanying delegation during their brief audience on April 20, 2025. The Vatican noted the meeting lasted only a few minutes and served primarily as a chance to exchange Easter greetings.

In the days leading up to Easter, the Vatican had not confirmed whether the 88-year-old Francis would be able to attend the Mass, saying it would depend on his health (he skipped the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter). The pontiff did not lead the Easter Mass, with Cardinal Angelo Comastri, a retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, taking his place and delivering the homily that Francis has prepared.

In what would be his last public appearance, Francis emerged on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, overlooking a large crowd that had just attended Easter mass. From his wheelchair, the Pope said “Dear brothers and sisters, Buona Pasqua,” (which means “Happy Easter” in Italian) and extended his blessing and greeted the crowd. His Easter message carried a heartfelt plea for peace, especially in conflict zones across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa: “Let the spirit of humanity be the guiding force in all our actions. In the face of the brutal impact of wars that harm innocent civilians and target vital institutions like schools and hospitals, we must remember that we are striking not objects, but human beings—each one with a soul and dignity.”

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Severe weather impacted over 45 million Americans on Easter Sunday as thunderstorms, flooding, and tornado risks affected areas from East Texas to southeastern Iowa and Illinois. In Oklahoma, heavy rain earlier in the weekend had already caused fatalities.

At least two people, one of them a child, lost their lives after powerful storms swept through parts of Texas and Oklahoma over the weekend. According to police, a woman and a 12-year-old boy were killed after floodwaters swept their vehicle off the road in central Oklahoma (per CNN).

The Moore Police Department in Oklahoma reported that emergency teams responded around 9 p.m. Saturday to calls about two vehicles stranded in rising floodwaters. Authorities said one vehicle veered off the road and was pulled under a bridge by the strong current. While rescuers managed to save most of the passengers, two individuals could not be saved. The storm event severely affected roadways and prompting dozens of high-water rescues throughout Moore.

The police department shared on Facebook “This was a historic weather event. With heavy hearts, we confirm the deaths of an adult woman and a 12-year-old boy, whose bodies were later recovered. We deeply appreciate the assistance from neighboring agencies who supported the rescue operations. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center received over 120 reports of severe weather on Saturday, most of them concentrated in Texas and Oklahoma. The town of Jacksboro, Texas, faced significant damage, with photos revealing battered buildings and scattered debris. In Oklahoma’s Courtney area, storm damage included downed trees and power lines, while structures such as barns and sheds also suffered destruction.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, severe weather was expected to strike parts of East Texas through the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley in the afternoon and evening, threatening portions of Arkansas and Missouri. Severe weather, including strong winds, hail, and tornado risks, also spread to East Texas, the Ozarks, and parts of Arkansas and Missouri. Tornado watches were issued across multiple states, including Oklahoma and Texas, with boat rescues in Montague County, Texas, where flooding stranded residents. Forecasters expect the storms to subside by Monday.

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