Month: April 2025

According to a new report published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism diagnoses continue to increase in the United States.

An estimated one in 31 8-year-olds was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2022; while in comparison, 1 in 36 were diagnosed with ASD in 2020; and 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism in 2000. The report does not mean one in 31 children is living with the most severe cases of the disorder. Among children with ASD, fewer than 40% of children were classified as having an intellectual disability.

This statistic, drawn from an analysis of 2022 medical records, highlights the significant increase in autism diagnoses over the last 20 years. The CDC also reportedly found ASD was 3.4 times more prevalent among boys at 49.2 children per 1,000 compared to 14.3 children per 1,000.

ASD is a spectrum, which means symptoms vary by person: some need little support in their daily lives, and some may need a great deal of support in performing day-to-day activities. Some may have advanced conversation skills and others may be nonverbal. As for why autism rates are increasing, the reasons remain unclear and complex. While environmental and societal factors have long been investigated, most experts point to genetics as the most compelling explanation.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has continued to suggest a link between vaccines and autism — particularly involving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine — despite extensive research disproving any connection. The claim has been widely discredited but remains a factor in declining vaccination rates in the U.S.

Editorial credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com

The federal government has frozen over $2 billion in grants to Harvard University, after the school rejected demands from the Trump administration. The administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the cuts in a statement that called out “the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges,” stating that $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million “in multi-year contract value” would be frozen to Harvard.

The demands from the White House included third-party audits of campus programs and restrictions on international students, as part of a broader initiative to combat antisemitism.  On Monday, Harvard had rejected the administration’s demands, sharing on the university’s X account: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to call for Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status after their refusal to comply with the demands: “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting “Sickness?” Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” 

White House spokesperson Harrison Fields added in a statement that there are no signs of backing down: “President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism and ensuring federal taxpayer dollars do not fund Harvard’s support of dangerous racial discrimination or racially motivated violence.”

The administration’s demands also included dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, replacing them with merit-based policies.  Harvard’s legal counsel emphasized that the university is committed to combating all forms of bigotry but cannot comply with directives that violate constitutional protections.

Editorial credit: Marcio Jose Bastos Silva / Shutterstock.com

Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle, which included pop star Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, launched into space on Monday, April 14. The Blue Origin mission marks the first all-female spaceflight since 1963, according to the company, following Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.

New Shepard safely completed the historic trip that lasted approximately 10 minutes. just above the Kármán line — an invisible boundary at an altitude of 62 miles (above sea level) that is widely accepted as the edge of space — before the capsule descended under parachutes and landed in the Texas desert.

The all-female crew took off at 9:30 a.m. EDT in Blue Origin’s New Shepard (known as NS-31) from the company’s Launch Site One, around 30 miles outside of Van Horn, Texas. They touched down at 9:39 a.m. as the crew parachuted back down to Earth and landed in their capsule near the rocket at 9:42 a.m. The crew emerged from the capsule shortly after 9:50 a.m.

Joining Perry and King as part of the NS-31 mission crew were: Lauren Sánchez, a former journalist who is Jeff Bezos’ fiancée; Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist; Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist; and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn.

Oprah Winfrey, who was on hand for the launch, posted a video of her best friend King and the rest of the NS-31 crew as they drove to the launchpad Monday, during which King appeared to wipe away tears. Also among the onlookers at the launch site was Perry’s daughter Daisy and her partner Orlando Bloom, Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian.

King kissed the ground as she climbed out of the capsule, saying: “I am glad I did it. I have no regrets. I’m stepping away from my comfort zone. I may now get my ears pierced,” she joked. King then followed by paraphrasing a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Courage is doing something that scares you, but you do it anyway.”

Editorial credit: Denny Pictures / Shutterstock.com

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where
he stated would not send the Maryland man the U.S. mistakenly deported to El Salvador back to the United States. Trump also discussed with Bukele  further cooperation on security and migration, El Salvador’s embrace of Bitcoin, and tariffs.

During their meeting at the Oval Office, Trump praised Bukele for opening his country’s prison system to house alleged gang members and detainees Trump wants to deport, and said he would send as many people living in the U.S. illegally to El Salvador as possible.

The Trump administration has deported hundreds of people, mostly Venezuelans, to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, including a Maryland resident, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, that they acknowledged was deported by mistake. However, Pres. Bukele said he did not have the power to return Garcia to the United States.

Bukele, who agreed with the Trump administration’s claim that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang. said: “How can I return him to the United States? Like if I smuggle him into the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”  When asked if he’d be released in his own country, Bukele said, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists.” Garcia has never been charged criminally in the U.S. or El Salvador, according to court filings.

The Justice Department acknowledged that Garcia should not have been sent to El Salvador because of an immigration judge’s 2019 order barring him from being sent there, with the Supreme Court calling his removal illegal and directed the administration to “facilitate” his return while being respectful of the president’s authority.

Editorial credit: motioncenter / Shutterstock.com

Pennsylvania State Police said during a news conference that a person is in custody regarding the fire set to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Sunday.  Police had stated that the arsonist had caused a “significant amount of damage” to Shapiro’s home.  Shapiro said during a news conference that he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family that had celebrated Passover on Saturday were inside the home when they were awakened by state troopers.

Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said at a Sunday afternoon news conference that they have identified the man in custody as Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, PA. Balmer is said to have used a homemade incendiary device and evaded police who knew there had been a breach, with authorities stating that the suspect hopped over a fence surrounding the property and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire.

Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said that forthcoming charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, attempted arson and aggravated assault, and emphasized that the investigation into the fire is ongoing.

PA State Police had earlier said in a statement: “On April 13, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., members of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the Governor’s Residence, located on North Front Street, Harrisburg City, Dauphin County, for the report of a fire. While the investigation is ongoing, the State Police is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson. While the fire was successfully extinguished, it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence. The Governor and his family were present in a different part of the residence. They were evacuated safely and were not injured. There is a reward of up to $10,000 offered through PSP Tips for the arrest and conviction for the individual(s) responsible. Anyone with information should call 1-800-4PA TIPS (1-800-472-8477). No additional information will be released at this time. However, this is a fast-moving investigation, and details will be provided as appropriate.”

In a statement posted to social media, Shapiro wrote: “Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe. @PAStatePolice is on the scene leading this investigation and will keep the public updated.”

The Governor and his wife share four children together, Sophia, Jonah, Max and Reuben (Sophia and Jonah are legal adults, and Max and Rueben are minors). Just hours before the attack on the residence, the governor – who is Jewish – offered Passover well wishes and shared a photo of his Seder table on social media, writing on X: “From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach! 

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in an X post that he was “relieved” the governor and his family were safe, adding that “the Office of Attorney General stands ready with any resources needed to find the culprit of this senseless act of violence.”

Editorial credit: OogImages / Shutterstock.com

The White House released the results of President Trump’s annual physical on Sunday, with White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella detailing in a memo that the president remains in “excellent health.” The president underwent his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, which included diagnostic and laboratory testing.

Trump, 78, had his last known comprehensive examination in September 2023, in which he released limited details. Mr. Trump’s last annual physical as president occurred in June 2020, with the White House stating he weighed 244 pounds, and his blood pressure was 121/79.  Trump’s latest physical states that the president weighs 224 pounds, and his blood pressure was 128/74.

Trump exhibits “robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function,” according to the report from  Barbabella, who said he also performed a comprehensive neurological examination, which revealed “no abnormalities in his mental status.”

The report revealed that Trump underwent a colonoscopy in July 2024, which “revealed diverticulosis and a benign polyp.” Gastroenterologists recommended that the president should have a follow-up colonoscopy in 2027. The president passed his Montreal Cognitive Assessment with a perfect score of 30 out of 30, the same score he received on that assessment in 2018. He was also screened for depression and anxiety and had “scores within the normal range for both,” and Barbabella noted in his diagnostic summary that Trump has scarring on his right hear from a gunshot wound, referring to the assassination attempt on the president in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer.

Barbabella concluded that: “President Trump’s days include participation in multiple meetings, public appearances, press availability, and frequent victories in golf events. President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com