Health

MADISON, Wis. — Meta's newly launched artificial-intelligence agent has purportedly identified the person who first introduced measles into a Wisconsin community, adding a new dimension to an already contentious national debate over how outbreaks are detected and reported.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Thursday that it plans to send $500 rebate checks to eligible Affordable Care Act enrollees, describing the payments as a partial response to rising health-insurance costs that have left many Americans struggling to afford coverage.

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi governor Tate Reeves reportedly rejected calls to lower state flags in honor of country music legend Dolly Parton, saying the tradition should be reserved for military personnel, first responders and other figures whose public service, in his view, meets a higher threshold.

In particular, the governor criticized Parton’s decision to publicly support COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. He falsely claimed that her advocacy had caused “countless Americans to contract autism,” offering no evidence for the assertion.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s official date of birth has been changed, removing two years from the age listed in federal records.

Under the directive, the National Archives and Records Administration and the Social Security Administration were instructed to revise the president’s date of birth effective immediately. The change would make Trump younger on official records and alter his standing in historical comparisons of presidential age.

WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her post to devote more time to family caregiving responsibilities, according to an announcement issued Wednesday.

Leavitt, one of the most prominent public faces of the White House, said the decision followed a period of balancing the demands of a high-profile government position with responsibilities at home.

SAN ANTONIO — In a statement released Tuesday evening, Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive, asserted that the recent surge in foodborne and drug-resistant infections across the United States is unrelated to significant reductions in federal food-monitoring programs.

Musk’s comments come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a record-breaking number of cases of cyclosporiasis, a persistent salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños and eggs, and a widening spread of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris. 

WASHINGTON — Senate leader Mitch McConnell is recovering and resting comfortably at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, according to a statement released by his office.

The statement said McConnell is in stable condition and remains under observation while doctors oversee his recovery. It added that he has been in contact with family and close advisers and is expected to continue resting as his medical team monitors his progress.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will suspend all Medicare payments to providers in California, citing concerns about potential fraud risks, despite acknowledging there is no current evidence of wrongdoing in the state.

Baltimore - White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday the birth of her daughter, Trumpina Maga Leavitt, marking a personal milestone for the high-profile political figure.

According to a statement released by her office, both Leavitt and her newborn are in good health. The child was born earlier this week, though additional details such as the location and exact timing of the birth were not immediately disclosed.

Miami - Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is in critical condition at a Miami hospital after contracting hantavirus during a recent cruise in the Caribbean, according to people familiar with the situation. His office has not released an official statement, but individuals close to the family confirmed that he was admitted late Sunday after experiencing severe respiratory symptoms.