United States

A person uses a wide shovel to clear snow from a sidewalk during a heavy snowfall in a small town.

Weather

Wintry Weather

January 23, 2026

Winter storms blasted the United States earlier this month. The chill impacted states as far south as Georgia and Florida. In the Midwest, snow affected travel. Beginning January 17, parts of Ohio saw snow squalls. These are sudden weather events.…

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A tall rocket stands upright on a launch pad beside a metal tower under a blue sky.

Space

Ready to Launch

January 22, 2026

NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket arrives at its launch pad on Merritt Island, Florida, on January 17. The rocket is expected to take off for the moo…

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Four astronauts wearing white space suits sit strapped into seats inside a spacecraft cabin.

Space

Space Evacuation

January 22, 2026

On January 15, NASA completed its first medical evacuation from space. Its SpaceX Crew-11 mission ended early when an astronaut had a medical issue that couldn’t be treated at the International Space Station. At a press conference, NASA administrator Jared…

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A girl adds flowers to a colorful scene decorated with big sunflowers.

News

After the Fires

January 9, 2026

One year ago, the Palisades and Eaton Fires devastated Los Angeles, California. Community members are rebuilding. The fires began on January 7, 2025. They spread quickly. The AP reports that the fires burned through about 59 square miles. Thirty-one…

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Close‑up of a 2025 U.S. penny on a dark background.

Government

Penniless!

January 1, 2026

People pick them up for good luck. They’re tossed into fountains and valued by collectors. More than 3 billion pennies were made in 2024 alone. And on November 12, 2025, the United States Mint produced its final batch. After 232…

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Close-up of a pile of shiny copper pennies, showing the heads and tails of U.S. one-cent coins.

Government

No More Pennies

November 25, 2025

The penny has died. At the age of 232, the coin’s final batch was minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 12. There are an estimated 250 billion pennies still in circulation. These will continue to be accepted as legal tender.…

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Two hands hold up colorful wooden numbers 6 and 7, with a child and an older adult smiling in the blurred background.

Culture

Magic Number

November 12, 2025

Lock in, chat: Dictionary.com’s word of the year is 67. The online dictionary announced its pick on October 28. Last year, the site chose demure, a word that means “reserved, shy, or modest.” That choice was made after a TikTok…

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A volunteer organizes bags of fresh produce on metal shelves in a food pantry.

Government

Shutdown Update

November 6, 2025

At press time, the United States government has been shut down for 37 days. It’s the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record was 35 days. The shutdown began on October 1 (see “TFK Explains: Government Shutdown”). During a…

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Baseball players wearing “Dodgers 2025 World Champions” shirts cheer and lift a trophy during a World Series celebration.

Sports

Victory Cry

November 6, 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hoists the Most Valuable Player trophy on November 1, in Toronto, in Canada. The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blu…

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A boy wearing green headphones and a green t-shirt standing in the cockpit of a plane. The pilot sits behind him.

Transportation

Taking Flight

October 9, 2025

Busy airports. Loud planes. For some people, such as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, air travel can be hard. The Arc is an organization that supports people with disabilities. It has found a way to help. The Arc…

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