Reyes Ramirez, named Houston Poet Laureate for 2025–2027, developed his love for writing as a high schooler and later gained recognition with his poetry, fiction, and art critique inspired by his Mexican and Salvadoran heritage. His debut short story collection, *The Book of Wanderers*, received several awards, and his poetry collection, *El Rey of Gold Teeth*, garnered critical acclaim and finalist honors. As poet laureate, Ramirez promotes Houston’s local literary scene through outreach, workshops, and an anthology celebrating the city’s poetic talent, while also exploring art curation and interdisciplinary work. His career reflects a broad engagement with storytelling, visual arts, and community involvement.
Black Duck Restaurant Week in Minneapolis and St. Paul features over 80 participating restaurants, including new additions like Al & Alma’s Supper Club, Black Duck Spirits & Hearth, Gia, Liliana, Launch Pad Golf, Mizu, Northern Tap House, and San Pancho by Familia Luna. Highlights include Polish-American cuisine, rustic Italian dishes, Japanese ramen and sushi, and diverse American fare. The event aims to support local eateries, with options ranging from classic comfort foods to innovative dishes, as well as several participating Eat Street spots.
Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger endorsed Democrat Sarah Chadzynski in the New Hampshire 1st Congressional District primary. Kinzinger praised her for defending democracy and principles such as truth and decency, citing her stance against authoritarianism and her opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. Chadzynski expressed appreciation for the endorsement and emphasized a commitment to constitutional principles and new political approaches.
Cedarville University student Sam Sofio spoke at a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services roundtable in Washington, D.C., sharing his four-year struggle with Lyme disease and advocating for improved diagnosis, treatment, and insurance coverage. Diagnosed in 2021 after years of inconclusive tests, Sofio highlighted the financial and medical challenges faced by Lyme patients and emphasized the need for better research and affordable care. His participation aimed to amplify patient voices and foster greater awareness and policy change regarding Lyme disease.
Steubenville has appointed Mike Johnson as its new city manager, with the city council voting 6-1 to approve his employment agreement. Johnson will succeed Jim Mavromatis, who is retiring in March after serving since 2016. Johnson emphasized improving neighborhoods and noted that crime rates have decreased, expressing a desire to collaborate with council and city employees to serve residents effectively.
Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and the first female governor in Virginia, delivered the Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union address, criticizing his policies on immigration, tariffs, healthcare, and housing. She questioned whether the president is working to make Americans' lives better and highlighted issues such as immigration enforcement and rising costs. Spanberger also emphasized Democratic efforts to address these challenges and suggested favorable prospects for Democrats in upcoming midterm elections.
Senator Mark Kelly explained to CNN's Dana Bash that he plans to attend President Trump's State of the Union speech in person to make a point that he is still serving despite efforts by the Department of Justice to indict him and attempts by the Department of Defense to demote him. Kelly stated he will sit in a prominent seat to show that Trump was unsuccessful in these actions and emphasized his opposition to the president's conduct and policies. Kelly's decision contrasts with some fellow Democrats who are boycotting the speech.
A federal magistrate judge has blocked the Justice Department from searching a Washington Post reporter's seized devices, ruling that the court will conduct an independent review rather than allowing government-led filtering. The FBI had confiscated reporter Hannah Natanson's devices as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information, raising concerns over press freedom and the violation of laws such as the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. The judge emphasized the importance of protecting confidential sources and suggested the government's actions could undermine press independence.
More than a dozen states have sued the Trump administration over its rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations, arguing that the new guidance, which limits immunization advice to only high-risk groups, endangers public health and contradicts longstanding medical standards. The states contend that the changes will increase costs and risks of disease outbreaks, and criticize the administration's politicization of health policies. The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration's public health policies and leadership changes.
Following the release of text messages between Rep. Tony Gonzales and a former aide, bipartisan calls for his resignation have emerged, with some GOP colleagues urging him to step down. The allegations involve an extramarital affair with the aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide last year, and sexually explicit texts sent by Gonzales, which he denies. Despite the controversy and upcoming primary elections, Gonzales maintains his innocence and has accused rivals of attempted blackmail, and he continues to receive support from President Donald Trump.
A college student blogger reflects on the demanding schedule of managing extracurricular activities, such as choreography and publicity for theater productions, while emphasizing the privilege of creating and inspiring others. Despite experiencing stress and burnout, she finds motivation through visualization and connecting with the meaningful themes of the shows she promotes, particularly highlighting the importance of giving herself grace and allowing space for creativity to flourish.
More than a dozen states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, sued the Trump administration over its rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations, arguing that it endangers public health and increases state costs to prevent outbreaks. The lawsuit contends that the revised guidelines relax protections against diseases such as flu, hepatitis, and meningitis, based on high-risk groups and shared decision-making, contradicting long-standing medical advice. The legal action reflects ongoing tensions between Democratic-led states and the federal government’s public health policies under President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
