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Highlights of Today’s News

Measles outbreak reported in West Texas. Health authorities had thought the virus was eliminated a quarter-century ago, yet it has resurfaced intermittently. In recent days, the number of confirmed cases in western Texas has surged, increasing to 58 with 13 individuals requiring hospitalization as of yesterday morning.

• 🎧 The majority of the affected individuals are school-aged children, and according to state health officials, many have either not been vaccinated or have uncertain vaccination status. Measles poses significant risks, especially for infants and young children, as highlighted by Samantha Larned from NPR’s KTTZ. In Gaines County, where numerous cases have surfaced, health representatives characterize the community as “vaccine hesitant,” with immunization rates falling just below 82% compared to the state’s average of 90%.

In a related development, as President Trump’s administration pursues a strategy to downsize the federal government, individuals in China perceive the U.S. reductions in pro-democracy and human rights organization support abroad as a chance to expand their influence.

• 🎧 NPR’s Emily Feng has revealed that contacts linked to the Chinese government have approached at least two U.S.-based human rights organizations addressing Chinese issues. They have proposed to connect these organizations with financial supporters in China. Nonprofits at risk of losing resources include those criticized by China and other authoritarian regimes, like women’s rights advocates and legal assistance organizations. Some activists are alarmed by a potential convergence between how the Trump administration and authoritarian governments discuss democracy-related work.

Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, is facing charges filed by the country’s attorney general for his attempts to undermine the results of the 2022 election. Bolsonaro, the former far-right leader, is accused of plotting a coup, inciting violence, and devising a scheme to poison the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

• 🎧 Bolsonaro has refuted the allegations against him, as reported by NPR’s Carrie Kahn. He has likened the legal challenges he faces to a strategy utilized against Trump, indicating that such efforts ultimately failed. The extensive 900-page investigation report draws upon testimonies, phone transcripts, and plea agreements with Bolsonaro’s close allies. Additionally, there are pending cases against several rioters charged with storming the capital on January 8, 2023. If convicted, Kahn states that Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence ranging from 12 years to 40 years.

In-Depth Analysis

Some key differences to keep in mind:

• 💔 Heart attacks occur due to blockages in coronary arteries, while broken heart syndrome is not characterized by blocked arteries.
• 💔 When the heart weakens, blood and oxygen circulation can be compromised, causing a variety of symptoms. The reasons behind why some individuals develop this rare condition after stress remain unclear.
• 💔 This syndrome is most frequently seen in women over 50, though cardiologists have documented cases in a diverse patient population. The good news is that most individuals recover fully.

Tips for Life

The IRS began accepting tax returns on January 27. In the opening week of filings, approximately 28% of the 11.7 million submissions led to direct deposit refunds. By the April 15 deadline, the agency anticipates processing over 140 million individual returns. Here’s a guide to making sense of the 2025 tax filing season:

• 🗂️ You can monitor the status of your tax return through the IRS’s Where’s My Refund page, which updates about 24 hours post electronic filing.
• 🗂️ Typically, refunds are issued within 21 days after the filing date. Anticipate delays for refunds concerning the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit until after mid-February.
• 🗂️ The Direct File system has expanded this year, now covering 25 states, up from last year’s 12-state pilot project. This initiative targets individuals with straightforward tax situations.

Explore more about filing your taxes here.

3 Important Updates

1. A baby seal was rescued from the streets of New Haven, Conn., during the weekend. The seal was found lethargic and underweight, and is now recovering at Mystic Aquarium.
2. The National Science Foundation dismissed 168 employees yesterday to comply with President Trump’s executive order aimed at shrinking the federal workforce, according to a spokesperson.
3. Investigators have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from a Delta Air Lines aircraft that flipped over and caught fire at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, working to ascertain the cause of the incident.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.