Happy New Year 2025

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Flurry of state level bills embrace RFK Jr’s MAHA mission: ‘It took Bobby’

State-level lawmakers are introducing a wave of bills aimed at advancing priorities championed by new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” platform, in some cases citing the new administration’s support for these causes as the catalyst for their efforts.

Arizona, Kansas and Utah are examples of states doing this. The move is aimed at prohibiting junk food like candy and soda from school lunches and other federally funded food assistance programs, something Kennedy has expressed support for in the past. Others have included efforts to rid these programs of ultra-processed foods, certain additives and dyes.

“It took Bobby to get into the position that he is in now for something to happen,” Arizona state Rep. Leo Biasiucci said during a press conference this month during which he introduced HB 2164. The bill seeks to ban several food dyes and other additives from school lunch programs in the state. “I can’t thank him enough for being the microphone … at the high level, to finally put a spotlight on this.”

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has the opportunity to rewrite federal dietary guidelines that are up for renewal. (Getty | iStock)

Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Idaho, similarly touted the new administration as a reason why he thought his new bill to remove candy and soda from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, would be successful. The bill, HB 109, would require the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to seek a federal waiver to remove these items from SNAP. When asked by a fellow state lawmaker why he thought such a waiver to get rid of these foods would be successful, Redman cited a Trump administration that would be friendly to him.

“I think that the chances are higher now with the new administration,” Redman said.

Wyoming, Kansas, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming have introduced similar bills aimed at reforming SNAP and school lunches.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as secretary of health and human services by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch on Feb. 13, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

In addition to dietary-related legislation, several states have also taken steps to amend their vaccine rules. During Kennedy’s confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill, he was routinely grilled about his past skepticism towards vaccines. The new HHS secretary iterated to lawmakers at the time that he was not anti-vaccine, but rather “pro-safety.”

Roughly a dozen states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Texas have introduced a variety of changes.

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Some of the new bills targeting state vaccine rules include protections for immunization exemptions, efforts to bolster vaccine transparency, revised requirements related to the administration of vaccines and efforts to hold vaccine manufacturers accountable for harmful side effects. Others prohibit any future COVID-19 vaccine mandates related to education, work or travel, with some providing an exception if state legislatures are able to pass a new bill requiring vaccinations for certain public health emergencies.

A doctor holds a vial of the coronavirus vaccine, which was mandated at many levels amid the pandemic. (iStock)

Meanwhile, bills expelling fluoride from public water systems are also being introduced at the state level, another change Kennedy has promoted in the past.

While states like Arkansas, Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota and others have taken steps to introduce legislation preventing fluoride from being added to public water systems, other states, like Kentucky and Nebraska, are considering bills that would make fluoride optional.

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At the federal level, the Senate’s Make America Healthy Again Caucus, which was formed to back the policies of Kennedy’s agenda, is reportedly readying a “package of bills” aimed at improving nutrition and the nation’s agriculture sector, according to Politico.

“The MAHA Caucus is ready to get to work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr,” the group’s official X account stated on Friday after Kennedy’s confirmation by the Senate.

February 18, 2025
Dion Jordan, former highly touted NFL prospect, owns up to failed success at pro level

Dion Jordan was a highly touted NFL prospect coming out of college in 2013 and was treated as such.

The Miami Dolphins selected Jordan with the No. 3 pick of the draft that year, but his career did not go exactly the way anyone planned. The former defensive end had three sacks in 26 games for the Dolphins and was then suspended in 2015 for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

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Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan is introduced as the third overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25, 2013. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

He reappeared in the league in 2017 with the Seattle Seahawks, securing four sacks in five games, but it was not enough to revive his career as a starter. He played for the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers before leaving the league following the 2020 season.

Jordan, 34, came to grips with the failure of meeting those high expectations.

“I didn’t have my life in order. My life outside of ball wasn’t in balance,” he said in a recent interview on “The Fish Tank” podcast. “You know, it wasn’t what it needed to be to match all of that stuff and I struggled, dude. I struggled coming in. I struggled understanding the plays and the playbook.

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Dion Jordan, #96, against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 3, 2021. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

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“When I left the facility, it didn’t help because I’m out partying. I’m enjoying the money I have, and I’m just putting myself behind the eight-ball. I’m hurt, you know. Sometimes I’m missing my rehabs, so that’s not helping.”

Jordan made clear that it was no one else’s fault but his own for the way his NFL career panned out. He is now an assistant at Eureka College in Illinois to help teach the next generation.

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Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan, #95, against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Nov. 9, 2014. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)

In 63 career games, he had 13.5 sacks and 108 total tackles.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025
‘Level it’: Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza strip and rebuild it to stabilize Middle East

The U.S. will “take over the Gaza strip,” level it and rebuild the area, President Donald Trump said during a press conference Tuesday evening after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said Tuesday evening in a joint press conference with Netanyahu. “We’ll own it, and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexplored bombs and other weapons on the site.”

“Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different. Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years.”

Netanyahu is the first world leader to meet with Trump at the White House under his second administration.

When asked about taking over the Gaza Strip, Trump said he could see the U.S. in a “long term ownership position” of the piece of land, which would likely bring stability to the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, left, and US President Donald Trump during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Trump insisted Egypt and Jordan will take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, dismissing the countries’ refusal to accept people from the war-shattered territory. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty Images)

“I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East. And everybody I’ve spoken to — this was not a decision made lightly — everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land. Developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know. Nobody can look because all they see is death and destruction and rubble,” Trump said.

The pair discussed the current ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and its future, Iran’s grip on the Middle East and resettling Gaza residents in other nations.

“In our meetings today, the prime minister and I focused on the future, discussing how we can work together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region. It’s been troubled, but what’s happened in the last four years has not been good,” Trump said during the press conference.

Trump said that the Gaza Strip has become “a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people anywhere near it.”

“It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there,” he added.

Netanyahu lauded Trump’s tenacity and ability “to think outside the box” during his comments to the press.

“Your willingness to puncture conventional thinking, thinking that has failed time and time and time again, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas, will help us achieve all these goals,” he said. “And I’ve seen you do this many times. You cut to the chase. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say, you know. And after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads and they say, you know, he’s right.”

The Israeli leader continued that his nation’s victory will also be a win for America.

“Israel’s victory will be America’s victory,” Netanyahu said. “We will not only win the war working together, we will win the peace. With your leadership, Mr. President, and our partnership, I believe that we will forge a brilliant future for our region and bring our great alliance to even greater heights.”

February 5, 2025
Lay’s recall of classic chips in 2 states classified at highest risk level, FDA warns it could cause ‘death’

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Frito-Lay has recalled its Lay’s Classic Potato Chips in Oregon and Washington state due to undeclared milk that may be in the product that could be fatal if consumed by someone with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk.

The Food and Drug Administration announced last month a recall of a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips over concerns that the product may contain undeclared milk. No other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes or variety packs have been recalled.

“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product,” the FDA said on Dec. 16.

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Lay’s potato chips pack seen in a Target superstore. (Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

On Monday, the FDA updated its guidance, classifying it under a Class 1 recall — its highest risk classification — which means exposure or consumption of the chips could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to Newsweek.

The chips were given the high level classification because milk is one of the FDA’s eight “major food allergens,” which means it is one of the products that can lead to hives, cramps, dizziness, swollen vocal cords and even unconsciousness if someone with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk consumes it.

Consumers would have been able to purchase these chips in Oregon and Washington state as early as November 3. The recalled chips were distributed to certain retail stores and e-commerce distributors.

Frito-Lay potato chip snacks in a supermarket in New York on Thursday, February 12, 2015. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Anyone in the two states with Lay’s chips that have both a “guaranteed fresh” date of February 11 and a manufacturing code of either “6462307xx” or “6463307xx” should discard the chips immediately, especially if someone in their household has a milk allergy.

Frito-Lay said it was alerted to the undeclared milk after being contacted by a customer.

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Lay’s packaging seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The company said no allergic reactions related to this recall have been reported.

January 29, 2025
Existing home sales fall to lowest level in nearly 30 years

The Connor Group founder and managing partner discusses what needs to happen to unleash the housing market and the impact of regulations on rebuilding California following the wildfires.

Existing home sales in the U.S. in 2024 were the lowest in nearly 30 years, as home prices hit an all-time high.

The National Association of Realtors released data that showed existing home sales declined to the lowest level since 1995 last year, with 4.06 million homes sold on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, the median home price rose to a record high of $407,500 in 2024.

“With mortgage rates close to 7% and generally soft homebuying sentiment, strength in existing home sales is unlikely to be sustained,” said Alice Zheng, an economist at Citigroup. “We do not expect much further upside for housing demand near-term.”

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Existing home sales fell to the lowest level in nearly 30 years in 2024. (iStock / iStock)

Existing home sales did show signs of rising in the closing months of 2024, rising 2.2% from November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million in December. Year-over-year, sales were up 9.3% from an annual rate of 3.88 million in December 2023.

“Home sales in the final months of the year showed solid recovery despite elevated mortgage rates,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

“Home sales during the winter are typically softer than the spring and summer, but momentum is rising with sales climbing year-over-year for three straight months,” Yun said. “Consumers clearly understand the long-term benefits of homeownership. Job and wage gains, along with increased inventory, are positively impacting the market.”

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Existing home sales increased on an annual basis in all four regions analyzed by the NAR, while prices also increased in each of the four regions.

Sales were up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis – the largest gain since June 2021, which was mostly driven by transactions for housing valued at over $500,000.

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Elevated mortgage rates have chilled the housing market. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The median home price for existing homes was $404,400 – an increase of 6% from $381,400 a year ago.

“The median home price was elevated partly due to the upper-end market’s relative better performance,” Yun said. “Sales rose by 35% from a year ago for homes priced above $1 million, while sales fell for homes priced under $250,000.”

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First-time homebuyers accounted for 31% of home sales in December, up from 30% in November and 29% in December 2023.

NAR’s “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” that was released in November found that the annual share of first-time home buyers was 24%, the lowest ever recorded.

Reuters contributed to this report.

January 24, 2025