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Local newsrooms are struggling to stay alive. Major outlets, including public radio stations, continue to lay-off journalists.

While some of those layoffs can be chalked up to the economic impact of the pandemic or private equity firms that buy and shut down newspapers – a lot of it is the online migration of advertising.

But what it means for you is fewer reliable sources to tell you what's going on and why. Americans in "news deserts" tend to rely on social media to get the latest on their communities and beyond. But relying on social media for information can be less than awesome.

We discuss what can be done to keep Americans looking for news about where they live informed — especially in an election year.

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This week the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos were children, establishing a legal precedent that will affect reproductive rights in the state.

The court argued that the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act "applies to all children, born and unborn, without limitation."

The Biden administration is weighing action to make it more difficult for migrants at the southern border to pass initial screenings for asylum and to make it easier for those who don't pass the screening to be deported.

In election news, the Biden election campaign continued to amass cash. The president raised $42 million during the month of January.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden's campaign manager, said the amount was "an indisputable show of strength to start the election year."

We cover all this and more during the news roundup.

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It's been nearly two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

With Putin's forces making strategic gains in the eastern part of the country, there's increasing international pressure for the U.S. to step up its military aid.

America has provided more than $47 billion in support to Ukraine since the war began.

But a new package of aid is stalled in Congress. Last week, the Senate passed a foreign aid package that included $61 billion for Ukraine.

That was blocked by the Republican-controlled House which insisted it include a border security package. So what does that mean for the war going forward? And how do European allies view the need for American aid?

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Three Alabama couples stored frozen embryos at a fertility clinic in the state. A patient wandering around the clinic dropped the embryos, making them unusable.

On Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that the couples could sue for wrongful death in an unprecedented decision that means frozen embryos are now considered "children" in the state. The court argued that the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act "applies to all children, born and unborn, without limitation." What does this decision mean for reproductive rights beyond abortion?

Also: this week, emotions are running high at the United Nations Security Council.

"The veto of this draft resolution is not only regrettable... it is absolutely reckless and dangerous against shielding Israel even as it commits the most shocking crimes," said Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations.

Those comments came after the United States vetoed an Arab-backed and widely supported U.N. resolution. It demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Where does this leave negotiations now?

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Twiddling your thumbs is often associated with wasting time. But feel shame about thumb-twiddling no longer. In a world of calendars and to-do lists, something has got to give.

We so often fear doing nothing, missing out, or getting behind. Our smartphones make it increasingly hard to disconnect from the attention economy.

But studies show there are benefits to dilly-dallying when it comes to your work and your health.

We'll discuss what it takes to reap the benefits of doing absolutely zilch on any given day.

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William Shakespeare once said that the eyes are the window to the soul. We make eye contact with others to show that we're listening, to connect, or simply as a way of saying, "I see you."

Cultures around the world have understood the power of eyes for centuries. If you travel to India, Chad, Japan, Iran, or just around the corner from your house, you'll probably see the same thing around the eyes of the people who live there: eyeliner.

In her new book, "Eyeliner: A Cultural History," Lebanese-British journalist Zahra Hankir explores beauty, power, identity, and resistance through the lens of the iconic cosmetic.

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It's been another busy week.

Closed-door hearings in the case of the classified documents former President Donald Trump kept at his Mar-a-Lago estate began this week. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon first met with Trump's team and the special counsel's prosecutors on Monday.

Meanwhile, America's political turmoil surrounding the 2024 presidential election is hot conversation at the Munich Security Conference. Former President Trump's remarks last week suggesting he wouldn't come to the aid of Europe in the event of a Russian invasion are causing concern among U.S, allies.

Israel attacked Rafah Sunday evening, killing many Palestinians who had fled to the city to seeking shelter.

And in South America, Guyana has accused Venezuela of violating international law in a dispute over a swath of oil-rich territory.

We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.

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The 2024 Super Bowl was the most watched television event in history with over 123 million viewers. Many eyes watching were trained on Taylor Swift as she made the journey from Tokyo to Las Vegas in a highly scrutinized flight on a private jet.

A total of 882 private planes flew into Las Vegas during and just before Super Bowl Sunday.

One report found the world's richest 10 percent make up for 50 percent of the global emissions through investments, personal consumptions, and other means.


Last week, Swift threatened legal action against a Florida student who's been tracking the jet travel of the rich and famous.

We talk about personal responsibility, climate change, the rules for the rich, and more.

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What's your love language? Acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, or quality time?

The concept has been around since the early 1990s. Gary Chapman, a Baptist pastor, published a book in 1992 called, "The Five Love Languages: Secrets to Love That Lasts."

But new research is debunking the popular love languages theory. And there's little evidence linking it to happier partnerships.

For Valentine's Day, we speak with a researcher and relationship experts about what really makes for healthy relationships.

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The Declaration of Independence promises the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

At a time when the language and intent of the Constitution are under intense scrutiny, one legal scholar is particular is out to explore what the founders may have meant when they defined that last part as an inalienable right.

Nowadays, most of us think of happiness as something that results from the pursuit of pleasure. But writer and historian Jeffrey Rosen says the Founding Fathers had other ideas.

We talk to Rosen, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, about his latest book, "The Pursuit of Happiness," and what the founders had in mind for our country.

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