February 22, 2025

Concerns over wildfires after layoffs and the Yankees lift a ban on beards

16 minutes

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

How Trump's mass layoffs raise the risk of wildfires in the US West, according to fired workers.

Mexico tequila producers concerned as US tariffs threaten their business.

US envoy praises Zelenskyy after Trump's censure of the Ukrainian leader.

UnitedHealth shares dive after report of US investigation into Medicare billing.

Can suspending a cage-free egg law solve the soaring price problem Nevada takes a crack at it.

January home sales fall as high mortgage rates, prices freeze out would-be buyers.

Researchers link a gene to the emergence of spoken language.

Ford recalls 240,000 Explorers, Aviators due to faulty seat belt assembly.

A treasured Banksy owned by a member of Blink-182 is up for auction. It could fetch $6 million.

New York Yankees drop ban on beards, 49 years after it was imposed by owner George Steinbrenner.

One-armed basketball player makes women's Division III history with basket.

Beluga calf in Chicago is meeting the aquarium's pod and will soon be named.

An encroaching desert threatens to swallow Mauritania’s homes and history.

Pope Francis isn't out of danger but his condition isn't life-threatening, medical team says.

On this week's AP Religion Roundup, the Pope's illness prompts speculation, and a judge allows a federal funding block for a Catholic refugee resettlement program. AP Correspondent Walter Ratliff reports.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

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