Senate GOP Budget Resolution Threatens Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Safety Net Programs

The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. Native Americans called it Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon. The Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon. It should be no surprise; flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month! Henry David Thoreau sparked the Native American Moon names as well, referencing the Flower Moon when he wrote about Native Americans. May’s Moon names tend to speak to the arrival of spring and all that it entails!

American Idol has narrowed down the competition to five contestants: Thunderstorm Artis, John Foster, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, and Slater Nalley. Mattie Pruitt and Gabby Samone were eliminated. The show is heading to Disneyland for its next two episodes. The season finale airs on May 18th at 6 p.m. MDT.

The Philippines held its presidential election on May 9, 2022. This was the 17th direct presidential election since 1935 and the sixth sextennial presidential election since 1992. The election featured ten candidates for president and nine for vice president, the most since 1992 and 1998 respectively.

Fears were growing for Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held hostage in Gaza, after Hamas said it lost contact with the group holding him following Israeli strikes. Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey, was doing voluntary service with Israel’s military when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with around 250 others during a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people. Alexander is one of at least 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, although less than half are believed to be alive. Hamas has agreed to release Alexander weeks after saying it lost contact with the group holding him hostage. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement and is traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release. President Biden expressed hope that Alexander's release signifies a step toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas. Hamas previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. During previous hostage exchanges, Hamas has drawn criticism for putting on ceremonies and parading the hostages in public.

The Paper is a new mockumentary sitcom series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. It's a follow-up to the American version of The Office, set in a different office with new characters but within the same fictional universe. The series stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore and will premiere on Peacock in September 2025.

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina and UNC (University of North Carolina). Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft as the third overall pick. He won six NBA championships with the Bulls, earning five MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jordan has been known by many nicknames including "Air Jordan", "His Airness", "Money", "Black Cat", "Mr. June", "G.O.A.T.", "Superman", "Captain Marvel", "Black Jesus", and "Magic Mike". He also opened his first restaurant in Chicago in 1993, which has since expanded to a national level.

American freestyle wrestler Kyle Frederick Snyder (born November 20, 1995) competes at 97 kilograms. He achieved the unique feat of winning NCAA, World, and Olympic championships as a student-athlete. At age 31, he is ranked the world's number one wrestler in the 120 kg weight class with five World Championship titles and an Olympic gold medal. During his collegiate career, Snyder won the heavyweight title at the NCAA championships, defeating two-time defending champion Nick Gwiazdowski of North Carolina State University in overtime. He is married to former Syracuse soccer player Maddie Pack Snyder.

American plus-size fashion model Denise Marie Bidot was born in Miami, Florida, on June 13, 1986. After pursuing acting and makeup artistry, she became a successful model. Bidot launched the "There Is No Wrong Way to Be a Woman" lifestyle movement in 2016. She has a daughter named Joselyn Adams with her former partner Joshua Adams.

Cassie Ventura's career began in 2004 when Ryan Leslie discovered her at clubs and parties. Her debut album, "Cassie," released in 2006, sold 321,000 copies in the United States. She promoted the album with appearances on popular music shows like "Total Request Live" and "106 & Park." In 2019, Ventura started releasing singles independently through her own label, Ventura Music. She is credited with popularizing the trend of women shaving their heads after she shaved hers in 2009, inspired by punk culture.

Canadian singer and rapper Tory Lanez (born Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson in 1992) rose to prominence through mixtapes like "Just Landed," "One Verse One Hearse," and "Playing for Keeps" released between 2010 and 2015. He gained further recognition with singles like "Ric Flair" featuring Rory Trustory (2015) and "Say It" (2015), which preceded his debut album. Lanez continued to release music, including tracks through his "Fargo Fridays" series, solidifying his growing popularity in the music industry.

Club PGA hospitality tickets for the 2025 PGA Championship are selling quickly. Located at Quail Hollow, it offers stunning views of holes 12 green/13 tee, easy access to the main entrance and shops, and is ideal for entertaining small groups. Hole 13's best tee shot lands left on the fairway, avoiding bunkers right and water left. The second shot climbs uphill towards a set of bunkers: one left in the layup zone, two right further up, and a large central bunker in front of the green with closely mown areas beside it. The green slopes from back to front, split by a ridge into front-left and front-right sections.

Ripple Labs is in a legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over whether XRP is a security. The SEC argues that XRP meets the criteria of the "Howey test," which defines securities based on investment contracts. If Ripple wins, it could undermine the SEC's authority and embolden other crypto companies to challenge regulations. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a decentralized blockchain platform designed for business applications. It boasts reliability, low transaction costs, high performance, and sustainability.

Users who claimed their Apple devices recorded private conversations after unintentionally activating Siri can receive a payout as part of the class-action settlement, _Lopez v. Apple_. Eligible devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, HomePods, iPod Touches, and Apple TVs. Siri, activated by "Hey Siri," can set reminders, control smart home devices, and make recommendations.

At least 10 people have been hospitalized in California and Nevada due to a listeria outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating. Ready-to-eat foods produced by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California, are being voluntarily recalled. The recalled products include brands like Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away with best-by dates between April 22 and May 19. They were distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington at various locations. FDA investigators found listeria in environmental samples from Fresh & Ready Foods during a routine inspection, reopening the investigation. Whole genome sequencing linked the strain of listeria to illnesses. This is separate from a Listeria outbreak linked to Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products in South Carolina.

Senate Republicans proposed a budget resolution that aims to significantly cut various programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP. While specific policy details are still under negotiation between the House and Senate, these programs face serious threats. Lawmakers will soon vote on this budget resolution, making it crucial for citizens to voice their opposition to potential cuts by contacting their representatives.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 14 picks in the draft. The lottery will be held on May 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago. 40 teams will participate in the lottery. The 2025 NBA Draft is shaping up to be a highly anticipated event, with several talented prospects expected to be available. Some analysts are predicting that certain players, such as Isaiah Evans from Duke, could be high draft picks. Evans' shooting ability has drawn attention from NBA scouts, but concerns remain about his age and lack of versatility.

Fidelity is a US-based financial services company offering brokerage accounts, retirement planning, and investment management. Potential customers can open an account or sign up on their website. The site restricts access to users outside the United States. Fidelity's services are not intended for solicitation or sale to individuals in jurisdictions where it would be unlawful. Usage of the website implies consent to cookie usage for collecting visitor information.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fluctuated throughout the day.