Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro; Measles in the U.S. : NPR

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Today’s top stories

Measles is now spreading across parts of West Texas. Health officials believed the disease had been eradicated 25 years ago, but it has returned from time to time. Cases in western Texas counties have more than doubled since last week, with 58 confirmed cases and 13 hospitalizations confirmed yesterday morning.

• Most cases are found in school-age children And most patients have not been vaccinated or their vaccine status is unknown, according to the state health department. Measles can be dangerous, Especially for babies and childrenSamanthal Lanade of NPR Network Station KTTZ talks First. In Gaines County, where many cases have been reported, health officials have described the community as “vaccine hesitancy.” Compared to the 90% rate in the state, the vaccination rates out there are just under 82%.

President Trump’s administration pushes efforts to reduce its power Some federal governments in China are seeing cuts in democracy and human rights groups overseas as an opportunity for the US to gain more power.

• NPR’s Emily Fen discovered that the Chinese government’s people were approaching At least two US human rights groups focused on issues related to China. These individuals offer to connect the organization with China-based financial advocates. Groups at risk of losing funds include groups criticized by China and other authoritarian governments, such as women’s rights groups and legal aid nonprofits. Some human rights advocates are We are concerned about increased consistency between How the Trump administration discusses the workings of democracy, and how the authoritarian regime frames the same topic.

Former Brazilian President, Jia Bolsonaro, has been indicted The Brazilian Attorney General attempted to overturn the 2022 election. Former far-right leader Bolsonaro accused of hatching plans to plan a coup to maintain power, incite violence and poison current president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva It’s been done.

• Bolsonaro denied allegations against himsays NPR’s Carrie Kahn. He also said that the legal battle against him was Similar strategies used against Trumppointed out that he had failed. The nearly 900-page long report for the investigation is based on testimony, telephone records and plea deals with Bolsonaro’s crowded allies. Additionally, there are hundreds of cases against mobs charged with looting the capital on January 8, 2023. If convicted, Khan says Bolsonaro will face 12-40 years in prison.

Deep Diving

Damaged cardiac syndrome is more than just a phorical idea. As also known as stress cardiomyopathy, the actual condition can lead to sudden, dramatic weakening of the myocardium. Often after a stressful event, it can be hit and difficult to diagnose. Some tests performed in the ER can show the same results as those suffering from a heart attack.

• When an inerve person has a heart attack, one or more of the coronary arteries have an obstruction. This is an important difference from cardiac syndrome in wounds that do not include blocked arteries.
• Low When the heart is weak, blood and oxygen cannot effectively circulate throughout the body, causing symptoms. It is unclear why some people develop this rare condition after a stressful event.
• Syndrome syndrome is most common in women over the age of 50, but cardiologists report seeing a wide range of patients’ conditions. Most patients recover completely.

Life advice

The IRS says it processed 11.7 million tax returns in the first week of the 2025 filing season. Here you can see a cart with documents at the IRS processing facility in Austin, Texas last September.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The IRS began accepting tax returns on January 27th. Within the first week of submission, approximately 28% of the 11.7 million returns processed resulted in direct deposit refunds. By the federal deadline of April 15, the agency expects to receive more than 140 million personal benefits. Here’s a guide to navigating the 2025 tax return season:

• You can track the progress of your irs tax returns.
• Over Most refunds will be issued within 21 days of the filing date. Refunds related to earned income tax credits and additional child tax credits are expected after mid-February.
• The free Free Direct File System has expanded from the pilot program in 12 states last year to 25 participating states this year. It is aimed at people with relatively simple tax returns.

For more information on tax submissions, please see here.

Three things you need to know before you go

A baby seal was rescued from New Haven, Connecticut over the weekend. A few weeks ago, the puppy is recovering at a nearby Mystic Aquarium.

Caitlyn Zerella

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Caitlyn Zerella

1. He was rescued from downtown New Haven, Connecticut over the weekend. He is lethargic and underweight and is now recovering at Mystic Aquarium.
2. According to a company spokesperson, the National Science Foundation fired 168 employees yesterday to comply with Trump’s executive order aimed at reducing the federal workforce.
3. Flight data and cockpit audio recorder were obtained from Delta Line Flight, which fired upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday. Investigators work to determine the cause of the crash.

This newsletter has been edited Suzanne Nuien.