France’s birthrate fell to its lowest level since the end of World War I, with only 663,000 babies born in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). This marks a 2.2% decline from the previous year and the lowest recorded births since 1946. The fertility rate also dropped to 1.62 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain population stability.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley revealed that over half of the city’s fire trucks were out of service due to budget cuts as wildfires swept through the region.
The state of Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, accusing it of causing "massive chaos" in the state's public school system through lax border policies over the past four years.
Washington State Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) has introduced a bill that would allocate state funds to provide unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants, despite the state's $10-17 billion budget deficit. The proposed legislation, SB 5023, aims to create a separate program for workers ineligible for federal unemployment insurance due to their immigration status.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a $17 million lawsuit against United States Gypsum Co., alleging the company failed to maintain underground gypsum mines beneath State Route 2, resulting in dangerous sinkholes and costly repairs.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) called for a special legislative session to require local governments in the state to enforce incoming President Donald Trump's deportation goals.
Freddie Escobar, president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles County (UFLAC), criticized Los Angeles leaders for neglecting the city’s fire department, contributing to challenges in combating massive wildfires like the Palisades Fire. The fire has burned 24,000 acres, with another 14,000 acres scorched by the Eaton Fire, exposing severe resource and staffing shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The New York Times editorial board proposed a sweeping plan to resolve America’s immigration challenges, advocating for increased legal migration while sidelining concerns of many Americans. The op-ed, titled “A Big Idea to Solve America’s Immigration Mess,” frames migrants as essential for economic growth while casting native-born Americans as a declining population incapable of meeting labor demands.
