US Credit Rating Downgraded: Moody's Strips Last AAA Rating Amid Rising Debt Concerns

A nine-and-a-half-month-old baby, KJ Muldoon, from Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, has become the first patient globally to receive a bespoke gene therapy specifically designed for his rare metabolic condition, severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency. After spending months in a hospital on a restrictive diet, KJ was administered the groundbreaking treatment in February, followed by doses in March and April. According to KJ’s father, Kyle Muldoon, the family extensively researched options before opting for this experimental treatment. Since then, KJ has shown remarkable improvement, allowing him to eat more normally and recover from common illnesses. Experts, including Dr. Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasized that KJ's case represents a critical step towards using gene editing therapies for various rare genetic disorders. Utilizing the CRISPR gene-editing tool, researchers replaced a mutation in KJ’s DNA responsible for his condition. Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a co-author of the study, noted that rapid publication of these results could pave the way for more personalized treatments in the future.

A New Orleans woman, Barbara Hainsworth, is under investigation after authorities found the mummified remains of her 600-pound son in her home, where she had reportedly lived for nine months. The grisly discovery was made on May 15, amid horrendous living conditions filled with garbage, chickens, and rodents, according to local news outlet Nola.com. Neighbors had previously lodged multiple complaints regarding the state of Hainsworth's residence. Following the investigation by the New Orleans Department of Code Enforcement, her home was declared a public nuisance due to extreme hoarding conditions. Hainsworth, described as a “mentally disabled elderly woman” and a former doctor whose medical license was revoked, claimed her son died nine months earlier and explained that she had not reported his death. Local officials have initiated emergency plans for cleanup and sanitation, while also enhancing rodent control measures for the area. Hainsworth faces multiple violations resulting in fines totaling $6,125, according to a statement from the city.

After 43 years of investigation, Gary Ramirez, 78, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1982 rape and murder of 15-year-old Karen Stitt in Sunnyvale, California. A judge in Santa Clara County, Hanley Chew, handed down the sentence, which includes the possibility of parole in 25 years, following Ramirez's no-contest plea to the charges on February 24, 2025. The crime remained unsolved for decades until detectives reopened the cold case in 2022, focusing on DNA evidence that linked Ramirez to the crime scene. Karen Stitt was found with 59 stab wounds near a bus stop after attending a rendezvous with her boyfriend, who was later cleared of suspicion. District Attorney Jeff Rosen praised the efforts of law enforcement who remained committed to solving this infamous case, stating, "Karen Stitt passed away more than 40 years ago, but she was never forgotten." Friends and family expressed their lasting grief during the recent sentencing, reaffirming that her memory endures.