

Car thieves hit the brakes in 2025. Here’s why.
Of all the dropping crime statistics in 2025, one specific transgression takes the lead. Car thefts are down 23% on the year as of October, according to data from Real-Time Crime Index and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The drop in auto thefts across America was almost universal, with 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto […]

Pentagon’s failed audit obscures how taxpayer dollars are actually being used
The Pentagon is responsible for America’s largest budget, but it’s the only major federal agency to have never passed a financial audit. 2025 marks the agency’s eighth consecutive failure, with this year’s Department of Defense Agency Financial Report highlighting a range of persistent weaknesses. Inconsistent tracking across several areas contributed to this failure, including the […]

California audit reveals mixed bag: Some fiscal wins, but millions lost
As we head into a new year, California’s state auditor found mixed results on the state’s handling of money and government agencies. The auditor gave good reviews for the state treasurer’s handling of securities, while some agencies were found to have wasted significant amounts of money. California state treasurer The most recent report analyzed state […]

Why more millennials skipped this year’s holiday trip home
For Simone Harvin, the holidays no longer come with a plane ticket or a packed car. Although she loves her family, her annual trip home simply isn’t happening this year. “Travel of any kind is exhausting, but the expectation of being the one to endure long road trips and holiday traffic gets old after a […]

Solutions for the season: How community, creativity and commerce are shaping the holidays
Merry Christmas from all of us at Straight Arrow News! We’re so glad you’re here. As the year winds down and the holidays invite us to slow our pace, we welcome you to this special Christmas edition of our Unbiased Updates — filled with thoughtful reads, meaningful moments and a few comforts along the way. […]

Trump’s second-term branding blitz breaks with presidential tradition
President Donald Trump has spent the start of his second term stamping his name and likeness across Washington — from federal buildings to landmark links. Now he’s pushing to create a line of “Trump-class” Navy battleships. The moves are raising eyebrows from historians, legal experts and political opponents. Can a sitting president rename government entities […]

What’s inside the Ukraine peace deal supported by Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine could support a newly negotiated deal aimed at ending the war that began nearly four years ago, marking a sharp shift from an earlier proposal Kyiv rejected as too favorable to Russia. Zelenskyy outlined parts of the new 20-point plan while speaking with reporters Tuesday, saying American and Ukrainian officials […]

30-year mortgage rates fall just in time for Christmas
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the U.S. fell again this week, just in time for Christmas. But Americans don’t appear to want to buy a home for the holidays, despite the more attractive rates. Mortgage applications are at their lowest level in three months, according to the latest data from the […]

RFK Jr. announced a directive on medical care for transgender youth. 19 attorneys general sued to stop it
More than a dozen states led by Democrats and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against Trump administration health officials over directives to bar medical professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors. The coalition, led by Oregon, claimed the directive revoked people’s right to make their own decisions about their health, while Health Secretary […]
