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Best indoor exercise bike

Which indoor exercise bike is best?

It can be difficult to find time to go to the gym, but indoor exercise bikes are an excellent option for exercising at home and achieving your health goals while saving the hassle and money it costs to go to a gym.

It’s important to consider the kind of indoor exercise bike you want since there are a few different types, including recumbent exercise bikes that recline, spinning exercise bikes that imitate road bikes, and traditional upright exercise bikes. You should also consider the price range and the preset programs, the resistance, the ease of use, the adjustability, and the bike’s weight limit. If you’re looking for an exercise bike with numerous features, the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle is the best option for you.

What to know before you buy an indoor exercise bikeConsider the display on the indoor exercise bike

Most indoor exercise bikes come with an LCD that shows you various measurements during your workout, including the length of time you’ve been pedaling, the distance you’ve traveled, your speed, and your heart rate. It’s important to search for an indoor exercise bike with a simple-to-use display since you need to be able to use the display with ease while exercising.

Think about the resistance

Before making your indoor exercise bike purchase, you should look at the number of resistance levels the bike has. While basic bike models might have fewer, the average indoor exercise bike has about 20 different resistance levels. Therefore, it’s crucial to fine-tune the resistance on your bike to your workout goals and fitness levels.

Find a bike with the right weight limit for you

All exercise bikes have a maximum weight limit, typically between 220 and 300 pounds, but some recumbent indoor exercise bikes have higher weight limits.

What to look for in a quality indoor exercise bikeHeart rate monitor

Most exercise bikes come with a heart rate monitor. The heart rate monitor helps you check your heart rate throughout your workout, as you need to be working hard enough to elevate your heart rate to get an excellent cardio workout.

Programs

Many high-end indoor exercise bikes come with preset programs to help you improve your cardio workout. These programs will switch the resistance automatically during your workout.

Height adjustability

Indoor exercise bikes usually have a recommended height range of 5 feet, 3 inches to 6 feet 3 inches. As a result, it’s crucial to find a bike that works for your height, especially outside of that range.

How much you can expect to spend on an indoor exercise bike

You can expect to spend different amounts on indoor exercise bikes, depending on the type of bike. For example, recumbent exercise bikes typically range from $130-$150 for the most basic models, while the more high-end models go for more than $500.

Spinning bikes cost about $120-$150 for the budget-friendly models, while the high-end bikes cost between $350-$400. Upright exercise bikes can cost $70-$120 for basic models and $350 to $400 for more expensive models.

Indoor exercise bike FAQCan cycling be your only form of exercise?

A. Cycling is an excellent option for your cardio workout, which is crucial for your health. However, most fitness experts recommend doing some strength training to keep your body in good shape. Strength training can include any kind of exercise in which you work with your body weight, including Pilates and yoga.

Can you use a separate heart rate monitor when using your indoor exercise bike?

A. Yes, you can use a separate heart rate monitor when using your indoor exercise bike to get an accurate heart rate reading during your workout. However, some indoor exercise bikes either have a low-quality heart rate monitor or no monitor at all.

Keep in mind that when you use a separate heart rate monitor, you will need to look at the display on your own monitor since it won’t pop up on the LCD of your indoor exercise bike.

Which type of exercise bike is best if you are recovering from an injury?

A. You should check in with your physician before beginning a workout routine after sustaining an injury. That being said, recumbent exercise bikes are typically a good option for people recovering from injuries since they are more comfortable to sit on and require riders to use fewer muscle groups.

What are the best indoor exercise bikes to buy?Top indoor exercise bike

NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle

What you need to know: This indoor exercise bike from NordicTrack is considered an excellent option for expert indoor cyclists.

What you’ll love: This superior indoor exercise bike features a 10-inch smart touchscreen, iFit technology, automatic trainer control, global rides, and a CoolAire fan. The bike also accommodates up to five individual profiles.

What you should consider: It’s important to consider that the studio classes were not as high-quality as Peloton classes in tests.

Top indoor exercise bike for the money

Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike

What you need to know: This budget-friendly recumbent exercise bike offers a clear-cut design and straightforward instructions for beginner indoor cyclists.

What you’ll love: This affordable Marcy recumbent exercise bike offers eight levels of resistance, seat adjustability, pedals with straps, and a built-in screen that provides information like calories burned, distance, speed, and time.

What you should consider: Some customers say that the seat can be hard to adjust on a regular basis.

Worth checking out

Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike

What you need to know: This indoor exercise bike is designed to run silently and allows people to watch exercise training and other videos on the tablet mount.

What you’ll love: This indoor cycling bike from Yosuda comes with an online instruction video for simple assembly, a tablet holder, padded seats, non-slip handlebars, and a belt rather than a chain for quieter movement.

What you should consider: Keep in mind that the data is only shown in metric measurements.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Best hand blenders

Which hand blender is the best?

From blending creamy soups to mixing up tasty smoothies, a hand blender is definitely one of the most versatile tools you can have in your kitchen.

Unlike a countertop blender, you don’t have to bring your ingredients to a hand blender. Instead, you can place a hand blender in whatever cooking container you’re using, such as a mixing bowl or pot, for plenty of added versatility in the kitchen.

What you need to know before buying a hand blender

When you’re shopping for a hand blender, you should choose a model that’s powerful enough to blend your favorite recipes. Some hand blenders offer just 100 watts of power, while others have up to 800 watts. If you want a hand blender that can chop in addition to blending, look for a more powerful motor. If you’re just mixing up smoothies, a lower wattage hand blender can usually get the job done.

You should also consider how many speeds a hand blender offers. Lower-end models often have just low and high settings, but some models offer up to 15 variable speeds. For whisking, you’ll definitely want a hand blender with more than two speeds to make sure you don’t over mix.

You can also choose between corded or cordless models. Corded models are usually more powerful, though you need to use the hand blender near an outlet. You can use a cordless model anywhere in your kitchen because it features a rechargeable battery.

Nearly all hand blenders come with a container in which to mix or chop your ingredients. Some feature a simple cup-like container that works well for liquid ingredients. High-end models have a bowl similar to a food processor, so it works well for chopping in addition to mixing and blending. The included attachments vary from model to model, too. Most models usually have a whisk and/or blender attachment, but advanced hand blenders may come with a chopper, slicer, and/or grinder attachment, too.

You can find some hand blenders for under $25, but they won’t have many special features. For a more powerful model, expect to pay at least $50, though high-end hand blenders can cost as much as $200.

Hand blender FAQQ. Do I need a hand blender if I have a hand mixer?

A. A hand blender and a hand mixer aren’t necessarily suited for the same tasks, so you may need both depending on the recipes you usually prepare. A hand mixer is best for combining ingredients, such as mixing up cake mix, while a hand blender can chop, blend, and liquefy ingredients for smoothies, soups, and other recipes.

Q. What can I make with a hand blender?

A. You can use a hand blender to prepare a wide variety of recipes, including smoothies, soups, milkshakes, salsas, sauces, salad dressings, dips, pancake and waffle batter, cake and brownie batters, whipped cream and eggs.

Best hand blendersTop hand blender

KitchenAid’s 5-Speed Hand Blender

What you need to know: A longtime favorite of ours, this high-quality, multiuse hand blender is a big hit among experienced home chefs.

What you’ll love: It features a rubberized grip, so it feels comfortable in hand. It comes with a mixing/chopping cup, whisk and chopper attachment. It includes a convenient storage case.

What you should consider: It’s pricier than other hand blenders on the market.

Top hand blender for the money

Hamilton Beach’s 2-Speed Hand Blender

What you need to know: This budget-friendly blender can handle most light cooking chores. We love it as a beginner option.

What you’ll love: It features a durable stainless steel blade and can handle hard ingredients with ease. An ergonomic handle allows for a secure grip.

What you should consider: It can sometimes overheat, depending on the tasks it’s used for.

Worth checking out

Braun’s MultiQuick Hand Blender

What you need to know: Another new entry on our list, this innovative hand blender provides many useful features and blends beautifully.

What you’ll love: It features a bell-shaped top for more complete blending. It offers a TurboBoost function for extra power, and the attachments easily click into place.

What you should consider: Some report that the plastic parts have a somewhat flimsy feel.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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High School soccer: CCS playoffs seedings for PCAL schools

Central Coast Section playoff seedings for PCAL schools

Girls

Division II

Saturday’s games

No. 7 Crystal (14-2-3) at No. 2 Salinas (16-1-2), 7 p.m.

Bye: No. 1 Aptos (15-2-1).

Division III

No. 7 Soledad (17-2-1) at No. 2 Palo Alto (6-6-3), 5 p.m.

No. 8 Pajaro Valley (17-1-2) at No. 1 Menlo-Atherton (9-6-3), 5 p.m.

Division IV

No. 7 Hollister (9-7-2) at No. 2 Christopher (12-5-3), 5 p.m.

Division V

No. 6 Stevenson (10-2-6) at No. 3 Rancho San Juan (9-8-2), 11 a.m.

No. 7 Oak Grove (13-1-3) at No. 2 North County (13-4-3), 5 p.m.

Boys

Division I

No. 6 Serra (12-5-3) at No. 3 Alvarez (18-0-2), 11 a.m.

Division II

No. 5 Hollister (10-7-3) at No. 4 St. Ignatius (10-5-5), 11 a.m.

Division III

No. 7 Alisal (7-6-6) at No. 2 Aragon (11-5-2), 3 p.m.

Division IV

No. 8 Pioneer (9-8-2) at No. 1 Palma (14-3-2), 11 a.m.

No. 6 Salinas (12-5-4) at No. 3 Monterey (11-6-3), 1 p.m.

No. 5 Lincoln (9-7-4) at No. 4 Greenfield (9-5-6), 5 p.m.

No. 7 King City (8-5-7) vs. No. 2 Gonzales (15-3-2) at Rabobank, 7 p.m.

 

Trump administration is flouting an order to temporarily lift a freeze on foreign aid, judge says

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has kept withholding foreign aid despite a court order and must at least temporarily restore the funding to programs worldwide, a federal judge said Thursday.

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Judge Amir H. Ali declined a request by nonprofit groups doing business with the U.S. Agency for International Development to find Trump administration officials in contempt of his order, however.

The Washington, D.C., district court judge said administration officials had used his Feb. 13 order to temporarily lift the freeze on foreign aid to instead “come up with a new, post-hoc rationalization for the en masse suspension” of funding.

Despite the judge’s order to the contrary, USAID Deputy Secretary Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee, and other top officials had “continued their blanket suspension of funds,” Ali said.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit by the nonprofit groups challenging the Trump administration’s month-old cutoff of foreign assistance through USAID and the State Department, which shut down $60 billion in annual aid and development programs overseas almost overnight.

Even after Ali’s order, USAID staffers and contractors say the State Department and USAID still have not restored payments even on hundreds of millions of dollars already owed by the government.

Marocco and other administration officials defended the nonpayment in written arguments to the judge this week. They contended that they could lawfully stop or terminate payments under thousands of contracts without violating the judge’s order.

The Trump administration says it is now doing a program-by-program review of all State Department and USAID foreign assistance programs to see which ones meet the Trump administration’s agenda.

Aid organizations, and current and former USAID staffers in interviews and court affidavits, say the funding freeze and deep Trump administration purges of USAID staffers have brought U.S. foreign assistance globally to a halt, forced thousands of layoffs and is driving government partners to financial collapse.

IRS layoffs could hurt revenue collection and foil efforts to go after rich tax dodgers, experts say

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The layoffs of roughly 7,000 IRS probationary workers beginning this week likely mean the end of the agency’s plan to go after high-wealth tax dodgers and could spell disaster for revenue collections, experts say.

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The majority of employees shown the door at the federal tax collector are newly hired workers focused on compliance, which includes ensuring that taxpayers are abiding by the tax code and paying delinquent debts, among other duties.

The IRS layoffs, one of the largest purges of probationary workers this year across the government, could also hurt customer service and tax return processing during tax season this year, the union representing Treasury Department employees warned Thursday.

The upheaval comes less than two months before the tax filing deadline and as the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump adviser Elon Musk seeks to shrink the size of the federal workforce in an effort to radically cut spending and restructure the government’s priorities.

Vanessa Williamson, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said on a Thursday call with reporters that the layoffs at the IRS will disproportionately harm enforcement efforts.

“When you underpay and understaff the IRS, the agency doesn’t have the power or the resources it needs to go after wealthy tax evaders with their high priced lawyers,” she said, adding, “The result is, of course, a disaster for revenue.”

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022, gave the IRS $80 billion and the ability to hire tens of thousands of new employees to help with customer service and enforcement as well as new technology to update the tax collection agency, though congressional Republicans later clawed back some of the money.

Former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, appointed by Biden, placed a particular focus on aggressively auditing high-income tax cheats as well as executives who use business aircraft for their personal use while still writing it off as a tax expense and wealthy people who sought to get favorable tax treatment through Puerto Rico without meeting certain tax requirements.

A Congressional Budget Office report issued last year describes how rescissions in funding for the IRS affect baseline projections of future revenues, offering a variety of scenarios depending on the severity of the cuts.

A $5 billion rescission would reduce revenues by $5.2 billion from 2024 to 2034 and increase the deficit by $0.2 billion. A $20 billion rescission would reduce revenues by $44 billion and increase the deficit by $24 billion for the same period. A $35 billion rescission would reduce revenues by $89 billion and increase the cumulative deficit by $54 billion.

“If you starve the IRS, you’ll be providing a feast for the tax evaders,” Williamson said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during his confirmation hearing last month that “we do not have a revenue problem in the United States of America, we have a spending problem.”

However, both revenues and spending will be an ongoing point of contention for congressional Republicans, who are trying to come up with how to pay for extending provisions of President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Penn Wharton Budget model estimates that permanently extending Trump’s tax cuts would increase deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade.

Chye-Ching Huang, executive director of NYU’s Tax Law Center, called the layoffs “misguided” and said they “will hurt everyday Americans who pay their taxes and count on the IRS to pay refunds on time while encouraging wealthy people and large businesses to cheat on their taxes.”

Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said: “In the middle of a tax filing season, when taxpayers expect prompt customer service and smooth processing of their tax returns, the administration has chosen to decimate the whole operation by sending dedicated civil servants to the unemployment lines.”

The union representing IRS workers has already filed multiple legal challenges over the administration’s mass layoffs.

Mark Mazur, a former assistant secretary for tax policy at Treasury, said that since most of the laid-off workers were in the IRS’ small business and self-employment division, employees who had handled bigger corporate enforcement cases will be forced to stop their work and handle easier small-business cases.

“For sure this mean less enforcement activity,” and the deterrence effect of audits will be diminished, he said.

Representatives from Treasury, the IRS and the White House did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment on Thursday.

Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

Senate ready to stay up all night to pass GOP budget over objections from Democrats

By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators are ready to stay up all night, having launched a budget “vote-a-rama” late Thursday in a crucial, if dreaded, step toward unleashing a $340 billion package President Donald Trump’s team says it needs for mass deportations and security measures that top the Republican agenda.

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If ever there was a time to watch Congress in action, this might be it. Or not. Senators will be voting in rapid fashion for hours on one amendment after another diving into intricate policy details, largely from Democrats trying to halt the package. The result will be a final push by the Republicans, expected in the early hours of the morning, to use their majority power to pass it on a party-line vote.

“What we’re doing today is jumpstarting a process that will allow the Republican Party to meet President Trump’s immigration agenda,” Senate Budget Committee chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said while opening the debate.

Graham said Trump’s top immigration czar, Tom Homan, told senators that the administration’s deportation operations are “out of money” and need more funding from Congress to detain and deport immigrants.

With little power in the minority to stop the onslaught, Democrats will instead use the all-night debate to force GOP senators into potentially embarrassing votes — including the first one, on blocking tax breaks to billionaires. It was turned back, on procedural grounds.

“This is going to be a long, drawn out fight,” warned Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

“Days like today, where we vote on amendments late into the night, go a long way in revealing where each party stands and who each party is fighting for,” the New York senator said. “Democrats are glad to have this debate.”

The package that senators are pushing forward is what Republicans view as a down-payment on Trump’s agenda, part of a broader effort that will eventually include legislation to extend some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and other priorities. That’s being assembled by House Speaker Mike Johnson in a separate budget package that also seeks up to $2 trillion in reductions to health care and other programs.

Trump has preferred what he calls one “big, beautiful bill,” but the White House is open to the Senate’s strategy of working on the border package first, then turning to tax cuts later this year.

As voting began, the president posted a thank you to Senate Majority Leader John Thune “and the Republican Senate, for working so hard on funding the Trump Border Agenda.”

What’s in the Senate GOP package

The Republican Senate package would allow up to $175 billion to be spent on border security, including money for mass deportation operations and building the U.S.-Mexico border wall, in addition to a $150 billion boost to the Pentagon and about $20 billion for the Coast Guard.

But even if the Senate pushed the package to approval in the all-night session, there won’t be any money flowing just yet.

The budget resolution is simply a framework that sends instructions to the various Senate committees — Homeland Security, Armed Services, Judiciary — to hammer out the details. Everything will eventually be assembled in another package, with another vote-a-rama, down the road.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the No. 2-ranking Senate Republican, said GOP lawmakers are acting quickly to get the administration the resources they have requested and need to curb illegal border crossings.

“The budget will allow us to finish the wall. It also takes the steps we need toward more border agents,” Barrasso said. “It means more detention beds… It means more deportation flights.”

Republicans insist the whole thing will be paid for, rather than piled onto debt, and they are considering various options with both spending cuts and new revenues.

The committees may decide to roll back the Biden administration’s methane emissions fee, which was approved by Democrats as part of climate change strategies in the Inflation Reduction Act, and hoping to draw new revenue from energy leases as they aim to spur domestic energy production.

Democrats are ready for battle

First up from Democrats will be a vote to prevent tax breaks for billionaires, according to a person familiar with the planning and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Democrats argue that the GOP tax cuts approved in 2017 flowed to the wealthiest Americans, and extending them as Trump wants Congress to do later this year would extend the giveaway.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters after a closed-door strategy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Schumer launched a strategy earlier this week to use this first budget debate to focus on both the implications of the tax policy and also the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is slashing across the federal government.

It’s a better approach for Democrats than arguing against tougher border security and deportations, which divides the party.

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the single biggest driver of the national debt since 2001 has been a series of Republican-led tax cuts.

“And you’ll never guess what our Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle are focused on right now, nothing to lower the cost of eggs, it’s actually more Republican tax cuts,” Murray said.

She called the budget plan a “roadmap for painful cuts to programs families count on each and every day, all so they can give billionaires more tax cuts.”

Congress is racing itself

The budget resolution is setting up what’s called the reconciliation process, which used to be rare, but is now the tool often used to pass big bills on party-line votes when one party has control of the White House and Congress, as Republicans do now.

But Republicans are arguing with themselves over how to proceed. The House is marching ahead on its “big, beautiful bill,” believing they have one chance to get it right. The Senate views its two-bill strategy as more practical, delivering on border security first, then turning to taxes later.

Budget rules allow for passage by a simple majority vote, which is key in the Senate where it typically takes 60 votes to break a filibuster on big items. During Trump’s first term, Republicans used the reconciliation process to pass GOP tax cuts in 2017. Democrats used reconciliation during the Biden presidency era to approve COVID-19 relief and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Trump appears to be stirring the fight, pitting Republicans in the House and Senate against each other to see which one delivers fastest.

Associated Press writers Matt Brown and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

Kids’ disability rights cases stalled as Trump began to overhaul Education Department

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, COLLIN BINKLEY and ANNIE MA

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was obvious to Christine Smith Olsey that her son was not doing well at school, despite educators telling her to leave it to the experts. The second-grade student stumbled over words, and other kids teased him so much he started to call himself “an idiot.”

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Though her son had been receiving speech and occupational therapy, Smith Olsey said his Denver charter school resisted her requests for additional academic support. She filed a complaint with the state and then, in September, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.

In January, her son’s case came to a halt.

“I have to postpone meetings with you to discuss the case,” a department mediator wrote to her on Jan. 23, three days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. “I am sorry for the inconvenience. I will be in touch as I am able.”

As Trump began to reshape the Education Department, investigations and mediations around disability rights issues came to a standstill.

Standing up for children with disabilities has been a primary role of the department’s civil rights office, which enforces protections guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Historically, most complaints to the department have involved disability discrimination — parents saying their disabled child is not receiving accommodations they need to learn, which schools must provide under federal law.

It’s not unusual for new presidential administrations to freeze cases while they adjust priorities, but exceptions typically are made for urgent situations, such as a child’s immediate learning situation. The freeze on pending cases and Trump’s calls to dismantle the department altogether left many parents worrying about the federal government’s commitment to disabled students’ rights.

In the first weeks of the Trump administration, the Education Department has launched investigations of complaints involving antisemitism and transgender athletes allowed to compete in women’s sports, delivering on Trump’s vow to use federal funding as leverage to assail perceived “wokeness” in schools.

It’s worrisome the administration has said so little about responding to complaints from families of students with disabilities, said Catherine Lhamon, who led the Office for Civil Rights under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

“If it is not aggressively engaged in protecting those rights, the office is not doing its job,” Lhamon said in an interview.

An Education Department spokesperson said the Office for Civil Rights ended the pause on its review of disability complaints Thursday, after The Associated Press asked for comment on the findings of reporting for this story. The Trump administration lifted its pause on disability cases sooner than the Biden administration did in its first months in office, spokesperson Julie Hartman said.

Progress stalled for families relying on federal intervention

The freeze had upended progress for families like Smith Olsey’s, whose children’s special education services may hinge on the outcomes of the department’s dispute resolution process.

“It’s a scary time right now to be a parent of special needs kiddos,” Smith Olsey said.

Her son has been diagnosed with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, a learning disorder caused by differences in parts of the brain involved with numbers and calculations. Since preschool, he has had an individualized education program for a developmental delay.

This month, the school agreed her son needs extra academic help, but she is seeking compensatory services to make up for time he went without adequate support. She also is seeking reimbursement for money she spent out of pocket on therapy, tutoring and testing.

When families believe their child is not receiving adequate services for their disability, filing a complaint with the Education Department is one way of prompting districts to provide additional help. Parents may also file a complaint with state agencies or pursue litigation.

Education Department serves as referee of disability rights cases

Between 2021 and 2024, the department’s Office for Civil Rights received 27,620 complaints related to disability rights. The office is required to process all complaints it fields, but politics can play a role in setting priorities and choosing which cases to pursue.

Typically, more than half of the complaints to the department have involved disability discrimination, but last year accusations of sex discrimination surged to account for a majority of them, according to an annual report. Disability discrimination accounted for 37%, while discrimination over race or national origin accounted for 19%.

In recent years, the office has seen a significant decline in its staffing, even as the number of cases it must look into has increased.

Parents and advocates say they are concerned about the future of the department’s oversight role as Trump and his nominee for education secretary, Linda McMahon, outline a vision for a dramatically reduced footprint for the agency.

At her confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed McMahon on whether she would support the department’s enforcement role in disability rights. She suggested the Department of Health and Human Services could take over that work.

“There is a reason the Department of Education exists, and it is because educating kids with disabilities can be really hard,” Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said during the hearing. “It takes national commitment to get it done.”

The freeze leaves families feeling outraged and adrift

In the fall, DarNisha Hardaway was relieved when an Education Department mediator found her son’s school needed to reevaluate him and provide tutoring. She had filed a complaint with the department after a series of suspensions that she said stemmed from her son being overwhelmed and not getting enough academic help. The 12-year-old has an intellectual disability, autism and epilepsy.

DarNisha Hardaway talks at home in Detroit, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Joseph Hardaway V, 12, watches a phone at home in Detroit, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Show Caption1 of 2

DarNisha Hardaway talks at home in Detroit, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The Education Department, Hardaway said, “made the school system do what they’re supposed to do.”

If the school district broke the mediation agreement, she was told to contact the Office for Civil Rights again. This month, after her son had an outburst in class, his suburban Detroit school told her he would need to learn online for the rest of the year — a ruling Hardaway saw as a violation of his disability accommodations. On Tuesday, an Office for Civil Rights representative told her they could not respond with any substantive information.

Every day she waits, her son learns in front of a computer. “He can’t learn online, and DarNisha is not a teacher,” said Marcie Lipsitt, who is working with the family. “The OCR is just closed for business, and I’m outraged.”

Complaints about racial discrimination in schools are also pending.

Tylisa Guyton of Taylor, Michigan, filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights on Jan. 20 over her 16-year-old son’s repeated suspensions from a suburban Detroit school district, alleging a white administrator has been targeting him and a group of other Black children.

The teen has been out of school since Dec. 4 with the latest suspension, and she has heard nothing about when he might be allowed to return or be placed in an alternative school. Since missing so much school, she doubts he will be able to graduate on time.

“I just feel lost,” she said.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Judge won’t immediately block Trump administration’s abrupt halt to Catholic refugee funding

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and PETER SMITH

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday refused to immediately block the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to funding of the nation’s largest private refugee resettlement program in a setback to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Judge Trevor McFadden denied the bishops’ request for a temporary restraining order that would have restored the funding, but called his ruling “very tentative.”

“A temporary restraining order is an extraordinary remedy that should be granted sparingly,” he said.

McFadden scheduled another hearing for next Friday on the bishops’ related request for a preliminary injunction that also would block the administration’s pause in program funding. He also ordered the two sides to have a mediation session with a federal magistrate judge next week.

“I want to see further briefing from the parties,” McFadden said.

The bishops are asking him to prohibit the U.S. State Department from enforcing a Jan. 24 suspension of millions of dollars in aid, saying it has affected nearly 7,000 newly arrived refugees.

The bishops say that withholding millions in resettlement costs violates various laws as well as the constitutional provision giving the power of the purse to Congress, which already approved the funding.

“This lawsuit is really a last resort for us,” plaintiffs’ attorney Dhananjay Manthripragada told the judge.

The conference’s Migration and Refugee Services has sent layoff notices to more than half its staff with additional cuts expected. It’s one of 10 national agencies, most of them faith-based, sent scrambling after the State Department informed them Jan. 24 of an immediate suspension of funding pending a review of foreign-aid programs.

“If we lay them off, it’s unlikely that we’re going to get them back,” Manthripragada said.

But the judge concluded that the plaintiffs didn’t meet their burden to show that their clients would suffer “irreparable harm” if he doesn’t grant the temporary restraining order.

The administration has said the country cannot welcome additional refugees and the spending halt will allow it to align funding with the president’s priorities.

Justice Department attorney Joseph Carilli Jr. described the lawsuit as a contract dispute. He said a delay in reimbursing the conference doesn’t mean the administration is violating terms of their cooperation agreement.

“It doesn’t say they will be reimbursed on a certain timeline,” Carilli said.

President Donald Trump suspended new refugee admissions upon taking office in January, but there were thousands of recent arrivals still within the 90-day period for which they’re eligible for resettlement aid.

McFadden was appointed by Trump to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2017.

The State Department also argued against the bishops’ petition by saying the administration shouldn’t be subject to overlapping court orders. It noted that another federal judge has already ordered it to lift a funding freeze on foreign humanitarian aid.

The bishops conference said it spends millions on resettlement, beyond the federal reimbursements, but it can’t sustain the program without federal help.

Among the defendants in the lawsuit are the departments of State and Health and Human Services as well as their respective secretaries, Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Both departments have roles in delegating resettlement work to the bishops conference.

The conference said suspending the resettlement effort will only prolong the time it takes for refugees to find employment and become self-sufficient.

Trump, whose first administration sharply cut refugee admissions, immediately suspended the decades-old program upon taking office again in January. He and his proxies have criticized refugee resettlement and other avenues of immigration.

Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, recently accused the bishops conference of resettling “illegal immigrants” in order to get millions in federal funding — an apparent reference to the resettlement program, which involves actually legally approved refugees.

Vance followed up his criticisms by appealing to Catholic teaching as justifying immigration restrictions. That drew rejoinders not only from U.S. bishops but an implicit rebuke from Pope Francis, who said Christian charity requires helping those in need, not just those in one’s closest circles.

Smith reported from Pittsburgh. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Dr. Mehmet Oz holds millions from companies that he’d wield power over if confirmed, report shows

By AMANDA SEITZ and BRIAN SLODYSKO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The wealth of Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has swelled in part from for-profit health care companies over which he’d wield significant power if confirmed, according to a newly filed government ethics report.

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In the filing, the 64-year-old former talk show host pledged to divest from those companies within three months of confirmation and said that until then, he wouldn’t participate in any matter that could affect his investments.

Oz’s net worth is between $98 million and $332 million, according to an analysis of the disclosure, which lists asset values in ranges but does not give precise dollar figures. Oz shot to fame and made millions off his daytime talk show. His most recent disclosure shows he also holds millions of dollars worth of shares in health insurance, fertility, pharmaceutical and vitamin companies.

Oz said in the filing that he will sell off parts of his significant and diverse investment portfolio, which ranges from retail giants such as Walmart to tech companies such as Apple.

His roster of investments includes up to $5 million in Inception Fertility, a company with a network of fertility clinics; a maximum of $100,000 with pharmaceutical giant AbbVie; and as much as $600,000 with the nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealth Group. He also holds up to $5 million with Nvidia, an artificial intelligence company that outfits hospitals.

And his work as an adviser for iHerb, a website that sells health and beauty supplements, has earned Oz as much as $25 million in company stock, which he pledged to forfeit “as soon as practicable but not later than 90 days after confirmation.” He indicated he would also resign from his position with the company if confirmed.

His investments touch nearly every aspect of the health care system, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health professor at Georgetown University.

“He has his fingerprints and his financing all over the health care system, from services to artificial intelligence to medical products,” Gostin said. “It seems to me that those conflicts are so intertwined in his and his families finances, I don’t know how he disentangles himself from it all.”

A spokesman for Oz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If confirmed by the Senate, Oz would be responsible for the programs that more than half the country relies on for health insurance: Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.

Medicaid provides nearly-free health care coverage to millions of the poorest children and adults in the U.S. while Medicare gives older Americans and the disabled access to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is the Obama-era program that offers health insurance plans to millions of Americans who do not qualify for government-assisted health insurance, but do not get insurance through their employer.

As the administrator for CMS, Oz would make decisions on how the government covers procedures, hospital stays and medications in these programs and the reimbursement rates doctors and other providers get for their services.

Oz ran a failed 2022 bid to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate as a Republican. During the campaign, he called to expand Medicare Advantage, the increasingly popular version of Medicare that’s run by private insurers who have been accused of defrauding the government by billions of dollars through the program.

Before his turn to politics, Oz was a renowned heart surgeon at Columbia University. He rose to fame on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” with appearances where he discussed weight-loss diets, Botox and anti-aging techniques. Eventually, he landed his own show, which was popular but attracted deep criticism from the scientific community. Some colleagues at Columbia University called for his removal over claims he made about products on TV. Senators, too, scolded him during a 2014 hearing over the weight-loss drugs he promoted

He has formed a kinship, though, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was sworn in as the nation’s top health official last week. Kennedy and Oz have shared concerns over pesticides and unhealthy foods.

Oz’s confirmation hearing to become CMS administrator has not been scheduled.

Horoscopes Feb. 20, 2025: Rihanna, it’s your turn to shine and strive for happiness

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rihanna, 37; Miles Teller, 38; Brian Littrell, 50; Cindy Crawford, 59.Happy Birthday: Refuse to take a back seat. It’s your turn to shine and strive for the happiness you deserve. Aim this year to find a high-energy, goal-oriented and entertaining way to turn your expectations into a reality. Look for a unique and timely manner to put yourself out there and win the hearts of those you want sitting at your table. Smile, and do what makes you happy. Your numbers are 5, 19, 23, 27, 35, 38, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share a special moment with someone who can bring you joy or help you explore new possibilities. Refuse to let anger ruin your plans or stop you from experiencing something that can help you see the positive potential in whatever challenges you meet. Romance and personal gain are favored. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to let uncertainty leave you bewildered when discovering what’s possible. Using the process of elimination will teach you something and help you take advantage of pending offers that can improve your life. Hiding out doesn’t help you get ahead. Wrap your head around your options and pick a path. 3 starsGEMINI (May 21-June 20): Deep breath in; hold; release. Say no to anyone complicating your life, and focus on what’s important. Put what you hear in context with what you want to do and try to simplify your life. Spend less, only promise what’s reasonable and pay more attention to health, diet and fitness. 3 starsCANCER (June 21-July 22): Size up your current situation, prospects and desires. It’s time to take a chance and explore new possibilities. You may not welcome change, but to experience what life can offer, you must step outside your comfort zone and test what’s new and exciting. Hiding out will not satisfy your soul. 3 starsLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pay attention to how you look at and respond to those you encounter. Promoting something you are working toward prematurely will be met with criticism and potential financial or contractual loss. One step at a time. Focus on personal growth and gain and finish what you start. Romance is favored. 5 starsVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Walk away from temptation or anyone trying to push you into something questionable or excessive. A well-thought-out plan is the only way to implement desirable change. Put relationships first, show concern and be sensitive to the needs of loved ones. A commitment requires boundaries to ensure you maintain equality and understanding. 2 starsLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Someone who excites you will grab your attention. A new adventure will spark your imagination and encourage you to change your direction, surroundings or pastimes. Speak from the heart, share your feelings and consider spending more time with someone who mystifies you. A business or personal relationship looks promising. 4 starsSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re in the driver’s seat; it’s up to you to refuse to stop, because your attention is necessary to reach your destination. Keep tabs on how much things cost and with whom you want to share life, expenses and long-term commitment, and move forward without hesitation. A creative project will require dedication. 3 starsSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Observation will pay off. Refrain from giving away your secrets. Allowing others to steal your thunder or exploit your naivety will set you back and lower your self-esteem. Pay more attention to how you look and present yourself to others. Stand tall, update your look and wield positive power. 3 starsCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’re on the right track; focus on your goal and the people who have contributed. Forming good relationships with helpers will encourage opportunities and reliable sources, leaving you more time to develop your dreams, hopes and wishes. Give yourself a chance to rejuvenate. 4 starsAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fix your surroundings, but don’t go over budget. Put your handiwork to good use, and you’ll get what you want at a price you can afford. A creative idea will turn into a moneymaking endeavor. What you do for yourself will turn into something marketable. Trust your instincts. 2 starsPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Implement an outlet that allows you to use your body, mind and soul in ways that are exhilarating and life-altering and have the potential to achieve the happiness you deserve. Nothing happens without effort; do your part to ensure you manifest the life you desire. Stop dreaming and start doing. 5 starsBirthday Baby: You are novel, entertaining and intense. You are enticing and eccentric.1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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