In a closely watched address, Chair Powell hinted at the first pause in the rate-hike cycle since 2022, citing moderating consumer prices and softening labor demand. Markets rallied on the announcement, with the S&P 500 closing up 0.62%.
The 68-32 procedural vote sets up final passage of the $1.2 trillion package, which includes $480 billion for surface transportation, rural broadband expansion, and grid modernization. Sen. Whitfield called it "the most consequential investment in a generation."
More than 4,200 firefighters are working the perimeter of the Cascadia Complex, which has burned 187,000 acres and destroyed 312 structures. CalFire expects full containment by Sunday, though red-flag warnings remain in effect.
Justices probed the limits of the Fourth Amendment in the digital age, with several signaling skepticism toward warrantless access to location data. A ruling is expected by late June.
Meteorologists warn of flash flooding, mudslides, and power outages across the Pacific Northwest as the strongest storm of the season makes landfall Friday evening.
Domestic manufacturers posted a combined $14.2 billion in net income, buoyed by a 38% jump in electric vehicle sales and improved supply chain conditions across the Midwest.
The five-year initiative will fund next-generation antibiotic research, expand hospital surveillance networks, and accelerate diagnostics development. Public health experts call it "long overdue."
The compact, modeled on the existing medical licensure framework, would allow teachers and nurses to practice across state lines without redundant testing by 2026.
The Artemis II crew completed a full dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center, clearing the way for the first crewed deep-space mission in over half a century.
Lawmakers from both parties remain divided on payment limits and climate-smart agriculture provisions, with the current authorization set to expire in 41 days.
Real-time data from the National Weather Service · Updated every 15 minutes by our meteorology desk
A six-month investigation by The Meridian Dispatch reveals that risk-assessment tools used in 27 county court systems disproportionately flag Black and Latino defendants for higher pretrial detention — often with little oversight or meaningful appeal.
Our reporters reviewed more than 14,000 case files, conducted 63 interviews with judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and the vendors themselves, and obtained internal calibration documents through public records requests. The findings raise urgent questions about due process, transparency, and the rapidly expanding role of proprietary algorithms in the American justice system.
Groundwater levels in the Bonneville Basin have dropped 38 feet in three decades, outpacing every scientific model. Our reporters traced the political and financial decisions that accelerated the collapse — and the towns now running dry.
An analysis of newly released data shows that 412 contractors received payments despite unresolved fraud findings. Many continue to receive new awards.
We revisit every named facility to grade the response. Twelve have implemented reforms; nine have not. A status report on accountability.
Encrypted tips, secure drop boxes, and an editor-reviewed promise: we verify before we publish, and we never publish without your consent.
The Fed chair told reporters the committee will "remain patient" in assessing the need for further adjustments, while reiterating that inflation has not yet reached its 2% target. The dollar weakened against major currencies immediately following the remarks.
Equities rallied into the close as investors interpreted the dot plot as signaling fewer cuts than previously priced. The 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.21%, down 8 basis points on the day.
The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-1 to maintain the federal funds rate at its current range. One regional president dissented, preferring a 25-basis-point cut citing "growing labor market risks."
Eleanor Marsh and Henry Tanaka are stationed outside the Federal Reserve. We're tracking statements, projections, and press conference questions in real time. Submit your questions using #AskDispatch.
Pick the topics, beats, and frequency that matter to you. We'll deliver verified, fact-checked reporting straight to your inbox — never spam, never sold data.
The Meridian Dispatch has become my morning ritual. The fact-checking standards are unlike anything else I subscribe to — I trust what I read here in a way I don't trust most outlets anymore.
I switched from a national daily two years ago and haven't looked back. The investigative work is on par with magazines three times the price, and the weather alerts have saved my family during three severe storms.
As a teacher, I rely on accurate reporting for my current-events curriculum. The Meridian's topic alerts let me build weekly lesson plans in minutes — and the editorial standards mean I'm never embarrassed by what I share.
Everything you've asked about our reporting, our standards, and how to get the most from your subscription.