Current Events in April 2025

Following on the heels of its Super Savings Week in March, Walmart is now hosting a week-long sale specifically for its Walmart+ members. 

Walmart+ Week will be held from April 28 through May 4, and the retailer is sharing some of the early deals for its members. 

“We recognize and appreciate the loyalty of our Walmart+ members,” Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief growth officer, Walmart U.S., said in a news release. 

“They continue to utilize and enjoy the diverse range of benefits available across multiple categories, such as streaming, travel and fast-food. Walmart+ Week celebrates this momentum by helping our members maximize their suite of benefits in a way only Walmart can, with the membership that pays for itself."

What are the deals? 

The goal of the week-long sale is to give Walmart+ members exclusive perks and bonuses for their loyalty to the retailer. Here’s a look at what Walmart has planned for the sale: 

• $5 Walmart Cash for members who use Scan and Go in-stores on one order of $15+ 

• $0.50 off every gallon of gas at participating Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide

• 6 months of the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan

• Engagement bonus of $10 Walmart Cash if members take advantage of two or more Walmart+ Week offers

• Up to 2 free sandwiches from Burger King daily with your $1+ purchase (1 Croissan’wich 1 Whopper Jr.)

• 1 free Express Delivery for everyday essentials and more in as soon as 1 hour 

These perks, and other benefits of Walmart+ Week, will only be available to Walmart+ members. New members can get a 30-day free trial, or sign up for an annual membership for $98. 

When people have trauma or severe physical symptoms, they often head to the nearest hospital emergency department for treatment. Because of that, emergency departments have become the backbone of America’s medical safety net.

However, these EDs are facing severe financial and operational headwinds that could undermine their ability to provide care to millions of patients, according to a newly released report from RAND Corporation, backed by the Emergency Medicine Policy Institute.

The study, which focuses on widening cracks in the current payment structure for emergency care, reveals that declining reimbursements, rising operational costs, and a surge in uncompensated care are pushing many emergency physician groups – particularly independent practices – to the brink of financial instability. If left unaddressed, experts warn, these challenges could result in fewer emergency departments, longer wait times, and reduced access for vulnerable populations.

Rising demands, shrinking payments

Emergency physicians treat all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal mandate. Despite representing just 4% of the physician workforce, they provide nearly two-thirds of all acute care for uninsured individuals.

Yet the economic realities paint a grim picture. Between 2018 and 2022, in-network payments from commercial insurers declined by 10.9%, while out-of-network payments fell by nearly 48%. Payments from Medicare and Medicaid fell by 3.8% during the same period. 

At the same time, 20% of expected payments for emergency care go unpaid, adding up to a staggering $5.9 billion in uncompensated services annually.

“In 2024, ED visit numbers almost reached prepandemic numbers nationally, with a consistent rise between 2020 and 2024,” the authors wrote. “Patient complexity is on the rise, with EDs managing patients with complex medical and social needs.”

Insurers under scrutiny

The report also shines a spotlight on what it describes as “bad payer behavior,” pointing to tactics such as delayed or denied reimbursements and systemic underpayment by insurers. These practices, the authors argue, erode the financial viability of emergency departments and increase the risk of closures or forced acquisitions by larger health systems.

Patrick Velliky, chair of EMPI, warned that unchecked consolidation and insurer misconduct could lead to dire consequences. He warned that these practices threaten the survival of emergency departments and the patients that rely on them for care when it’s needed most.

Key Points:

• A new Trump administration mandate requires all national parks to remain open, even amid deep staffing cuts and operational strain.

• The order prohibits local closures without top-level approval, prompting backlash from conservation groups and park officials.

• Critics warn the directive could jeopardize visitor safety and park preservation during what’s expected to be a record summer season.

The Trump administration has ordered that all national parks and historic sites remain open, regardless of staffing shortages or operational challenges — a move conservation leaders say puts both visitors and parklands at risk.

The directive, issued Thursday by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, states that the goal is to keep parks “open and accessible for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people.” But it also requires that any changes to operating hours or closures be approved by top Interior officials, removing that authority from on-the-ground park managers.

The timing of the order is raising alarm. Last year, national parks drew a record 331 million visitors, and summer is expected to bring even higher foot traffic.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service (NPS) is grappling with severe staffing shortages after the administration cut about 1,000 jobs and hundreds more employees took buyouts.

Critics sound alarm

“This order is reckless and out of touch,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president at the National Parks Conservation Association. the Los Angeles Times reported. “It’s micromanagement at its worst, creating more red tape when park staff are already dangerously thin and dealing with peak visitation season.”

Brengel warned that stripping local officials of their authority to temporarily close parts of parks due to weather, maintenance, or safety concerns could leave visitors vulnerable and park resources unprotected.

The Association of National Park Rangers echoed those concerns. In a recent statement, president Rick Mossmans aid workers are “being systematically robbed of their abilities to meet their mission” and protect the land effectively.

Strain on beloved sites

From Yosemite to Joshua Tree, iconic national parks across the country — especially in California — are expected to face growing challenges. Reduced staffing levels could mean longer lines, fewer search and rescue resources, and less maintenance of restrooms and campsites during a season of intense visitor demand.

The new mandate, conservation groups argue, risks turning America’s most treasured public lands into overcrowded and under-supported destinations, undermining the very mission of the National Park Service.

• ⏳ President Trump extends TikTok’s U.S. deadline by 75 days, citing “tremendous progress” in talks to save the app from a national ban.

• 🇨🇳 A finalized deal to localize TikTok under U.S. ownership was derailed after Trump’s latest tariff hike on China.

• 💼 ByteDance says key issues remain unresolved, and any agreement must receive Chinese government approval.

President Trump on Friday announced a 75-day extension for TikTok to remain operational in the United States, delaying a potential ban on the wildly popular video app while talks continue on a deal to bring its U.S. operations under American control.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his administration was making “tremendous progress” and emphasized that it does “not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’” He added that officials are working closely with Chinese counterparts to reach a resolution.

Behind the scenes, a deal had reportedly been finalized earlier this week, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The plan would have spun off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new, American-owned company, with majority control by U.S. investors and a minority stake retained by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company.

Derailed by tariffs

However, those plans were derailed Thursday after Trump announced a 34% increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, part of a broader push for reciprocal trade policies. In response, ByteDance informed the White House that Beijing would not approve the deal under current conditions, stalling the agreement.

In a rare public statement, ByteDance confirmed it had been in discussions with Washington over a potential solution but said “key matters remain to be resolved” and any final agreement would require approval under Chinese law.

Trump hinted that his tariff policy is being used as leverage in the negotiations, calling tariffs “the most powerful Economic tool” and crucial to “our National Security.”

The reprieve provides temporary relief for TikTok’s millions of U.S. users and creators, but the platform’s future remains uncertain as geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing once again take center stage.