Airport security lines can be long and torturous, but TSA PreCheck is here to speed up the process. With the program, you can expect shorter lines and you don’t have to remove your shoes and personal items from your bags. However, there are several requirements to get approved for TSA PreCheck.
One of the most basic requirements is that you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident. If you don’t fall into one of these groups, you may be approved for another program instead, such as Global Entry. You’ll also need to provide a valid U.S. passport (make sure to renew your passport if it’s set to expire soon!), a permanent resident card, or a similar form of identification that includes a photo and confirms your citizenship or naturalization.
To complete your application, take your required documents to an enrollment location, where you’ll provide fingerprints and pay any fees. The in-person visit also involves a short interview, where you’ll likely be asked a few questions about your identity and background. The process may seem stressful, but as long as you arrive prepared, it’s usually quick and straightforward.
TSA PreCheck allows less stringent security measures when going through the airport’s TSA checkpoints. As a result, you must demonstrate that you’re a law-abiding citizen or resident to be approved. TSA will check your criminal record, and, if the agency finds certain offenses in your history, it may reject your application.
Specifically, TSA looks for a history of violence or crimes that could put a flight at risk. In some cases, this can include offenses that are considered misdemeanors. For example, you can be permanently barred from joining the TSA PreCheck program if you’ve been convicted of murder, espionage, sedition, treason, crimes of terrorism, falsifying information, and other crimes involving security threats or possession of dangerous materials. If you were convicted of attempting these acts, you may also be rejected, even if the crime wasn’t successfully carried out.
You can also be temporarily rejected — typically up to seven years — for certain criminal offenses. These include unlawful possession of a firearm, fraud, bribery, aggravated assault, robbery, and immigration violations, among other crimes. Additionally, any pending warrants or indictments will also disqualify you from TSA PreCheck until cleared.
You Must Be Considered Mentally Sound
It’s important not to overlook another vital condition: mental soundness. Mental health can be a sensitive subject, and most people who have struggled with mental health symptoms will pose no threat to others on a plane or at an airport. With that said, TSA states on its website that an applicant will be rejected if a “court, board, commission, or other government authority” has determined that they pose a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness or that a mental health condition limits their ability to stand trial or manage personal affairs. The security agency also notes that an involuntary admission to an inpatient facility “for mental health or psychiatric reasons” is also grounds for disqualification.
If you’re worried these conditions may disqualify you, there are a couple of ways around them. First, you have the right to appeal a TSA PreCheck rejection and provide more information about your mental health history. Additionally, you may not actually meet the conditions for disqualification if, for instance, your admittance to a mental health facility was unrelated to a crime or court order. When in doubt, answer the application questions as honestly and accurately as you can and explain your situation in more detail during your interview.
Let’s start with some killer conversation openers. These are great for simply opening a conversation with someone new or someone you haven’t seen in a while. And they’re far more interesting than the standard “Where are you from?” and “what do you do?” those are so boring. Try these instead.
Working on anything exciting recently? This is a great one because it invites the other person to tell you something that they want to share. If they want to tell you about their favorite hobby, they can. If they want to tell you about their job, they can. And it’s a great way to know what’s at the top of someone’s mind.
What was the highlight of your day so far? This is my alternative to “How are you?” Asking someone the best part of their day is a great way to bring up positive vibes, as opposed to just giving you a boring update.
What’s your story? This is an interesting conversation starter because it invites someone to tell you a story about them, and you never know what exciting thing they might tell you.
What personal passion project are you working on right now? This is one of my favorites. You never know what secret side hustle someone has. I love asking this one to people I already know in one context, like work, but would love to know more about them personally.
How do you know the host? This one can be modified to any kind of event. If you are at a party, hopefully you both have the host in common. If you are at a networking or work event, you can modify it to “How long have you been a part of this organization?”
What was the highlight of your day today? This is a nice alternative to asking “how are you?” and it gets more interesting answers.
What was the highlight of your week? This is a great one to ask instead of the standard question “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” It helps people share a positive story instead of just giving an autopilot answer of “Fine” or “Good.”
Have you been to an event like this before? This one can be modified for most types of events, from birthday parties (did you come last year?) to networking events (do you come every month?).
What was the high-point and low-point of your day so far? This one is great if you have a talker. If you are speaking with an extrovert, asking questions for them to ruminate and expand on will tickle their fancy. Extroverts love this question.
Has this been a busy time for you? I don’t always like to ask people about being busy, but I use this conversation starter if someone seems distracted or not engaged. Sometimes acknowledging their busy-ness can hook them in.
How’s that drink / appetizer / artwork / game? One of my favorite context cues is asking about whatever someone is holding or doing. Ask them about their wine. Ask them if they like the artwork they are looking at. Ask them if the food is good. These are very easy openers.
Having fun? A really easy cold approach opener is to look for someone who is by themself but looks like they are having an okay time. It’s easy to sit next to someone at a table, or stand next to someone at the bar and simply ask, “Having a good time?” or “Enjoying yourself?” It’s a nicer opener than just “How are you?”
A treasury bill is a government-issued security that matures in 52 weeks or less. It is priced at a discount, and when it matures, the government pays you the full face value.
Essentially, you are loaning the government money in exchange for the promise of receiving a higher amount at maturity.
How Treasury Bills Work
Here are more details about how Treasury bills work, per the U.S. Department of the Treasury:
Maturity period: 4, 8, 13, 17, 26 or 52 weeks
Denominations: Treasury bill denominations are available in multiples of $100.
Interest/Profit: Interest is the difference between the face value and purchase price and is paid when the bill matures.
Tax: You must pay federal income taxes on interest earned. Interest is not subject to state and local taxes.
Availability: Most T-bills (excluding 52-week and cash management bills) are auctioned every week. Auctions for 52-week T-bills occur every four weeks.
An Example
What does this mean for you? Say, for example, you purchase a 13-week T-Bill with a face value of $1,000. If the price per $100 is $98.750, you pay $987.50 for the bill.
If you hold the bill until maturity, you will receive the full face value of $1,000, having earned $12.50 in interest. Alternatively, you can sell it on the secondary market before it matures.
What Is a Treasury Bill Yield?
When you’re shopping for treasury bills, you’ll see the word yield used a lot. This can help you determine how much money you’ll earn. According to TreasuryDirect, the yield to maturity how much money you’ll earn each year. It will be expressed as a percentage.
Benefits of Investing in Treasury Bills
Like with every other investment product, it helps to do your research before purchasing Treasury bills. Here are the benefits that draw most investors to T-bills:
Low risk due to U.S. government backing
Short-term investment option with predictable returns
Exempt from state and local taxes
Easy to buy and sell on the secondary market
Risks of Treasury Bills
Treasury bill yields are lower than bonds and certificates of deposit.
If sold early, T-bill prices can be lower than the purchase price, particularly in a rising interest-rate environment.
T-bills may not keep up with inflation, thereby resulting in a negative real return.
How To Buy Treasury Bills
There are two ways to buy Treasury bills. The first is directly from the U.S. Treasury. You don’t need a Treasury bill account, per se, but you will need to open a general account with TreasuryDirect. When you purchase T-bills through the U.S. Treasury, you agree to accept the discount rate available at auction time. This is called a non-competitive bid.
You also can buy T-bills through a bank, broker or dealer. If you buy the bills through a bank, broker or dealer, you may place a non-competitive or competitive bid. With a competitive bid, you specify the rate that you are willing to accept. However, there is no guarantee that your competitive bid will be accepted.
Taxation of Treasury Bills
One of the main benefits of investing in Treasury bills is that you are exempt from state and local tax. This is particularly valuable if you live in a high-tax state like California, Hawaii or New Jersey. However, regardless of where you live, you’re responsible for paying federal income tax on your Treasury bill income.
The IRS will send you a 1099-INT any year that you have T-bill income, and you’ll have to report this amount on your Form 1040. If you sell a T-bill before it matures, you’ll receive a Form 1099-B to report the transaction.
Treasury Bills vs. Treasury Bonds vs. Treasury Notes
Like a Treasury bill, Treasury notes and bonds are instruments of the U.S. Treasury backed by the federal government. The primary difference among the three is the length of their terms.
Treasury bills are sold with terms of 4, 8, 13, 17, 26, and 52 weeks.
Treasury notes are sold with terms of 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years.
Treasury bonds are sold with terms of 20 and 30 years.
Treasury bills, notes, and bonds are all fixed-income investments sold by the U.S. government to fund debt and pay expenses. However, a T-bill is a zero-coupon security that does not pay interest until it matures.
Treasury notes and bonds, on the other hand, pay interest semi-annually, more like a traditional bond. Here’s a clear comparison of the three types of government securities:
Selling Treasury Bills Before Maturity
T-bills are highly liquid securities, meaning you can sell them on the secondary market at any time. Most brokers are capable of handling this type of transaction, especially full-service firms. However, some online banks may not be equipped to handle T-bill transactions.
If you hold your T-bills in your Treasurydirect.gov account, you’ll have to transfer them to a bank, broker or other financial services firm in order to sell them.
It’s important to note that if you sell a T-bill before maturity, you may receive less than you paid, especially if market interest rates have moved higher. You may also have to pay a fee or commission to sell your T-bill.
Treasury Bills and Interest Rates
T-bill yields are directly affected by changes in market interest rates. When market rates rise, the price on existing T-bills falls. Conversely, when market rates fall, T-bill prices rise. This makes T-bills a good asset to consider for a diverse investment portfolio.
You don’t have to worry about the state of the market if you’re going to hold your investments until maturity.
Should You Invest in Treasury Bills?
T-bills are a go-to product for investors looking for a safe place to invest their money. During periods of market instability, they may pull their money out of volatile stocks and hold it in lower-risk securities.
Since Treasury bills are backed by the U.S. government, there is virtually no risk of default. But investors can lose money on these securities if they sell them before maturity and market interest rates have risen.
However, in exchange for this safety, T-bills generally don’t provide the types of returns available with other, longer-term investments like stocks and mutual funds.
For this reason, T-bills are best suited for conservative investors or those prioritizing capital preservation over appreciation.
All-America Selections is a non-profit organization that releases several trialed plants each year as AAS Winners. AAS tests new varieties every year at their private and public trial sites located around the U.S. and Canada. Currently, there are four trial locations in Illinois, with three northern and one central. Independent judges, who are professional horticulturists in geographically diverse areas, evaluate trial entries against comparison plants. The results and observations are compiled, and winners are chosen. For the best plants suited to the area, Illinois residents should look for Great Lakes winners or National winners on the AAS Winners lists.
In 2025, there are 15 AAS winners. Out of the total, 14 winners are suited for Illinois, including four vegetables, and 10 flowers.
Vegetables
Kohlrabi Konstance F1 (Brassica oleracea var. Konstance F1): The National Vegetable winner is a purple kohlrabi with a longer harvest window, improved skin for crack-resistant, long-lasting, sweet yet peppery crunchy bulbs. The plant can be grown as a spring or a fall crop with 42 days to harvest from seed.
Pepper Pick-N-Pop Yellow F1 (Capsicum annuum var. Pick-N-Pop Yellow F1): The National Vegetable winner is an extra sweet snack-sized mini pepper, produced continually with 50 to 100 peppers per plant with bacterial leaf spot resistance. Canary yellow peppers that are uniform in shape. The growth rate is 65 days to harvest from transplant and 90 days to harvest from seed.
Squash Green Lightning F1 (Cucurbita pepo var. Green Lightning F1): The National Vegetable winner is a light green, medium-sized, early maturing Pattypan squash. For consumption or decoration, this glossy squash has a small seed cavity with more flesh. The growth rate is 40 days to harvest from transplant and 48 to 52 days from seed.
Squash Thriller F1 (Cucurbita pepo var. Thriller F1): The National Vegetable winner is an orange dumpling squash that has cream and green variegation. For consumption or decoration, this trailing squash will add color to fall gardens and is resistant to powdery mildew. The growth rate is 80 to 85 days to harvest from seed.
Flowers
Dahlia Black Forest Ruby (Dahlia pinnata var. Black Forest Ruby): The National winner is a stunning ruby-red flower against deep black foliage. This semi-double to double-blooming dahlia with durable pinnate leaves. Sturdy and disease-free during the growing season. The growth rate is 85 days to flower from seed.
Dianthus Interspecific Capitán Magnifica (Dianthus interspecific var. Capitán Magnifica): A National winner that is a mix of pink and light pink, this dianthus keeps blooming and growing through the summer heat. Bred with more heat tolerance than other dianthus, along with rain and cold tolerance. A great cut flower, after cuttings, more blooms are put forth. The growth rate is 25 days to flower from transplant.
Marigold Mango Tango (Tagetes patula var. Mango Tango): The National winner is a compact bi-colored yellow and red flowers that bloom prolifically. Great for containers or in-ground. Plant in a full sun to part shade location. In European trials Mango Tango is the recipient of the Fleuroselect award.
Nasturtium Baby Gold (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Gold): The Regional winner has intense gold flowers set against dark green foliage. From the baby series, it is known for its mounding, petite flowers and is great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. The growth rate is 21 days to flower from transplant and 50 days to flower from seed.
Nasturtium Baby Red (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Red): The Regional winner is uniform and compact, Baby Red has rich red flowers on dark green foliage. From the baby series known for its mounding, petite flowers, and great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible.
Nasturtium Baby Yellow (Tropaeolum minus var. Baby Yellow): The Regional winner has soft light-yellow flowers contrasting dark green foliage. From the baby series known for its mounding, petite flowers, and great for containers or in small space gardens. Blooms remain upright, causing less flower flopping due to mounding habit. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. The growth rate is 21 days to flower from transplant and 50 days to flower from seed.
Petunia Dekko Maxx Pink (Petunia x hybrida var. Dekko Maxx Pink): The Regional winner has non-fading pink flowers on a compact, fast-spreading habit. Prolific bloomer that holds up well against heavy inclement weather. Great ground cover for landscape installs, borders, or garden beds. Trim back as needed to refresh the flowers.
Petunia Shake Raspberry F1 (Petunia multiflora var. Shake Raspberry F1): The National winner is a naturally compact petunia with coloration of blended reds, pinks, and lemon-lime. Does not fade or melt during the summer months. A mounded growth habit with funnel-shaped flowers. Great for a hanging basket, edging, or ground cover. The growth rate is 35 to 42 days to flower from transplant and 63 to 77 days from seed.
Snapdragon DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1 (Antirrhinum majus var. DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1): The National winner is an early bloomer with long-lasting yellow, red, and pink flowers. Resistant to summer heat and smells like candy. Prefers full sun to part shade. Excellent frost, light freeze resistance, and can be a season extender in cold climates. The growth rate is 42 to 49 days to flower from transplant and 70 to 91 days from seed.
Zinnia Zydeco Fire (Zinnia marylandica var. Zydeco Fire): A National winner that has a fully double and larger orange flower when compared to other zinnias. Sturdy stems that last until the first frost. Disease-resistant foliage helps those long-lasting blooms. The growth rate is 49 days to flower from transplant and 77 days from seed. Great for containers and pollinator-friendly.
Car makers could be told to scrap automatic “stop-start” systems that cut the engine of an idle vehicle as part of Donald Trump’s war against red tape.
The automatic feature, which divides opinion among drivers, is designed to conserve fuel and reduce pollution, particularly when driving in traffic jams or stopping at red lights.
It has become common in vehicles around the world as standards for carbon dioxide emissions have been tightened, with regulators tending to give cars that default to the technology better environmental ratings.
But on Monday, Lee Zeldin, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), suggested Mr Trump’s administration could overturn these rules.
Writing on the social network X, he said: “Start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy.
“EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.”
It comes after Mr Trump vowed to “unleash prosperity through deregulation”, with one of his executive orders in January stipulating that agencies such as the EPA must now scrap at least 10 regulations for every new one they introduce.
Stop-start systems automatically switch off a car’s internal combustion engine when it comes to a complete stop, for example at traffic lights, before restarting the engine when the driver signals they want to move again – usually by pressing the brake pedal or the clutch.
They are designed to cut pollution caused by stationary vehicles, with idling linked to 40,000 deaths per year in the UK, according to the Royal College of Physicians.
However, a common question raised by drivers about stop-start systems is whether they risk using more fuel, wearing out the battery or increasing wear and tear on the engine.
Many drivers still find the systems frustrating, with a previous appeal by the Telegraph to readers finding that many chose to switch them off when they got into their car.
The US EPA encourages car manufacturers to have stop-start systems default to the “on” position and credits vehicles with better fuel economy ratings if that is the case.
However, Mr Zeldin is a staunch advocate for cutting red tape, arguing that the plethora of rules and regulations that companies must follow creates complexity and adds to the cost of consumer products.
He has dismissed claims that scrapping limits on power station emissions such as soot will do more harm than good and has threatened to overturn regulations in California designed to ban the sale of petrol cars.
“We want to make sure that Americans have access to clean air, land, and water,” Mr Zeldin said he told Fox Business Network in March.
“That’s the first pillar of powering the great American comeback. But while we are doing that, we need to unleash energy dominance, pursue permitting reform, make America the [artificial intelligence] capital of the world, bring back those American auto jobs.
“The American public spoke loud and clear that they want this economic relief, and at the end of the day, that’s what we’re talking about here.”
Pope Leo XIV is the new head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. As the Successor of St. Peter and thus visible leader in unifying the faithful and advancing the Church’s God-given mission to “make disciples of all nations.”
He was elected pope in the 2025 conclave on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis. Born in Chicago, United States, Prevost served as a priest, bishop, and cardinal. Subsequently his ministry spanned the United States, Peru, and Rome/Vatican City. He first joined the Order of Saint Augustine as a young man and was ordained priest in 1982. His election marked a significant moment in Church history.
The First American Pope
Markedly, He became the first American pontiff with him largely unknown to many Catholics prior to his papal election, including Americans. Indeed, Cardinal Prevost was a 66/1 longshot to become the Church’s 267th pope.
American cardinals who voted in the conclave played down the significance of the new pope’s roots in the United States, saying his service to the poor and the church had propelled him to the papacy.
Around 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US each year — the neurodegenerative disorder is commonly associated with slow movement, tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking.
Experts suggest that physical activity and a balanced diet can help lower Parkinson’s risk. A new study supports that guidance, finding that people who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to have early signs of Parkinson’s than those who eat less junk food.
Research shows that eating too much processed food, like sugary sodas and packaged snacks, might be speeding up early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
The Study
Participants were split into five groups — the highest group ate 11 or more daily servings, while the lowest group ate fewer than three servings a day.
The researchers also watched for early signs of Parkinson’s in the participants, including REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, pain, impaired color vision, excessive daytime sleepiness and reduced ability to smell.
After adjusting for factors such as age and exercise levels, participants in the highest UPF group had a 2.5-fold higher likelihood of having three or more of these early signs than those in the lowest UPF group.
Researchers also noted that a diet high in UPFs raised the risk for all the early Parkinson’s symptoms except constipation.
The findings were published online Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Choosing to eat fewer processed foods and more whole, nutritious foods could be a good strategy for maintaining brain health. More studies are needed to confirm the finding that eating less processed food may slow down the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease.”
UPFs often contain lots of calories, sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. They can trigger inflammation in the brain that disrupts brain function, increasing the risk of brain disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Recent research also tied UPFs to higher risks of psoriasis, depression and even early death.
