Interest rates; Iran war costs; Kennedy Center : NPR

Key Points:

• The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 3.75%-4%, marking the first increase in over three years, which will raise borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. Chair Kevin Warsh will provide further details in a news conference, with committee members sharing forecasts that may change due to global events.
• A new analysis reveals that 21.4 million U.S. women needing subsidized birth control live in counties with limited access to contraception, highlighting ongoing challenges worsened by recent clinic closures and changes in federal funding.
• Reports from the Congressional Budget Office and Pentagon Inspector General show significant damage to U.S. bases and a shortage of weapons due to the Iran war, with costs exceeding $30 billion and potential monthly increases of $2-3 billion if the U.S. maintains a large presence.
• The Kennedy Center board voted to close the arts complex following a federal judge's block on naming the center after President Trump; plans include relocating major events and continuing support for the National Symphony Orchestra, though many details remain unclear.
• Homebuyers and sellers face nearly $2 billion annually in "junk fees" such as document and storage fees, often added without clear disclosure and criticized as excessive given real estate agents' substantial commissions and brokerage fee structures.