These states are increasing the minimum wage for workers in 2025

FILE - A customer picks up a meal bag at a McDonald's drive-thru window in Los Angeles on Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The minimum wage is going up for millions of workers this year in nearly two dozen states.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, hourly minimum wages increased in 21 states when the clock struck midnight as we welcomed 2025.

Those wage increases will reportedly impact an estimated 9.2 million workers and raise pay by a total of $5.7 billion.

“These additional earnings are critical for ensuring workers don’t lose ground due to rising prices, but the minimum wage level may still be too low, especially if the minimum wage was indexed years ago and not revisited since,” economic analyst Sebastian Martinez Hickey wrote.

CNN reports that rampant inflation over the last few years has caused the cost of living to soar along and has pushed calls for a $17 federal minimum wage.

The federal minimum wage currently sits at $7.25 an hour, a rate that hasn’t changed since 2009.

The states that are reporting a boost for minimum-wage workers this year are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Economic analysts say most of the January wage increases are happening due to state laws that are adjusting annually for inflation.

Workers in Delaware will reportedly be seeing the largest state increase taking effect this year.

“Legislation will lift the minimum wage by $1.75 to $15 per hour. As a result, the average full-time worker affected by the increase will earn $1,200 more annually,” Hickey shared.

Fast-food workers in California also have a minimum wage of $20 an hour that went into effect last year.

Champion racehorse, leading sire Uncle Mo euthanized following leg injury

FILE - In this May 5, 2011, file photo, exercise rider Hector Ramos takes Kentucky Derby entrant Uncle Mo for a workout at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Garry Jones, File)

Versailles, Ky.

The Thoroughbred industry suffered a great loss this week with the death of champion horse Uncle Mo.

Mike Repole, Uncle Mo’s owner, shared that his stallion was euthanized on Thursday following a left foreleg injury.

The Repole Stable said the 16-year-old thoroughbred underwent surgery for the injury the day before, but the recovery process was too much for him to endure.

“The Repole Stable family, Todd Pletcher family and the entire Coolmore family are heartbroken,” the Repole family shared. “Uncle Mo was so much more to me than a champion and iconic stallion - he was and always will be a part of my family.”

Uncle Mo was bred in Kentucky and was the son of multiple graded stakes winner Indian Charlie.

Todd Pletcher trained Uncle Mo over his racing career while being ridden by John Velazquez. The multiple-stakes winning runner finished his career with five wins in eight starts, including a dominating win in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while earning more than $1.5 million.

Uncle Mo retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud after his racing career, where he went on to sire nearly 900 winners who have earned more than $120 million.

“We’re all still in shock,” Coolmore America’s Dermot Ryan said. “He will be greatly missed. He was an exceptional sire on the racetrack and in the sales ring.”

Repole added, “Thank you Uncle Mo for fulfilling my childhood dreams of owning a special racehorse.”

‘Happy, healthy and loved’: Kittens found in box during Hurricane Helene find forever homes

Kittens were left in a shoebox without their mother but their journey ended with a heartwarming adoption. (Asheville Humane Society)

Asheville, N.C.

Three kittens that were found without their mother in a shoebox after Hurricane Helene have found their new forever homes.

According to the Asheville Humane Society, the heartwarming adoption story had a “truly perfect ending.”

The 3-week-old kittens were left at the humane society’s doorstep a few months back. The animal care team said they required intensive care due to their age which included bottle feeding, temperature regulation and medication.

The kittens were taken in by a woman named Laurie, an experienced neonatal kitten foster, according to the shelter.

She ended up building a special bond with one of the kittens, and the two made it a permanent match.

The kittens were given the names of Ugg, Serra and Timberland – thanks to their shoebox story.

Laurie adopted Timberland as he would crawl onto her lap whenever she sat down and would also snuggle up to her, just wanting to be together.

“I couldn’t let him go,” Laurie shared.

The animal care team said Ugg and Serra have also both found new homes.

“We are elated. They are all happy, healthy and loved,” the team said.

Conan O’Brien’s parents die just days apart, reports say

FILE -- Comedian Conan O'Brien arrives for the PaleyLive program at The Paley Center in April 2024. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Conan O’Brien’s parents have reportedly died within days of each other.

According to multiple outlets, the longtime late-night TV host lost his father on Monday and his mother on Thursday.

The Bell O’Dea Funeral Home shared obituaries for Dr. Thomas O’Brien and his wife Ruth O’Brien.

The funeral home said Thomas O’Brien, 95, and Ruth O’Brien, 92, “passed away peacefully.” They were married for 66 years and raised six children.

Conan O’Brien’s parents lived in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he was born and raised.

The 61-year-old is set to host the 2025 Academy Awards in March.

“For the rest of my time on earth, I will be hearing from people who want to talk with me about my dad,” The Boston Globe quoted Conan O’Brien in an interview earlier this month. “I’ve never met anyone like him, and he happens to be my father. If I met him randomly in a hotel lobby, I’d think, ‘Who the hell is this guy? He’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met.‘”

‘This sweet girl’: Dog finds new forever home after prior owners struggled to take care of her

A dog in Florida has found a forever home after its prior owners struggled to take care of her. (Humane Society of Tampa Bay)

Tampa, Fla.

A loving dog has found herself a loving new forever home just in time for the holidays.

According to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Cleo is a resilient dog who went through a lot to get where she is today.

She arrived at the shelter underweight but full of love last month.

The shelter team said her previous family loved her very much and did everything they could to care for her, but after facing unimaginable hardships they had to surrender her so she could get the help she needed.

Cleo arrived at the Humane Society underweight and her ribs were visible, but her spirit was anything but broken, the team said.

“This sweet girl radiates happiness and love, showing us all what true resilience looks like. She’s now on the mend here getting the nourishment and medical care she deserves,” the shelter shared in November.

The animal care team said she was looking for a forever family as she recovered and this week that day came.

Cleo went home with her new family on Monday.

“She was very gentle, and you could see she knew how to play well with kids. She was considered “high energy,” but my daughter managed to tire her out before the adoption was finished,” Cleo’s adopted family said. “Both she and the kids would be plenty entertained and active together. Cleo is gorgeous.”