Wendy’s closing 140 more restaurants as part of push to update its locations

Wendy’s plans to close 140 U.S. restaurants before the end of this year on top of the 100 it said it would close in May. But the company says those closures will be offset by new restaurant openings. Wendy’s plans to open between 250 and 300 restaurants this year. Wendy’s President and CEO Kirk Tanner said in a conference call Thursday that the restaurants that are closing are underperforming compared to others, and many are outdated. Wendy’s didn’t provide a list of restaurants that will be closed, but Tanner said they’re all over the U.S.

US is sending $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Friday it was sending an additional $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares to face Russian forces augmented by more than 10,000 North Korean troops. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said more aid was coming, and soon, during his visit to Kyiv last week. This aid package includes weapons that will be pulled from existing U.S. stockpiles, including air defense interceptors for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and 155 mm artillery, and armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons. Ukraine’s eastern cities continue to face an onslaught of Russian missile strikes, including one on Kharkiv by a 1,100-pound glide bomb. The attack Thursday hit an apartment complex, killing three and injuring scores.

An Idaho health department isn’t allowed to give COVID-19 vaccines anymore

(AP) — A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines to residents in six counties after a narrow decision by its board. Southwest District Health appears to be the first in the nation to be restricted from giving COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department. The six-county district along the Idaho-Oregon border includes three counties in the Boise metropolitan area. The board chairman and the department’s medical director are worried that the vaccine won’t be as easily available for older residents, people who are homeless and others.

IRS announces pension and retirement plan contribution adjustments for 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS on Friday announced an increase to the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2025 — to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. The Internal Revenue Service detailed the increases in its annual cost-of-living adjustments for pension plans and other retirement accounts. Workers who participate in 403(b) and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan will also be able to increase their annual contribution to $23,500 in 2025, up from $23,000 in 2024. Some annual contributions remain the same. The limit on annual contributions to an IRA will remain at $7,000 and the IRA catch-up contribution limit for people 50 and over remains $1,000 for 2025.