1. Millions of Americans gain health insurance

The number of uninsured Americans dropped to 10.4 percent of the population as almost nine million people added health insurance last year. Neither the median household income nor the poverty rate saw improvement.

More: Health Care Gains, but Income Remains Stagnant, the White House Reports

2. G.M., U.S. settle over deadly defect

General Motors Co. will pay the $900 million after admitting to criminal wrongdoing and mishandling a defective ignition switch to settle the U.S. Justice Department case. GM was charged with wire fraud and scheming to conceal a deadly safety defect from U.S. regulators.

More: U.S. Charges GM with Wire Fraud, Concealing Facts on Ignition Switch

3. U.S., Russia open military talks regarding Syria

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu entered talks on Friday to ensure that Russia and the United States stay clear of each other in Syria. Russia has been moving military forces into Syria, which the White House originally opposed.

More: U.S. Begins Military Talks With Russia on Syria

4. Obama loosens restrictions on Cuba

Specific American businesses will now be able to open offices and bank accounts in Cuba and nearly all restrictions the amount of money that can be sent by individual Americans to Cuban nationals have been removed. Obama formally restored U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations this summer.

More: Obama administration to further ease travel, business restrictions with Cuba

5. Carnegie Hall chairman to step down

Ronald Perelman, the chairman of Carnegie Hall, will step down next month, rather than run for re-election, he told a group of fellow trustees on Thursday. Perelman has only been the chairman since February and butted heads with other members of the board over transparency and other issues.

More: Ronald Perelman’s Bitter Departure Shocks Carnegie Hall Trustees

6. Germany, Croatia impose new migration restrictions

Croatia has closed nearly all of its road links with Serbia and Germany is considering overhauling its asylum codes to decrease the flow of migrants into the two countries.

More: E.U. nations pull welcome mats for migrants, imposing new restrictions

7. Interest rates stay the same

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, it announced Thursday, sticking with the stimulus campaign following the Great Recession. Chairwoman Janet Yellen cited uncertainties abroad as reasons for the rates to stay unchanged, but said the Federal Reserve expects to raise them later this year.

More: Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged

8. Obama picks 1st openly gay service secretary to lead the Army

President Barack Obama chose to nominate Eric Fanning to lead the Army, which, pending Senate confirmation, would make Fanning the first openly gay civilian secretary of one of the military services. Fanning has spent more than 20 years as a specialist on national security issues oversaw many Pentagon shipbuilding and fighter jet programs.

More: Obama to nominate first openly gay service secretary to lead the Army

9. U.S. to accept more refugees

The White House will increase the number of worldwide refugees the United States takes each year from 70,000 currently to 100,000 by 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday. The limit on annual refugee visas would increase to 85,000 in 2016 then grow to 100,000 the next year.

More: U.S. Will Accept More Refugees as Crisis Grows

10. Scott Walker ends presidential campaign

Scott Walker is dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, he announced on Monday. Walker urged other candidates trailing in the GOP race to drop out as well.

More: Scott Walker drops out of 2016 presidential race

11. Pope Francis visits U.S.

More: Pope Francis arrives in U.S. for historic visit

Published on September 23, 2015 at 9:11 am

Contact Jon: jrmettus@syr.edu | @jmettus