The Latest: 03/15/2026 01:59pm ET

0:00This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Wasn't that delicious? So good. Your bill, ladies? I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insist at first. Oh, don't be silly. You don't be silly. People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Okay. Rock paper scissors for it. Rock paper scissors. Shoot! No! The Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card. Visit Wells Fargo.com slash Active Cash Terms Apply. This is your 24-7 News Update. The latest views this hour in just four minutes. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations says conversations are ongoing with countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Mike Walts made the comment on CNN's state of the Union as oil supply is being disrupted amid the military conflict with Iran. We certainly welcome, encourage, and even demand their participation to help their own economies.

1:05His comments come after President Trump posted on Saturday that the UK, China, France, and other countries should send warships to the narrow-straight near Iran to make sure oil tankers can get through. President Trump says he's not ready to make a deal to end the war with Iran. Trump made the comment in a wide-ranging phone interview with NBC News adding, quote, "'Because the terms aren't good enough yet." Trump said Iran wants to make a deal but he stressed any terms would have to be very solid. The President's comments followed a Reuters report that the Trump administration had rejected efforts to advance talks to end the conflict. A winter storm hitting the upper Midwest is being called historic. Scott Carr has details. The National Weather Service says a winter storm system rolling across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan could dump up to two feet of snow through Monday, potentially making it one of the largest snowstorms of all time. The forecast calls for blizzard conditions overnight into Monday with winds reaching 50 to 60 miles an hour, creating white out conditions.

2:07Forecasters urged those in the path of the storm to stay off the roads as travel could become life threatening. In Hawaii, thousands are without power as a huge storm batters the islands. Flash flooding has forced evacuations on Oahu's North Shore. While landslides and flooded roads have been reported across multiple islands, rainfall totals have reached two feet in parts of Maui and more than a foot on Oahu in the past 24 hours. The storm may create blizzard conditions on the big island's highest peaks all the way through the weekend. About 100,000 residents are without power. I'm Lisa Carton. Experts in Northern California say the war with Iran will likely raise prices beyond gas. This comes as Iran is blocking a key shipping route, while the U.S. eases Russian sanctions to keep global oil moving. The economy works on energy and most of these energies coming from crude oil. NASA of Economics at Cal State East Bay Farhad Sabaton says we could see prices spike on anything that needs to be transported like food, clothes, train fuel, and airline tickets.

3:09As energy prices rise, so do inflation and interest rates. The Treasury Department recently eased some sanctions allowing other countries to buy Russian oil that's already been shipped. This likely will not affect oil prices now, but if the policy stays, it could help fund Russia's war in Ukraine. San Francisco will receive nearly $100 million from the state to help people facing addiction and mental health challenges, especially those who are homeless. The funds come from states Proposition 1. People struggling with mental health and addiction, cycling through our systems without the treatment they need to get better. Mayor Daniel Lurie says the money will expand treatment at three locations, including a sobering center and two residential facilities. Lurie says the funding will give workers more resources and make neighborhoods safer. Some funds will add more treatment beds on Treasure Island, with construction starting this winter. If you work out of your home, you could save some big bucks this tax season. Jack crumly explains. And the IRS is reminding Americans that the Home Office deduction is still available for 2025 filings.

4:14CPA Lisa Green Lewis with TurboTax says there's a popular misconception that taking the deduction is a red flag that'll prompt an IRS audit. Less than 1% of people are actually audited and also if you have receipts showing your expenses and you can substantiate that you're using a dedicated space in your home. The tax filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15th at midnight. I'm Lisa Carton.