The United States, ranked second in worldwide economic freedom as recently as 2000, has plummeted to 16th, according to a new report of world economies.

About 1.8 million households that got financial help for health insurance under President Obama’s law now have issues with their tax returns that could jeopardize their subsidies next year.

The doubling of student debt since the recession, to $1.19 trillion, has stoked a national discussion over how to rein in college costs and debt and is becoming a major issue in the 2016 presidential race.

Much more is highlighted in A Look Around the Nation and the World.