The First Bank of the United States building in Philadelphia has reopened as a museum after a $43 million restoration. The project preserved the building's historic features while adding modern systems and new exhibits about American history and diplomacy.
Key Facts
The First Bank of the United States is a historic financial building in Philadelphia.
It reopened to the public on July 1 after being closed since about 2002.
Restoration cost $43 million and aimed to keep the building’s original character.
New systems for electricity, plumbing, heating, and cooling were added to meet safety rules.
Exhibits include art and objects from U.S. embassies and Drexel University collections.
The project was managed by Independence Historical Trust and the National Park Service.
The restoration is part of broader efforts to repair historic buildings before the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Reusing old buildings helps reduce environmental impact by avoiding new construction emissions.
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In-N-Out Burger plans to open six new restaurants in five states, including California, Tennessee, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho. The company is growing carefully while keeping its headquarters in California and avoiding franchising.
Key Facts
In-N-Out will open six new restaurants soon in Commerce and Stockton (California), Madison (Tennessee), San Tan Valley (Arizona), St. George (Utah), and Twin Falls (Idaho).
The company currently operates over 400 restaurants across 10 states.
California has more than 65% of In-N-Out locations.
In-N-Out is opening a new Eastern Territory office in Franklin, Tennessee, expected in 2026, to support southern growth.
The company does not franchise its restaurants; it owns and operates all locations to maintain quality control.
In-N-Out was founded in 1948 as a small hamburger stand in Baldwin Park, California.
The company grows slowly to keep high food quality and good customer service.
In a 2022 survey, In-N-Out received an 80% customer satisfaction rating, one of the highest for burger chains.
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Experts say the best way to save energy and money on air conditioning is to raise the thermostat a few degrees while you are away. Turning off the AC completely for long periods can save energy but may cause problems like mold in humid areas and more wear on the system.
Key Facts
Setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for about 8 hours a day can save up to 10% annually on cooling costs.
Turning off the AC for short trips (like 15 minutes) does not save energy.
For workdays around 8 hours long, turning off the AC or raising the thermostat saves energy and money.
In dry climates, letting the house warm up more by increasing the thermostat is effective.
In humid climates, turning off the AC can cause moisture buildup and mold problems.
Raising the thermostat by 1 degree Fahrenheit can reduce cooling costs by about 3%.
Frequently turning the AC off and on may cause wear and require more repairs.
Comfort level, AC type, building insulation, and local climate affect the best AC use strategy.
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The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate dropped to 6.43%, the lowest since mid-May, making home loans slightly cheaper. Rates have been around 6.5% for months due to global events affecting oil prices and inflation, but recent hopes for peace between the U.S. and Iran helped lower rates a bit.
Key Facts
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell from 6.49% last week to 6.43%.
One year ago, the average 30-year rate was 6.67%.
The 15-year fixed mortgage rate also dropped to 5.79% from 5.84%.
Mortgage rates are linked to the 10-year Treasury yield, which was 4.46% this week.
Tensions and conflict between the U.S. and Iran have influenced oil prices, inflation, and mortgage rates.
Sales of previously owned U.S. homes declined in early 2026 compared to last year but saw some improvement by May.
Current home sales are around 4 million annually, below the usual 5.2 million sales level.
The housing market has been slow since mortgage rates rose from low pandemic levels in 2022.
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Rescue teams in Venezuela continue searching for survivors eight days after deadly twin earthquakes struck the area. Despite many casualties and destruction, a man trapped under rubble was rescued alive, while the U.S. government rejected criticism of Venezuela’s earthquake response.
Key Facts
Twin earthquakes hit Catia La Mar, Venezuela, causing severe damage and many deaths.
At least 2,295 people died and over 11,000 were injured, according to Venezuela’s government.
Rescue workers have been digging through rubble for more than a week to find survivors.
A 43-year-old man survived being trapped nearly eight days under a collapsed shopping mall.
A toddler was also rescued after being trapped six days in the disaster zone.
Many people are living in shelters or outside due to destroyed homes.
Medical experts worry that untreated injuries and diseases could worsen health problems.
The U.S. rejected criticism aimed at Venezuela’s handling of the earthquake response.
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Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery store, spoke about the prices of food for the upcoming July 4th holiday. He also discussed safety tips for swimming during the holiday weekend.
Key Facts
Stew Leonard Jr. is the CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery store chain.
He talked about how much holiday food will cost for the 4th of July.
The interview took place on "CBS News 24/7 Mornings."
He provided advice on how to stay safe while swimming during the holiday.
The focus was on preparing for the July 4th weekend.
The interview is available on the CBS News app and website.
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A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration was wrong to fire 19 career intelligence officers who worked on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) issues. The court upheld a previous ruling that blocked the firings.
Key Facts
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision in a 2-1 vote.
The court agreed with an earlier lower court ruling.
The ruling prevents the Trump administration from firing 19 intelligence officers.
These officers were assigned to roles focused on DEIA.
DEIA stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The officers had career positions, meaning they were permanent government employees.
The Trump administration had attempted to remove these officers from their roles.
The court found that the firings were not justified under the law.
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The Vatican declared that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, has formally broken away from the Catholic Church. It excommunicated the group's bishops and priests after they consecrated new bishops without the pope’s approval and warned their followers of penalties.
Key Facts
The Vatican said the SSPX officially separated from the Catholic Church, calling it a schism.
The Society of St. Pius X consecrated four new bishops without permission from the pope.
The Vatican’s doctrine office issued the excommunications, which are severe church penalties.
The Vatican warned followers of the SSPX that they could also face serious sanctions.
SSPX opposes modern reforms in the Catholic Church and prefers the old Latin Mass.
The group has challenged the Vatican for about 50 years by claiming to be more faithful to Catholic tradition.
This response by the Vatican is stronger than usual and goes beyond normal church rules.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is being investigated for potentially lobbying the Bank of England to drop a digital currency plan that could help a major donor to his party. A Labour MP has asked a standards watchdog to look into whether Farage broke parliamentary rules by pressing the Bank’s governor on this issue after receiving large donations.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage met with Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, to oppose a state-run digital currency plan.
Farage’s major donor, Christopher Harborne, gave £15 million to Reform UK and an undisclosed £5 million to Farage personally.
Harborne is a wealthy investor interested in cryptocurrencies and could benefit from stopping the digital currency plan.
Labour MP Phil Brickell reported Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner over possible lobbying rule breaches.
Brickell said MPs should not lobby public officials for policies that benefit people who pay them.
The Bank of England has refused so far to release details of Farage’s meeting with its governor.
Farage and Harborne have denied any conditions linked to the donations.
Another Labour MP has also asked for details of the meeting between Farage and Andrew Bailey.
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Two boys in Hampshire were originally given sentences without jail time for raping two teenage girls. The Court of Appeal changed these to four years in detention after deciding the first judge underestimated the seriousness of the crimes.
Key Facts
The two boys raped two teenage girls on separate occasions.
The boys were originally given non-custodial sentences but these were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
The Court said that if they were adults, longer sentences of over 10 years would apply.
The boys had already served 231 days under curfew, which counts toward their prison time.
They also received lifelong restraining orders to keep away from the victims.
A third boy involved, who filmed one of the attacks, did not have his sentence changed.
The Attorney General called the original sentences too lenient and referred them to the appeal court.
Victims’ families said the updated sentences better reflect the harm caused, and one family started a charity to support survivors of sexual violence.
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Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps are using combat drones in Mali that were previously mainly seen in the war in Ukraine. These drones, called Lancet loitering munitions, are small missile-like devices with cameras, used to target vehicles and armed groups in the Sahel region of Africa.
Key Facts
The Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary group, now supports the Malian army after replacing the Wagner Group.
They have deployed the Lancet drone, a loitering munition used since 2020 by Russia in Ukraine.
The Lancet drone can fly for a long time and is remotely piloted via a camera.
Images of drone debris found in Mali match parts sold on a Ukrainian resale website featuring captured Russian equipment.
The drone was found near Timbuktu after Russian mercenary drone strikes targeting rebel separatists and jihadist groups.
The Lancet drone was designed to hit armored vehicles and artillery, not for use in African environments or against insurgent forces.
The drones are used alongside reconnaissance drones to seek out and attack targets like pickup trucks in conflict zones.
The drone debris evidence came from an anonymous source linked to the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group active in northern Mali.
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A weather event called a heat dome will bring very hot temperatures to many parts of the United States during the Fourth of July weekend. This heat dome will cover much of the East Coast, the South, and other regions, leading to dangerous heat conditions.
Key Facts
Millions of Americans will experience the heat dome during Independence Day celebrations.
The heat dome causes a large area of high pressure that traps warm air.
This results in extremely hot temperatures over several days.
The affected areas include most of the East Coast and the southern United States.
Meteorologists warn that the heat could create dangerous health conditions.
The heat dome will last through the holiday weekend.
People are advised to take steps to stay cool and hydrated.
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The French TV show Paris des Arts featured a special edition in Fez, Morocco, focusing on the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music. The program highlighted Moroccan singer Nabyla Maan and pianist Rami Khalifé, who shared their personal connections to music and its cultural importance. A local guide also explored the historic medina of Fez.
Key Facts
Paris des Arts is a French cultural TV show.
The special edition was filmed in Fez, Morocco.
It covered the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music.
Singer Nabyla Maan performs traditional Moroccan and Arab-Andalusian music.
Pianist Rami Khalifé views music as a form of political expression.
The medina of Fez is an ancient, large old city within Fez.
The episode aimed to show the dialogue between different cultures and spiritual traditions.
The show was produced by Valérie Fayolle, Stéphanie Cheval, and Pauline Heilmann.
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Research in the UK shows that women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than white women to receive epidural pain relief during childbirth. Experts say this highlights racial inequalities in healthcare, where people of color often get less pain treatment.
Key Facts
The study looked at data from over 2.7 million births in the UK up to 2021.
Women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean backgrounds were 24%, 15%, and 8% less likely than white women to get epidurals during vaginal births.
Black Caribbean-British women were 58% more likely to receive general anesthesia rather than regional anesthesia during planned C-sections compared to white women.
General anesthesia puts the mother fully to sleep and is mostly used in emergencies, while regional anesthesia (like epidurals) allows the mother to stay awake and recover faster.
The findings reflect wider racial inequalities in pain treatment in UK healthcare, from emergency care to cancer pain relief.
Medical professionals call for better data to understand and fix how pain is treated for ethnic minority patients.
The report links these inequalities to deeper problems, including institutional racism and harmful stereotypes about Black and Asian women.
Similar racial disparities in maternity care have also been reported in other countries like the US and Australia.
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Frederick Douglass gave a speech on the Fourth of July in 1852, pointing out the contradiction of celebrating freedom while slavery was still happening. Today, Black Americans continue to experience economic and social challenges, but there have been ongoing efforts to achieve racial justice and equality.
Key Facts
Frederick Douglass spoke about the unfairness of celebrating independence during slavery.
His 1852 speech highlighted the gap between American freedom and the reality of slavery.
Black Americans still face economic and social difficulties today.
An Albanian-American man, Artur Shehu, who sold land for a luxury resort project supported by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is under investigation in Albania for drug trafficking, money laundering, and financial fraud. The planned resort has caused large protests in Albania due to concerns about environmental damage and government corruption.
Key Facts
Artur Shehu, an Albanian-American living in Miami, is being investigated for drug trafficking and money laundering by Albanian prosecutors.
He sold land in a protected natural coastal area to a company linked to Jared Kushner and other investors planning a luxury resort.
The resort plans have triggered over a month of protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, involving many groups worried about wildlife and corruption.
Albania’s anti-corruption agency has issued arrest warrants for people involved in international drug trafficking, though names are not publicly confirmed.
Albanian courts have frozen a bank account with more than $127 million linked to the land sale involving Shehu.
Albanian residents claim disputes over the rightful ownership of the land Shehu sold; legal challenges are ongoing.
The investigation into the project does not currently include Kushner’s company, according to Albanian prosecutors.
Shehu has stated his ownership of the land is undisputed and that he sold it through a middleman.
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The Supreme Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. have citizenship by birthright. In response, some conservatives, including officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, have proposed stopping pregnant women from entering the U.S. to try to limit birthright citizenship.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship in the U.S.
President Donald Trump had issued an executive order early in his term to restrict birthright citizenship.
The court’s decision overturned President Trump’s Day 1 executive order on this issue.
Some far-right groups and members of Trump’s administration reacted strongly against the court’s ruling.
These groups have suggested barring pregnant women from entering the U.S. to prevent “birth tourism.”
Birth tourism means traveling to the U.S. to give birth so the baby gains U.S. citizenship.
The idea to limit pregnant women’s entry aims to reduce this practice.
The debate focuses on immigration and citizenship laws in the United States.
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As the United States marks its 250th birthday, many Americans are focusing on personal and local experiences of the nation rather than political disagreements. People from different states expressed feelings of resilience, unity, and appreciation of freedoms while tuning out political noise.
Key Facts
The U.S. celebrated its 250th anniversary around July 4, 2026.
Many Americans chose to ignore political arguments and social media conflicts during the celebration.
Joe Fuqua-Bejarano in Kansas highlighted resilience as a key American trait.
Christina Zhou from Massachusetts emphasized focusing on local, controllable events.
Mindy Dean, a New Hampshire farmer, said she and her family simply enjoy their freedoms quietly.
Neil Casey and Maureen Regan in New Hampshire visited historical sites and Fourth of July events to connect with the nation’s history.
Some Americans found hope and pride in positive experiences like visitors enjoying the U.S. during the World Cup.
The overall mood included mixed feelings but a shared desire to celebrate the country’s history and unity.
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The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, might be visible at the start of the July 4 weekend. This natural light show in the sky could offer a colorful display alongside typical holiday events like fireworks.
Key Facts
The northern lights are natural lights seen in the night sky near the North Pole.
They occur when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere.
The lights can show many colors, like green and red.
This natural display might be strong enough to be seen over the July 4 weekend.
People often watch the northern lights in places with dark skies away from city lights.
The event could offer an alternative to typical July 4 fireworks and celebrations.
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