A new poll shows the Democratic Senate race in Michigan is close after state Senator Mallory McMorrow left the race. The survey found that 42% support Representative Haley Stevens, while 41% support her main opponent.
Key Facts
Mallory McMorrow, a Michigan state senator, ended her Senate campaign recently.
A poll by Politico and Tavern Research was done on Monday and Tuesday.
The poll shows 42% of voters support Haley Stevens, a moderate U.S. Representative from Michigan.
Stevens’s main challenger has 41% support in the poll.
The race is currently very close, with just a 1% difference in support.
The poll reflects likely voters in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
The survey result suggests no clear front-runner after McMorrow’s departure.
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Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton and plans to run again in a by-election scheduled for August 6. He says his resignation is not a publicity stunt, despite major parties boycotting the election and criticism over his financial affairs.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage resigned as MP amid scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation.
He intends to stand again in a by-election, which Reform UK proposes to hold on August 6.
Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, and Green Party will not participate in the by-election.
Farage denies any wrongdoing related to a £5 million gift from a billionaire donor before he was an MP.
A parliamentary watchdog investigation is paused during the by-election but could resume if Farage is re-elected.
Farage said he wants voters to judge him fairly and rejected claims that his resignation is a political stunt.
Opposition leaders have called Farage’s move a gimmick or political stunt.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves accepted Farage’s resignation and made a comment mocking his planned campaign.
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The Pitt and Hacks lead the 2026 Emmy nominations, with 25 and 24 nods respectively. Apple’s new shows Widow’s Bay and Pluribus also received many nominations, competing across drama, comedy, and limited series categories. The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held on September 14, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
Key Facts
The Pitt received 25 Emmy nominations, the most this year.
Hacks earned 24 nominations and has already won nine Emmy awards in past seasons.
Widow’s Bay (19 nominations) and Pluribus (18 nominations) are new shows from Apple nominated in several categories.
Noah Wyle stars in The Pitt and is nominated again for lead actor in a drama series.
Jean Smart, star of Hacks, is nominated for lead actress in a comedy series for the fifth consecutive year.
Matthew Rhys is nominated for lead actor in a comedy series for Widow’s Bay and also for the limited series The Beast in Me.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert received nine nominations, the most it has ever gotten.
The Emmy ceremony will take place on September 14, hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay.
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Health officials in the United States are investigating an increase in cases of cyclosporiasis, a food-related illness that causes severe diarrhea. Many states, especially Michigan, have reported outbreaks linked to a parasite found in contaminated fresh produce, which mostly occurs in summer.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a tiny parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Symptoms usually start about a week after eating contaminated food or water and include watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea.
At least 17 states have reported cases, with Michigan having the largest outbreak of over 700 confirmed cases.
Other states with increased cases include Ohio, New York, North Carolina, and Illinois.
The CDC says cases often rise between May and August and reported 145 cases with 20 hospitalizations by mid-June.
The full number of infections may be higher than official counts because many people don’t get tested or reported.
The illness is usually linked to contaminated fresh produce like basil, cilantro, lettuce, and berries.
The parasite is not spread directly from person to person but through contaminated food or water sources.
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A group of former Department of Justice (DOJ) employees has asked the Senate to reject Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General (AG). They believe the Senate Judiciary Committee should ensure the president chooses a more suitable person for the job.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche has been nominated for the position of Attorney General.
Former DOJ employees oppose his nomination.
They have written to the Senate asking them to reject Blanche.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for reviewing the nomination.
The group wants the president to select a better-qualified candidate.
The Attorney General leads the Justice Department and oversees legal matters for the government.
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The movie "Evil Dead Burn," directed by Sébastien Vaniček, is the sixth film in the “Evil Dead” series and focuses heavily on brutal and violent scenes. The film features intense gore and horror but lacks the humor and creativity found in previous movies of the franchise.
Key Facts
"Evil Dead Burn" is the sixth installment in the “Evil Dead” film series.
Director Sébastien Vaniček aimed to make it the most brutal movie in the series.
The film includes many violent scenes, such as stabbing, melting faces, and use of unusual weapons.
The story tries to address domestic violence but does so in a very graphic and exaggerated way.
Unlike previous movies, this film does not feature the usual chainsaw weapon.
Some impressive scenes include a long fight in a car and a continuous shot of a character crawling to safety.
The script connects the movie to the original “Evil Dead” story and references key elements like “The Book of the Dead” and the Kandarian Dagger.
The film’s tone is more savage and grim compared to the earlier horror-comedy style of the series.
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The nominees for the upcoming Emmy Awards have been announced. The drama series "The Pitt" leads with the most nominations, followed by the comedy series "Hacks." The award ceremony will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay on September 14.
Key Facts
"The Pitt" has received the highest number of Emmy nominations.
"Hacks" is the comedy series with the second most nominations.
Mariska Hargitay, known for her role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," will host the Emmy ceremony.
The categories include drama series, comedy series, limited series or movies, and acting awards.
Notable nominees include Sterling K. Brown, Mark Ruffalo, Zendaya, and Allison Janney.
The ceremony is set for September 14 and will air on NBC.
The Emmy Awards honor excellence in television shows and performances.
Nominations cover lead and supporting actors and actresses in various genres.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was sentenced to wear an electronic monitor after being convicted of embezzlement, but she is appealing the ruling to France’s highest court. The court suspended the electronic monitoring until it rules, allowing Le Pen to continue her campaign for the French presidency scheduled for April 2027.
Key Facts
Marine Le Pen has been convicted twice of embezzling public funds.
A Paris appeals court shortened her ban on seeking public office, allowing her to run for president again.
The court ordered Le Pen to serve one year of home detention with electronic monitoring.
Le Pen said she will appeal this ruling, which suspends the electronic monitoring during the appeal process.
The highest court in France is expected to decide before the presidential election’s first round in April 2027.
Le Pen is running for president for the fourth time.
Despite legal challenges, she is considered one of France’s most popular politicians.
The election will be closely watched as France is the largest country in the European Union.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has asked Senator Mitch McConnell to share a public update about his health after three weeks of no news since McConnell was hospitalized. McConnell has not made a public statement, and his staff has only said he is improving and working from home while the Senate is not in session.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14, 2026.
McConnell, age 84, has not made any public statements or released photos since his hospitalization.
His aides said he is improving and staying involved with Senate and Kentucky matters.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent a letter requesting McConnell to inform the public about his condition.
Speculation about McConnell’s health and return to the Senate has grown due to lack of information.
Republican Senate leaders said McConnell is alert and talking with GOP leaders.
McConnell plans to retire at the end of his term in January 2027.
Kentucky law does not give the governor the power to appoint a temporary replacement if McConnell leaves early; a special election may be held depending on timing.
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The US Department of Justice under President Donald Trump sent letters to election officials in all states and the District of Columbia. These letters warn officials that they could face criminal charges if noncitizens are allowed to vote and ask for cooperation to ensure only citizens vote in federal elections.
Key Facts
The Justice Department sent letters to election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The letters warn officials about possible criminal charges if they knowingly allow noncitizens to vote.
Officials are asked to respond within five days about how they will comply with federal voting laws.
The letters mention federal laws requiring clean voter lists that include only eligible citizens.
States have often resisted giving voter data to the federal government, leading to court battles.
Some state officials criticized the letters, saying they already follow the law and maintain voter lists properly.
There is no evidence that large numbers of noncitizens vote in US elections.
This action is part of President Trump’s broader push to have more federal control over elections.
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Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner from Maine faces serious sexual assault allegations, causing top Democrats to withdraw support and urge him to quit the race. Platner denies the claims but is considering his next steps, leaving uncertainty about the November midterm election against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
A former girlfriend accused Platner of assaulting her in 2021, calling it rape.
Platner denies the allegations, calling them false.
Another ex-girlfriend accused Platner of removing condoms without consent; his campaign denied this claim.
Top Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, urged Platner to quit the race.
Maine is a key Senate race that could help Democrats take control of the Senate.
Polls showed Platner with a slight lead over incumbent Republican Susan Collins before the allegations.
If Platner withdraws, Democrats have a limited time to find a replacement candidate.
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President Donald Trump said he thinks he will remove Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Trump praised al-Sharaa as a strong leader who helped bring unity to Syria.
Key Facts
President Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Trump was asked about removing Syria from the terrorism sponsors list.
The list involves U.S. sanctions on Syria.
Trump said he likely will remove Syria from the list.
He complimented al-Sharaa as a strong and respected leader.
Trump said al-Sharaa helped unite a divided country.
This meeting happened amid unrest in Syria, including recent explosions in Damascus.
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Texas Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa has proposed sending a one-time payment of $1,500 to every Texas household using the state's large reserve fund if she is elected governor. Her Republican opponent, Governor Greg Abbott, favors tax cuts instead of direct payments, creating two different economic plans in the race.
Key Facts
Gina Hinojosa plans to give $1,500 to every Texas household as economic relief.
The proposal would use about $17 billion from Texas’ Economic Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund).
The fund currently holds around $24 billion to $27 billion.
Spending from this fund requires approval by two-thirds of the Texas legislature, which is currently controlled by Republicans.
Governor Greg Abbott is running for a fourth term and wants to focus on property tax cuts, not direct payments.
Polls show Abbott leads Hinojosa by about 6 to 7 percentage points.
Hinojosa calls her plan a “corruption tax refund,” saying Abbott favors corporations over residents.
The payments aim to help Texans with rising living costs like groceries, gas, housing, and healthcare.
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Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, started her presidential campaign despite a court confirming her conviction for misusing European Union funds. She aims to become France’s first far-right president and plans to appeal the verdict that includes wearing an electronic ankle tag during the campaign.
Key Facts
Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign in La Flèche, western France.
A French appeals court confirmed her conviction for embezzling EU funds to pay party staff.
The court ordered her to wear an electronic ankle tag for one year, restricting her movements, but this order is on hold due to her appeal to France’s highest court.
The highest court could rule on her appeal by early April 2027, after the presidential election rounds in April and May 2027.
If elected president, Le Pen would not have to follow the court verdict during her term.
Le Pen is leading in opinion polls for the 2027 presidential election.
Her campaign slogan is “For France, Revival,” focusing on sovereignty, justice, security, and education.
Jordan Bardella, her 30-year-old protege, was expected to run but will support Le Pen if she runs, and he may become her prime minister.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked state officials to quickly investigate a hospital for possibly making money from "birth tourism." The hospital, Mission Regional Medical Center, is accused of offering special birth packages to foreign visitors.
Key Facts
Governor Greg Abbott gave the order for an investigation on Tuesday.
The investigation targets Mission Regional Medical Center in Texas.
The hospital is accused of promoting “birth tourism,” where foreign women come to have babies in the U.S.
“Birth tourism” involves foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. mainly to give birth, so their babies get U.S. citizenship.
Abbott sent a letter to Stephanie Muth, who leads the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The letter called for an immediate investigation into the hospital’s practices.
The hospital reportedly advertised “birth packages,” special deals or services for foreign mothers.
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Communities in several U.S. states are trying to remove local officials through recall petitions because of decisions about building data centers. People are worried about noise, higher utility bills, water use, and power supply problems caused by these centers.
Key Facts
At least 58 local officials in seven states faced recall petitions in 2026 over data center projects.
Concerns include noise pollution, strain on electrical grids, higher utility bills, and heavy water use.
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has collected over 8,000 community complaints about data centers.
Some states are proposing rules to protect residents from negative impacts of data centers.
Other states see data centers as important for the U.S. to lead in artificial intelligence (AI).
Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, and Wisconsin all have active or attempted recalls related to data centers.
In some places, recall efforts failed due to not collecting enough signatures or legal issues.
Local officials targeted often voted in favor of or approved data center development despite public concerns.
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An 18-month-old toddler in Arizona was found unresponsive in a pool and declared dead at a hospital. Hours later, medical examiners discovered the child was still alive in the hospital morgue and rushed him to another hospital, where he recovered and was released.
Key Facts
The toddler was found face down in a pool in Gilbert, Arizona, on February 8.
Emergency responders tried to revive him and took him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
A doctor at the hospital pronounced the child dead about an hour after arrival.
Police told the doctor they had seen signs of life, but the doctor confirmed death.
About five hours later, a medical examiner found the child breathing in the hospital morgue.
The child was flown to another hospital and has since recovered and gone home.
Police suspect the child might have gained unsupervised access to the pool due to a strong smell of marijuana at the home.
The hospital is reviewing the case and has not released detailed information; police may press negligence charges against the parents.
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Graham Platner has stopped his campaign after credible accusations of sexual assault from a former girlfriend. This situation has caused people to rethink their earlier support for him.
Key Facts
Graham Platner paused his campaign amid serious sexual assault accusations.
The accusations come from a former girlfriend.
The claims are considered credible.
This has led to a re-evaluation of Platner’s previous defenders.
The news focuses on the impact of these accusations on his political campaign.
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Rebel fighters in Pakistan’s Balochistan province killed 18 police officers and 11 soldiers in recent attacks, raising the total deaths since Monday to 42. The Pakistani military said it killed 54 fighters during operations and accused Afghan and Indian groups of supporting the rebels.
Key Facts
In Balochistan, 18 police officers and 11 soldiers were killed in separate attacks by rebel fighters.
The total number of deaths since Monday from these attacks reached 42.
Four civilians were also among the casualties.
The military said it killed 54 rebel fighters while responding to the attacks.
Pakistan’s military claims many of the attackers came from Afghanistan.
Rebel groups involved include the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), both banned in Pakistan.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan and India of supporting the rebels; both countries deny these accusations.
The attacks targeted security forces and projects in Balochistan, a mineral-rich province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, where separatist uprisings have occurred multiple times since 1947.
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Researchers from Colorado State University predict a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season with fewer storms than usual. They expect nine named storms, including four hurricanes and one major hurricane, mainly due to the presence of El Niño, a climate pattern that usually reduces hurricane activity.
Key Facts
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is forecasted to have nine named storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane (Category 3 or higher).
This is fewer than the initial April forecast of 13 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.
The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity from August to October.
El Niño, a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean, began in late spring and tends to decrease Atlantic hurricane activity.
The Climate Prediction Center says there is a 63% chance El Niño will become one of the strongest on record by the end of 2026.
Last year’s season had 13 named storms, five hurricanes, and four major hurricanes, but no major U.S. landfalls.
Average hurricane seasons have 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
Experts advise residents in hurricane-prone areas to prepare each year, regardless of forecasted storm numbers.
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