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Graham Platner stopped his campaign for the U.S. Senate in Maine after an allegation of sexual assault, which he denied. The Maine Democratic Party now has to pick a new candidate by July 27 to run against Republican Susan Collins in the important November election.
Key Facts
Graham Platner withdrew from Maine’s Senate race following a sexual assault allegation he denied.
Platner had won the Democratic primary in June before the allegation became public.
Maine law allows Democrats to replace a nominee who withdraws before 5 p.m. on July 13.
The party must name a new candidate by July 27.
The Democratic Party held an emergency meeting to organize the replacement process.
Democrats need to gain four Senate seats in November to control the Senate; Maine is a key target.
Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president, is currently the favorite to replace Platner.
Other possible candidates include Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah.
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The House of Representatives failed to approve a special rule needed to pass four important bills, including the SAVE Act. Because of this, the House ended its session for the week without passing any of these measures.
Key Facts
The House tried to pass a special rule to move forward with four major bills.
One of the bills involved is called the SAVE Act.
The special rule did not get enough votes to pass.
Due to this failure, the House stopped its work and adjourned for the week.
No progress was made on the four important bills during this session.
This situation has been described as a "procedural implosion," meaning a breakdown in the normal process.
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A toddler in Phoenix, Arizona, was mistakenly declared dead by a doctor after being found in a backyard pool. Despite police officers and a nurse noticing possible signs of life, the child was taken to the hospital morgue and later found alive.
Key Facts
A toddler was found in a backyard pool in Phoenix, Arizona.
A doctor declared the child dead, even though others saw possible signs of life.
Two police officers and at least one nurse were present and noticed signs the child might still be alive.
The child was taken to the hospital morgue.
Hours after being declared dead, the toddler was found alive in the morgue.
The case was recorded on police bodycam video.
The incident is under review to understand how the mistake happened.
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Utah prosecutors will play audio recordings in court of police interviews with the roommate of the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The defense objected, saying the statements might be seen as a confession and could harm the defendant's chance of a fair trial.
Key Facts
The victim is conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The accused is Tyler Robinson.
The roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson is named Lance Twiggs.
Prosecutors want to play audio clips of interviews with Lance Twiggs in open court.
Defense attorneys oppose the public release of these statements.
Defense fears the statements could be viewed as a confession.
They argue that broadcasting the statements might affect Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
The case is happening in Provo, Utah.
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U.S. home sales showed a small drop in June, while the median home price reached a record high of $440,600. Rising mortgage rates and high prices make it harder for people to afford homes, even though sales have stayed near a low level.
Key Facts
Existing home sales in the U.S. fell 2.4% in June compared to May.
The annual rate of home sales in June was 4.09 million units, below the expected 4.21 million.
Home sales have stayed close to 4 million annually since 2023, below the usual 5.2 million.
The national median home price in June reached $440,600, the highest on record since 1999.
Home prices have increased every year for 36 months straight.
Mortgage rates recently ranged between 6.23% and 6.53%, their highest since August of the previous year.
Higher mortgage rates and home prices reduce affordability for buyers.
Sales reflect contracts made when mortgage rates were rising amid concerns about inflation and the U.S.–Iran conflict.
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Good Housekeeping conducted a survey about how modern families share household chores. Elspeth Velten, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, discussed the results on CBS Mornings.
Key Facts
The survey focused on how people feel about dividing housework.
It looked at different ways families split chores.
Elspeth Velten explained the survey findings on CBS Mornings.
The information comes from Good Housekeeping magazine.
The topic highlights current family habits around chores.
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NASA is working on a plan to build a human base near the Moon’s South Pole. The goal is to create a place where people can live and work on the Moon for a long time. This plan includes living mostly indoors to protect against harsh temperatures and space radiation, and using the Moon’s resources to produce energy.
Key Facts
NASA’s Moon Base Program aims to establish a lasting human presence near the lunar South Pole.
The Moon has no atmosphere or magnetic field, exposing inhabitants to space radiation.
Temperatures near the Moon’s South Pole vary widely, from over 130°F in sunlight to minus 334°F in shadowed craters.
People living on the Moon will spend most time inside shelters covered with lunar soil for protection.
Robotic systems will be used extensively to do outdoor tasks to limit human exposure to radiation.
Lunar materials could help build large solar power satellites in space.
These satellites could provide continuous, green energy to Earth because they won’t be affected by weather or night.
Building solar satellites from Moon materials may be cheaper than launching them from Earth.
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Audio clips from an interview with the roommate of the person accused of killing Charlie Kirk will be played in a court hearing. The hearing is a preliminary step before the main trial.
Key Facts
Prosecutors will play audio clips from an interview with the accused killer’s roommate.
The clips will be used during a preliminary court hearing.
The accused is charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Caroline Polisi, a legal expert for CBS News, provided details about the case.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
This is part of the early legal process before a full trial.
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Doreen Lawrence and six others lost a court case accusing the Daily Mail of illegal methods to get stories. The court rejected claims of phone tapping and hacking, and Lawrence will not have to pay legal costs from the failed action.
Key Facts
Doreen Lawrence joined a lawsuit against the Daily Mail for alleged illegal news-gathering methods.
Claims included phone tapping, hacking, and tricking people for private information.
The High Court dismissed all claims brought by Lawrence, the Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry), and others.
The Daily Mail publisher will try to recover legal costs, which could be very high but may be reduced.
Lawrence will not have to pay any share of the legal bills from the case.
Insurance was in place to cover legal costs for the claimants and their lawyers if they lost.
The judge found no proof that the Daily Mail used unlawful methods for 55 stories cited by the claimants.
Other claimants included Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Simon Hughes.
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David Hearn, a 67-year-old U.S. Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty to charges of damaging the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. He was indicted after being accused of removing sealant from the pool's bottom and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Key Facts
David Hearn competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics as a canoeist.
He was indicted on July 2 for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool on June 19.
Hearn is accused of ripping out part of the sealant at the bottom of the pool.
He says he only touched the sealant briefly out of curiosity during a bike ride.
His lawyers asked for no restrictions and for him to be released without supervision.
The judge agreed and released Hearn on his own recognizance (without bail).
A status hearing and trial date are planned for August 5.
The defense says the case is part of the administration’s effort to shift blame for failures.
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CBS Mornings is offering special discounts on everyday products through their deals website. Customers can visit cbsdeals.com to buy items at lower prices, and CBS earns a commission from these sales.
Key Facts
CBS Mornings features exclusive discount deals for viewers.
The deals are designed to improve everyday life with various products.
Customers can access these offers at the website cbsdeals.com.
CBS News earns commission from purchases made through this site.
The promotion is part of CBS Mornings programming.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, resigned as MP for Clacton, causing a by-election that most major parties boycotted. A satirical candidate named Count Binface, known for humorous campaigns, entered the race to oppose Farage.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage resigned as Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton, UK.
His resignation caused a by-election in the Clacton constituency.
Most major political parties decided not to run candidates in this by-election.
Count Binface is a comedic political persona created by Jon Harvey.
Count Binface wears a rubbish-bin-shaped helmet and makes funny political promises.
He has run for office in several UK elections since 2017, including against prominent politicians.
In the 2021 London mayoral election, Count Binface received over 24,000 votes, finishing ninth.
Farage’s by-election move has been criticized as a way to delay a parliamentary inquiry into a funding scandal.
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A federal judge approved a $1.5 million settlement between Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Although the judge had serious doubts about the agreement, the court decided it did not have enough reason to reject it. This settlement ends a long dispute between Musk and the SEC.
Key Facts
The SEC and Elon Musk reached a $1.5 million settlement.
A federal judge approved the settlement on Wednesday.
The judge expressed serious concerns but still approved the deal.
The settlement resolves a dispute that lasted for several years.
The SEC first announced the agreement in May.
The case involved regulatory issues with Elon Musk.
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Bonnie Tyler, a Welsh singer known for her hit song "Total Eclipse of the Heart," died at age 75 in a hospital in Portugal after an illness. She had surgery in May and was recovering but passed away unexpectedly, according to her family.
Key Facts
Bonnie Tyler was 75 years old when she died in Portugal.
She was treated for an illness and had emergency intestinal surgery in May.
Tyler was placed in an induced coma but showed signs of improvement before her death.
She became famous for her 1983 song "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which topped the charts and has over 1 billion streams.
The song was especially popular during solar and lunar eclipses in 2017 and 2024.
Tyler was nominated for three Grammy Awards and represented Britain in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
She was honored with the Member of the Order of the British Empire award in 2022 for her music career.
Born as Gaynor Hopkins in Wales, she developed her distinctive husky voice after throat surgery in 1976.
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The number of school suspensions and permanent exclusions in England decreased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024/25, suspensions fell by 4% and permanent exclusions dropped by 9%, though suspensions rose in primary schools.
Key Facts
There were 913,000 suspensions in state schools in England in 2024/25, down 4% from the previous year.
Permanent exclusions were 9,900 in 2024/25, a 9% decrease.
Suspension rates dropped in secondary and special schools but increased by 7,742 in primary schools.
Nearly half of suspensions lasted one day or less, but 94,400 pupils missed more than a week of school due to suspension.
Persistent disruptive behavior was the most common reason for suspensions (52%) and exclusions (40%).
Secondary school pupils made up 85% of all suspensions.
Pupils with special educational needs and those on free school meals are more likely to be suspended or excluded.
Boys are suspended 1.5 times more than girls.
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The United States launched airstrikes against Iran, and Iran responded by attacking U.S.-allied countries in the Middle East. This exchange of attacks risks breaking a temporary deal meant to reduce fighting in the region.
Key Facts
The U.S. carried out new airstrikes against Iran early on Thursday.
Iran retaliated by targeting countries allied with the U.S. in the Middle East.
Sirens warned of missile attacks in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan on Thursday.
Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters.
Jordan has U.S. troops and aircraft stationed within its borders.
The back-and-forth attacks are putting a ceasefire agreement in danger.
This escalation is part of ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East.
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Katie Couric shared that she was hospitalized due to a condition called transient global amnesia, which causes temporary memory loss. A neurologist from Maimonides Health explained more about this condition on CBS Mornings.
Key Facts
Katie Couric experienced transient global amnesia, a sudden and temporary loss of memory.
She was hospitalized because of this memory loss.
Transient global amnesia usually lasts a short time and affects the ability to remember recent events.
The condition is not linked to serious brain injury or long-term damage.
Dr. Leah Croll, a neurologist, discussed the symptoms and causes on a CBS News program.
This condition is rare and often resolves by itself without lasting effects.
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A federal judge in Brooklyn has ordered Indian billionaire Gautam Adani to respond by July 15 about whether any exchange of favors took place in the Justice Department’s decision to drop bribery and fraud charges against him. The case involves allegations that Adani’s companies paid over $250 million in bribes to secure contracts in India, but politically appointed DOJ officials moved to dismiss the charges.
Key Facts
Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered Gautam Adani to answer questions about any possible deal linked to the dismissal of criminal charges against him.
Charges involved alleged foreign bribery and securities fraud in connection with Indian solar energy contracts.
The Justice Department’s political appointees, not career prosecutors, requested dismissal of the case.
Two career prosecutors withdrew from the case after the motion to dismiss was filed.
A DOJ official, Trent McCotter, reversed an earlier decision to prosecute and pushed for dismissal after meeting with Adani’s legal team.
Adani’s lawyers reportedly offered to invest $10 billion in the U.S. economy if charges were dropped.
McCotter denied that financial offers influenced the decision, saying he dismissed the charges because they were indefensible.
The judge’s order highlights concerns about how the decision to drop the case was made.
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British politician Nigel Farage will compete against the satirical candidate Count Binface in a by-election that Farage triggered himself. This comes as Farage faces a parliamentary investigation for not reporting a £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire based in Thailand.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage, a British politician known for his anti-immigration views, called a by-election.
Count Binface, a well-known joke candidate, will run against Farage in this by-election.
Farage is under investigation by the British Parliament.
The investigation concerns a £5 million donation he did not disclose.
The donation came from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire involved in cryptocurrency and based in Thailand.
The by-election was announced shortly after the investigation became public.
The situation has attracted public and media attention in the UK.
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Tensions are rising between Turkey and Israel, two countries with closely operating military forces in Syria, raising concerns about conflict. The U.S. has leverage over Turkey through military sales and partnerships and could use it to encourage Turkey to reduce hostility toward Israel.
Key Facts
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made a statement on television criticizing Israel, which Israel’s foreign minister called incitement to genocide.
Turkish and Israeli forces operate near each other in Syria, effectively sharing a border there.
There was a reported incident in 2025 where Turkish and Israeli military aircraft came close in Syrian airspace, leading to talks to avoid conflict.
Turkish President Erdoğan views Israeli policies as a threat to Turkey and has made strong statements about retaking Jerusalem.
President Donald Trump has a personal rapport with Erdoğan but is advised not to rely solely on that relationship to manage tensions.
The U.S. is selling over $700 million worth of fighter jet engines to Turkey and considering allowing Turkey back into the F-35 program, measures that could influence Turkey’s actions.
The U.S. Congress has 15 days to review the engine sale and could use this as leverage to push Turkey to reduce hostility toward Israel.
Azerbaijan serves as a trusted mediator between Turkey and Israel, having helped ease tensions and set up communication channels between their militaries.
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