A federal appeals court has blocked a Florida law that stops public universities from teaching certain ideas labeled as "woke." The court said the state cannot control what professors say in classrooms or restrict unpopular ideas. The law aimed to ban teaching critical race theory and related topics, but the court ruled this violates free speech rights.
Key Facts
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a block on Florida's law banning certain "woke" teachings at public universities.
The law targeted instruction that might cause students to feel guilt over past racial or gender discrimination they did not personally cause.
The case was brought by university professors and supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida.
The law was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 to prevent what he called "indoctrination" in schools.
Three judges heard the case: two agreed to block the law, and one judge, appointed by Governor DeSantis, dissented.
The judges said hearing different ideas is not discrimination but a chance to learn or change views.
Past parts of the law banning workplace training on race and gender issues have been ruled illegal by other courts.
The main disagreement is whether the state can decide what professors are allowed to teach in public universities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A building in Midtown Manhattan, New York, had to be evacuated because bricks fell from the 21st floor of its 37 floors. Officials now say the building has stopped shifting or moving.
Key Facts
The building is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
It has 37 floors in total.
Bricks fell from the 21st floor, causing safety concerns.
People in several nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
Officials reported that the building is no longer moving.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) pleaded not guilty to federal charges that it misled donors by not revealing some money was used to pay informants inside extremist groups. The Justice Department alleges the SPLC funded these groups while claiming to fight them, but the SPLC says the informant program helped gather important information for law enforcement.
Key Facts
The SPLC is known for tracking hate groups.
The organization faces federal fraud charges for hiding how donations were spent.
$4.1 million in donations were allegedly used to pay informants in extremist groups.
Some money was spent on recruiting members and buying Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning events.
Informants included KKK members and white nationalists who sought help leaving those groups.
The SPLC claims the program provided valuable intelligence shared with law enforcement agencies.
The SPLC has accused the Justice Department of politically motivated prosecution related to President Donald Trump.
The case will go to trial in October, after a remote arraignment took place.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US military launched airstrikes in southern Iran after explosions were reported in several locations near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes come in response to attacks on commercial ships in the area, amid rising tensions related to a recent agreement between the US and Iran.
Key Facts
The US Central Command said it conducted airstrikes on Tuesday targeting Iranian sites in southern Iran.
Explosions were reported in Sirik, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas, all near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The airstrikes responded to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s foreign ministry blamed the US for breaching a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June to reduce conflict in the region.
The MoU involved lifting a US naval blockade in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
The US Treasury Department canceled a license allowing Iranian oil sales less than 20 days after the MoU was signed.
Two tankers were attacked recently in the Strait of Hormuz: a Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi crude oil tanker.
Iran said it would take any actions necessary to protect its national security and interests in response to US moves.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democrats are asking Graham Platner to quit his race for the U.S. Senate in Maine after a woman accused him of sexual assault from five years ago. Platner denies the accusation, calling it completely untrue.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
A woman accused Platner of raping her five years ago while he was drunk.
The alleged victim and the timing relate to a past dating relationship.
Platner says the accusation is "categorically false."
Democrats want Platner to end his campaign because of these allegations.
CBS News is covering the story, including a discussion with Dan Merica from the Washington Post.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal immigration agent in Texas shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national without legal status, after he tried to use his vehicle to harm the agent during an arrest attempt. The Department of Homeland Security said the agent acted in self-defense and the FBI is investigating the case.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot by an ICE agent in Houston, Texas.
ICE agents tried to arrest Araujo as part of a targeted enforcement operation.
Araujo attempted to evade arrest and tried to run over an ICE officer with his vehicle.
The ICE agent fired their weapon in self-defense.
Araujo was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries.
The FBI is investigating the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security provided the details about the situation.
This is one of several lethal encounters between federal agents and civilians during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump cannot lift U.S. sanctions on Turkey without help from Congress. These sanctions were put in place with support from both political parties because Turkey bought a missile defense system from Russia.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to lift sanctions on Turkey.
The sanctions were imposed due to Turkey’s purchase of a Russian missile defense system.
Both Democrats and Republicans supported these sanctions.
Congress approved the sanctions, so they must approve lifting them.
A University of Chicago professor, Paul Poast, explained this legal requirement.
The missile defense system purchase raised U.S. security concerns.
President Trump will need Congress’s help to change the current restrictions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Large crowds gathered in Tehran for the funeral procession of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Along with real photos and videos, many fake images created by artificial intelligence (AI) have been shared online, falsely showing exaggerated crowd sizes and altered locations.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession took place in Tehran with many mourners attending.
Verified news agencies confirmed the crowds and the event at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque.
Many AI-generated videos and pictures falsely claimed to show the funeral.
Some fake videos showed incorrect mosque features, such as a white dome instead of the real blue dome.
AI images included fake landmarks, like incorrect tree and building layouts near Azadi Tower.
A viral AI video had distorted hands and unrealistic crowd movement, showing signs of being fake.
The misleading content fits into types like old footage reused, real images out of context, or fully AI-made media.
These fakes aimed to attract clicks and spread false information about the scale of the funeral.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France is ready to help rebuild Syria’s economy and banking system during his visit to Damascus. He made this statement despite two nearby bomb blasts near his hotel.
Key Facts
President Macron visited Damascus, the capital of Syria.
Two bomb explosions occurred close to the hotel where Macron was staying.
Macron was not deterred by the blasts and continued his visit.
France offered to help rebuild Syria’s economy and banking sector.
The announcement was made on July 7, 2026.
The visit is part of broader efforts to engage with Syria amid ongoing challenges in the region.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ford is recalling over 177,000 vehicles because of three separate problems. These include issues with windshield wipers in some Mustangs, a drivetrain part in Mustang Mach E models, and a software error in Lincoln and Explorer Hybrid vehicles that affects pedestrian warning sounds.
Key Facts
Ford is issuing recalls for 67,842 Mustang and Mustang GTD vehicles (2024-26 model years) due to windshield wiper and washing system problems.
The wipers in these Mustangs may only work at high speed, and the washer may not work in cold weather.
42,784 Mustang Mach E vehicles (2021-23 model years) are recalled because a pinion shaft could break, risking loss of power or causing the vehicle to roll if the parking brake is off.
66,383 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid (2024-27) and Explorer Hybrid (2025-27) vehicles are recalled due to software problems that may stop pedestrian warning sounds from working.
Repairs for all recalled vehicles will be done free of charge by Ford dealers.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive letters informing them about the recalls.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees these recalls and assigns recall numbers for tracking.
In June, Ford also recalled over 741,000 vehicles for a separate issue where cars could roll away unexpectedly.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Growing energy use by data centers is causing electricity prices to rise sharply for factories in the U.S. Rust Belt, especially steel and brick makers. These higher energy costs threaten President Donald Trump’s plan to boost American manufacturing by reducing factory profits and increasing operating expenses.
Key Facts
Data centers, especially those for AI, are increasing electricity demand in the 13-state PJM Interconnection region.
Factory electricity bills have risen faster than bills for homes and other businesses in this region.
The Belden Brick Company’s monthly electricity bill increased from $1,600 to $12,000.
Steel manufacturers in the area are paying tens of millions of dollars more per year in electricity costs.
Electricity makes up 20% to 40% of the cost to produce steel, with electric furnaces using 40 to 200 megawatts each.
Data centers need large amounts of steel, using about 1 million tons per year, but their energy use also raises steelmakers’ costs.
PJM forecasts electricity demand will exceed supply by 6.6 gigawatts starting in 2027, about the output of six nuclear power plants.
The Trump administration has pushed tech companies to help pay for more power infrastructure but faces challenges due to limits on building new wind and solar projects.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Katherine Scarlett, a leading environmental adviser in President Donald Trump’s administration, has left her position. She was the head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and led efforts to reduce federal environmental rules for building new infrastructure.
Key Facts
Katherine Scarlett was a top environmental policy adviser in President Trump’s White House.
She chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Scarlett led rollbacks on federal environmental standards affecting new infrastructure projects.
Her departure from the administration was confirmed by an official.
Scarlett plans to join a consulting firm after leaving the White House.
The news of her exit was first reported by Bloomberg Government.
The Council on Environmental Quality advises the White House on environmental matters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Treasury Department has stopped plans to put Harriet Tubman’s image on the $20 bill. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the current administration is not moving forward with this change.
Key Facts
Harriet Tubman was planned to appear on the $20 bill.
The Treasury Department has canceled these plans.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke about this on Monday.
The decision was made under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The change to the $20 bill will not happen for now.
Harriet Tubman is a historical figure known for helping enslaved people escape on the Underground Railroad.
This plan had been previously discussed but now is delayed or canceled.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A 37-story building under construction at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan showed signs of structural instability, causing evacuations and street closures. Emergency crews found buckling columns and sagging floors but no injuries were reported as workers and nearby residents were safely evacuated.
Key Facts
The building is undergoing an office-to-residential conversion.
Firefighters responded after reports of bricks falling shortly before 8 a.m. on July 7, 2026.
Structural damage was observed, including buckled columns on the 21st floor and sagging floors up to the 26th floor.
No injuries were reported, and all workers were accounted for.
Surrounding buildings and a nearby school with about 400 children were evacuated.
Streets from 40th to 45th between First and Third avenues were closed to pedestrians and vehicles.
Emergency crews used drones to inspect the building and started installing emergency supports called trusses.
Officials said the steel-frame design reduces the risk of total collapse but remain concerned about localized collapse.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A California judge dropped all charges against Dharmesh Patel, who was accused of trying to kill his family by driving off a cliff in 2023, after he completed a two-year mental health treatment program. Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression and hallucinations at the time of the crash, qualifying him for a new California law that allows mental health diversion instead of a trial.
Key Facts
Dharmesh Patel drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff in San Mateo County on January 2, 2023.
Patel’s wife and two young children were injured but survived the crash.
He was charged with attempted murder but completed a two-year mental health program instead of going to trial.
The mental health program included treatment by a Stanford psychiatrist and a family therapist.
Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression with hallucinations and had delusions about his children being kidnapped.
California law, effective in 2023, allows people with certain mental health conditions to receive treatment instead of criminal prosecution.
The judge dismissed the charges after Patel completed the program, wiping the charges from his record.
Prosecutors opposed the mental health diversion but are working to change the law to exclude serious crimes like attempted murder.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX has joined the Nasdaq-100 index shortly after its public stock sale, with Nasdaq waiving its usual three-month trading rule. The Nasdaq-100 tracks the largest tech and non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average includes 30 well-established companies from various industries.
Key Facts
SpaceX recently went public through an initial public offering (IPO).
Nasdaq added SpaceX to its Nasdaq-100 index soon after the IPO, waiving the normal three-month trading requirement.
Nasdaq-100 includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tracks 30 large, well-known companies across different sectors.
Nasdaq-100 companies tend to have more growth potential but also higher risk than Dow companies.
The Dow is often favored for conservative investment strategies due to stable and profitable companies.
Nine companies appear in both the Dow and Nasdaq-100, including Alphabet and Walmart.
Nasdaq listing rules require at least 1.25 million shares traded, a market value of $50 million or more, and a minimum share price of $4.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hosting the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Samoa in Brisbane for talks aimed at strengthening regional ties. This meeting follows a recent defense agreement with Fiji and comes amid growing concerns about China's influence in the Pacific.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Albanese is meeting with Pacific leaders James Marape (Papua New Guinea), Lord Fakafānua (Tonga), and La’auli Leuatea Schmidt (Samoa) in Brisbane.
The leaders will attend a Pacific rugby league event and the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Albanese recently signed a defense pact with Fiji, making it Australia’s fourth official ally.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance may be expanded to include other Pacific nations.
These diplomatic efforts aim to increase Australia’s military and aid presence in the Pacific region.
The meetings happen as geopolitical tensions rise due to China's recent missile test.
Experts note that Australia is now focused on building trust and cooperation with Pacific governments over the long term.
Separately, Telstra is experiencing a wide mobile network outage affecting calls and data since early morning.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge blocked the Justice Department from getting personal information about election workers in Fulton County, Georgia. The request was part of the DOJ’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
Key Facts
The judge involved is U.S. District Judge William Ray.
The Justice Department wanted names and personal details of election staff in Fulton County.
This request was linked to investigating claims of election fraud made by President Trump after the 2020 election.
The judge ruled the DOJ could not use a grand jury subpoena to get this information.
The decision protects the privacy of election workers during the fraud investigation.
Fulton County, Georgia, was a key location in the 2020 presidential election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine is facing calls to quit the race following a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. If Platner withdraws, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27, 2026, to choose a replacement candidate through a process that is currently unclear. Several Democrats, including former state official David Costello and state senator Troy Jackson, are potential replacement candidates.
Key Facts
Graham Platner faces a sexual assault allegation and may leave the Maine Senate race.
Maine Democrats want Platner to withdraw by July 13, 2026.
If Platner withdraws, the party has until July 27, 2026, to pick a new candidate.
Maine will not hold a new primary election for the replacement.
The state party committee or delegates might vote to choose the new candidate.
It is unclear if the replacement vote will be in person or virtual, or the exact voting method.
David Costello, who ran in the primary, said he would try again if Platner leaves.
Troy Jackson, a former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, is interested in replacing Platner.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14 for an unknown condition but remains engaged in Senate work through phone calls with fellow Republican leaders. His office has given few updates about his health, but confirmed he is recovering in the hospital and staying informed on political matters.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 for an unspecified illness.
McConnell has spoken on the phone with Senate Republican leaders John Thune and John Barrasso while in the hospital.
These calls discussed topics such as national security, Senate races, and upcoming Senate work including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
McConnell’s office says he is improving and staying involved in Senate and Kentucky issues despite being hospitalized.
Emergency medical staff responded to a call at McConnell’s home on the day he was admitted, related to an unconscious person.
McConnell’s team has not disclosed his medical condition or when he will return to work.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings spoke with McConnell and said the senator remains eager to return to the Senate.
The Senate is currently out of session but McConnell continues communications with his staff.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
