A parasite called Cyclospora has caused thousands of cases of illness across many U.S. states since May. Health officials are investigating outbreaks linked mainly to contaminated shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served in Taco Bell restaurants, leading to recalls and rising case counts.
Key Facts
As of July 28, there were 6,707 confirmed Cyclospora cases in 45 states, with 423 hospitalizations but no deaths.
Over 11,500 suspected cases are still being investigated.
The largest outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, especially served at Taco Bell in several states.
Taco Bell stopped using the contaminated lettuce on July 17, and Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico sent to 27 states.
Michigan has the highest number of cases with 10,773, followed by Ohio with 4,013 confirmed cases.
States like North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Iowa, and Virginia have all reported rising numbers of cases recently.
Cyclospora is a parasite that infects food via contact with human feces, often through contaminated water used on produce.
Illness caused by Cyclospora, called cyclosporiasis, affects the gut and can lead to serious stomach problems.
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The Senate plans to approve a temporary funding measure to keep the government running through December, ahead of the November midterm elections. This plan differs from the House version and aims to avoid a government shutdown while including some changes to funding rules.
Key Facts
The Senate's continuing resolution would keep government funding at current levels until December 11.
The House approved a different short-term funding plan before its recess, which some Democrats opposed.
The Senate measure includes changes affecting nutrition, national security, and disaster relief programs.
Senate Democrats oppose reallocating funds from other programs to the Border Patrol, which is included in the House plan.
Senate leaders want a bipartisan agreement requiring support from both parties to pass funding bills.
The Senate also included language to pause a proposed rule that would allow canceling some federal grants.
The Senate aims to vote on the measure before its August recess; the House will decide its next steps when it returns.
House Speaker Mike Johnson may face pressure from his party over accepting the Senate’s plan.
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The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that clergy members in Arizona do not have to report child abuse they learn about during religious confession. This decision protects the confidentiality of confessions even if clergy become aware of abuse.
Key Facts
Arizona clergy are not required to report child abuse learned in confession, according to the state supreme court.
The case involved children abused by their parents, who sued the Mormon church and two bishops for not reporting the abuse.
The Mormon church supports the ruling and says it condemns all abuse and helps victims.
A previous Washington state law that would have forced clergy to report abuse was withdrawn after legal challenge by the Catholic church.
Paul Adams admitted child abuse to a bishop in 2011 during confession and later died by suicide in jail.
Abuse continued because bishops followed church rules to keep confessions confidential and sought advice not to contact police.
The court said the First Amendment protects religious freedom, meaning courts can’t question religious reasons for keeping confessions secret.
The ruling overturned a lower court decision that had favored the children, confirming protection of religious confession confidentiality.
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Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said he talked with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about the wildfires in Washington state. Ferguson described the wildfire damage in Spokane and other parts of the state during the conversation.
Key Facts
The wildfires are affecting Washington state, including the city of Spokane.
Governor Bob Ferguson spoke directly with President Trump about the emergency.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was also part of the discussion.
Ferguson explained the serious and harmful effects of the wildfires.
The conversation happened on a Sunday, according to Ferguson’s post on X (formerly Twitter).
Governor Ferguson is in his first term and is a member of the Democratic Party.
The call aimed to raise awareness about the wildfire crisis in Washington.
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Support for President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict with Iran has decreased, according to a recent poll. Public opinion is divided, with some people worried about a long, difficult war and others believing the military action has stopped Iran’s nuclear progress.
Key Facts
A Quinnipiac University poll of 963 registered voters found only 34% support U.S. military action in Iran, while 60% oppose it.
President Trump planned to cancel an attack on Iran to allow rapid diplomatic talks.
Public reactions vary: some fear long, unresolved conflicts in the Middle East, others think the military actions have weakened Iran’s threat.
Joe Rogan, a public figure who once supported Trump, expressed doubt about a clear resolution to the conflict.
Some readers criticized Rogan’s influence, questioning his support for President Trump.
Comments highlight concerns about U.S. involvement possibly leading to prolonged conflicts or “forever wars.”
Others argue the military campaign has successfully stopped Iran’s nuclear advancements and reduced dangers posed by Iran.
The article notes worries about U.S. ammunition supplies amid ongoing tensions.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ended a $1.8 billion fund linked to President Donald Trump that was meant to compensate political allies. This decision followed talks with two Republican senators who were blocking Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the acting U.S. Attorney General.
President Donald Trump had created a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" for his political allies.
Blanche officially ended this fund by a formal order on Sunday.
Two Republican senators, John Cornyn from Texas and Thom Tillis from North Carolina, were blocking Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general.
Cornyn confirmed the deal to end the fund, while Tillis had no comment.
Blanche’s nomination will be voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
The decision to end the fund was part of negotiations to move forward with Blanche’s confirmation.
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The U.S. dollar recently dropped in value against the Japanese yen after Japan and President Trump’s administration worked together to intervene in the currency market. The dollar fell from a 40-year high of 164 yen in July to about 156.80 yen.
Key Facts
Japan and the Trump administration joined forces to intervene in currency markets.
The U.S. dollar reached a 40-year high of 164 yen in July.
By Monday morning, the dollar’s value against the yen fell to approximately 156.80 yen.
The U.S. Treasury Department sold euros to buy yen during the intervention.
The move was aimed at influencing currency exchange rates.
The intervention caused the dollar to weaken versus the yen.
Currency market interventions are rare and usually done to stabilize exchange rates.
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Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno said that his former son-in-law, Congressman Max Miller, should not serve in Congress because of abuse accusations involving Moreno’s daughter and granddaughter. Max Miller denied these claims and said he does not plan to leave his position.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno is from Ohio and a member of the Republican Party.
Congressman Max Miller is also a Republican from Ohio.
Moreno accused Miller of abusing his daughter and granddaughter.
Miller denied the abuse allegations.
Miller has stated he will stay in Congress despite the accusations.
The dispute involves family members and political figures within the same state and party.
The situation is being reported by CBS News.
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The U.S. government has allowed citizens to sue polluters when the government doesn’t act, through “citizen suit provisions” in environmental laws like the Clean Water Act. Now, the Trump administration wants to stop people from suing polluters and says only the government should enforce these laws.
Key Facts
Environmental laws since the 1970s include “citizen suit provisions” that let regular people sue companies or agencies violating pollution rules.
These citizen suits have triggered over 2,000 lawsuits and are important for stopping pollution and protecting wildlife.
Citizens must notify the polluter and the EPA before suing and can only sue if the government hasn’t already taken enforcement action.
Citizen suits can stop harmful activities, recover cleanup costs, and fine polluters.
The Clean Water Act is the most common law used for citizen suits because just dumping pollution without a permit is against the law.
Examples include a 2017 case where a Texas shrimper sued a plastics company, which settled for $50 million to clean pollution.
In 2023, environmental groups sued a packaging company over plastic pellet pollution; the company settled for $2.5 million and agreed to install filters.
The Trump administration’s recent legal position challenges the ability of citizens to sue and wants enforcement to be done only by the government.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has asked Senator Mitch McConnell to share a video message about his health. This request comes after Senator McConnell has been inactive in the Senate for several weeks, leading to rumors.
Key Facts
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear made a public request.
He wants Senator Mitch McConnell to provide a video update.
The update is about Senator McConnell’s health.
Senator McConnell has not been active in the Senate for several weeks.
This inactivity has caused rumors about his condition.
The request aims to address and clarify these rumors.
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Three people died and seven were hurt in a shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Idaho over the weekend. An off-duty state trooper and a civilian helped stop the shooter, who acted alone, while officials are still looking into the reasons behind the attack.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at an In-N-Out restaurant in Idaho.
Three people were killed in the shooting.
Seven people were injured during the incident.
Officials say the shooter acted by themselves, with no accomplices.
An off-duty state trooper helped stop the shooter.
A civilian also played a role in stopping the shooter.
Authorities are investigating the shooter’s possible motives.
The incident occurred over the weekend.
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Socialist candidate Kshama Sawant says working-class voters want leaders who challenge the Democratic Party. She criticizes progressive Democrats like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for cooperating with party leaders instead of pushing harder for change.
Key Facts
Kshama Sawant is running against longtime Democratic Representative Adam Smith in Washington's 9th Congressional District.
She argues voters are unhappy with both major parties and want more radical left-wing politics.
Sawant served 10 years on the Seattle City Council as an independent socialist.
She led efforts to raise Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 in 2013, which later increased to $21.30 an hour linked to inflation.
Sawant opposed U.S. military aid to Israel and supports higher wages, universal health care, rent control, and taxing the wealthy.
Despite opposition from big corporations like Amazon, which spent $1.5 million against her, she won reelection multiple times.
Her grassroots Tax Amazon campaign helped pass a payroll tax on big businesses in Seattle.
Washington’s top-two primary system lets the two candidates with the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of party.
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Todd Blanche, who is up for confirmation as attorney general, canceled a program called the "anti-weaponization fund" after two Republican senators objected to it. The decision came just before his confirmation hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is a nominee for attorney general.
His Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Blanche had created a fund called the "anti-weaponization fund."
Two Republican senators protested against this fund.
In response, Blanche officially canceled the fund late Sunday night.
The fund’s cancellation was reported by CBS News.
The controversy around the fund affected support from some Republican senators.
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The 2026 Democratic primary for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed is highly competitive. Recent polls show El-Sayed leading Stevens by a significant margin, and prediction markets give him a strong chance to win the nomination. The winner will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
Key Facts
The primary election date is August 4, 2026.
Abdul El-Sayed is supported by progressive figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.
Haley Stevens is backed by more moderate Democrats, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Michigan is a key battleground state that narrowly supported President Donald Trump in 2024.
Recent polls show El-Sayed leading Stevens by 11 to 16 points in several surveys.
Younger voters (18-44) strongly support El-Sayed, while Stevens leads among voters aged 65 and older.
Republican Mike Rogers is the likely GOP nominee for the Senate seat.
Prediction markets give El-Sayed about a 98% chance to win the Democratic nomination.
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Kansas will hold primary elections to choose candidates for governor and U.S. Senate. Republicans aim to regain the governor’s office after eight years under Democrats, while Democrats have competitive primaries for governor and Senate. Voters will also consider a constitutional amendment to allow direct election of state Supreme Court justices.
Key Facts
The Kansas Republican party will select a nominee for governor to try to win back the office after Democratic Governor Laura Kelly reaches her term limit.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican candidate Ty Masterson for Kansas governor.
Republican candidates include Ty Masterson, Charlotte O’Hara, Philip Sarnecki, Vicki Schmidt, and Scott Schwab.
Philip Sarnecki and Scott Schwab have contributed large amounts of their own money to their campaigns.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates include Ethan Corson, Cindy Holscher, and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
Republican Senator Roger Marshall seeks re-election and has Trump’s endorsement; he faces a primary challenge from Pond Naramore.
Democrats have an 11-candidate field for U.S. Senate, including Adam Hamilton, who has raised the most money.
Kansas voters will vote on a proposal to allow direct election of state Supreme Court justices, changing the current appointment system.
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Democratic strategist James Carville said on CNN that the progressive left wing of the Democratic Party does not realize they are unpopular. He made this comment while discussing the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
Key Facts
James Carville is a Democratic political strategist.
He spoke on CNN’s show "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper."
Carville criticized the progressive left wing of the Democratic Party.
He said they are “too hot-headed” to understand their lack of popularity.
The comment was made during a discussion about the Michigan Senate Democratic primary.
The candidates in the Michigan primary mentioned were Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens.
Carville’s remarks focus on internal attitudes within the Democratic Party.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on nominating Todd Blanche as acting Attorney General. This vote was made easier by a deal between Senator John Cornyn and the Department of Justice, ending a special fund called the anti-weaponization fund.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is nominated to be the acting Attorney General.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on this nomination.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, helped make the nomination process smoother.
Cornyn reached an agreement with the Department of Justice.
The agreement involves ending the anti-weaponization fund permanently through a formal order.
The anti-weaponization fund was created to prevent misuse of government tools or powers but is now being stopped.
This deal helps clear the way for Blanche’s confirmation vote in the Senate.
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Nancy Guthrie disappeared, and two ransom notes were found, one saying she had died. The sheriff from Pima County says the investigation is ongoing and remains very active.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie is missing.
Two ransom notes were discovered related to her disappearance.
One ransom note claimed that Nancy Guthrie had died.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is leading the investigation.
The sheriff said the investigation is still very active and growing.
CBS News reporter Anna Schecter covered the story.
Authorities continue to search for answers about what happened to Nancy Guthrie.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche canceled the order to create President Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, aiming to help his confirmation process in the Senate. The legal settlement behind the fund remains in place, but the fund itself is not being set up for now.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche rescinded the order for President Trump’s $1.776 billion fund meant to compensate people claiming harm from government "lawfare."
The fund was part of a May settlement in a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS over his tax records.
The settlement included an apology to Trump and his sons, and protections from certain IRS claims and audits.
Blanche’s new order cancels the fund but does not remove the settlement itself, which can only be changed if both sides agree in writing.
Blanche explained that audit protections only apply to Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization, not to all related parties.
Senate Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have concerns about Blanche’s confirmation and the fund issue.
President Trump threatened to keep Blanche as acting attorney general and restart the fund if needed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on Blanche’s confirmation soon and needs all Republican votes to pass him.
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Fast-moving wildfires in the western United States have destroyed many homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has withdrawn a fund created by President Trump aimed at preventing government weaponization as part of decisions affecting his own nomination.
Key Facts
Wildfires are spreading quickly in the western U.S.
Hundreds of buildings have been burned down by the fires.
Thousands of residents have had to leave their homes because of the fires.
Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General.
He has canceled a fund started by President Trump called the "anti-weaponization fund."
The fund was intended to stop government agencies from being misused.
Blanche’s action relates to the process of his nomination for Attorney General.
These events were reported in the CBS News Eye Opener.
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