Torrential rain caused severe flooding in Kerr County, Texas, resulting in the highest number of deaths in the area. NPR's Juana Summers reported from the scene to provide updates on the situation.
Key Facts
Kerr County, Texas, suffered the worst flooding from heavy rains.
The flooding led to the highest death toll in the region.
NPR journalist Juana Summers provided a report from Kerr County.
The report was featured on NPR's "All Things Considered."
The flooding in Kerr County was covered on July 7, 2025.
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President Trump's tax law includes a rule that requires people to work to receive Medicaid and food stamps. The Congressional Budget Office says millions might lose these benefits because of the new rule.
Key Facts
The tax law was introduced by President Trump.
It includes work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp recipients.
Medicaid is a program that helps people with low incomes get medical care.
SNAP, or food stamps, helps people buy groceries.
The Congressional Budget Office, a group that studies economic issues, estimates that 11.8 million people might lose Medicaid in the next ten years.
More than 3 million people could lose their SNAP benefits.
Laura Barrón-López discussed these changes with Pamela Herd.
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A new book by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf explores the events of the 2024 presidential election. It uses many interviews to explain how Donald Trump returned to the presidency and the Democratic Party's challenges.
Key Facts
Three journalists wrote a book about the 2024 presidential election.
The book explains how Donald Trump returned to the presidency.
It includes information from hundreds of interviews with people involved in the election.
The book looks at the difficulties faced by the Democratic Party during the election.
The title of the book is “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.”
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Over the July Fourth weekend, more than 100 people have died due to severe flooding in Texas. In Kerr County, search teams have found 84 bodies, including 28 children.
Key Facts
The flooding in Texas occurred over the July Fourth weekend.
More than 100 people have died because of the flooding.
Kerr County, Texas, is one of the worst-hit areas.
Search teams have found 84 bodies in Kerr County.
Among the bodies found in Kerr County, 28 are children.
The search for missing people in the area is ongoing.
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Families in the U.S. and other parts of the world are having fewer babies, leading to shrinking and aging populations. This trend is affecting politics in the United States and contributing to the growth of populism around the world.
Key Facts
Many countries, including the U.S., are seeing a decline in birth rates.
As fewer babies are born, populations are getting older.
This demographic shift can lead to smaller national populations over time.
The change in population dynamics is influencing political landscapes.
Populism, a political approach that seeks to represent the common people, is becoming more popular globally due to these changes.
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Six months after fires destroyed thousands of homes and buildings in Los Angeles, the city is working on recovery. People share personal stories that highlight the difficulties they are experiencing.
Key Facts
Fires in Los Angeles destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.
The city is focused on recovery efforts.
It's been six months since the fires occurred.
Personal stories from residents show they are facing many challenges.
The recovery process is a major topic for the community.
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Elon Musk announced on social media that he has created a new political party called the America Party. However, it is unclear what actual steps he has taken to establish this party, and some filings related to it appear suspicious or false.
Key Facts
Elon Musk announced the formation of a new political party called the America Party on social media.
Musk suggested the party is in response to a proposed government spending bill he opposes.
The party is meant to engage in the 2026 midterm elections, according to Musk's posts.
There are multiple filings in the Federal Election Commission database referencing Musk and new political entities, but their authenticity is questionable.
Some of these filings use unprofessional or untraceable contact information, raising doubts about their legitimacy.
Musk has denied the authenticity of at least one filing, calling it false and reported it to the FEC (Federal Election Commission).
Musk's businesses, like Tesla, rely on government contracts, potentially affecting his political moves.
There is tension between Musk and former President Trump due to Musk's stance on Trump's tax policies.
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Rescue teams in Texas are searching for victims of flash flooding in the Hill Country area. The flooding caused the deaths of many people, and several are still missing.
Key Facts
Rescue teams are working in the Texas Hill Country.
They are looking for people affected by last week's flash flooding.
Dozens of people have died because of the flooding.
Many people are still missing.
The search and rescue work is challenging and takes a lot of effort.
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Some Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are reaching out to help students affected by the closure of Job Corps centers due to budget cuts. These colleges are stepping in to support students who no longer have access to Job Corps programs.
Key Facts
Job Corps centers are closing because of cuts in federal funding.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are offering help to affected students.
Job Corps is a program that provides education and job training to young people.
The closures leave many students without access to education and training programs.
HBCUs are stepping in to provide support and opportunities for these students.
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The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI determined there is no "client list" linked to Jeffrey Epstein that would implicate high-profile people. They also confirmed that Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019, countering conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise.
Key Facts
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI found no client list related to Epstein's activities.
Investigators found no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed well-known individuals.
Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Conspiracy theories had suggested Epstein was murdered to protect others involved in his crimes.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Dan Bongino, both part of the Trump administration, confirmed Epstein's death was by suicide.
Some Trump supporters expressed frustration over the lack of new disclosures in the Epstein case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed federal investigators held back documents, while the FBI continues reviewing videos linked to Epstein.
Accusations about Trump's involvement in Epstein-related files were made without evidence and later retracted.
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A man named Ryan Louis Mosqueda fired multiple shots at federal agents and a U.S. Border Patrol facility in Texas, injuring a police officer, before the authorities shot and killed him. The incident is under investigation, and the FBI is leading the probe. Mosqueda was reportedly missing from Weslaco, Texas, and had psychological issues according to his father.
Key Facts
Ryan Louis Mosqueda, a 27-year-old man, used an assault rifle in the attack.
He shot at federal agents near the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas.
A police officer was injured in the knee, though it's unclear if by bullet or shrapnel.
Mosqueda had additional weapons and many rounds of ammunition in his car.
His father had reported him missing earlier that day, citing his psychological issues.
The FBI is investigating the shooting, but the motive is still unknown.
Mosqueda's car had letters painted on the side, possibly in Latin.
There is no ongoing threat to the public according to police.
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President Donald Trump plans to visit the area affected by severe flooding later this week. The White House press secretary stated that the flooding is a rare national disaster and urged people to stay alert and follow warnings.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to visit the flooded area later this week, possibly on Friday.
The flooding has been described as a "once in a generation" disaster by the White House press secretary.
People in the affected area are advised to stay vigilant and listen to warnings.
The White House press secretary dismissed claims that cuts by the Trump administration affected the response to the flooding.
She stated that the National Weather Service appropriately warned people about potential catastrophic flooding.
No final decision has been made yet on the exact day of the President's visit.
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The White House stated that local and federal weather services gave enough warning before floods in Kerr County, Texas. The National Weather Service issued several flood alerts starting July 3.
Key Facts
The press secretary said the weather services warned Kerr County before the floods.
The National Weather Service in Austin-San Antonio briefed local officials on July 3.
A flood watch was issued in the early afternoon of July 3.
Additional flood warnings were given on the night of July 3 and early morning of July 4.
There was a three-hour lead time from the first warning to the flash flood.
Questions were raised about issuing warnings when people were likely asleep.
The authorities said the offices were fully staffed during this time.
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Heavy rains and flooding in Texas led to criticism of the National Weather Service (NWS) for inadequate forecasts. This criticism follows staffing cuts at the NWS, which some say could affect weather prediction and public safety. Questions remain about how well NWS coordinated with local officials during the flooding.
Key Facts
The NWS faced staffing cuts that former officials and experts warn may impact public safety.
Recent Texas floods have been blamed on torrential rains, resulting in at least 80 deaths.
Critics have linked the NWS's performance during the floods to these staffing reductions.
Staffing at nearly half of the 122 NWS field offices has been reduced by at least 20%.
Local NWS offices struggled with vacancies, including key roles for issuing warnings.
Democrats have requested an investigation into how these cuts affected the response to the disaster.
President Trump denied that job cuts impacted weather forecasting.
Former officials caution that continued cuts could hinder future forecasts and timely warnings.
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A shooting took place at a US Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, resulting in the death of the shooter and injuries to two officers and a border patrol employee. The injured individuals were taken to a hospital. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and the shooter's identity has not yet been released.
Key Facts
A man with a rifle and tactical gear opened fire at a Border Patrol facility in Texas.
Police shot and killed the man at the scene.
Two officers and one border patrol employee were hurt in the shooting.
One of the injured individuals was shot in the knee.
The shooting happened at the entrance of a Border Patrol sector annex near the US-Mexico border.
Both local police and border patrol agents were involved in stopping the shooter.
Authorities have not yet released the shooter's name.
The incident is still under investigation, and more details are expected later.
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The electronic line-calling system at Wimbledon, called Hawk-Eye, was accidentally turned off during a match, leading to a mistake in calling a shot. The All England Club identified human error as the cause and has now prevented the system from being disabled manually again.
Key Facts
The electronic system, Hawk-Eye, replaced human line judges at Wimbledon this year.
The system was accidentally turned off during a match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal.
A shot by Kartal that landed out was not called because Hawk-Eye was inactive.
The All England Club stated the mistake was due to "human error."
The club has updated the system so it cannot be turned off manually in the future.
Wimbledon clarified that Hawk-Eye is not an artificial intelligence system but uses cameras and requires human oversight.
The pause in Hawk-Eye affected three points in the match before being noticed.
The chair umpire, the review official, and the Hawk-Eye official were involved but did not catch the error in time.
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A new study has found that the health of U.S. children has declined over the past 17 years, with a rise in obesity, chronic diseases, and mental health issues like depression. Researchers analyzed a variety of data sources, showing a consistent trend of worsening health among children. The study highlights how current policies may not be effective in reversing this trend.
Key Facts
Obesity in U.S. children aged 2-19 increased from 17% in 2007-2008 to about 21% in 2021-2023.
In 2023, a U.S. child was 15% to 20% more likely to have a chronic condition such as anxiety or depression compared to 2011.
The rate of chronic conditions reported by doctors rose from 40% in 2011 to 46% in 2023.
Early menstruation, trouble sleeping, and activity limitations have increased among American children.
From 2007-2022, American children were 1.8 times more likely to die compared to children in other wealthy countries, with higher rates of premature birth, unexpected infant death, and deaths from firearms and vehicle crashes.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a report in May highlighting children's health issues including undernutrition and lack of physical activity.
The study's findings suggest U.S. policies may not effectively address the decline in children's health.
Limitations of the study were noted, as the data may not represent the entire U.S. child population accurately.
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Heavy rain from the remains of Tropical Storm Chantal caused flooding in central North Carolina, forcing people to leave their homes and disrupting businesses. Emergency services carried out over 50 water rescues, and more than 60 people had to find temporary housing. The storm also impacted major roads, causing closures, and left many without electricity.
Key Facts
Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Chantal hit central North Carolina.
Over 50 water rescues were performed by the Chapel Hill Fire Department and other agencies.
More than 60 people were displaced due to flooding.
Businesses were flooded, including stores at a shopping center in Chapel Hill.
No injuries were reported as of Monday morning.
Authorities were searching for two missing canoers in Chatham County.
Over 100 roads were affected, with some major roads closed.
The Eno and Haw Rivers reached high water levels, breaking records at some locations.
More than 30,000 people were without power on Monday morning.
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People in Gaza face challenges getting aid and moving around due to ongoing conflict. Travel that used to be quick now takes much longer and involves risky routes. Many people wait for aid under difficult conditions, with limited access to transportation.
Key Facts
There is a crisis in Gaza with many people waiting desperately for aid.
Hamas has asked for changes to the ceasefire to improve aid delivery.
Israel broke a truce in March, impacting movement and safety in Gaza.
Travel to Gaza City now involves multiple stops and long waits, often using donkey carts and tuk-tuks.
The journey that used to take 20 minutes can now take up to two hours, due to road and transport conditions.
Only pedestrian and cart movement are allowed, as vehicles are banned by Israel.
People known as "aid seekers" wait in difficult conditions to get aid from trucks.
The ongoing conflict makes everyday activities, like visiting family during holidays, challenging.
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Deborah Elms from the Hinrich Foundation talked about why former President Trump described BRICS countries as "anti-American." Trump also mentioned he would increase tariffs on products from these countries.
Key Facts
Deborah Elms is the head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation.
BRICS is a group of countries that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Former President Trump referred to these BRICS nations as "anti-American."
Trump suggested imposing higher tariffs on goods from these countries.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, making them more expensive.
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