A new report shows that Mississippi’s foster care system is not meeting most safety rules and continues to put children at risk. The report found many cases of abuse, neglect, and failures to follow proper procedures, despite some small improvements.
Key Facts
Mississippi’s foster care system met only 22 out of 107 safety standards in 2025.
Children in foster care suffered abuse or neglect at more than twice the allowed rate.
Many children were placed in homes or facilities before checks and visits were properly completed.
The state often undercounted how many foster children experienced abuse.
Some improvements were seen, such as lighter caseworker workloads and fewer overcrowded foster homes.
The report relates to a federal lawsuit, Olivia Y. v. Barbour, which claims Mississippi’s child welfare system frequently endangers children.
Mississippi’s Department of Child Protection Services and Governor Tate Reeves want the lawsuit dismissed, saying they have made progress.
The court is waiting for the 2025 report to consider the state’s request to end the lawsuit.
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A Wisconsin judge ruled that paper absentee ballots discriminate against certain disabled voters by limiting their ability to vote privately and independently. The judge did not order electronic absentee voting but set a trial to decide whether to require it.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters, and four disabled voters.
The groups say the current paper-only absentee ballots violate disabled voters’ rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell ruled the paper ballot system denies disabled voters equal opportunity for private and independent absentee voting.
The judge did not yet require electronic absentee ballots, citing concerns about feasibility and risks.
An earlier temporary order for electronic ballots was reversed by an appeals court because it disrupted the current voting system.
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature opposes the lawsuit.
Absentee ballots are emailed only to military and overseas voters currently, not to disabled voters.
A hearing is scheduled for August 12 to discuss possible trial dates and next steps.
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Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio spoke about his family’s difficult situation after his daughter said Representative Max Miller, also from Ohio, abused her. Moreno described the emotional pain his family is experiencing because of these accusations.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno represents Ohio.
Moreno’s daughter has accused Representative Max Miller of abuse.
Max Miller is also a Republican Representative from Ohio.
Moreno expressed that his family is suffering emotionally.
The article highlights the personal impact on Moreno’s daughter and wife.
The situation has created fear and distress within Moreno’s family.
Moreno spoke publicly about the family’s experience on a Tuesday.
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Berhanu Kibret, a teacher at the University of Maryland’s pharmacy school who recently won a "teacher of the year" award, was arrested by U.S. immigration agents at a Texas airport for having an expired visa. The university says Kibret has valid work permission and hopes his immigration issues will be resolved soon so he can keep working there.
Key Facts
Berhanu Kibret is an instructor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s pharmacy school.
He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Dallas-Fort Worth airport.
The reason for his arrest was an expired visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The university says Kibret has valid work authorization and is hopeful the situation will be fixed quickly.
Kibret recently received a "teacher of the year" award at a meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
His research studies how the brain's cannabinoid system affects mental health and addiction.
The university called Kibret a valued and well-regarded member of their community.
ICE said Kibret overstayed a visa issued when he entered the U.S. in June 2021 and will stay in custody pending immigration proceedings.
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David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool but the charge was dropped after prosecutors found the damage was caused by poor work by a contractor. Hearn’s attorney said they are exploring legal actions against the government, while President Trump criticized the decision to drop the charges.
Key Facts
David Hearn was charged with felony property destruction related to damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
The charge against Hearn was dropped after prosecutors said the damage was due to faulty installation by a contractor.
The reflecting pool had recently been renovated at a cost of $14 million during the Trump administration.
Hearn was arrested on June 19 and faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Prosecutors found a rushed and flawed installation process connected to the pool damage.
President Trump criticized the U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro for dismissing the charges, accusing her of failing.
Hearn was detained for five hours by national guard and park police after touching the pool liner during a bike ride.
Hearn’s lawyers are seeking a court dismissal that would prevent future prosecution and are considering civil suits and other actions against the government.
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Washington state held primary elections for U.S. House seats and other offices while firefighters worked to control wildfires in Spokane, the state's second-largest city. Due to evacuations and emergencies, officials advised voters to check online that their mail-in ballots were received and to get replacement ballots if needed.
Key Facts
Washington state held primary elections on Tuesday for U.S. House and other positions.
Large wildfires have damaged Spokane, causing a state of emergency.
About 67,000 people in Spokane are under evacuation orders due to the fires.
Voters are encouraged to use a state website to confirm their mail-in ballots were received.
Replacement ballots can be obtained through official channels if needed.
Ballots must be postmarked or returned to drop boxes by 8 p.m. local time.
One ballot drop box in the evacuation zone will close after collecting remaining ballots.
Washington mostly uses mail-in voting with few in-person votes.
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President Donald Trump is visiting California and Nevada to promote his economic policies and highlight differences with Democrats ahead of the November elections. He will address issues like the economy, border security, and crime while trying to boost Republican support.
Key Facts
President Trump is visiting Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada this week.
He will speak at a Republican fundraising dinner in California and an event about the economy in Nevada.
Only 32% of U.S. adults approved of his handling of the economy in a recent poll.
Most Americans (69%) see the economy as poor, with high costs of groceries and gas stressing many people.
Trump plans to criticize California Governor Gavin Newsom and contrast his policies with Democratic ones.
California and Trump have a tense relationship, especially after Trump sent troops to Los Angeles without the governor’s consent last year.
Nevada’s governor race is competitive, with Trump’s visit tied to Republican Joe Lombardo, who faces a tough challenge from Democrat Aaron Ford.
California’s government says Trump’s visit is more about fundraising and political attacks than helping wildfire survivors.
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Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona is proposing a new law that would require social media companies to get parents' permission before allowing children under 16 to have accounts. This law aims to protect younger users by raising the minimum age for social media use.
Key Facts
Senator Ruben Gallego is introducing the bill.
The bill requires parental approval for children under 16 to create and keep social media accounts.
It would raise the minimum age by at least three years on some platforms.
The bill targets social media companies operating in the United States.
The law would be one of the strictest rules for social media use by kids in the country.
The goal is to increase safety and oversight for younger social media users.
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Springdale, a small suburb near Pittsburgh, has become a center of local conflicts over immigration enforcement and a new data center project. Since the town made an agreement to work with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to detain undocumented immigrants, there have been protests and community opposition focused on government transparency and accountability.
Key Facts
Springdale Borough is a small suburb in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
The town signed a 287(g) agreement in November that allows local police to work with ICE on immigration enforcement.
Jose Acosta, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, was arrested by Springdale police and ICE in July while working near Springdale.
Acosta had lived in the U.S. since 2018 and had only one previous minor traffic stop in 2023 before his arrest.
The arrival of a data center project near homes in Springdale has also caused local protests and community concerns.
Two local groups, Indivisible Allegheny Valley and Save Allegheny Valley Environment (SAVE), have formed to oppose the ICE cooperation and the data center.
Residents say they feel the local government has not been clear or open about these issues, leading to a loss of trust.
Springdale’s leadership is mostly volunteer-based, which some see as a challenge for managing these complex community issues.
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A gunman opened fire at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people before taking his own life. One of the victims, Ashley Garibay, had traveled from California to Idaho to help train new employees for the restaurant chain’s expansion.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at an In-N-Out Burger location in Twin Falls, Idaho, shortly after the restaurant opened in late July 2026.
Three people were killed during the attack, including Ashley Garibay and Christopher Claunch.
Ashley Garibay was an employee from Stockton, California, who came to Idaho to help open and train staff at new In-N-Out stores.
The gunman was identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, who died by shooting himself after the attack.
Police say Williams acted alone, but the motive for the shooting has not been released.
An off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired at the gunman, helping to end the attack.
A candlelight vigil was planned, and the city flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims.
Support centers were set up for people affected by the shooting to get help and collect personal items left at the scene.
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The US Department of Justice (DOJ) sent federal monitors to voting sites in four Michigan cities during the state’s primary elections to help ensure fair voting. Some lawmakers and advocates worry these monitors might be used for political reasons by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
The DOJ deployed monitors in Detroit, Hamtramck, Lansing, and East Lansing, all mostly Democratic-leaning cities.
The monitors were sent to observe Michigan’s primary election held on a Tuesday.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the goal is to guarantee fair and nondiscriminatory election monitoring nationwide.
President Trump has claimed, without proof, that there was widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.
Michigan has been a key focus of Trump’s allegations about voter fraud.
Local Michigan officials found some fraudulent voter registration forms in Muskegon but said no fake votes were cast.
Ten Democratic senators requested the DOJ ensure that monitors do not disrupt voting or target areas for political reasons.
The DOJ plans to expand election monitoring to other states before the November midterm elections.
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A U.S. judge in Colorado dismissed a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit seeking access to the state's voter registration database. This case is one of many where courts, including those with judges appointed by Republican presidents, have ruled against the DOJ's attempt to get sensitive voter information from states.
Key Facts
The DOJ sued 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain sensitive voter registration data.
Many lawsuits, including Colorado’s, have been dismissed by judges across the country.
Colorado Judge Philip A. Brimmer, appointed by George W. Bush, ruled the DOJ cannot force the state to share its voter database.
The judge said the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not require states to share databases they maintain, only records they get from voters.
The court found the DOJ’s request lacked a clear legal reason, so the case was dismissed with prejudice (meaning it cannot be refiled).
Eight of the judges who ruled in favor of the states were appointed by President Donald Trump.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the ruling protects Coloradans’ sensitive voter information from unlawful federal interference.
Similar rulings have occurred in several other states like Arizona, Michigan, New York, and Virginia.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, has recently expressed strong support for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine amid a large measles outbreak in the United States. While he has softened his stance on MMR, he remains skeptical about COVID-19, HPV, and hepatitis B vaccines.
Key Facts
RFK Jr. is currently the HHS secretary.
He supports the MMR vaccine, saying it is about 97% effective and advises parents to vaccinate their children against measles.
This position marks a shift for him since he was previously a leading vaccine skeptic and criticized the MMR vaccine.
He has not significantly changed his views on COVID-19, HPV, and hepatitis B vaccines.
The United States has seen 2,371 confirmed measles cases in 2026 as of July 30, the highest number in over 30 years.
Measles cases have been reported across 45 U.S. areas plus some cases among international visitors.
There have been 37 measles outbreaks in the U.S. in 2026.
Vaccines like MMR go through many years of development, clinical trials, and ongoing safety monitoring.
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The House Ethics Committee is investigating Representative Max Miller for alleged domestic violence and drug use. Miller denies the claims and plans to cooperate fully with the investigation, while some lawmakers and President Trump’s team hope he will withdraw from his reelection effort.
Key Facts
The House Ethics Committee opened a probe into Rep. Max Miller over domestic violence and drug use allegations.
The allegations involve abuse claims against Miller’s ex-wife and their child.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, the ex-wife’s father, publicly said Miller should not serve in Congress.
Several lawmakers have supported Moreno and called for Miller to drop his reelection campaign.
President Trump and some White House officials privately hope Miller steps aside.
Miller denies all allegations and says he has nothing to hide.
Miller plans to file paperwork requesting an ethics investigation into his own conduct.
The Ethics Committee said opening the investigation does not mean the allegations are true.
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A group of Senate Democrats has asked the Trump administration to explain its policies on advanced American AI models. They want clarity after recent controversial decisions about how AI is regulated in the U.S.
Key Facts
Several Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Trump administration on Monday.
Senators involved include Kirsten Gillibrand, Adam Schiff, Mark Warner, Christopher Coons, and Mark Kelly.
The letter asks for details about the government’s current approach to AI model access.
The request comes after some controversial decisions on AI rules.
The focus is on advanced AI systems developed in the United States.
The senators want to understand how the administration plans to regulate AI technology.
This shows growing interest in how AI is controlled by the government.
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Political strategist Karl Rove said that Republicans might make the same error that hurt Democrats in the 2024 election. He warned that focusing only on positive economic numbers like growth and jobs ignores the economic struggles many voters still face.
Key Facts
Karl Rove is a GOP (Republican) political strategist.
He spoke on Fox Business with Larry Kudlow.
Rove believes Democrats lost the 2024 election partly because they relied too much on good economic statistics.
He cautioned Republicans against making this same mistake.
Rove said many voters still feel economic pressure despite positive GDP and job reports.
He implied that addressing voter concerns about the economy is important for election success.
The discussion centered on economic issues affecting political outcomes in 2024.
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A fire started on a maintenance train at the Astor Place subway station in New York City. Fourteen people were hurt, mostly because they breathed in smoke.
Key Facts
The fire happened at the Astor Place subway station in New York City.
A maintenance train caught fire inside the subway station.
Smoke spread through the station, causing injuries.
Fourteen people were injured.
Most injuries were from breathing in smoke, not burns.
New York City officials reported the incident.
The situation was covered by CBS News.
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The U.S. Defense Department estimates that keeping the National Guard in Washington, D.C. until January 2029 will cost about $1.4 billion. This deployment began in 2025 after President Donald Trump ordered a law enforcement surge to address crime and has involved thousands of Guard members supporting various activities in the city.
Key Facts
The National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. started in 2025 by an emergency order from President Donald Trump.
The Defense Department estimates the cost for fiscal years 2027-2029 will be roughly $1.4 billion.
The deployment supports arrest operations, snow removal, and city beautification projects.
At its peak, around 5,000 Guard members were in the city, with an average of 2,500 expected through January 2029.
The Guard mission has been extended to continue until January 20, 2029, or until President Trump ends it.
Local officials and some Democrats have criticized the deployment as militarizing the capital and infringing on city autonomy.
Courts have limited National Guard use in other places, but in D.C., where the president commands the Guard, the large presence continues.
As of late July 2026, about 4,600 military personnel from D.C. and 23 states and territories were still in Washington, helping with security and events.
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A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration wrongly ended a climate program that funded clean energy projects. The decision supports nonprofits chosen during President Biden’s term to run the program, but the ruling is temporarily paused to allow the EPA to seek a Supreme Court review.
Key Facts
The court was divided but majority ruled against the Trump administration’s termination of the $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
The fund was created by the Inflation Reduction Act to support small clean energy projects through nonprofits.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin accused the nonprofits of mismanagement and fraud, frozen funds, and ended their grants.
The nonprofits denied wrongdoing and filed lawsuits saying the government violated laws by stopping the funding.
The ruling reverses a previous panel decision that had sided with the Trump administration.
Six of ten judges agreed the EPA likely broke the law by ending the grants and trying to reclaim money.
The program’s funding was partly repealed by a tax and spending bill signed by President Trump, which complicated the case.
The EPA has not yet commented following the appeals court decision.
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Former Vice President Mike Pence said the upcoming midterm elections are very important for the future of the United States. He shared this view in a radio interview, emphasizing the significance of the elections.
Key Facts
Mike Pence is the former Vice President of the United States.
Pence spoke about the midterm elections during a radio interview on WABC’s “Cats & Cosby.”
He described the upcoming midterm elections as critically important for the nation’s future.
The interview took place on a Monday.
Pence encouraged people to pay attention to the elections.
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