Large wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced about 60,000 people to evacuate in the Spokane area and destroyed at least 600 homes, businesses, and other buildings. The fires have burned around 12 square miles near Spokane and remain uncontained as cooler temperatures and light winds are expected to help firefighting efforts.
Key Facts
About 60,000 people have evacuated from the Spokane area due to wildfires.
At least 600 structures, including homes and businesses, have burned down.
The fires cover roughly 12 square miles near Spokane.
The fires are currently 0% contained and spreading amid dry weather.
Firefighters expect cooler weather and lighter winds on Monday, but no rain is forecast.
About 390 square miles have burned across Washington from multiple wildfires.
No injuries or missing persons have been reported so far.
Unauthorized drone flights over the fire area have led to citations for operators.
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Washington state will hold a primary election to choose candidates for several important government positions, including one of the country’s most competitive U.S. House seats. Voters will pick finalists for the 3rd Congressional District, other congressional districts, the state Legislature, and state Supreme Court seats. The top two vote-getters in each race will move to the November general election.
Key Facts
Nine candidates are competing for the 3rd Congressional District seat in Washington’s primary.
Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez seeks reelection and is the best-known Democrat in the race.
Three Republicans are challenging her, including state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Washington uses a top-two primary system, where the two candidates with the most votes move on regardless of party.
The 3rd District is a key battleground and voted 50.3% for Trump in 2024 and 50.1% for Gluesenkamp Perez in 2022.
Nine of Washington’s 10 congressional districts have incumbents running again; the 4th District is open as Rep. Dan Newhouse retires.
Trump has endorsed candidates in the 4th District race to replace Newhouse, including Amanda McKinney.
Washington voters will also elect candidates for about half the state Senate seats, all state House seats, and three state Supreme Court justices.
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Tony Livesey has left BBC Radio 5 Live after working there for 16 years. He stepped back from his show last month following allegations against his former newspaper boss, David Sullivan, who denies the claims.
Key Facts
Tony Livesey worked at BBC Radio 5 Live from 2010 and started with the BBC in 2006.
He previously was editor-in-chief at David Sullivan’s Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.
David Sullivan, a billionaire and West Ham co-owner, faces accusations of abusing his power and sexually exploiting women, including teenagers.
The allegations were reported by The Times and BBC Panorama.
Livesey took a break from his radio show during the investigation and has now decided to leave the BBC station.
One alleged victim said Livesey arranged a meeting with Sullivan in 1999, which Livesey denies remembering and says was not part of his job.
Livesey expressed sympathy for the alleged victims but rejected any involvement in the abuse.
Livesey received awards for his radio work, including interviews and reports on personal loss.
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BBC radio presenter Tony Livesey has left his role following allegations related to his time as editor-in-chief at David Sullivan’s Sport newspapers. These allegations surfaced after a BBC Panorama investigation into David Sullivan, who denies claims of sexual misconduct.
Key Facts
Tony Livesey was a BBC 5 Live host and left the station after misconduct allegations connected to his previous career.
The BBC Panorama investigation accused David Sullivan, co-owner of West Ham United, of sexual exploitation and predatory behavior.
Sullivan denies all the allegations through his lawyers.
One accuser claimed Livesey arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan; Livesey denies remembering this and says it was not his job.
Livesey co-created a “countdown to 16” feature with Sullivan, involving models just turning 16, but later said parts of his book about this were fictionalized.
Sullivan stepped down as a director and co-chair at West Ham United before the allegations became public.
Livesey worked at Sport newspapers for 18 years before focusing on his BBC career.
The BBC has not commented on its internal investigation outcomes related to the allegations.
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John Sayles was inspired by coal miners' stories of union struggles in West Virginia to write and direct the 1987 film Matewan. The film tells the story of coal miners uniting across racial lines to fight against company agents trying to stop unionizing, based on a real 1920 event involving violence. Sayles made the film to remind people why unions are important and highlighted ongoing challenges workers face today in organizing and striking.
Key Facts
John Sayles hitchhiked in West Virginia in 1970 and learned about coal miners' union conflicts.
The Matewan Massacre in 1920 involved violent clashes between miners and company agents hired to stop unions.
In the film Matewan, miners from different races and ethnic groups unite to strike against the coal company.
Company agents used violence, including killing a miner, to try to stop union efforts.
The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 gave workers legal rights to unionize and bargain collectively.
Later laws like the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 restrict some types of strikes and organizing.
Sayles noted companies today can move jobs abroad, making union efforts harder in some industries.
Collective action from diverse groups is needed to create strong labor movements in the US.
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The Trump administration has stopped nearly $2.75 billion in Medicaid funding for California and Minnesota, causing uncertainty for disabled people and their caregivers. Officials say the pause is due to concerns about possible fraud in home care services, but states and advocacy groups argue the claims lack clear evidence and that these services help many families avoid more costly care.
Key Facts
The federal government halted $2.2 billion in Medicaid money for California and $550 million for Minnesota.
These funds reimburse states for services they already paid for in Medicaid programs.
Federal officials suspect misuse in home-based care services but have not provided detailed proof.
In-home supportive services help families care for disabled members without forcing caregivers to take extra jobs.
Experts say more home-based care is needed due to increased disabilities and is cheaper than nursing home care.
Families worry that losing Medicaid support will cause financial instability and loss of care.
Legal experts say the federal approach of suspending funds before clear proof is unusual and concerning.
Advocates describe the cuts as cruel because they threaten safety nets for vulnerable people.
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Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho expressed sadness over a deadly shooting at a new In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho. He offered his condolences to the families affected by this tragic event.
Key Facts
A fatal shooting occurred at a newly opened In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Senator Mike Crapo represents the state of Idaho and is a member of the Republican Party.
The shooting caused grief within the Idaho community.
Senator Crapo called the incident “senseless violence.”
He extended his deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims.
The location of the shooting is a recent addition to Twin Falls, Idaho.
No further details about the shooter or victims were provided in this statement.
The statement was made late on a Sunday.
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The article argues against treating one form of discrimination as more important than others in schools. It suggests that discussions about Zionism, a political movement supporting a Jewish homeland, should be included and critically examined in education.
Key Facts
The article focuses on the idea of not giving special treatment to any single kind of discrimination.
It mentions Zionism as a topic that should be discussed in schools.
Zionism is described as a political movement supporting the establishment of a Jewish state.
The article encourages challenging all forms of discrimination equally.
It implies that education should include diverse viewpoints on political and social issues.
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The United States is working to reduce its dependence on China for rare earth magnets used in advanced weapons. A small company in New Hampshire called Phoenix Tailings is expanding its refinery to produce these critical minerals from mining waste, supported by a $500 million loan from the Pentagon. This effort aims to speed up domestic production to meet defense needs amid global conflicts and stricter rules on sourcing from China.
Key Facts
The U.S. relies heavily on China for rare earth magnets essential in advanced weapon systems like missiles and fighter jets.
Phoenix Tailings, based in Exeter, New Hampshire, refines rare earth elements from mining waste using electrolysis.
The Pentagon gave Phoenix Tailings a $500 million loan to build a new factory that will increase rare earth processing capacity.
It will take about 14 to 18 months to complete the new factory.
The need for increased domestic production is urgent due to military demands and rules banning sourcing critical minerals from China.
Many U.S. rare earth mines are still years from operating, so extracting minerals from existing waste helps meet immediate demand.
The expanded production supports U.S. weapons systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, THAAD interceptors, and F-35 fighter jets.
Phoenix Tailings’ workers wear protective suits and masks due to the nature of the materials handled during refinement.
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A man in Wales kept his dead mother’s body in a freezer at home for nearly three years while continuing to collect her pension and benefits. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after being caught when police found the body during a welfare check.
Key Facts
Christopher Phillips, 60, kept his mother Sylvia Phillips’ body in a chest freezer for almost three years.
Sylvia Phillips, 89, died in March 2023.
Phillips collected about £78,190 in her pension and benefits after her death.
Police found the frozen body in February 2026 after a welfare check.
Phillips admitted to failing to properly bury his mother and fraudulently claiming her benefits.
He bought the freezer two days after his mother died and kept the body in the dining room.
Phillips told medical staff and police false information about his mother’s situation.
The court said Phillips deliberately hid his mother’s death and misled officials.
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Anthony Fauci appeared before Congress recently and chose not to answer some questions by invoking the Fifth Amendment, which protects against self-incrimination. The article suggests that Fauci's mistakes during the COVID-19 pandemic were helped by media coverage that was very supportive and divided by political views.
Key Facts
Anthony Fauci testified before Congress about his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He used the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering some questions.
The Fifth Amendment means a person can refuse to answer questions that might make them look guilty.
The article says the media was very supportive of Fauci during the pandemic.
This support may have allowed some mistakes to go unchallenged.
Fauci’s behavior during the testimony was described as uncomfortable.
The article links Fauci's pandemic role with political divisions in the media.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is planning big changes to the Head Start program, which helps low-income children with preschool and family support. The proposed changes would reduce detailed federal rules and give more control to states, possibly lowering program standards.
Key Facts
Head Start is a program started in the 1960s to help children from poor families with education and health services.
The current rules for Head Start are over 100 pages, covering teacher ratios, health checks, and family involvement.
The Trump administration wants to cut these rules down to about a dozen pages and let states set many specifics.
The plan may require more paperwork from parents who are homeless or unemployed.
An early draft suggested banning children of undocumented parents from enrolling, but it is unclear if this is in the final proposal.
Head Start currently serves over half a million low-income babies, toddlers, and preschoolers across the U.S.
Critics warn that these changes could significantly weaken the program’s quality and impact.
The proposed rules have not been officially released, and key agencies have not commented yet.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially ended the Justice Department’s plan for a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." This fund was meant to compensate people who claimed they were unfairly targeted by government investigations but faced strong criticism as a possible reward for allies of President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche became acting attorney general after Pam Bondi left in April.
The Justice Department proposed a $1.8 billion fund to compensate those allegedly targeted unfairly by government actions.
The fund was linked to a deal where President Trump and his family dropped a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.
The fund aimed to protect Trump, his family, and businesses from future IRS audits.
Critics, including Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, opposed the fund and sought its cancellation.
A federal judge temporarily halted the fund in May before the DOJ abandoned it in June.
President Trump has threatened to bring back the fund if Congress does not confirm Blanche as attorney general.
Blanche’s recent order confirms that the fund no longer exists, with no money spent or claims paid.
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Millions of people in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah face extreme heat this week, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service has issued multiple heat warnings to help protect vulnerable people from heat-related illness.
Key Facts
Extreme Heat Warnings are active across large areas of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.
Some locations expect temperatures near 120 degrees, which feels extremely hot.
The Phoenix area faces highs between 109 and 116 degrees through Tuesday.
Parts of California’s deserts and inland valleys could see temperatures up to 119 degrees.
Southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, may experience temperatures between 110 and 120 degrees through Wednesday.
Warm overnight temperatures give little relief, increasing risk of heat illness.
Heat is dangerous, especially for older adults, children, outdoor workers, and those without air conditioning.
Utah’s southern national parks, including Zion National Park, are also under heat warnings with temperatures up to 112 degrees.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially ended President Trump’s $1.8 billion fund meant to help his political allies, resolving a dispute with two Republican senators who delayed Blanche’s nomination. Blanche’s order also limits protections for President Trump and his family from tax audits, making the protections apply only to past claims, not future tax filings.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the acting U.S. attorney general.
Blanche terminated President Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” created to compensate Trump’s political allies.
Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, were blocking Blanche’s nomination until the fund was officially ended.
Blanche’s written order officially cancels a previous May 18, 2026 order that created the fund.
The order limits tax audit immunity for Trump and his family to only apply retroactively to tax claims open at the time of the earlier settlement.
The Senate judiciary committee will vote on Blanche’s nomination soon after the announcement.
This action follows weeks of talks and concerns about the fund possibly being revived.
The fund’s termination clears a major hurdle for Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general.
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Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog for not declaring an interest as required by parliamentary rules. The inquiry began on July 28 and is related to a possible breach of conduct rules.
Key Facts
Richard Tice is the deputy leader of Reform UK.
He is being investigated for potentially failing to declare an interest.
The investigation started on July 28.
The watchdog handling the case follows Rule 6 of its code of conduct.
The investigation details are published on the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s website.
Reform UK was contacted for a statement but no comment was provided yet.
The story is ongoing and updates will be released soon.
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A bystander named Jordan Salinas returned fire during a shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho. The video shows him taking action while the shooting was happening.
Key Facts
The incident took place at an In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho.
The shooting involved a gunman attacking inside the restaurant.
Jordan Salinas, 35 years old, was seen firing back at the gunman.
The event was captured on video and shared publicly.
The article was reported on August 3, 2026.
The shooting is described as deadly, but specific casualty details are not given.
The situation involved a violent attack in a public place.
The story highlights the role of a bystander intervening during a shooting.
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President Donald Trump said he prefers the BBC to ABC during a conversation with a reporter, even though he is suing the BBC for $10 billion. The lawsuit relates to a 2024 BBC documentary that Trump says wrongly edited his January 6, 2021 speech to make it seem like he encouraged the Capitol riot.
Key Facts
President Trump made a comment on Air Force One saying he likes BBC better than ABC News.
Trump is suing the BBC over a documentary called "Trump, A Second Chance" that aired in 2024.
The lawsuit claims the BBC edited Trump’s Capitol speech to wrongly suggest he called for violence.
The BBC apologized for the editing mistake but denies the defamation claims and plans to fight the lawsuit.
Trump filed the lawsuit in Florida, seeking up to $10 billion in damages.
In July, Trump dropped claims against BBC Studios but continues to sue the BBC itself.
A judge ordered Trump to provide financial records related to his businesses to help determine damages.
Trump’s legal team plans to change the lawsuit to focus on reputation harm instead of financial losses.
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Senate Republicans view President Trump as a political risk while they prepare for the 2026 midterm elections. They are concerned about his frequent criticism of their leadership and his support for a $1.8 billion fund aimed at their political allies.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans worry that President Trump’s actions could hurt their chances in the 2026 elections.
President Trump has often criticized Republican Senators' ability to govern.
He supports a $1.8 billion fund to help political allies aligned with his movement.
Some GOP Senators see this fund and Trump’s attacks as obstacles to party unity.
The Senate GOP is trying to maintain control of the Senate in upcoming elections.
These issues highlight divisions within the Republican Party.
The party faces challenges balancing support for President Trump with broader election strategies.
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The race for Wisconsin governor has become more uncertain as Democrats face withdrawals and controversies in their primary. As a result, Republicans have gained a small lead in chances to win the November election, where they will likely face Tom Tiffany, who is supported by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Republicans now have a 53% chance to win the Wisconsin governor’s race, up from 46% in early August, according to the prediction market Kalshi.
Democrats’ chances dropped to 48% after candidate turmoil in their primary.
David Crowley, a Democratic candidate, withdrew, endorsed another candidate, then reentered the race after that candidate withdrew due to a finance issue.
Mandela Barnes, a former Democratic candidate, dropped out following allegations of inappropriate behavior; a legal review found no misconduct.
The Democratic primary is on August 11, with Francesca Hong and David Crowley as leading candidates.
Tom Tiffany is expected to be the Republican nominee and has President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Wisconsin is a closely divided swing state, making this governor’s race highly competitive.
The governor controls state policy and can affect the balance of power with the Republican-led state Legislature.
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