An attorney for Nolan Wells’ family said experts will review a distress call made on the day Wells disappeared during a boat trip near Horn Island, Mississippi. The family is pushing for a wider investigation as they seek more answers about the 18-year-old’s death.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells disappeared after a July 4 boat trip near Horn Island, Mississippi.
A distress call was made to Sea Tow, a private marine towing company, reporting the boat was sinking because the bilge pump stopped working.
The boat owner’s relative later told the towing company the problem was fixed and help was not needed.
Mississippi authorities released the recording of the distress call to the media.
Law enforcement said witnesses reported Wells was not on the boat when it left the island.
Attorney Ben Crump, representing Wells’ family, said audio experts have been hired to analyze the distress call.
The family wants prosecutors to bring in outside experts to examine phones of friends who were with Wells.
Wells’ parents have publicly asked for anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing they want answers.
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Jessica Treviño, a Texas mother with legal permission to stay in the U.S. under the DACA program, was deported to Mexico in March 2026. She has filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to stop the government from terminating her DACA status because of “unauthorized travel” linked to her deportation.
Key Facts
Jessica Treviño came to the U.S. as a child and received DACA protection, which lets people stay temporarily and work legally but does not give full legal status.
Treviño and her husband were arrested in December 2025 in Texas and deported to Matamoros, Mexico.
Their three children are U.S. citizens and live with family in Texas near the border.
Treviño’s DACA status was valid until April 2027 before being threatened with termination.
The government claims she traveled outside the U.S. without permission on March 25, 2026, the day she was deported.
Her lawyer says the deportation was unlawful because DACA protections prevent deportation under normal circumstances.
Treviño is asking the court to order the government to let her return to the U.S. and keep her DACA status.
The Trump administration has deported 86 people with DACA and arrested 241 others as part of immigration enforcement.
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President Donald Trump’s administration used a special court called the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time to try to deport a permanent resident accused of helping her sons plan a violent attack. The case involves classified evidence and focuses on civil immigration law, not criminal charges against the woman.
Key Facts
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was created in 1996 but never used until now.
The court is meant to remove foreign nationals accused of terrorism.
The Trump administration accuses Nazira Haji Zada of supporting her sons’ planned attack on election day 2024.
Her sons, Tawhedi and Abdullah, pleaded guilty and were arrested before the attack happened.
No criminal charges have been filed against Nazira herself.
The government’s case includes classified information that cannot be made public.
Nazira’s lawyer says the administration is bypassing normal legal protections and violating due process.
The court ruled the case is civil, related to immigration law, not a criminal trial.
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A hair sample found at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, was tested but did not help identify any suspect. Investigators continue to analyze other DNA evidence and are actively working on the case, which is now six months old.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing on January 31 after being dropped off at her home in Tucson, Arizona.
A hair sample found at her home tested inconclusive and did not link to any suspect.
Other DNA evidence, including blood found at the scene, is still under review with no results yet.
Surveillance video showed a suspect at Guthrie’s front door early on February 1.
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was likely abducted and received at least two ransom notes afterward.
The sheriff’s department is collaborating with the FBI and experts across the country on this case.
Officials think the suspect could be local but have no concrete evidence yet.
Savannah Guthrie publicly asked the kidnappers to come forward and help find her mother.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci used the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during his Senate testimony, which led some Republicans to suggest this showed guilt. The Fifth Amendment allows people to refuse to answer questions that might incriminate them, and President Donald Trump has also used this right many times during legal proceedings.
Key Facts
Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a Senate hearing.
Senator Josh Hawley said Fauci’s use of the Fifth Amendment suggests guilt, while legal experts say it does not imply guilt.
The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being forced to say something that could be used against them in court.
People other than criminal defendants, like witnesses or public officials, can also use the Fifth Amendment.
Fauci said he followed his lawyer’s advice when he invoked the Fifth Amendment.
President Donald Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment over 440 times during a 2022 deposition in a civil fraud case in New York.
Trump’s deposition was part of an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into alleged fraud at the Trump Organization.
The Fifth Amendment is a constitutional right meant to protect people from self-incrimination.
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Activists in Arizona are protesting a border wall construction project because it would involve cutting down a very old cottonwood tree. One protester was arrested for trespassing after trying to protect the tree from being removed.
Key Facts
The protest targets President Trump’s border wall construction in Arizona.
The project requires removing a Fremont cottonwood tree that is around 200 to 250 years old.
Activists climbed the tree to try to prevent its removal.
A protester was arrested for trespassing during the demonstration.
There are three similar ancient cottonwood trees also at risk from the construction.
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Senator Mitch McConnell’s favorability rating has dropped to 11 percent, the lowest in 20 years of polling. This decline follows his recent hospitalization and long absence from public and Senate duties, raising concerns about his health and ability to serve.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell is an 84-year-old Republican Senator from Kentucky, serving since 1985.
A recent CNN/SSRS poll shows McConnell’s favorability at 11 percent and unfavorable at 53 percent.
This is the lowest favorability rating recorded for him since the poll began in 2006.
McConnell has been largely absent from the Senate and public view after hospitalization six weeks ago.
His office has released only brief updates about his health, causing public concern and speculation.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called for a clearer, more detailed health update from McConnell.
Poll results show 59 percent of Republicans would be uneasy if their party nominated someone over age 70 for office.
The poll surveyed 1,225 people from July 23 to July 27 with a margin of error of 3.2 percent.
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Seattle’s police chief, Shon Barnes, resigned after criticism of how the police handled a deadly shooting at a food festival last weekend. Deputy chief Andre Sayles was named interim chief as the city continues to respond to the event that left three people dead and four wounded.
Key Facts
Shon Barnes resigned following criticism of the police response to a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival.
Three people, including one suspect, died, and four others were injured, one of them a two-year-old child.
Barnes was out of town at a conference when the shooting happened.
Police officers quickly persuaded a 15-year-old suspect to surrender and are still looking for others involved.
The police and city officials were criticized for slow and confusing communication after the shooting.
Deputy chief Andre Sayles, with over 20 years in law enforcement, became the interim police chief.
Barnes was Seattle’s second Black police chief, appointed in December 2024, and supported by some community groups for improving relations and reducing gun violence.
Barnes made several trips to Chicago this year, where his family lives, and attended police conferences.
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Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned after criticism of the city's response to a deadly shooting at a food festival. Mayor Katie Wilson named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as the new interim police chief while the city continues to handle the aftermath.
Key Facts
Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned following criticism of the police response to a shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival.
The shooting killed three people, including one suspect, and injured four others, including a 2-year-old child.
Barnes was out of town at a law enforcement conference when the shooting happened.
The police and mayor's office faced criticism for slow and unclear communication during the incident.
Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, with over 20 years of experience, was named interim police chief.
Community groups including the Seattle NAACP urged the mayor to keep Barnes, citing his efforts to improve police-community relations.
Barnes was appointed chief in December 2024 by the previous mayor and was Seattle’s second Black police chief.
Mayor Katie Wilson, a democratic socialist, had kept Barnes as chief after taking office despite her past support for defunding police.
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A judge in Wisconsin decided that voters cannot get new ballots for the governor’s primary race after some candidates dropped out or came back shortly before the election. This decision ended a lawsuit filed by the Democratic Party against the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Key Facts
The ruling was made by Dane County Circuit Judge David Conway.
Wisconsin voters cannot ask for new ballots in the Democratic governor’s primary.
The ruling came after several candidates left or rejoined the race near the voting deadline.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
The judge’s decision stopped the lawsuit and kept the current ballots in use.
The case involved last-minute changes to the list of candidates.
This affects the ability of voters to change their vote based on candidate changes.
The election will proceed without allowing new ballots to be issued for this primary.
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Senator Ted Cruz supports a new college sports bill that would set a $48 million limit on team salaries, including many third-party player deals. However, major college sports conferences like the Big Ten and SEC are not convinced and want stronger rules before agreeing to the bill.
Key Facts
The bill aims to create a "hard salary cap" on college sports team costs, including payments to players.
Senator Ted Cruz says the new $48.8 million cap closes loopholes that allowed extra payments.
The cap combines a $21.3 million salary limit with a $27.5 million retention pool to keep players.
Some conferences want rules preventing companies that sponsor schools from also signing players.
The Senate paused work on the bill without voting, and time to pass it is running out before a vacation break.
The NCAA supports the bill as a way to protect student-athletes and keep college sports sustainable.
Legal concerns remain about how the bill interacts with earlier player payment agreements.
Debate continues over the exact language and enforcement of the bill’s rules.
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Over 30 water systems in Minnesota faced cyberattacks earlier in the week, targeting the computers that control their operations. Officials are investigating the attacks while warning that hackers linked to Iran have recently focused on U.S. water systems. So far, no residents have reported being directly affected.
Key Facts
The cyberattacks happened on Sunday and Monday, affecting more than 30 water systems across Minnesota.
The attacks targeted operating technology that monitors and controls water system equipment.
Authorities have not yet identified who is behind the attacks.
The FBI and other federal agencies are investigating but have not named any suspects publicly.
Officials have warned that Iranian hackers have been focusing on water and wastewater systems in the U.S.
Minnesota officials asked one city’s residents to conserve water briefly while investigating the problem.
There have been no active water use restrictions requested statewide as of Thursday.
Iranian hackers have a history of targeting U.S. water infrastructure, including a 2016 case involving a small dam near New York City.
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Mandela Barnes, former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, quit the Democratic race for governor two weeks before the primary because he was far behind in polls. His exit follows earlier drops by other Democrats and shifts the contest in a key state, with Governor Tony Evers backing David Crowley.
Key Facts
Mandela Barnes dropped out of the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor on a Thursday before the August 11 election.
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, led the primary race with 38% support, while Barnes had 16%.
Barnes said he no longer saw a way to win the nomination.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on anonymous claims of inappropriate behavior against Barnes, but investigations found no proof.
Barnes’s campaign denied any wrongdoing.
Other Democrats, including Sara Rodriguez and Missy Hughes, also left the governor’s race recently.
Governor Tony Evers supports Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who returned to the race after Rodriguez withdrew.
The Democratic nominee is expected to compete against Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, who has President Donald Trump’s support.
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The U.S. State Department is increasing the number of special passports that show President Donald Trump’s image. They are printing 250,000 more copies because many people asked for them.
Key Facts
The passports feature an image of President Donald Trump.
These passports are called “Patriot Passports.”
The State Department is adding 250,000 more copies.
The decision is due to high public demand.
Before this, fewer copies of these passports were available.
The passports are a form of commemorative or special edition.
The announcement was made by the U.S. State Department on a Thursday.
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President Donald Trump said he might delay Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general because two Republican Senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, oppose it. He suggested waiting until these senators leave office before moving forward with the nomination.
Key Facts
President Trump nominated Todd Blanche for attorney general.
Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis oppose Blanche’s nomination.
Because of their opposition, President Trump may pause the nomination process.
The pause could last until Senators Cornyn and Tillis leave their positions.
This situation shows a disagreement within the Republican party about the nomination.
The attorney general is a key legal advisor for the government.
The news was reported by CBS News and covered by reporter Taurean Small.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to become the permanent head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is delayed. Two Republican senators are blocking the nomination because they want the DOJ to cancel a $1.8 billion fund that pays people who feel they were wrongly prosecuted.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is currently the Acting Attorney General.
He has been nominated to become the permanent Attorney General.
Senators John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) oppose his nomination.
Their opposition is linked to a $1.8 billion DOJ fund.
The fund offers payments to individuals who believe they were prosecuted unfairly.
The senators want the DOJ to end this payment program.
The nomination remains uncertain while these issues are unresolved.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to become the permanent head of the Department of Justice is uncertain. Two Republican senators said they will oppose his nomination unless the DOJ ends a $1.8 billion fund that pays people who think they were wrongly prosecuted.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the current Acting Attorney General.
He has been nominated to lead the Department of Justice full-time.
Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis oppose his nomination at this time.
Their opposition is tied to a $1.8 billion fund managed by the DOJ.
This fund provides payments to individuals who claim they were unfairly prosecuted.
The senators want the DOJ to cancel this fund before supporting Blanche.
Geoff Bennett and Devlin Barrett discussed this issue publicly.
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President Donald Trump said he might withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general if Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis do not leave office. Political experts discussed this situation and the Michigan Senate race on CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump nominated Todd Blanche for attorney general.
Trump suggested he could pull Blanche’s nomination.
This depends on whether Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave their positions.
Both Cornyn and Tillis are Republican senators.
Political strategists Usamah Andrabi and Kevin Sheridan talked about these topics on a CBS News program.
The discussion also covered the Michigan Senate race.
The analysis appeared on a CBS News segment called "The Takeout."
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Max Miller, an Ohio Republican representative, is facing a new restraining order filed by his ex-wife Emily Moreno, who accuses him of harassment and threats towards her lawyer. Miller denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated, while lawmakers and groups urge an investigation into the claims of domestic abuse.
Key Facts
Emily Moreno, Max Miller's ex-wife, filed a restraining order against him alleging harassment and threats.
Moreno claims Miller has communicated directly with and physically touched her attorney without consent.
Miller denies all allegations and says they are part of a political and custody dispute.
Miller and Moreno share custody of their 2-year-old daughter, with joint custody being granted by a judge.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno is Emily Moreno’s father.
Lawmakers, including Republican Nancy Mace, are calling for investigations into Miller over domestic abuse accusations.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus also demands a thorough ethics investigation into the allegations against Miller.
As of the reported time, the restraining order request had not yet been decided by a judge.
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