New Mexico's Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit to get a 15-year-old boy returned from Mexico after foster care staff took him to the Texas border and forced him to cross alone. The boy was sent to find his mother, a Mexican national who was deported earlier, and was left at the border by New Mexico officials, who then refused to take him back.
Key Facts
The boy is a 15-year-old American citizen involved in New Mexico’s foster care system.
On July 6, foster care staff took him to El Paso, Texas, and told him to cross into Mexico alone.
His mother is a Mexican national who was arrested on drug charges and deported earlier this year.
After crossing, the boy could not find his mother immediately and returned to the U.S., where border officials told New Mexico to take him back.
New Mexico foster care staff refused to retrieve him, saying he was a “Texas problem,” and left him at the border.
The boy was then placed with Texas child welfare but was later returned to his mother in Mexico.
New Mexico’s Attorney General is seeking a court order to prevent children from being taken out of the U.S. without court approval.
The New Mexico child welfare agency says the boy was never at risk and that reuniting him with his mother in Mexico was requested and reviewed as safe.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear criticized Senator Mitch McConnell for not being present in Congress while recovering from a fall last month. Beshear said this absence is hurting McConnell’s reputation.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell is recovering from a fall that happened last month.
During this time, McConnell has not been attending Congress sessions.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, commented on McConnell’s absence.
Beshear said McConnell is harming his own legacy by not being active in Congress.
The criticism was made during a conversation on the “Andy Beshear Podcast.”
Beshear spoke to co-host John Fugelsang on the podcast.
McConnell is a long-serving senator from Kentucky and a Republican.
The issue focuses on McConnell’s role and responsibilities in the Senate during his recovery.
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President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This move has raised questions about the future of a fund aimed at preventing government misuse of power and about the influence of Senate Republicans.
Key Facts
President Trump is considering pulling back Todd Blanche’s nomination as Attorney General.
Some Senate Republicans are hesitant to support Blanche’s nomination.
There is concern about preserving a fund designed to prevent the government from misusing its authority.
Senators Cornyn and Tillis are prominent voices expressing quiet Republican worries about Blanche.
The situation has sparked debate about the power and unity of the Republican Party in the Senate.
The nomination faces challenges due to demands for certain promises or agreements from Blanche.
The controversy highlights tensions within the Republican Party regarding key government appointments.
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Chris Rocheleau, the deputy head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is leaving the agency. He will go back to his previous job as chief operating officer at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Key Facts
Chris Rocheleau is the deputy administrator of the FAA.
He served as acting FAA administrator for the first half of last year.
Rocheleau is leaving the FAA to return to the National Business Aviation Association.
He will take the role of chief operating officer at the NBAA.
The NBAA is a lobbying group representing the business aviation industry.
President Donald Trump appointed Rocheleau to his role at the FAA.
Rocheleau had worked at the NBAA before joining the FAA.
His departure means the FAA loses its second-highest official.
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A recent survey shows that 67% of American adults worry that political leaders might pressure election workers to change the results of elections. This concern is growing as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
The survey was conducted by the Kettering Foundation and Gallup.
67% of Americans are worried that political leaders will pressure election officials to alter election results.
This is the top concern ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The next highest concern mentioned in the survey was at 57%.
The survey highlights rising worries about the security and fairness of U.S. elections.
The survey was released on a Wednesday (exact date not specified).
Election officials are responsible for managing voting and counting ballots.
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Attorneys general from Australia’s federal and state governments are meeting to work on a national system for working with children checks. This system aims to better protect children from abuse by setting consistent rules and sharing information across the country, with a final system expected by mid-2028.
Key Facts
The meeting is taking place in Darwin and involves federal, state, and territory attorneys general.
The goal is to create a national system for working with children checks (WWCC) to improve child safety.
Under current plans, the national system will be fully in place by mid-2028.
The Coalition party has criticized the government for moving too slowly on this reform.
Federal Attorney General Michelle Rowland says they aim to agree on a list of crimes that will automatically prevent someone from getting a WWCC.
They also plan to set minimum standards for how risks are checked during the WWCC process.
The reforms respond to serious safety and child abuse allegations in the childcare sector.
Alongside this, Indigenous land rights issues and other news are also being reported, but the main focus is child safety reform.
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First responders gave testimony in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who admitted to killing her three children. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the deaths of her three children.
She admits to killing them.
She pleads not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder.
First responders, the people who arrived first at the scene, testified in court.
The testimony took place on a Thursday.
CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul reported on the trial.
The case is being covered by CBS News.
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Major Collin Welch, a National Guard officer, pleaded guilty to stealing about $54,000 of government money and forging documents to support a secret second marriage and unlawful stay of a Mongolian woman and her daughter in the U.S. He used government resources to hide his double life and convince them they were legally allowed to stay.
Key Facts
Major Collin Welch served in the National Guard and was deployed overseas, including Mongolia.
He secretly married a Mongolian woman in 2022 while still married to his first wife.
Welch forged a fake divorce decree to convince the second wife he was divorced.
He used a government travel card to conceal hotel stays during video calls.
Welch submitted false expense reports and lied to get approval for trips to visit the second wife.
He brought the woman and her daughter to the U.S. using government funds for airline tickets.
He created fake government documents to falsely show the woman and her daughter had legal immigration status.
Welch is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is considering reopening oil refineries that have been shut down to help reduce high gasoline prices. This effort includes looking at a refinery in the Virgin Islands as gasoline costs rise partly due to tensions involving Iran.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants to reopen closed oil refineries in the U.S.
One refinery under consideration is located in the Virgin Islands.
High gasoline prices have increased partly because of the conflict with Iran.
A White House official confirmed this plan in an email to The Hill.
Reopening refineries could increase fuel production and lower prices.
The focus is on helping supply more gasoline during price spikes.
This move reflects efforts to address energy supply problems inside the U.S.
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A federal judge sentenced Matthew Kawa, owner of Paradigm Peptides, to nearly six years in prison for selling unapproved drugs that contained steroids and for illegally importing them. Kawa and his company lied about their products being for research use only, while they were actually sold for human consumption, reaching thousands of customers in the U.S. and abroad.
Key Facts
Matthew Kawa pleaded guilty to selling unapproved drugs and illegally importing them.
He was sentenced to 70 months (almost six years) in prison by a federal judge in Indiana.
Paradigm Peptides had about 54,000 customers across all 50 states and 80 other countries.
The company falsely claimed its products were made in America, 99% pure, and tested by third-party labs.
Paradigm imported products from China, India, and other countries and used forged lab certificates.
Some products labeled "for research use only" actually contained testosterone, a regulated steroid.
Kawa admitted he knew the products were marketed and sold for human consumption, not just research.
Jennifer Stechkober, Kawa’s sister and main employee, was sentenced to 16 months for her role.
The products sold included peptides and SARMs, which can have serious health risks according to the FDA.
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A controversy has arisen in Pennsylvania as several candidates seeking to run as Green Party nominees have not been officially endorsed by the party. Democrats worry these candidates might be supported by Republicans to split votes and affect tight congressional races, especially in the 7th District.
Key Facts
Several Green Party candidates trying to get on the November ballot in Pennsylvania have not been endorsed by the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA).
Andrew Tupone is running as a Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District but says he was not recruited and did not pay people to gather signatures for his campaign.
Tupone was a registered Republican in 2025 and has voted in GOP primaries before switching to the Green Party.
The GPPA says some people listed on candidate petitions didn’t know their names were being used and that petition circulators were reportedly paid but could not say by whom.
Democrats fear these Green Party candidates could draw votes away from their nominees, helping Republican candidates keep their seats.
Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to influence the election by secretly backing third-party candidates.
Third-party candidates rarely win in federal elections but can change the results by splitting votes in close races.
The dispute is part of a wider battle for control of the House of Representatives between Democrats and Republicans.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Brendan Carr, is reviewing ABC’s TV station licenses after concerns linked to speech that President Donald Trump dislikes. Various groups from both political sides are opposing the FCC’s actions, warning that this could limit free speech and set a risky precedent for future government control over broadcast content.
Key Facts
The FCC ordered ABC to apply early for license renewals for its eight TV stations.
Conservative groups filed petitions to deny ABC’s license renewals, partly due to alleged bias against President Trump.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to revoke ABC licenses over statements made by Jimmy Kimmel, a TV host who made jokes about the Trumps.
Some conservative groups argue against the FCC policing speech, fearing it could be used against conservatives in the future.
Former FCC chairs and commissioners from both Republican and Democratic administrations criticized the FCC’s action as an attempt to censor speech.
Free speech organizations like the ACLU argued that the FCC’s move violates the First Amendment right to free speech.
The FCC claims the license review is related to ABC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, but many see it as a response to political speech.
There are deadlines in late July and early August for submitting oppositions and replies to the petitions regarding ABC’s licenses.
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Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Joani Reid have been allowed back into the Labour Party and had their parliamentary rights restored after separate investigations. Abbott was suspended twice for comments about racism but apologized and received a formal warning, while Reid stepped aside voluntarily following her husband's arrest linked to a spying investigation but was never accused of wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Diane Abbott and Joani Reid were readmitted to the Labour Party and had the parliamentary whip restored.
Both decisions came after independent disciplinary processes separate from party leaders.
Abbott was suspended twice, first in April 2023 and again last July, due to controversial comments about racism.
Abbott apologized and completed antisemitism awareness training; she received a formal party warning.
Joani Reid voluntarily gave up the whip in March 2024 after her husband was arrested in a case linked to suspected Chinese spying.
Reid was never investigated or accused of wrongdoing by police or the Labour Party.
The Labour Party emphasized it operates disciplinary processes independently and expects high standards from its members.
The party’s independent review board approved the investigations and the decisions to readmit both MPs.
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Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. face losing their legal representation this week because the government contract for nonprofit legal groups is expiring. The government has withheld $65 million in payments, demanding confidential information about the children, which the groups refuse to give.
Key Facts
A federal contract for nonprofits providing legal help to over 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children expires this Friday.
The contract is managed by the Acacia Center for Justice, which oversees over 100 service providers.
The government, through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), has withheld $65 million in payments.
ORR wants the nonprofits to provide confidential client data and bill for immigration relief applications.
The nonprofits say sharing this confidential data is illegal and refused to comply.
Legal groups have started furloughs, cannot hire or keep experienced staff, and many children are losing their lawyers.
A federal judge set a hearing for August 6 to address the payment and contract issues.
During the Trump administration, legal groups said migrant children and sponsors were targeted under immigration policies.
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Elon Musk plans to spend $100 million to $120 million through his super PAC called America PAC to support Republican candidates in at least eight states for the 2026 midterm elections. This effort is focused on helping conservative politicians get elected.
Key Facts
Elon Musk is involved in political spending again before the 2026 midterm elections.
He controls a super PAC named America PAC.
America PAC will spend between $100 million and $120 million on a new campaign program.
The program targets at least eight U.S. states.
It aims to help Republican candidates win election.
The focus is on supporting conservative political goals.
The effort is a major financial commitment to influence the 2026 midterms.
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A father in Georgia was sentenced to 15 years in prison for giving his son the gun used in a high school shooting that killed four people. The son was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the attack, which also injured several others.
Key Facts
Colin Gray, 55, was convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter related to his son's school shooting.
The shooting happened on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Four people were killed: two students and two teachers. Several others were injured.
Colin Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, a SIG Sauer SIGM400 rifle as a Christmas gift before the shooting.
Colt Gray, 16, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Family members had expressed concerns about Colt’s mental health and asked Colin Gray to secure the guns.
The case highlights legal responsibility of parents in shootings involving their children.
Similar parental prosecutions have happened before, including a case in Michigan with the Crumbley parents.
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President Donald Trump has not ended a controversial deal that gives him broad protection from tax audits and created a $1.8 billion fund. This deal is linked to settling a $10 billion lawsuit over the unauthorized release of his tax records, and its existence has caused delays in confirming Todd Blanche as the permanent US attorney general.
Key Facts
The agreement protects President Trump, his family, and business entities from tax audits related to matters covered by the deal.
It also created a $1.8 billion fund described as a "slush fund."
Todd Blanche, a loyal Trump ally and former personal lawyer, is the acting attorney general nominated for permanent confirmation.
Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, initially withheld support, wanting limits on the tax immunity agreement to be clearly stated.
President Trump publicly opposed these senators, noting past political conflicts and threatening to withdraw Blanche's nomination if they did not support him.
Blanche can continue serving as acting attorney general indefinitely without Senate confirmation.
A federal judge criticized the government’s handling of the tax record lawsuit as favoring the president.
The White House declined to comment on the situation, directing inquiries to Trump's social media statements.
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U.S. authorities are investigating a cyberattack that targeted more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota. Officials believe the attack may be linked to hackers aligned with the Iranian government but have not confirmed who is responsible.
Key Facts
Over 30 community water systems in Minnesota were affected by a coordinated cyberattack.
Minnesota IT Services reported the attack and is monitoring the situation.
The cyberattack methods resemble incidents linked to hackers aligned with Iran.
The FBI is working with victims and supporting efforts to protect critical infrastructure.
U.S. officials have not definitively identified the attackers and are still gathering information.
The attack temporarily disrupted some water facilities but did not make water unsafe to drink.
The cyberattack occurred amid ongoing conflict and rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Recent military strikes have been exchanged between the U.S. and Iran, affecting civilian infrastructure.
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The U.S. Army gave Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to make Patriot interceptor missiles over seven years. This contract replaces an earlier one-year deal and aims to rebuild the country's low missile supplies.
Key Facts
The contract is for seven years and can be worth up to $58.6 billion.
Lockheed Martin will produce Patriot interceptor missiles under this contract.
This deal replaces a previous one-year contract valued at $4.7 billion from April.
The U.S. Army is focusing on quickly replenishing its missile stockpiles.
Patriot missiles are used by the U.S. military to intercept and destroy incoming threats.
The contract was officially announced on a Wednesday.
This production is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities.
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Most Americans say the war in Iran, which started on February 28, is not worth fighting. President Donald Trump's approval rating on how he is handling the Iran conflict has decreased slightly since last month.
Key Facts
The war with Iran began on February 28.
Around two-thirds of U.S. adults believe the war is not worthwhile.
Most Democrats and independents think the war is not worth fighting.
About 37% of Republicans also say the war is not worthwhile.
President Trump's approval rating on his handling of Iran has dropped slightly since last month.
The poll was conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The conflict has lasted longer than President Trump originally expected.
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