Parts of the United States experienced sudden heavy rain causing flash floods, along with very hot temperatures. Meanwhile, jurors in the Clancy murder trial listened to new information and evidence.
Key Facts
Some areas in the U.S. faced rapid flooding due to intense rain.
Temperatures in these regions reached dangerously high levels.
A murder trial involving someone named Clancy is underway.
Jurors in this trial received new testimony.
New evidence was presented to the jury in the case.
These events were reported on CBS Evening News on July 29.
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President Donald Trump said he respects President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon Dr. Anthony Fauci. This comment came after Fauci refused to answer many questions during a Senate hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic by invoking the Fifth Amendment.
Key Facts
President Trump expressed respect for President Biden’s pardon of Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Dr. Fauci used the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times at a Senate hearing.
The Senate hearing focused on investigating the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fifth Amendment allows a person to avoid answering questions to prevent self-incrimination.
The presidential power of pardon allows a president to forgive someone for crimes or legal issues.
President Trump made his comments while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
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The Trump Administration spent $5.1 million to restore the Arts of War statues near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The statues were covered again with 23.75-karat gold. People in Washington shared their opinions about the restoration.
Key Facts
The statues are called the Arts of War and are located by the Lincoln Memorial.
The restoration project used 23.75-karat gold to regild the statues.
The total cost of the project was $5.1 million.
The work was done during the Trump Administration.
The BBC asked Washington visitors for their reactions to the statues after the renovation.
The statues are a historic part of the city’s monuments.
The project aimed to preserve and enhance the appearance of the statues.
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A New Jersey man was sentenced to six months in jail for driving his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. The judge noted the man's mental health problems and said the attack was not a hate crime as initially thought.
Key Facts
The attacker was Dan Sohail, age 36, from New Jersey.
He rammed his car into the Jewish organization's headquarters five times, damaging the entrance and his car.
No one was hurt in the incident.
Prosecutors wanted a longer sentence to warn others amid rising hate crimes against Jewish people.
The judge sentenced Sohail to six months and one week, allowing his release soon since he was already detained six months.
Sohail has depression and post-traumatic stress disorder from a difficult childhood.
His lawyer said he tried to connect with the Jewish community but became anxious and acted irrationally.
Sohail pleaded guilty to damaging religious property and did not face hate crime charges.
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Democrats are building their own network of social media influencers and creators to influence politics, similar to what conservatives have done for years. The Democratic primary in Michigan between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens shows how this new approach aims to reach voters through trusted online voices rather than traditional party channels.
Key Facts
Democrats are using podcasts, YouTube, Instagram, and other social media to gain political support.
Abdul El-Sayed is challenging Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary.
The race is important since Senator Gary Peters is not running again, and Michigan was won twice by President Trump.
Democrats see social media creators as a way to connect with voters who distrust traditional news and party institutions.
The Democratic National Committee works with over 500 creators as part of its “Influencer & Creative” program.
Roughly 20% of U.S. adults regularly get news from social media influencers.
Democrats aim to match the conservative influencer model that helped President Trump rise.
This strategy risks changing Democratic politics by encouraging outsider candidates and factional loyalty.
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The Justice Department wants to give federal immigration judges new power to punish lawyers, their clients, and witnesses if they break court orders by holding them in contempt and imposing fines. This rule would not apply to government lawyers, sparking criticism that it is unfair and might violate the Constitution.
Key Facts
The Justice Department proposes allowing immigration judges to hold attorneys, clients, and witnesses in contempt for violating court orders.
Judges could impose fines from $1,000 to $3,500 under the new rule.
Federal government lawyers, like those from Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would be exempt from contempt orders.
Critics say this creates an unfair system that targets immigration attorneys but not government lawyers.
Immigration courts belong to the executive branch, which some experts say does not have authority to hold contempt under the Constitution.
The rule comes amid mass departures of immigration judges and a backlog of over 3.5 million cases.
The public has 60 days to review and comment on the proposed rule.
The Justice Department claims government attorneys are disciplined internally, so contempt authority over them is unnecessary.
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Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, called for an investigation into Ohio Republican Representative Max Miller over allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife. Miller denies the accusations, and his case has included court filings and statements from both sides. The situation has raised questions about how Congress addresses abuse claims among lawmakers.
Key Facts
Nancy Mace supports investigating Max Miller based on abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.
Allegations include threats with a gun, physical assault, and causing injury to their child, as reported by several news outlets.
Max Miller denies the abuse claims and has joint custody of his child, which he says shows the accusations lack credibility.
Miller accuses his ex-wife of making false reports to Child Protective Services and disputes her claims.
Emily Moreno’s attorney rejects Miller’s claim that Moreno has untreated bipolar disorder.
Some members of Congress, like Representative Sam Liccardo, have called for an ethics investigation into Miller.
The issue arises amid heightened awareness of abuse allegations and accountability in Congress, following recent related resignations.
There has been less public response from Congress members compared to other recent abuse cases involving politicians.
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A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows that the United States has used about 65% of its Patriot missile interceptors in the ongoing conflict with Iran since February 28. The stockpile of another advanced missile defense system called THAAD dropped by half during early fighting but has stayed stable since the ceasefire. President Donald Trump warned the U.S. would respond strongly to Iranian attacks.
Key Facts
Since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, U.S. Patriot missile interceptors have decreased by approximately 65%.
As of the latest report, the U.S. stockpile has around 759 Patriot interceptors left.
The U.S. produces about 183 Patriot interceptors per year, and it takes roughly 3.5 years for them to be delivered after a contract is signed.
THAAD interceptors, which have longer range and higher altitude capability, dropped by about 50% during fighting from February 28 to April 8 but have remained stable since the ceasefire.
The Pentagon is requesting $67 billion in extra funding from Congress to address shortages in missiles and other military supplies.
The Biden administration sent three Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine under Presidential Drawdown Authority, which may have affected U.S. missile stockpiles.
Pentagon officials say the military currently has enough resources to carry out the president’s orders.
Experts warn that shortages of missile interceptors are a serious issue that will take time to fix.
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A 911 call from Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband was played in court during the second day of her trial. Lindsay Clancy faces charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of her three children in 2023 and could face life in prison.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children.
She is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
The trial reached its second day when a 911 call from her ex-husband was played in court.
The murders happened in 2023.
If convicted, Clancy could be sentenced to life in prison.
The case is receiving significant media attention.
CBS News correspondents are covering the trial.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly used the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic. He did this in response to repeated questions from Senator Rand Paul, who criticized Fauci. Senator Paul, Dr. Deborah Birx, and Dr. Céline Gounder discussed the hearing on CBS News.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a Senate hearing on COVID-19.
The Fifth Amendment protects people from self-incrimination.
Senator Rand Paul led the questioning and criticized Fauci’s role during the pandemic.
Dr. Deborah Birx is a former White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator.
Dr. Céline Gounder is a medical correspondent for CBS News.
The discussion took place on CBS News’ program called "The Takeout".
The hearing focused on actions and decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Senator Rand Paul made claims about COVID-19 testing on animals near Wuhan during a recent Capitol Hill hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci. CBS News correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder discussed these claims and provided fact-checking information.
Key Facts
Senator Rand Paul raised questions about COVID-19 testing on animals around Wuhan, China.
The discussion happened during a Capitol Hill hearing involving Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical correspondent, provided analysis and fact-checking on the claims.
CBS News reported on this to clarify the accuracy of the statements made.
The hearing was part of ongoing debates about the origins and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The topic centers on whether the virus came from natural animal sources or other explanations.
The fact-check aimed to separate confirmed information from speculation in the hearing.
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A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot apply its travel ban to Afghan asylum seekers and their families. The court ordered the government to allow certain family members to enter the U.S. and review other applications without using the travel ban restrictions.
Key Facts
Judge Anthony J. Trenga blocked the State Department policy that denied entry to family members of asylum seekers due to President Trump’s travel ban.
The court ordered travel documents to be issued to five family members within 15 days.
Two additional applications must be reconsidered without using the travel ban rules.
The ruling affects travel bans that cover Afghanistan and other countries seen as security risks by the Trump administration.
The judge will keep overseeing the case until the family members arrive in the United States.
The decision is seen as a major legal challenge to President Trump’s expanded travel restrictions made in 2025.
The International Refugee Assistance Project supports the ruling, citing the need to protect people who helped the U.S. in Afghanistan.
The case highlights ongoing issues related to asylum seekers and family reunification under current immigration policies.
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Texas community colleges are facing budget cuts because the state cannot pay them all the money they earned through a funding formula tied to student success. College leaders warn this shortfall will affect faculty salaries, advising services, and the investments needed to help students.
Key Facts
Texas community colleges earned more money than state projections predicted based on student outcomes.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reduced payments to colleges to stay within the state’s budget.
Nearly a dozen colleges face more than a 15% drop in state funding.
Colleges have limited options to cover the shortfall, as tuition and fees have remained flat.
Some colleges plan to spend more money than they receive this year to maintain services.
The funding formula was created by House Bill 8 to reward colleges for outcomes like degree completion and university transfers.
Lawmakers and state officials acknowledge the funding forecasts were off and expect better accuracy as more data is collected.
Colleges are cautious about using this funding for permanent staff because payment levels may change suddenly.
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Howard University initially unenrolled over 500 new students for the fall semester due to unpaid tuition balances or missing immunization records. Since then, more than 200 of these students have been readmitted after the school reviewed their financial aid and other documents.
Key Facts
Howard University unenrolled over 500 first-year students before the fall semester.
Reasons for unenrollment included unpaid tuition after financial aid and unreported immunizations.
The university had informed students about payment deadlines as early as March.
Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick said the university followed its policies.
Many students and parents struggled to contact the university for help.
The school responded to emails and began meetings with families last week, leading to some readmissions.
About 2,200 new students remained enrolled after 502 were initially unenrolled.
One student, Keana Johnson, was reinstated after her shelter staff helped her speak with university officials in person.
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California delayed releasing records about Governor Gavin Newsom’s diaper program that uses taxpayer money. The state gave a $6.2 million contract to the nonprofit Baby2Baby without a formal bidding process, even though other bidders offered different options that could have reduced waste.
Key Facts
California took 66 days to release 356 pages of records about the diaper program.
The state awarded Baby2Baby a $6.2 million contract without a competitive bid, using a budget exemption.
Baby2Baby’s plan gives families 400 diapers in only newborn and size 1, with no returns or exchanges if sizes don’t fit.
Another finalist, SupplyBank.org, offered more diapers, more sizes, and a direct-to-consumer delivery option.
The state’s own records show mixed information about how many organizations responded to the request for information.
Amazon proposed a voucher system for families to choose sizes and make returns but was not included in final comparisons.
The contract includes language requiring mutual approval of communications and that oversight committee meetings are not public.
The diaper manufacturer, kept confidential during selection, is located in Mexico.
Lawmakers renewed the diaper program and its exemption from usual contract rules for a second year despite transparency concerns.
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Older Americans aged 60 and above lost nearly $8 billion to scammers in 2025. Scammers target retirees because they often have significant savings built up over their lifetime.
Key Facts
People over 60 lost close to $8 billion to scams in 2025.
Scammers focus on older adults because they usually have more money saved.
The loss highlights the financial risks retirees face from fraud.
Authorities are aware of the increasing scam activities targeting seniors.
Efforts to protect older Americans from scams are important to prevent such large losses.
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New York City has started a new tax on expensive second homes, called a pied-à-terre tax, that began on July 1. The tax applies to high-value properties that are not the owner's main home, with bills due starting in 2027. Property owners who think they qualify for an exemption can apply by late August.
Key Facts
The pied-à-terre tax targets luxury homes in New York City valued over $5 million for houses and over $1 million for condos and co-ops that are not the owner’s main residence.
The tax rates vary, from 0.8% to 1.3% for houses and from 4% to 6.5% for condos and co-ops, depending on property value.
Notices were sent to potential taxpayers recently, with deadlines in August to apply for exemptions.
The city estimates the tax will raise about $500 million each year from around 13,000 properties to help fund housing programs.
Some officials predict lower revenue, between $340 million and $380 million annually.
The tax has caused debate, with supporters wanting wealthy second-home owners to help the city, and critics worried it might reduce investment or cause wealthy people to leave.
The city published a list of properties that might owe the tax, leading to privacy and accuracy concerns.
Being on the list does not guarantee a tax bill, as owners can prove their home is their main residence to avoid the surcharge.
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Dr. Deborah Birx, who helped lead the U.S. response to COVID-19, spoke about her experiences working with Dr. Anthony Fauci during the pandemic. She shared her views on Fauci’s diaries, his decisions during the pandemic, and the ongoing discussion about where COVID-19 began.
Key Facts
Dr. Deborah Birx was the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator.
She worked closely with Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Birx appeared on the CBS News show "The Takeout" to discuss her experiences.
She commented on the contents of Fauci’s diaries.
Birx talked about Fauci’s actions during the pandemic.
The discussion included debates about the origins of COVID-19.
Birx expressed a need for better ways to handle disagreements about the pandemic response.
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Senator Rand Paul said there is a real possibility that Dr. Anthony Fauci could face legal prosecution after a Senate hearing. During the hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Fauci repeatedly used his right to remain silent by invoking the Fifth Amendment, which upset Republican lawmakers.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci testified in a Senate hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, which means he chose not to answer some questions to avoid self-incrimination.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky led the hearing.
Senator Paul said there is a "very real chance" Fauci could be prosecuted.
Republican lawmakers were angered by Fauci’s refusal to answer certain questions.
The hearing was described as contentious or intense.
The discussion focused on events related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Trump administration is starting a program called TSA Gold+ that lets some U.S. airports hire private companies to handle security checks instead of using federal TSA workers. Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines airports are the first to try this program, which could change how passengers go through security.
Key Facts
TSA Gold+ is a new program by the Trump administration to privatize some airport security screenings.
Private companies will run security checks at certain airports instead of TSA employees.
Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines international airports are the first to join this program.
Privatization of airport security is common in Europe, with over 80% of airports using private screening.
The program aims to shift some security responsibilities away from the federal government.
This approach is intended to be tested at selected airports before wider use.
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