Several schools in Colorado, Florida, and Georgia will start the school year using drones equipped with pepper spray, strobe lights, and sirens to respond quickly to active shooters. These drones can fly fast through hallways, helping locate and stop a shooter before police arrive, aiming to improve school safety during shootings.
Key Facts
The drones come from Mithril Defense and are called Campus Guardian Angel.
They can fly up to 50 miles per hour inside schools and locate a shooter within 15 seconds.
The drones use sirens, strobe lights, pepper gel, and can ram a shooter as a last measure.
Remote pilots operate drones from Mithril's headquarters in Austin, Texas.
School shootings peaked at 352 incidents in 2023 but have decreased over the past two years.
The drones are stored securely inside schools and can be deployed within seconds.
The cost for using the drones is about $20,000 per year for an 80,000-square-foot school.
Some experts say mental health and positive school environments are also important to prevent violence.
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Senator Gary Peters criticized Senate Committee Chair Rand Paul for calling Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify about his role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Peters said this hearing was focusing too much on past events instead of current or future issues.
Key Facts
Senator Gary Peters is a Democrat from Michigan.
Rand Paul is the Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Rand Paul called Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify before Congress.
The hearing focuses on Fauci’s role in overseeing the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Peters is the ranking member, meaning he is the top Democrat on the committee.
Peters criticized Paul for “relitigating the past,” meaning revisiting old issues.
The hearing took place on a Wednesday (specific date not given).
The debate reflects ongoing political disagreements about how the pandemic was handled.
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California chose Baby2Baby to run a free diaper program without using a normal competitive bidding process. State records show concerns that providing only the smallest diaper sizes and a large number of diapers all at once could cause waste. The state delayed releasing contract details until after a news investigation.
Key Facts
California’s diaper program gives 400 diapers per baby in just Newborn and Size 1 sizes at hospital discharge.
Experts and other nonprofit groups warned this size limit and quantity could cause diaper waste.
Baby2Baby received the contract despite concerns and no option to exchange diaper sizes.
The state used a budget exemption to skip the usual competitive bidding process.
The contract was delayed for 66 days before being released after a news report.
Baby2Baby is a well-regarded charity with low executive pay and celebrity board members who are unpaid.
The state’s records lacked bid scoring, evaluation criteria, and rankings typical in normal contract competitions.
The other finalist offered more diaper sizes and quantities for a similar price but was not selected.
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Senator Rand Paul asked security to remove one of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s lawyers from a Senate hearing room. This happened after Dr. Fauci used his Fifth Amendment right to avoid answering questions.
Key Facts
Senator Rand Paul is the chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is an expert in infectious diseases.
During the hearing, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, which protects against self-incrimination.
Fauci’s attorney tried to speak several times in the hearing room.
Senator Paul did not allow the attorney to speak and ordered security to remove them.
The incident took place during a committee hearing on Wednesday.
The removal was linked to the attorney’s repeated attempts to speak without recognition from the chair.
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During a Senate hearing led by Republicans about the origins of Covid-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions. Senator Rand Paul accused Fauci of hiding the truth about whether Covid originated naturally or from a lab, based on Fauci’s private diary entries.
Key Facts
Anthony Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), refused to answer questions by invoking the Fifth Amendment.
The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being forced to testify against themselves in criminal cases.
Fauci’s refusal came after Senator Rand Paul released Fauci’s diary entries that discussed Covid origins and Fauci’s public and private statements.
Fauci’s diary showed he was open to both natural origin and lab leak theories early in the pandemic but later leaned toward a natural origin.
Senator Rand Paul pushed the lab leak theory, suggesting Fauci privately believed Covid came from a lab in Wuhan, China.
The hearing had tense moments, including lawyers trying to intervene and Fauci’s lawyer being removed after a confrontation.
Some Democratic senators defended Fauci and criticized the hearing as a political effort to target him.
Concerns were raised about current US health leadership under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who criticized Fauci and was involved in uncovering Fauci’s diary entries.
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Severe storms and heavy rain caused flash floods and tornado warnings across the northeastern United States, leading to power outages, travel disruptions, and at least one death. Meanwhile, a strong heat wave continues across the southern US, raising wildfire risks and causing dangerous heat levels in several states.
Key Facts
Heavy rain and strong winds hit northeastern states, causing flash flooding and tornado alerts.
A 32-year-old man died from a lightning strike in New Jersey.
Rescue crews saved dozens of people trapped by floodwaters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
More than 11 million people remain at risk of flash flooding in the Northeast.
Up to 12 inches of rain are forecast in parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Airports canceled hundreds of flights due to the storms.
The southern US is experiencing a heat wave with temperatures reaching up to 120°F in places like Phoenix and Las Vegas.
A tornado in Wisconsin was rated as EF3, with winds reaching 145 mph, injuring 68 people but causing no severe injuries.
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A Wisconsin appeals court reversed a previous decision that had restored collective bargaining rights for most public workers, upholding a 2011 law that limits these rights. This law, known as Act 10, reduces public employee bargaining power and requires them to pay more for benefits, sparking major protests and ongoing legal battles.
Key Facts
The Wisconsin appeals court overturned a ruling that had struck down Act 10, the 2011 law restricting union rights for public workers.
Act 10 was introduced by Republicans and ended most collective bargaining for public employees except for wage increases limited to inflation.
The law requires public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.
The law caused weeks of protests, sometimes drawing up to 100,000 people to the state Capitol.
Unions plan to appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which now has a liberal majority expected to increase soon.
Supporters say the law helps local governments control costs and avoid bankruptcy.
Opponents argue the law hurts schools and government agencies by reducing workers’ rights to negotiate pay and working conditions.
All five Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor vow to repeal the law if elected in the August 2024 primary.
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President Donald Trump responded strongly after Iran attacked U.S. forces in Jordan. He promised that the United States would take tough action against Iran.
Key Facts
Iran launched a surprise attack targeting U.S. forces stationed in Jordan.
President Trump made his comments during a Fox News interview.
He said the U.S. will respond by hitting Iran hard.
Trump used strong language saying Iran will "get a beating."
The U.S. is preparing to take further action following the attack on its troops.
The statement reflects a firm stance from the U.S. government toward Iran.
The incident increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
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Former FBI Director James Comey asked a judge to dismiss the case against him. He says the case is a revenge attack directed by President Donald Trump. Comey also requested a special hearing to review the evidence in the case.
Key Facts
James Comey is the former Director of the FBI.
He faces a case related to sharing a photo of seashells that spell “86 47.”
Comey claims the prosecution is unfair and motivated by revenge.
He says President Donald Trump ordered the prosecution against him.
Comey filed a request to dismiss the case.
He also requested a “Franks hearing” to examine the evidence used in the investigation.
The filings were made late on a Tuesday.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top scientist at the National Institutes of Health, refused to answer questions at a Senate hearing about COVID-19. He said he was using the Fifth Amendment, which allows a person to avoid answering questions that might incriminate them.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The hearing was led by Republican members of the Senate.
Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions.
The Fifth Amendment lets people refuse to answer questions to protect themselves from legal trouble.
Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, subpoenaed Fauci to testify.
The hearing focused on the origins of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Fauci said he respected Congress but acted on advice from his lawyers.
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COVID-19 cases are rising in most U.S. states for the first time since spring, according to new CDC data. Thirty-seven states show increasing infections, while eleven states have stable levels, and none currently show a decline.
Key Facts
The CDC's latest epidemic model shows COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 37 states.
Eleven states have stable transmission levels of COVID-19.
No states are currently experiencing declining or likely declining COVID-19 cases.
Large parts of the South, including Texas and Florida, show strong COVID-19 growth.
Some populous states like California, New York, Illinois, and Michigan also have growing COVID-19 cases.
States such as Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey show stable COVID-19 transmission.
The CDC uses a measure called the effective reproduction number (Rt) to estimate if infections are growing or shrinking.
Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Senate committee recently but declined to answer some questions about the COVID-19 response, citing his Fifth Amendment rights.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, a former top U.S. health official, used his right under the Fifth Amendment to refuse to answer questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee. He did this to avoid possibly being prosecuted for lying under oath during a hearing related to his work on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Facts
Dr. Fauci was called to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
The hearing involved diary entries Fauci wrote while leading the U.S. COVID-19 response.
Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, which allows someone to refuse to testify to avoid self-incrimination.
The Fifth Amendment protects people from being forced to say things that could be used against them in a criminal case.
Republican lawmakers were leading the questioning during this hearing.
Fauci used this right to avoid the risk of being charged with perjury, which means lying under oath.
The hearing took place amid ongoing political debates over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This event happened shortly after Fauci was subpoenaed, meaning he was legally ordered to appear.
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The Trump administration will end the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after 2026. This program helped keep monthly costs for some Medicare prescription drug plans lower, but without it, some seniors may pay more for their drug coverage starting in 2027.
Key Facts
The Premium Stabilization Demonstration was a temporary program providing extra federal support to insurers to limit big jumps in Medicare Part D premiums.
The program will expire after 2026, and insurers will set 2027 plan premiums without this support.
Most beneficiaries will see premiums increase by less than $10, though some could pay more or less depending on their plan and location.
Nearly 25 million people were enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans in 2026.
This change only affects stand-alone Part D plans, not Medicare Advantage plans that also offer drug coverage.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will release final 2027 premium details in September.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the market is stabilizing, so the subsidy is no longer needed.
Some advocacy groups worry even small premium rises could make it harder for seniors on fixed incomes to afford medications.
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Abigail Jackson, the White House deputy press secretary, is leaving her job to join a company named OnMessage Public Strategies. She expressed gratitude for working in President Donald Trump’s administration and is excited about her new role.
Key Facts
Abigail Jackson served as the White House deputy press secretary.
She announced her departure from the White House.
Jackson is joining a company called OnMessage Public Strategies.
She praised President Donald Trump and the team she worked with.
Her announcement was made on the social media platform X.
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President Donald Trump's administration missed the deadline to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its June 30 decision that blocked his attempt to limit birthright citizenship. The court ruled that most children born in the U.S. are citizens at birth, no matter their parents' immigration status.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against President Trump's order to restrict birthright citizenship.
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the U.S. automatically becomes a citizen, as stated in the 14th Amendment.
The deadline for filing a petition to rehear the case was 25 days after the June 30 decision; this deadline has passed.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all people born in the U.S., confirming past court decisions from as far back as 1898.
President Trump said he would seek a rehearing, but no petition has been filed publicly.
Some Republican lawmakers are still working on laws to limit citizenship at birth, including one proposal to end birthright citizenship in U.S. territories after 2027.
Critics of birthright citizenship mention "birth tourism," where people come to the U.S. to have babies who get citizenship.
About 300,000 babies were estimated to be born in 2023 in the U.S. to mothers without legal immigration status.
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The US government ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitians who have lived and worked legally in the US since 2010. This decision has created uncertainty and fear for Haitian workers and their employers, as some workers lost their work permits and face possible deportation to a country with severe violence and humanitarian needs.
Key Facts
TPS allowed Haitians to live and work legally in the US after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
President Trump’s administration ended TPS for Haitians as part of a wider immigration crackdown affecting about 1 million people.
The Supreme Court supported ending TPS on June 25, 2024, but lower courts took time to issue final rulings.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had extended work permits temporarily but stopped doing so recently, causing confusion.
Haitian workers with expired work permits have been suspended from their jobs, increasing financial hardship.
Haiti faces extreme violence and humanitarian crises, with over 1.5 million displaced and thousands killed in recent months.
The Department of Homeland Security told Haitians to consider returning home and offered financial assistance for flights.
Employers and community groups are struggling to support Haitian workers who are unsure about their future in the US.
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Senator Rand Paul criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci during a congressional hearing about the origins of COVID-19. Paul demanded that Fauci apologize, continuing a long-standing public disagreement between the two.
Key Facts
Senator Rand Paul is a Republican from Kentucky.
The hearing focused on investigating how COVID-19 started.
Paul asked Dr. Fauci for an apology at the hearing.
Dr. Anthony Fauci was the top federal infectious disease expert.
Paul and Fauci have publicly accused each other of dishonesty over the years.
The hearing was held by a congressional panel.
This is part of ongoing political and scientific debates about the pandemic.
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A big storm is bringing heavy rain and flood risks to parts of the northeastern United States, including cities like New York City, Boston, and Albany. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warnings for these areas as rain may cause rivers and streams to overflow and lead to flooding.
Key Facts
Over 10 million people in the Northeast are under flood alerts.
Flood watches cover parts of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont until Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon.
Cities at risk include New York City, Boston, Hartford, Portland, and Albany.
Albany received more than 6 inches of rain, the highest amount in the region during this storm.
Forecasters expect up to 2 more inches of rain, with total rainfall between 2-5 inches possible in parts of New England.
Flash flood warnings were issued, especially in Albany, Hartford, and Springfield.
Flooding may occur in low areas, near rivers, creeks, and places with poor drainage.
Weather officials advise people in flood-prone areas to stay alert and be ready to act if flooding happens.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci declined to answer questions from a Senate committee investigating COVID-19 origins by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, which protect against self-incrimination. Senator Rand Paul criticized Fauci’s refusal to testify and warned of consequences.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci led the U.S. infectious disease response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci was questioned by a Senate homeland security committee led by Senator Rand Paul.
Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions that might incriminate him.
Former President Biden gave Fauci a preemptive pardon before leaving office.
Fauci fears his statements could lead to new investigations despite the pardon.
Senator Rand Paul accused Fauci of trying to avoid accountability and promised repercussions for not testifying.
Fauci said he is acting on legal advice by refusing to answer the questions.
The hearing relates to investigations into the origins of COVID-19.
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