The United States has already reported more measles cases in 2026 than in all of 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 2,318 cases so far this year, with major outbreaks in several states.
Key Facts
There have been 2,318 measles cases in the U.S. in 2026 so far.
The total cases in 2025 were 2,289, the highest in over 30 years.
2026 is now the worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1991.
Major outbreaks occurred in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona.
Smaller groups of cases have appeared in other states across the country.
The CDC is tracking and reporting these measles cases regularly.
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Homelessness in Los Angeles increased by 3.4 percent in 2025, adding challenges for Mayor Karen Bass as she competes for reelection against Nithya Raman. The rise includes a 7.9 percent increase in people living outdoors or in vehicles, fueling debate over how to best address this issue in the city.
Key Facts
Homelessness in Los Angeles rose 3.4 percent in 2025, reaching 45,194 people.
The number of people living outside or in cars went up by 7.9 percent.
Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman both want to reduce homelessness but differ on how to do it.
Bass blames federal and state funding cuts, including those during President Trump’s administration, for worsening homelessness.
Nithya Raman argues that current city leadership has not done enough to move homeless people into permanent housing.
Bass’s homelessness program Inside Safe was criticized for a 40 percent rate of participants returning to the street.
Both Bass and Raman are Democrats; Raman is considered more progressive.
Polls show a close race, but prediction markets currently favor Bass to win reelection.
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Connor Michael Read, a British father of American twin boys, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his green card interview in June. He has a criminal history with several Florida offenses, and had previously been a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Key Facts
Connor Michael Read is 29 years old and originally from the UK.
He was detained by ICE during a green card interview on June 3, while with his wife and twin sons.
Read has lived in Florida since age 9 and was a DACA recipient starting at age 16.
His criminal record includes possession of drug paraphernalia, cannabis offenses, underage alcohol possession, and charges related to resisting an officer.
The I-130 petition, a step in the green card process confirming his marriage, was approved the same day he was detained.
Several charges against him received "adjudication withheld," meaning no formal conviction was recorded despite the court finding a factual basis for guilt.
ICE stated he was placed in removal proceedings after violating visa terms.
Read is currently held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center.
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A teenager accused of killing four people in a 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia has admitted to all the charges against him in court. This means he accepted responsibility for the crime in a formal hearing.
Key Facts
The suspect is a teenager.
The incident happened in 2024 at Apalachee High School, located in Georgia.
Four people died in the shooting.
The teen pleaded guilty to all charges related to the shooting.
The guilty plea was made during a court hearing.
The case is being covered by CBS News with reports from Jared Eggleston.
Pleading guilty means the suspect formally accepted that he committed the crime.
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President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner on Friday at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington. The event was originally stopped in April due to a shooting and security threat, but will now proceed with stronger security and a new entertainment format.
Key Facts
The original WHCA dinner in April ended early after a gunman entered the venue and caused an evacuation.
The gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, faces multiple charges, including attempted assassination, and pleaded not guilty.
The rescheduled dinner takes place at the Waldorf Astoria instead of the Washington Hilton.
President Trump and many senior administration officials are expected to attend the event.
The featured entertainer this year is mentalist Oz Pearlman, rather than the usual comedian.
Some high-profile officials like First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will miss the event.
The WHCA aims to highlight press freedom and journalism despite the previous violence.
The event will be broadcast live on C-SPAN starting at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
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President Donald Trump said he believes the leaders of China and Russia when they say they have not given weapons to Iran or joined its conflict with the United States and Israel. He shared this view in a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump commented on the involvement of China and Russia in Iran’s conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
He said he takes at face value their leaders’ claims that they are not supplying weapons to Iran.
He also said they are not participating in the war alongside Iran.
Trump made this statement on his social media site called Truth Social.
His remarks came after comments or testimony from other U.S. officials.
The topic relates to ongoing tensions between the U.S., Israel, Iran, China, and Russia.
Trump’s statement focuses on trusting official statements from China and Russia regarding their role.
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Dan Hiers Jr., a former South Carolina police officer wanted for sexual abuse and murder, was brought back to the United States from China after being on the run for over 20 years. He disappeared in 2005 after failing to appear for a court date when his wife was found dead, and was arrested in Shanghai in 2018 under a fake name before being extradited to South Carolina in 2024.
Key Facts
Dan Hiers Jr. was suspended from the Charleston Police Department in 2004 over sexual misconduct accusations involving a minor.
He was arrested in November 2004 for lewd acts on a child under 16 but released on bond.
Hiers failed to appear at a scheduled surrender in March 2005, the same day his wife was found shot in the back of the head.
A warrant was issued for murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Hiers was on the U.S. Marshals' "15 Most Wanted" list and featured on TV shows like "America’s Most Wanted."
In 2018, Hiers was found and arrested in Shanghai, China, where he used the name David Williams and worked as an English teacher.
His extradition back to the U.S. followed a long investigation and involved cooperation between U.S. and Chinese authorities.
Hiers has been returned to South Carolina to face charges.
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A police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge in central London, injuring five Metropolitan Police officers. The officers were rescued from the water and are receiving medical treatment, while no members of the public were hurt.
Key Facts
The crash happened around 3:40 pm near Westminster Bridge.
The boat belonged to the Marine Policing Unit.
Five officers were injured and helped out of the water.
Police and emergency services responded quickly to the scene.
No civilians were involved or injured in the incident.
Part of Westminster Bridge was closed off by police.
A police helicopter and air ambulance were present during the emergency.
Westminster Underground station entrances were temporarily shut after the crash.
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The Pentagon website tracking deaths and injuries in the war with Iran removed the names of four recently killed service members, temporarily showing fewer casualties than actually occurred. Pentagon officials said this was due to data problems, and they are working to fix the errors. The war casualties are listed under Operation Epic Fury, and updates about injuries and deaths have been slow and inconsistent.
Key Facts
The Pentagon website showed 14 deaths but should show 18 killed in the Iran war since February.
Four service members recently killed were removed from the list due to data disruptions.
These deaths happened after President Trump ended a ceasefire and resumed military action on July 7.
The Pentagon named the Iran war "Operation Epic Fury" for reporting purposes.
There was confusion over how some deaths were classified initially, with some wrongly listed under an operation targeting ISIS.
Nearly 100 service members have been injured since July 7, with most injuries being minor concussions.
One Navy member, Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, is missing after a helicopter emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1.
Pentagon officials have not given reporters recent briefings on the Iran war and have been slow to update casualty information online.
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A Democratic representative from Michigan, Hillary Scholten, has not said whether she would support Abdul El-Sayed if he wins the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. She criticized El-Sayed for his campaign associations with certain political figures and candidates.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat.
The seat is being vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters.
Representative Hillary Scholten is also involved in Michigan Democratic politics.
Scholten did not confirm if she would back El-Sayed if he wins the primary.
She criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with commentator Hasan Piker.
She also disapproved of El-Sayed’s connection to Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
The remarks were made during a CNN interview with Jake Tapper.
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Senator Joe Manchin has started a new group called the Independent Leadership Council to help elect independent candidates to the U.S. Congress. The group aims to support politicians who do not belong to the Democratic or Republican parties.
Key Facts
Joe Manchin is a Senator from West Virginia.
He is 78 years old.
Manchin created the Independent Leadership Council (ILC).
The ILC focuses on helping independent candidates run for Congress.
These candidates are not part of the two main parties: Democrats and Republicans.
Manchin will lead this new organization.
The goal is to build support and resources for independent political campaigns.
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Rep. Thomas Massie says that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration are not following the law by treating the conflict with Iran as two separate wars. Massie believes this is done to avoid asking Congress for permission to go to war.
Key Facts
Rep. Thomas Massie is a Republican from Kentucky.
Massie accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of breaking the law.
The accusation relates to how the Trump administration views the conflict with Iran.
The administration reportedly splits the Iran conflict into two wars.
This approach may be used to avoid seeking congressional approval for military action.
The claim came after a New York Times report about Pentagon actions.
The issue concerns the legal requirement for Congress to authorize war.
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President Donald Trump has introduced "Trump Accounts," federally funded investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 that start with a $1,000 deposit. These accounts aim to encourage market-based wealth building rather than direct government redistribution, differing from earlier baby bond proposals that focus on reducing wealth inequality.
Key Facts
Trump Accounts are for U.S. citizen children under 18, born from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028.
They start with a $1,000 federal seed contribution.
Families, relatives, and employers can add money to these accounts.
The money is invested privately to grow over time until the child reaches adulthood.
This program is designed to promote asset ownership rather than direct wealth redistribution.
Previous baby bond proposals by Democrats included additional contributions based on family income to address wealth inequality.
Senators Cory Booker and Ted Cruz have supported the program as building on earlier baby bond ideas.
The Trump administration presents this program as a pro-capitalist alternative to socialism.
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The House of Representatives voted to reduce President Donald Trump's authority to conduct military actions against Iran without approval from Congress. However, the Senate did not pass a similar resolution to limit these war powers.
Key Facts
The House passed a measure to limit President Trump's ability to take military action against Iran.
The Senate failed to approve a comparable resolution to restrict the president's war powers.
This disagreement shows a split between the two chambers of Congress on how to manage U.S. military involvement with Iran.
The resolutions aim to ensure that any military action against Iran must get approval from Congress first.
The issue involves current U.S. foreign policy and war powers as defined by the Constitution.
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Courtney Stodden, who married at age 16 with parental consent, is campaigning for a California law to ban all child marriages under 18. Her advocacy gained attention after actor Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch involving Stodden when she was 17. A bill to prohibit all marriages under 18 in California has passed the Assembly and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Key Facts
Courtney Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison in 2011 when she was 16 and he was 51; the marriage was legal with parental consent.
Stodden divorced Hutchison in 2020 and has spoken out against child marriage since then.
Child marriage is still legal in 33 U.S. states under some circumstances, like parental consent or judicial approval.
California Assembly Bill 1267 would ban marriage for anyone under 18 with no exceptions.
Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch featuring Stodden when she was 17, calling it inappropriate.
Stodden says the sketch was harmful and uses the situation to highlight the need for laws protecting children.
The bill was authored by both Republican and Democratic California Assemblymembers.
The bill has passed the California Assembly and is under review in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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An Arkansas State University student dressed as Spider-Man for his trampoline park job was filmed on a traffic camera helping a man in a wheelchair cross a busy street. The video showed the student jumping out of his Jeep to assist safely.
Key Facts
The event took place in Arkansas.
The man helping works at a trampoline park and was dressed like Spider-Man for his job.
He stopped his Jeep to help a man in a wheelchair cross a two-way street.
A traffic camera recorded the entire incident.
The act took place on a busy street with cars passing by.
The student’s action was described as a helpful moment caught on camera.
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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started hiring new employees called Homeland Defenders, who will work as immigration officers. These hires come from outside the agency and will perform duties like interviewing applicants, checking security, and identifying fraud, but they will not be armed or have arrest powers.
Key Facts
Homeland Defenders are a new role created under the Trump administration at USCIS.
These officers conduct interviews, review immigration requests, and check for fraud and security threats.
Many hires are “off-the-street,” meaning they come from outside USCIS, often with military or law enforcement experience.
The officers receive a few weeks of national training and local instruction on USCIS policies and procedures.
Homeland Defenders are not armed and do not have the authority to make arrests.
The role seems similar to the previous Immigration Services Officer position, with mainly a change in job title.
Some new hires report to physical offices, like in Detroit, while others may work remotely.
USCIS uses a fast hiring process called Direct Hire Authority to fill these jobs quickly.
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A West Virginia Republican lawmaker, David Elliott Pritt, was arrested and charged with enticement of a minor after being accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student at the high school where he taught. State officials have removed him from legislative duties and are calling for his resignation.
Key Facts
David Elliott Pritt is a 36-year-old Republican state delegate and English teacher in Fayette County, West Virginia.
He was charged with enticement of a minor after allegations involving a 15-year-old girl at his school.
The girl’s family reported the abuse, and a federal complaint says Pritt started communicating with her while she was in eighth grade.
Pritt allegedly sent explicit photos and videos, asked for explicit content, and engaged in sexual acts with the girl in his classroom.
The abuse reportedly continued as recently as late last year, with ongoing communication into 2025.
West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw removed Pritt from all legislative roles and demanded his resignation.
State Republican Party chairman Josh Holstein also called for Pritt to step down immediately.
Officials emphasized the importance of holding public officials to high standards and said the law should be fully applied if allegations are true.
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The White House has introduced new tariffs that are legal but generate less money than the previous tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. These new tariffs are narrower and exclude some products to reduce economic harm, raising about 60% of the revenue lost from the old tariffs.
Key Facts
New tariffs are expected to bring in about $105 billion a year.
This amount replaces roughly 60% of the revenue lost when the Supreme Court invalidated earlier emergency tariffs.
Over the years until 2036, new tariffs may raise $950 billion compared to $1.7 trillion from previous tariffs.
The new tariffs have lower rates and exclude some goods to prevent economic problems, such as energy products.
These tariffs are applied under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing for tailored coverage after investigations.
The White House says the new tariffs aim to provide stability, not fully replace the old ones.
Treasury Department figures show that tariff refunds currently exceed collections, leading to negative net customs receipts.
Additional trade actions may still be announced and could affect future revenue.
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Flags are being flown at half-staff in Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina to honor fallen public servants. These gestures recognize the service and sacrifice of military personnel, a firefighter, and a late senator.
Key Facts
North Carolina lowered flags to honor two soldiers from Fort Bragg who died while serving in the Middle East.
1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan was killed in Jordan on July 18, 2026.
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed in Iraq on July 19, 2026.
Michigan lowered flags to honor Sergeant Adam Amrozi, a firefighter who died in the line of duty.
Amrozi served 21 years with the Lincoln Park Fire Department.
South Carolina continues to fly flags at half-staff to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11, 2026.
Governors encourage citizens and organizations to participate in the flag-lowering as a sign of respect.
Flying flags at half-staff is a traditional way to show mourning and respect for those who served their communities or country.
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