A single bite from the lone star tick can cause a lifelong allergy to red meat known as alpha-gal syndrome. New federal research shows this allergy is more common than before thought, especially in five U.S. states where many people have antibodies linked to the condition.
Key Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal found in beef, pork, and lamb.
The lone star tick bite can cause the immune system to react to alpha-gal, leading to delayed allergic reactions several hours after eating meat.
Symptoms can include stomach problems like pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and in severe cases, life-threatening allergic reactions.
The allergy may worsen with repeated tick bites, so avoiding ticks is important for people with the condition.
A study tested blood samples from 10 states and found high rates of alpha-gal antibodies, especially in Arkansas (31%) and Missouri (26%).
About 24% of people in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia tested positive for alpha-gal antibodies.
Having antibodies does not always mean someone will show allergy symptoms, so diagnosis requires careful medical evaluation.
People with alpha-gal syndrome should avoid mammalian meat but can eat poultry, fish, and shellfish; some may tolerate small amounts of dairy.
Hidden animal products like beef broth, lard, and pork casings can trigger reactions, so reading food labels is necessary.
Doctors recommend patients carry an epinephrine auto-injector to treat severe allergic reactions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pentagon reported a lower number of U.S. troop deaths in the Iran conflict, reducing the count from 18 to 14, and said this was due to temporary data problems. However, some officials told The New York Times that the reduction happened because deaths occurring after President Trump’s April ceasefire declaration were removed from the official count.
Key Facts
The U.S. military death toll in the Iran war was changed from 18 to 14.
The Pentagon said the change happened because of temporary problems with their data system.
Three military officials told The New York Times that four deaths between July 17 and 19 were removed because they occurred after the ceasefire declared by President Donald Trump in April.
Three of those four service members removed have been publicly identified.
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran ended after President Trump said Iran violated its terms in June.
The Pentagon spokesperson called The New York Times report “fake news” and said the data disruption was the real cause.
President Trump was recently criticized for calling the Iran war a “skirmish” and for comparing its death toll to larger wars.
The Pentagon is working to fix the data problems in cooperation with the military services.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration wants to rename New York’s Penn Station as part of a planned $8 billion redesign of the busy transit hub in Manhattan. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has supported the idea of naming it after President Donald Trump, but no final decision has been announced.
Key Facts
Penn Station is a major train station in Manhattan and the busiest in the western hemisphere.
The station is undergoing a planned $8 billion renovation to improve its design and facilities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed support for renaming the station, possibly as "Trump Station."
President Trump has acknowledged talks about renaming but denies suggesting it was a condition for funding approval.
The original Penn Station opened in 1910 and was demolished in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden.
The station is currently named after the Pennsylvania Railroad, which no longer exists.
New design plans aim to restore the station’s classical style with stone facades and grand ceilings.
Some politicians oppose the renaming idea, seeing it as an attempt by the Trump administration to take over the station’s identity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on more than 80 countries, replacing a previous 10% global tariff that was ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court. The administration said the tariffs target countries that do not enforce bans on goods made with forced labor, but many trading partners expressed confusion and opposition to this reasoning.
Key Facts
The new tariffs apply to countries including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China, and all EU nations.
These tariffs replace a previous 10% tariff imposed in February that the Supreme Court declared illegal.
The tariffs are imposed under section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974.
The White House says the tariffs are meant to punish countries that fail to block imports made with forced labor.
Officials in the EU, Australia, Brazil, Norway, and New Zealand criticized the tariffs as unfair and unsupported by evidence.
Some countries with forced labor bans or commitments face a lower 10% tariff, while others like China, Japan, and South Korea face a higher 12.5% tariff.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the US has enforced its own forced labor ban for nearly 100 years.
Critics argue the tariffs are a way for President Trump to reestablish broad tariffs after the courts struck down earlier ones.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Democratic Party plans to change its 2028 presidential primary schedule by putting racially diverse states like South Carolina or Nevada first, instead of Iowa and New Hampshire. This change aims to better reflect the party's diverse voters and could influence which candidates gain early support.
Key Facts
Democrats will finalize the 2028 presidential nominating calendar soon.
Iowa and New Hampshire may no longer be the first states to vote.
South Carolina or Nevada is expected to hold the first nominating contests.
This change reflects the party’s desire to include more racially diverse states, focusing on Black and Latino voters.
The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will approve the calendar before the full party votes on it in August.
South Carolina is known for testing candidates’ support among Black voters.
Nevada highlights a mix of racial diversity, union membership, and battleground status.
Republicans are expected to keep their usual early-state order starting with Iowa and New Hampshire.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Staff who work for Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK are asking for better security after cases of physical attacks and many threats. A survey found that most of these staff have faced threatening messages, and many worry about their safety. The prime minister plans to review security following the recent murder of a former minister.
Key Facts
Over 500 MPs’ staff were surveyed about their safety and security.
78% of staff said they received threatening calls or messages.
Nearly 30% often fear for their own or their colleagues’ safety.
Some staff have been physically attacked or faced racist and sexist abuse.
One in two staff report serious psychological distress linked to their work.
Security is often only provided when the MP is present, leaving staff vulnerable.
Staff want security protections extended to them when representing MPs in public.
The prime minister plans to review MPs’ security after a recent murder of a public figure.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A US study found that replacing gas stoves with electric ones greatly improved asthma symptoms in people living near Cleveland, Ohio. The change reduced hospital visits and missed work or school days, with air pollution inside homes dropping significantly.
Key Facts
The study began in December 2024 and aimed to help 1,200 people with poorly controlled asthma.
Funding was cut early by President Trump’s administration, so fewer than 100 homes completed the stove replacement.
Even with a smaller group of 72 homes, researchers saw clear health improvements.
Asthma scores dropped from 2.6 to 1.5 on a scale where 0.5 is a meaningful improvement.
Hospital admissions and days off due to asthma decreased after switching to electric stoves.
Indoor nitrogen dioxide pollution fell by about 70% in monitored homes.
Most participants (over 97%) were happy with their new stoves.
Experts say reducing indoor air pollution should be part of housing and environmental policies to help health.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Colt Gray, a 16-year-old accused of killing four people in a 2024 school shooting in Georgia, is scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing. The hearing will be non-negotiated, meaning the judge will decide the sentence without a plea deal between the defense and prosecution.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Four people were killed: two students and two teachers.
Colt Gray was 14 when the shooting occurred and faces 55 charges including murder and aggravated assault.
Gray’s father, Colin Gray, was convicted of giving Colt the rifle used in the shooting and faces sentencing soon.
The plea and sentencing hearing is set for Friday in Barrow County Superior Court.
Prosecutors plan to present witnesses, videos, crime scene photos, 911 calls, and Colt’s school, medical, and social media records.
The defense plans to call a psychologist, a juvenile detention center worker, and Colt’s grandmother as witnesses.
Colt Gray allegedly planned the attack in detail, including notes with instructions and diagrams, estimating potential casualties.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, spiritual leader of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Congregation, is retiring at age 70, eight years after surviving the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. He led his community through the tragedy, the shooter's trial, and the pandemic while also helping start a new synagogue building.
Key Facts
The attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers survived the shooting and led his congregation through multiple funerals of those killed.
After the attack, Myers found comfort and inspiration by reading the biblical Book of Psalms.
Myers struggled with prayer following the tragedy but eventually found renewed faith.
He guided his community through the shooter’s trial and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under his leadership, the congregation began construction of a new synagogue building.
Rabbi Myers is retiring at age 70 in July 2026.
A retirement dinner was held to honor Rabbi Myers with friends, family, and community members.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A doctor who performed the autopsy on 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez will testify at a hearing to decide if singer David Burke, also known as D4vd, should face trial for her killing. The autopsy found her death was a homicide caused by penetrating wounds, but the body was severely decomposed, making some details hard to confirm.
Key Facts
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found dead in a Tesla owned by singer D4vd in September, months after she was killed.
The autopsy reported that she died from penetrating wounds to her upper body, including injuries that damaged her liver and ribs.
Prosecutors accuse David Burke (D4vd) of sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez starting when she was 13 and killing her when she threatened to expose their relationship.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a body.
Prosecutors claim Burke dismembered the body in his garage, where blood stains matching Rivas Hernandez’s DNA were found.
The autopsy was limited by the body's decomposition, leading to some uncertain conclusions in the report.
The Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner criticized the delay in releasing the autopsy report to the family.
Toxicology tests showed a low level of alcohol in the victim’s liver, possibly caused by bacteria after death, not contributing to her death.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring from the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, where he led the community after a deadly antisemitic attack in 2018 that killed 11 people. He plans to return to New Jersey to be near family and focus on personal healing and interests.
Key Facts
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers survived the 2018 attack that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue.
He led the congregation through years of recovery, including a trial that resulted in the gunman’s death sentence.
The synagogue shared its building with two other congregations at the time of the attack.
Myers struggled with prayer after the attack but found comfort in the Book of Psalms.
After the attack, the congregation worshipped at a nearby synagogue while their building was a crime scene.
Myers is retiring at age 70 and will move back to New Jersey to be near his daughter and granddaughter.
He intends to spend more time reading, writing, and working on his own healing.
Myers began his spiritual journey in New Jersey, initially training as a cantor before becoming a rabbi.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Democratic Party plans to finalize its 2028 primary election calendar, likely placing either South Carolina or Nevada at the start instead of traditional early states like Iowa. This change aims to highlight states with more racial diversity and better represent the party’s coalition. The decision will need approval from the full Democratic National Committee in August.
Key Facts
Democrats want to change the 2028 primary schedule from past traditions by moving Iowa off the top spot.
South Carolina and Nevada are competing to hold the first primary contest.
The change is meant to give more influence to racially diverse states, including Black and Latino voters.
The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will decide the calendar, with final approval expected in August.
South Carolina has been important because it tests candidates’ support among Black voters and was key in President Biden’s 2020 campaign momentum.
Nevada argues it better represents today’s Democrats due to its diversity, union presence, and status as a battleground state.
Republicans have not yet set their 2028 calendar and are expected to keep Iowa and New Hampshire first.
Without an incumbent president running, the early states will play a major role in deciding which Democratic candidates gain momentum and support.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Madison, Wisconsin police do not require officers to wear body cameras, so no footage exists from a recent fatal shooting involving four officers and a homeless man. The city is now planning to approve funding to start a body-camera program after years of debate and concerns about cost and community impact.
Key Facts
Madison police officers do not currently have a body-camera program.
A homeless man named Corey Ruiz was fatally shot after officers said he pulled a knife and injured one officer.
All four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the state investigates.
Residents lack official footage of the incident because no body cameras were used.
The Madison Common Council rejected a body-camera funding proposal last November but will likely approve a $414,800 plan for a three-year rollout soon.
Police Chief John Patterson supports body cameras as important tools for modern policing.
Experts say almost all cities with about 500 officers have body-camera programs.
Opposition to body cameras in Madison came from budget concerns and community worries about surveillance of marginalized groups.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump switched his support in the Georgia governor race to Rick Jackson after Jackson won the Republican primary over Trump's first choice, Burt Jones. Trump urged Republicans to unite behind Jackson, who will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election. Polls show the race is very close between Jackson and Bottoms.
Key Facts
President Trump initially endorsed Burt Jones in the Georgia governor Republican primary.
Rick Jackson won the primary, defeating Jones in an upset.
Trump praised Jackson as a successful businessman and urged GOP voters to support him.
Jackson will compete against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the 2026 Georgia governor race.
Recent polls show a very tight race, with some showing Bottoms slightly ahead and others showing Jackson slightly ahead.
The Cook Political Report calls the race a toss-up, meaning it is too close to predict.
Georgia is a key battleground state, where Trump narrowly won in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump’s shift highlights his goal of uniting Republicans and backing winners ahead of the general election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A seaplane with 11 people on board crashed near Sucia Island in Washington state. Everyone was rescued, but multiple people were injured, including one in critical condition, and the plane caught fire and sank.
Key Facts
The plane was a DeHavilland DHC-3 seaplane operated by Kenmore Air.
The crash happened around 5:20 p.m. near Sucia Island, Washington.
There were 10 passengers and 1 pilot on board.
All 11 people were rescued from the water.
Injuries included head wounds, broken bones, and cuts; one person was seriously hurt.
The plane caught fire after landing in shallow water and then sank.
Rescue efforts involved local boats, the U.S. Navy, and the Coast Guard.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A man named Marat Ganiev, who was charged in the death of 19-year-old Isla Bell from Melbourne, lost his request to have the last charge against him dropped. The court ruled that prosecutors could file new charges and that Ganiev will continue to face trial.
Key Facts
Isla Bell’s remains were found in a rubbish tip in Dandenong in November 2024, about six weeks after her suspected death.
Marat Ganiev was first charged with her murder in October 2024.
Police said Ganiev killed Bell, stored her body in a fridge, wrapped it, and it was moved around Melbourne before being dumped.
Ganiev’s murder charge was reduced to manslaughter, then withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
After the manslaughter charge was dropped, Ganiev was charged with attempting to stop justice from taking its course.
Ganiev asked the Supreme Court to permanently stop the case, claiming the timing of new charges was unfair.
Justice James Elliott rejected Ganiev’s request, saying prosecutors have the right to reconsider evidence and file new charges.
Ganiev will return to court in August, and Bell’s family has expressed ongoing grief and called for justice system reform.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stated that although the court currently has more conservative members, it does not automatically approve everything that President Donald Trump supports. She made this comment while speaking at a judicial conference.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court has a conservative majority.
Justice Elena Kagan spoke at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals conference.
Kagan said the court is not a “rubber stamp” for President Trump.
The court has ruled in favor of President Trump in some major cases.
Kagan emphasized the court’s independence from political influence.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two men were stabbed in separate attacks on the Upper West Side in New York City. The suspect, Raul Morales, was arrested, and police are investigating if the attacks were hate crimes possibly linked to mental health issues.
Key Facts
The attacks happened around 1:30 p.m. with one victim stabbed near West 84th Street and Central Park West and the other near 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
The two victims are a 57-year-old Asian man and a 50-year-old Jewish man, who do not know each other.
The suspect reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks.
A screwdriver was believed to be the weapon used in the second stabbing.
The suspect barricaded himself in an apartment before NYPD officers took him into custody.
Raul Morales, 51, has seven prior arrests, including drug-related cases.
Police are examining whether mental health issues played a role in the attacks.
Community members and local officials expressed concern and relief that the victims are expected to survive.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal court panel approved a new Tennessee congressional map that splits a mostly Black district in Memphis. The court refused to stop the map before the state’s primary elections in August.
Key Facts
The court decision was made by a three-judge federal panel.
The new map divides a majority-Black district located in Memphis, Tennessee.
The judges did not issue a preliminary injunction to block the map.
The ruling allows Tennessee to use the new map for upcoming primary elections.
The primary elections are scheduled for August.
This decision affects how congressional districts will be drawn in Tennessee.
The case involved concerns about representation for Black voters in Memphis.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A man was arrested after stabbing two men on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in separate attacks that are being investigated as possible hate crimes. Both victims, an Asian man and a Jewish man, were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive.
Key Facts
The suspect is Raul Morales, 51 years old.
Morales stabbed two men in broad daylight, about two blocks apart.
Witnesses said Morales yelled “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks.
The victims were an Asian man and a Jewish man.
The New York Police Department is investigating the attacks as possible hate crimes.
Police suspect mental health issues may have been a factor.
Both victims were hospitalized and are expected to recover.
New York officials condemned the attacks and emphasized support for affected communities.
Hate crimes against Jewish and Asian people have been rising in New York City recently, even as overall violent crime has dropped.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
