Four police officers were placed on leave after they shot and killed a man who they said had a knife in Madison, Wisconsin. After the shooting, people gathered to protest and hold a vigil for the man.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred in Madison, Wisconsin.
Four police officers were involved and are now on leave.
The man who was shot was allegedly carrying a knife.
The shooting happened on a Wednesday.
Protests broke out shortly after the shooting.
A vigil was also held to remember the man.
Local news reported on the incident and community response.
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Applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell to 187,000 last week, the lowest weekly total in over 50 years. Despite slower job hiring in June, layoffs remain low, showing a relatively stable job market amid economic uncertainty.
Key Facts
Last week, 187,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits, the fewest since 1969.
The number of jobless claims dropped by 22,000 from the previous week.
Analysts had expected around 215,000 new applications, higher than the actual figure.
The June unemployment rate slightly decreased to 4.2%, partly because some people stopped looking for work.
Hiring slowed in June with only 57,000 jobs added, less than half of May’s total.
Some big companies like Microsoft, Verizon, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks, and Walmart recently cut jobs.
President Donald Trump’s policies, including tariffs and federal workforce changes, have affected hiring trends.
The four-week average of jobless claims also fell to about 207,500, showing consistent low layoffs.
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A man was fatally shot by police officers in Madison, Wisconsin, after he attacked an officer with a knife while resisting arrest. The Madison Police Department is investigating the incident, which has led to protests in the city.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Madison, Wisconsin.
The man used a fixed-blade knife to injure a police officer.
Police tried to arrest the man and used a taser, but it did not work.
The man was shot and died at the scene.
The Madison Police Department is conducting an investigation.
Protests have started in response to the shooting.
The incident occurred on a Wednesday.
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Vance Boelter, who admitted to shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to six federal charges and is expected to receive two life sentences plus 40 years in prison. State charges and a civil lawsuit against him are also ongoing.
Key Facts
Vance Boelter admitted to shooting former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and wounding Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
The attack targeted the Hoffmans’ daughter as well and was politically motivated.
Boelter pleaded guilty to six federal charges in June 2025.
He faces a sentencing hearing set for Thursday, where he may receive two life sentences plus 40 years.
The U.S. Department of Justice decided not to seek the death penalty.
Minnesota prosecutors plan to file state charges including murder, attempted murder, animal cruelty, and impersonation of an officer.
The Hoffman family has filed a civil lawsuit against Boelter for assault and other claims.
The shootings led to a 43-hour manhunt and several legislative tributes to Melissa Hortman, including memorials and renamed public programs.
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Texas Hill Country faced major flooding in July 2026, testing new warning systems put in place after deadly floods in 2025. While two people died and hundreds were rescued, many people received timely alerts and siren warnings, showing improvements in emergency response.
Key Facts
The 2025 Texas Hill Country floods killed 136 people, including campers at Camp Mystic.
Investigations found that warning systems were inadequate during the 2025 disaster.
Texas made changes including better flood-warning systems, stricter safety rules for youth camps, and more emergency preparedness.
New sirens were installed in flood-prone areas like Kerr County, and emergency alert programs like CodeRED were expanded.
In July 2026, heavy rains caused flooding again in the same region, prompting emergency declarations near Kerrville, Hunt, and Uvalde.
At least two people died and hundreds were rescued during the 2026 floods.
Residents reported receiving alerts on their phones and hearing sirens before flooding, unlike the previous disaster.
State lawmakers provided funding to help counties install more warning sirens in risky locations.
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Jes Staley, former CEO of Barclays, will be questioned in a private US congressional hearing about his past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Staley resigned from Barclays after UK regulators found he had a closer relationship with Epstein than he admitted, and he was banned from working in the UK financial sector.
Key Facts
Jes Staley worked over 30 years at JPMorgan Chase before joining Barclays as CEO in 2015.
He has been linked to Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with child sex trafficking and died in prison in 2019.
UK regulators investigated Staley and found his relationship with Epstein went beyond professional.
Staley resigned as Barclays CEO in 2021 after the investigation and was banned from financial jobs in the UK.
Barclays said it was misled by Staley's information during their internal review.
In court, Staley admitted to having consensual sex with someone linked to Epstein.
JPMorgan sued Staley in 2023, claiming he should cover penalties related to Epstein lawsuits; they later settled confidentially.
US Department of Justice documents revealed claims of serious allegations against Staley, but no charges were filed.
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Amish Shah won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, defeating the candidate supported by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). He will face Republican Jay Feely, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, in a closely watched race that could affect which party controls the House after the 2026 elections.
Key Facts
Amish Shah, an emergency physician and former state lawmaker, won the Democratic primary with 39.5% of the vote.
Marlene Galán-Woods, backed by the DCCC, received 34.3% of the vote.
Republican Jay Feely won his party’s primary with 49.8%, beating two other Republicans.
The district is open because Republican David Schweikert is running for governor instead.
Prediction markets give Shah about a 66-75% chance of winning the general election.
Public polls show a very close race, with some showing Feely tied with or ahead of a generic Democrat.
A recent poll showed Feely’s favorability improved after voters learned more about his background in football and broadcasting.
This race is one of several key contests that will help decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing over $1 trillion for military spending. A key part of the bill, Section 219, increases military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel by creating a Pentagon coordinator to speed up joint research and development of new technologies and coordinate joint training.
Key Facts
The NDAA passed the House by a narrow vote of 216 to 212.
The bill sets U.S. defense funding and policies for fiscal year 2027, with more than $1 trillion authorized.
Section 219 focuses on expanding U.S.-Israel collaboration in military technology and defense.
A Pentagon official will oversee development of technologies with Israel and manage their military use.
Areas of cooperation include drone defense, air defense, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and biotechnology.
The NDAA includes plans for joint U.S.-Israeli military training exercises and exchanging information on shared technologies.
Some Democrats expressed concerns that the bill could risk U.S. sovereignty by closely integrating with Israel’s military.
Lobby group AIPAC supports the bill, saying it will help both nations stay ahead of new global threats with cutting-edge technology.
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Senator Rand Paul said the United States is in a worse position now than before President Trump started the military conflict with Iran in late February. Senator Paul has consistently voted to end U.S. troop involvement in the Iran conflict.
Key Facts
Senator Rand Paul is from Kentucky and is a Republican.
He has voted multiple times to withdraw U.S. troops from the Iran conflict.
President Trump began a military action involving Iran in late February.
Senator Paul says the conflict with Iran has not been successful.
He told reporters that the U.S. is worse off than before the war started.
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R James Woolsey, who served as CIA director from 1993 to 1995 under President Bill Clinton, has died at age 84 from a stroke. He was a national security expert known for his work on arms control and his leadership during a difficult time at the CIA following the spy case of Aldrich Ames.
Key Facts
Woolsey was the CIA director from early 1993 until early 1995.
He died at his home in Washington at age 84 due to a stroke.
His health had declined in recent years, partly because of "Havana syndrome," a condition reported by some US government personnel with symptoms like headaches and dizziness.
Woolsey faced criticism for the CIA’s handling of Aldrich Ames, a spy who sold secrets to the Soviet Union and Russia.
He warned against overly harsh security measures that could harm CIA morale.
Before leading the CIA, Woolsey held roles in the Navy Department and advised presidents on arms control.
He helped negotiate the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe treaty signed by President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.
Woolsey was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and studied at Stanford and Yale as a Rhodes scholar.
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Justice Brett Kavanaugh has played a key role in supporting President Donald Trump’s policies on the Supreme Court, including immigration enforcement and tariffs. Critics argue that Kavanaugh’s opinions have enabled controversial immigration stops that have led to violence and legal concerns about racial profiling.
Key Facts
Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have voted most consistently to support President Trump, at about 89% and 88% respectively.
Brett Kavanaugh supports Trump’s agenda at a slightly lower rate, around 76%, often using practical-sounding arguments.
In a 2025 case, Kavanaugh allowed ICE to stop people based on race, language, and job type, calling it “common sense.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed, calling it racial profiling.
Legal experts say Kavanaugh’s reasoning was not backed by evidence and contained false claims.
Since this decision, over 170 US citizens have been detained and there have been multiple deaths linked to these immigration stops.
Kavanaugh later clarified with a footnote that stops should not be based on race or ethnicity, but enforcement actions continued.
Kavanaugh also supported Trump’s tariffs in a 2026 court case, showing his broader support of Trump’s policies.
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The U.S. Navy has decided to stop sharing detailed information about sailors’ service history with the press. This change aims to reduce security risks and harassment but limits background details that were freely available for many years.
Key Facts
The Navy will no longer release details about any sailor’s service history, such as units served in or awards earned.
Information confirming someone is a sailor will only be shared if the request is of "high public interest."
The policy was widened after initially limiting information about commanding officers only.
Officials say these changes respond to increased security threats and concerns about harassment.
The Navy still considers some exceptions for public figures or special cases but defines these terms narrowly.
The policy makes it harder for journalists to report on military personnel involved in news events.
The move comes amid increased military restrictions on press access driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Congress is also considering laws to allow the military to withhold certain unclassified records from the public.
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A top Republican lawmaker, Rep. Jim Jordan, accused special counsel Jack Smith of lying to Congress about his investigation into President Donald Trump. Jordan referred Smith to the Justice Department for possible prosecution, claiming Smith falsely said he did not obtain the content of lawmakers’ text messages. Smith’s lawyers deny this, saying his testimony was truthful and specific to toll records, not text message contents.
Key Facts
Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, accused special counsel Jack Smith of lying during testimony.
The accusation centers on whether Smith obtained content from lawmakers’ phone or text records in the Trump investigation.
Smith said he did not get content from toll records or text messages during questioning.
Newly released records show Smith received contents of 44 lawmakers’ text messages via a separate subpoena.
Jordan says Smith’s answers were misleading because they gave the impression he did not access message content.
Smith’s lawyers say his answers were truthful, referring only to toll records, which do not include message content.
The referral to the Justice Department does not require prosecutors to take action.
The Justice Department under President Trump has shown willingness to investigate opponents of Trump.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video expressing his wish to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal, based on an International Criminal Court warrant. However, he admitted he lacks the legal power and city authority to do this and asked the federal government for help.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
He refers to an expected 2024 warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Mamdani admitted he does not have the legal jurisdiction to arrest Netanyahu.
The video highlights Mamdani’s frustration but acknowledges his political limitations.
Mamdani’s views align with a segment of the American left critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The conflict referenced involved Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s military response.
Mamdani labels Netanyahu a war criminal and accuses Israel of genocide, despite no U.N. genocide declaration.
President Donald Trump publicly stated that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the U.S.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has stayed near a record low for three months, with 39 percent of voters approving his job as president. The latest Fox News poll also shows that many voters disapprove of his handling of key issues like the economy, inflation, and immigration, while Democrats lead in support ahead of the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval rating is 39 percent, unchanged for three months.
His approval on the economy is low, with only 33 percent approving and 67 percent disapproving.
Inflation ratings are even lower, with 27 percent approval and 73 percent disapproval.
Immigration approval is 42 percent, down from previous years, with 57 percent disapproval.
On Iran policy, 34 percent approve of Trump’s handling and 66 percent disapprove.
Democrats lead Republicans 53 percent to 46 percent in voting preference for the House if elections were held now.
Voter motivation is higher among Democrats (68%) than Republicans (57%). Among Republicans, MAGA supporters are more motivated (66%) than non-MAGA Republicans (41%).
Many voters want big changes in government and believe the system favors the wealthy.
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Amish Shah won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st congressional district, defeating the candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Shah will face Republican Jay Feely, who was endorsed by President Trump, in the general election this fall.
Key Facts
Amish Shah is an emergency doctor and won the Arizona Democratic primary for the 1st congressional district.
The DCCC supported Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican who switched parties, but she lost to Shah.
Shah will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and Trump-endorsed candidate, in the November election.
The 1st district covers areas like north-east Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, and it is important for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The seat is open because current Republican David Schweikert ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Both Shah and Galán-Woods are moderate Democrats, and the race was not seen as a fight between progressives and centrists.
The DCCC’s choice to back Galán-Woods surprised local Democrats since Shah and she had similar political views.
Republicans are attacking Shah as a socialist in their campaign ads, while Shah calls himself a political outsider focused on results.
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Many Republican voters are increasingly concerned about the influence of money in politics. This issue, once thought to be mostly important to Democrats, is now a major worry for people in the Republican party.
Key Facts
Money in politics means the role of donations and financial influence in political decisions.
Republican voters now see this as a key problem.
This concern was previously seen more among Democrats and liberals.
The shift shows a change in priorities within the Republican base.
Fighting the influence of money in politics could affect future elections and laws.
Both sides of politics are paying attention to this issue now.
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The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report called “Science: A New Golden Age” that highlights problems in how the U.S. government supports science and suggests major changes. The report praises past achievements and aims to simplify research funding, but it does not address many current policies by the Trump administration that critics say hurt scientific progress.
Key Facts
The OSTP report is titled “Science: A New Golden Age” and was released under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The report compares itself to "Science, the Endless Frontier," a key post-WWII science policy document.
It argues that the U.S. science funding system has structural problems needing big changes.
The report promises to reduce the time researchers spend on grant paperwork by simplifying rules.
It does not specify which regulations should change, leaving its plan vague.
The Trump administration has proposed budget cuts and delayed funding for science, which the report doesn’t fully address.
The report praises the Human Genome Project but overlooks that it was an international effort.
It supports open data sharing but also complains about other countries benefiting from U.S. research.
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Heavy rain caused flash floods across West Virginia, flooding homes and businesses and washing out bridges. The governor declared a state of emergency, deployed the National Guard, and reported multiple water rescues while search efforts continue for missing residents.
Key Facts
Torrential rains led to flash flooding in West Virginia, especially in the northern part of the state.
Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties.
Hundreds of National Guard members were sent to the hardest-hit areas.
The state Division of Natural Resources assisted in 85 water rescues.
Nineteen helicopters from the National Guard and state police were used for rescues or on standby.
Three shelters opened, housing over 100 people displaced by flooding.
Up to 7 inches of rain fell, with some areas receiving 4.5 inches in just 37 minutes.
Officials are concerned about possible fatalities, though exact numbers are not yet confirmed.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will keep facing consequences because it did not follow agreements. He described President Donald Trump’s policy toward Iran as "a head for an eye," meaning a strong and direct response to Iran’s actions.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is the US Secretary of State.
He said Iran is not sticking to agreements made with the US.
Because of that, Iran will continue to face consequences from the US.
Rubio described President Trump’s approach as "a head for an eye."
This phrase means responding to actions with a similar or stronger reaction.
The statement was made during a talk with reporters.
The focus is on US policy toward Iran’s behavior.
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