A Pentagon watchdog report found that a new ammunition plant in Mesquite, Texas, built to produce parts for 155mm artillery rounds, has not made any parts since opening nearly two years ago. This lack of production is slowing the Army’s efforts to replenish artillery supplies, which have been heavily used in support of Ukraine since 2022.
Key Facts
The Mesquite, Texas plant opened in May 2024 to produce metal parts for 155mm artillery rounds.
As of March 2026, the plant had produced no projectile metal parts meeting contract requirements.
The Army spent $469 million to build the plant, which was intended to increase artillery production from 14,000 to 100,000 rounds per month by October 2025.
Army production is currently about 36,000 rounds per month, short of the goal.
Over four years, the Pentagon’s 155mm artillery stock fell by 3.6 million rounds due to aid given to Ukraine and other uses.
General Dynamics, which operates the plant, is planning additional investment to fix production problems.
The Army stopped plant work in August 2025 to evaluate options amid production delays.
The demand for artillery rounds has decreased somewhat as Ukraine’s war tactics have shifted toward drone use.
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A sheriff's office has warned the public about a scam involving QR codes connected to a case in Guthrie. These QR codes have been appearing in online posts, potentially misleading people.
Key Facts
The sheriff's department issued a warning about scam QR codes.
The scam is related to a case in Guthrie.
QR codes are appearing in posts on the internet.
Scammers may use these codes to trick people.
The department wants people to be cautious when scanning unknown QR codes.
No specific details about the scam's impact or how to avoid it were provided.
The warning aims to protect the public from fraud.
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Senator Lindsey Graham’s death has opened a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. Several Republicans are considering running for the seat, while Democrat Annie Andrews plans to compete in November. The special election will be held on August 11 with a possible runoff in late August.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham, who was running for reelection, died recently, leaving his Senate seat open.
South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.
Democrat Annie Andrews is the candidate expected to challenge the Republicans.
Multiple Republicans are interested in running, including Mark Lynch, Representative Ralph Norman, and Nancy Mace.
Former Governor Nikki Haley has stated she does not plan to run.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister as an interim senator until the election.
President Donald Trump has not endorsed anyone in the Republican primary yet.
The special election will be August 11, with early voting starting August 5 and a runoff if no candidate wins over 50%.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan spoke about her interactions with Senator Lindsey Graham during her nomination process. She remembered him while making remarks on Capitol Hill and honored him after his passing.
Key Facts
Justice Elena Kagan is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
She recalled her nomination process for the Supreme Court.
Senator Lindsey Graham was involved during her nomination process.
Justice Kagan honored Senator Graham after he passed away.
The remarks took place on Capitol Hill.
The information was shared by CBS News.
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Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz paid $600,000 to a Washington DC lobbying firm to help get a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump for a weapons conviction. The pardon was never granted, and Boosie is now seeking $300,000 back through arbitration because the firm did not deliver the promised result.
Key Facts
Boosie Badazz’s real name is Torence Hatch.
He was convicted in 2023 for possessing a loaded weapon during a music video shoot.
Boosie hired JM Burkman & Associates for $600,000 in 2025 to secure a pardon from President Trump.
The lobbying firm claimed Trump had signed the pardon, but the White House denied receiving such a request.
Boosie wants to recover half the money ($300,000) because the pardon was never granted.
The firm disputes any agreement to return money if the pardon failed.
The situation is part of a broader trend where large sums of money are spent seeking clemency from President Trump.
Boosie’s conviction came after he pleaded guilty to avoid prison, receiving supervised release, community service, and a fine.
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A U.S. federal judge canceled an agreement between President Donald Trump and the IRS that was based on a $10 billion lawsuit. The judge ruled that Trump used the lawsuit in a wrongful way to create this deal, which now gives him protection from tax audits. Some lawyers and government officials involved are being investigated for possible disciplinary actions.
Key Facts
A federal judge invalidated a tax settlement agreement between President Trump and the IRS.
The settlement was related to a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.
The judge decided Trump used the lawsuit improperly to get a favorable deal.
The ruling removes Trump's protection from IRS tax audits related to this matter.
A lawyer for Trump and top officials in the Justice Department have been referred to disciplinary authorities.
The case involves issues about fairness and legal conduct in tax enforcement.
The decision was announced on July 14, 2026.
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Senator Marco Rubio has promised to stop the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it threatens U.S. military actions. The Trump administration plans to isolate the ICC, but the United Nations and European leaders oppose this move.
Key Facts
Senator Marco Rubio wants to end the influence of the International Criminal Court.
The ICC is an international court that investigates serious crimes like war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Rubio claims the ICC interferes with U.S. military operations.
President Donald Trump’s administration is working to isolate the ICC completely.
The United Nations and European leaders disagree with the U.S. plan and are resisting it.
This disagreement is causing tensions between the U.S. and some of its closest allies.
The news highlights a diplomatic conflict about the future of global justice and accountability.
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Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before the House of Representatives about the need for more security funding. They spoke because there have been increasing threats against Supreme Court members.
Key Facts
Justices Kagan and Barrett appeared before House lawmakers.
The hearing focused on security concerns for Supreme Court members.
There have been growing threats against the justices.
Lawmakers are considering providing more money for court security.
The goal is to protect Supreme Court members from potential harm.
The testimony took place on Capitol Hill, where Congress meets.
This is part of a broader effort to respond to safety challenges facing the court.
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New York will start giving new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards with chip technology to millions of food assistance recipients in early 2027. These chip cards will help prevent criminals from stealing benefits through card-skimming, a method that captures information from the current magnetic-stripe cards.
Key Facts
The new EBT cards will use chip technology similar to debit and credit cards.
The change aims to stop theft and fraud targeting food assistance benefits.
About 2 million new chip-enabled cards will be issued to SNAP and certain public assistance recipients statewide.
Recipients will receive the new cards automatically; no application is needed.
The rollout begins in the first quarter of 2027 to allow time for card production and retailer system upgrades.
Current magnetic-stripe cards will still be used until the new cards arrive.
Officials advise cardholders to monitor accounts, change PINs often, and watch for tampered card readers before new cards come.
New York’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is working with stores and banks to prepare for the new cards.
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A recent poll from Zogby Analytics shows Republican Vice President JD Vance leading Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Governor Gavin Newsom in early 2028 presidential matchups. The poll reflects early voter opinions when no candidates have officially entered the race and includes many undecided voters, meaning the results could change.
Key Facts
JD Vance leads Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by about 45% to 38% in a hypothetical 2028 election matchup.
Vance also leads Gavin Newsom by around 45% to 38%.
Republican Secretary of State Marco Rubio trails Vance but slightly edges both Democrats in separate tests.
The poll surveyed 1,003 likely voters from July 1 to July 4, 2026, with a 3.1% margin of error.
About 17% to 23% of respondents said they were undecided, showing many voters had not made up their minds.
Likely voter polls focus on people expected to vote, often older or more consistent voters, which can lean more Republican.
Early polls often reflect general political mood rather than firm voter decisions and can change as campaigns develop.
The presence of many undecided voters means the race is still very uncertain at this stage.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has temporarily stopped most vehicle stops during operations across the country, except for serious criminals. This change follows recent deadly shootings involving ICE agents and will last while officers receive more training on how to safely conduct vehicle stops.
Key Facts
ICE agents were told to stop most vehicle stops except for cases involving serious criminals.
This decision comes after fatal shootings in Texas and Maine within the past week.
The pause in vehicle stops is temporary and will remain until officers get extra training.
Vehicle stops have been a common ICE tactic under President Trump’s administration.
These stops help officers identify, follow, and arrest suspects away from homes or workplaces.
The new policy could affect how ICE carries out its enforcement operations.
The article mentions ongoing legal and policy issues related to ICE and immigration enforcement.
This situation is still developing and may be updated with more information.
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A court released over $5.6 million that President Donald Trump owes E Jean Carroll after a sexual abuse and defamation trial. This release happened after the Supreme Court refused to hear Trump’s appeal, ending his efforts to delay payment.
Key Facts
A Manhattan federal court released $5.6 million to E Jean Carroll on July 9, 2024.
The money is from a jury award in Carroll’s 2023 sexual abuse and defamation case against President Trump.
The Supreme Court refused to hear Trump’s appeal on June 29, 2024.
Trump denied the accusations and has tried multiple appeals to delay payment.
Both legal teams agreed the money would be held in a court account (called CRIS) during appeals.
Carroll’s legal team requested the immediate release of the funds once the Supreme Court rejected the appeal.
A separate 2024 trial awarded Carroll $83.3 million for defamatory comments made by Trump while he was president.
Carroll’s claims relate to a 2019 magazine article excerpting her book, which described alleged events from about 30 years earlier.
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President Donald Trump welcomed Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, to the White House for a meeting. Ali al-Zaidi is a businessman without prior political experience who became Iraq’s prime minister after a long delay following elections.
Key Facts
President Trump hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House.
The meeting was scheduled for 11:15 p.m. EDT.
Ali al-Zaidi is a businessman with no previous political experience.
He was chosen as Iraq’s prime minister after months of political deadlock.
Al-Zaidi officially became prime minister-designate in April.
President Trump expressed strong support for al-Zaidi’s leadership on social media.
Trump sees this leadership change as a chance for improved relations between the U.S. and Iraq.
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An outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite causing severe diarrhoea, has infected over 3,000 people in 31 US states, with Michigan most affected. Public health officials are struggling to find the source because the parasite is hard to detect, and recent budget cuts have reduced disease monitoring programs.
Key Facts
Cyclospora is a parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated food or water.
Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after eating contaminated food, causing frequent, watery diarrhoea.
The outbreak has reached 31 states and infected more than 3,000 people, mostly in Michigan and New York.
Tracking the parasite is difficult because it requires testing large amounts of food and the parasite takes time to cause illness.
Federal budget and staff cuts have reduced the capacity of foodborne disease monitoring programs like FoodNet.
FoodNet stopped monitoring cyclospora recently, limiting available data for tracing outbreaks.
Officials advise washing produce carefully, avoiding certain fruits, and cooking vegetables to kill the parasite.
The CDC continues to collect data through other surveillance systems and works with state health departments.
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David Penman, a small business owner in Victoria, Australia, used private legal actions to charge five local councillors and the council CEO with unlawful conduct related to the council's budget. Due to the law requiring councillors facing criminal charges to stand down, only two of seven councillors remain active, stopping the council from making major decisions until court cases finish.
Key Facts
In Victoria, councillors must step down if charged with a crime while the case is ongoing.
David Penman launched private prosecutions against the Hepburn Shire mayor, four councillors, and the council CEO.
The charges claim the council unlawfully adopted the budget without required financial documents.
Only two out of seven councillors are able to serve, so the council cannot meet for major decisions.
Daily services like rubbish collection and libraries continue despite the legal issues.
Council representatives say the private prosecutions disrupt democracy and community representation.
The Victorian government is considering changes to the Local Government Act to prevent private prosecutions from forcing councillors to step down in the future.
Local councillor Brian Hood said the council is in limbo and an administrator may be appointed by the state government.
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A 26-year-old Colombian man was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Maine early Monday. The Department of Homeland Security first said the man was a target and tried to use his car as a weapon, but later clarified he was not a target and was only trying to flee, leading to local protests against ICE.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Maine early on Monday morning.
The man who was shot was 26 years old and from Colombia.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in the shooting.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed the man was a target and used his car as a weapon.
DHS later said the man was not a target and was trying to escape from the scene.
The shooting caused demonstrations against ICE in the local area.
The situation received media coverage and sparked public debate about ICE actions.
Secretary of Homeland Security is Markwayne Mullin, who spoke about the case.
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Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett have asked Congress to increase the budget for the court’s security. This request comes after a rise in threats against the Supreme Court.
Key Facts
Justices Kagan and Barrett testified before Congress.
They asked for more money to improve Supreme Court security measures.
The request follows an increase in threats targeting the Court.
This type of testimony from Supreme Court justices is rare.
The goal is to protect the justices and the Court building.
Congress will consider whether to approve the increased funding.
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A large outbreak of a diarrheal parasite called Cyclospora is happening across the United States, with Michigan reporting over 3,300 cases this year. Officials suspect leafy greens like lettuce may be the source, and some Taco Bell restaurants have stopped selling certain fresh produce during the investigation.
Key Facts
Cyclospora causes symptoms like watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Michigan usually reports about 50 cases yearly but has seen 3,309 cases as of mid-July 2024.
Forty-four people in Michigan have been hospitalized due to the infection.
Health officials suspect leafy greens, especially lettuce, as the likely source of the outbreak.
Taco Bell restaurants in the Detroit area temporarily removed lettuce, cilantro, onion, pico de gallo, and guacamole from sale.
At least 31 other states, including New York, Ohio, and North Carolina, are also reporting cases.
Identifying the exact contaminated food is hard because symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear.
Health advice includes buying whole heads of lettuce, removing outer leaves, washing thoroughly, or cooking produce to kill the parasite.
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E. Jean Carroll has received a $5.62 million payment from President Donald Trump after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her. The payment was delayed but finalized after the Supreme Court declined to hear Mr. Trump’s appeal.
Key Facts
A federal jury ruled in 2023 that President Trump sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll.
Carroll first accused Trump in 2019 of assaulting her in a department store dressing room decades earlier.
The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, plus interest, totaling about $5.62 million.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal on June 29, which allowed payment to proceed.
Trump did not attend the civil trial and did not present any witnesses.
The jury rejected a rape claim because New York state law requires specific proof of genital penetration.
Carroll’s lawyers said her case fits a pattern of behavior by Trump, supported by other witness accounts and the “Access Hollywood” tape.
Trump denies all allegations and continues to appeal other related defamation verdicts that have awarded Carroll additional damages.
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The U.S. military has confirmed that 14 service members have died in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The most recent death is a Navy pilot who died in a crash over the Arabian Sea.
Key Facts
The U.S. military death count in the war against Iran is now 14.
The Pentagon updated this number on Monday.
The latest casualty is Navy pilot Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards.
He died in a crash earlier in the month.
The crash happened over the Arabian Sea.
The Navy officially identified Cmdr. Edwards last week.
This update reflects ongoing U.S. military operations involving Iran.
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