A storm chaser named Scott Lasker rescued a man trapped under rubble after tornadoes hit the US Midwest, including the city of Streator, Illinois. The severe weather caused widespread damage, power outages, flight delays, and event cancellations across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Key Facts
Scott Lasker is a storm chaser and video journalist who was filming tornado damage near Chicago.
He heard a woman calling for help and helped rescue her husband trapped under debris from their destroyed home in Streator, Illinois.
At least a dozen tornadoes were reported on the same day in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Streator, a town of about 12,000 people, was heavily damaged but reported no deaths.
Hundreds of thousands of people lost power due to the storms.
Chicago’s Midway Airport had to evacuate its control tower because of a tornado warning, causing many canceled or delayed flights.
A Major League Baseball game in Chicago was postponed due to the severe weather.
NOAA reports that 168 tornadoes occurred in the US so far in May.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he feels a duty to remain as UK prime minister while defending his choices on defence spending. He responded to the resignation of his Defence Secretary John Healey, who criticized the handling of defence funding, by saying defence spending remains the government's top priority.
Key Facts
Sir Keir Starmer said he has a duty to stay as prime minister despite recent challenges.
Two defence ministers, including Defence Secretary John Healey, resigned over defence budget disagreements.
Starmer said he made tough decisions by cutting budgets in other departments to fund defence.
The government plans to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
Healey wanted a faster increase to 3% of GDP by 2030; Starmer said the plan includes increasing spending over time.
Starmer said defence is the number one priority at all future spending reviews.
Starmer aims to publish the defence investment plan before a NATO summit in July.
Leadership questions continue as Labour faces pressure after election losses and minister resignations.
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A senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration said that a deal with Iran is not finished but is about 75% complete. The official expects the agreement could be signed within a few days.
Key Facts
The deal with Iran is not yet complete.
An official from President Trump's administration said the deal is roughly three-quarters done.
The official spoke to NewsNation on a Friday.
The signing of the deal could happen soon, possibly within a few days.
The announcement reassures that progress is steady on the agreement.
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President Donald Trump’s support among evangelical voters is decreasing, according to a recent poll. This group was crucial to his 2024 election victory, but changes in their views about issues like military actions in Iran and immigration may affect their future support.
Key Facts
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s approval rating among evangelicals dropped from 61% in August 2025 to 52% in June 2026.
Evangelicals made up 82% of Trump’s supporters in the 2024 election.
54% of evangelical respondents said Trump’s military actions in Iran do not align with their Christian beliefs.
51% of evangelicals disagreed with the administration’s strict immigration policies based on their religious values.
Overall, Trump’s approval rating across all Americans was 35% in the same poll.
Trump’s White House spokesperson said he has a strong record defending Christian values and rights.
Evangelical voters have consistently supported Trump in his three election campaigns with percentages between 76% and 82%.
Some experts note that Black evangelicals have different political views than white evangelicals, and that even loyal supporters can change their views over time.
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A woman in New Mexico died after contracting plague, the state’s first human case in 2026. Health officials are investigating to check if others were exposed but say the overall risk to the public is very low.
Key Facts
The plague death occurred in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
The New Mexico Department of Health is contacting people who were close to the woman and conducting an environmental investigation.
Plague is a bacterial disease spread mainly by flea bites from infected rodents or animals.
About seven cases of plague occur yearly in the U.S., mostly in rural Western states like New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
Plague can be treated with antibiotics if identified early, reducing the risk of death.
Plague rarely spreads from person to person; most cases come from environmental exposure.
Recent cases have also been found in animals, including dogs and cats, mostly in New Mexico.
Other diseases such as hantavirus, screwworm, and Ebola have been in the news but also pose low risks to the general public under normal circumstances.
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An active shooter situation took place Friday morning in Midland, Texas. Police responded to the scene, where the suspect was barricaded inside a building and multiple victims were reported.
Key Facts
The shooting happened near Business 20 and Eisenhower Drive in Midland, Texas.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded quickly to the incident.
Officials asked people to avoid Eisenhower Drive, West Wall Street, and Midkiff Road.
The suspect was believed to be barricaded inside a building.
Several victims were reported, but more details have not been released.
Midland police were seen exchanging gunfire with the suspect.
Business 20 between Loop 250 and Midland Drive was closed during the police activity.
The city and officials have not provided further updates yet.
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A government committee reviewed the proposed changes to Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and found that the changes could reduce support for over 200,000 participants. The committee said the changes may not align with human rights laws and could limit access to disability services, despite the government’s goal to keep the scheme financially stable.
Key Facts
The NDIS is a $50 billion per year program providing disability support in Australia.
Proposed changes would introduce a legal test from 2028 to decide who can access the NDIS based on their ability to function.
Around 241,000 people could lose NDIS access by mid-2031 under this test.
The government says the changes aim to make the NDIS sustainable and redirect some people to other mainstream services.
The committee raised concerns about whether alternative services are available and accessible to those removed from the NDIS.
The changes are considered “retrogressive,” meaning they may reduce human rights protections by limiting support.
The report said decision-makers would not have to consider individual circumstances, like location or financial ability, when approving treatment.
Disability ministers from states and territories said they might not be ready to support those leaving the NDIS.
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The article discusses the role of a jury in a major opioid trial in the United States. It explains how jurors faced challenges while deciding a complex legal case involving opioid companies.
Key Facts
The trial is described as a key legal case related to the opioid crisis in America.
Jurors had to understand complicated facts and make a difficult decision together.
The jury process is one of the few areas where ordinary citizens work as a group on tough issues.
The article focuses on what the jury experience teaches about American justice.
The opioid case involves accountability of companies linked to the opioid epidemic.
It highlights the importance of citizen participation in the legal system.
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The Pentagon has released four new videos showing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) captured in the northeastern United States. These videos were recorded between 2021 and 2025 and come from cases the government has not yet explained.
Key Facts
The US Department of Defense released four new UFO videos.
The videos show bright orbs moving in the sky.
All videos were filmed in the northeastern United States.
The footage was recorded between 2021 and 2025.
These videos were sent to the FBI as part of the investigation.
The cases are "unresolved," meaning the government has no clear explanation yet.
This is the third time the US government has released UFO-related videos and documents.
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A U.S. government surveillance program known as Section 702 is set to expire after Congress failed to extend it temporarily. This program allows intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications without a warrant and is considered important for national security, but it has also sparked privacy concerns due to the incidental collection of Americans’ communications.
Key Facts
Section 702 is part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and allows spying on foreigners outside the U.S. without a warrant.
The program has helped prevent terror attacks, gather intelligence on cyberattacks, and contributed to the killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
The law was created in 2008 to formalize an earlier surveillance program from the George W. Bush administration.
Congress failed to pass a temporary extension, so the program is set to expire, but a court order allows surveillance powers to continue temporarily.
The program’s renewal has been controversial due to privacy concerns about the incidental collection and search of Americans' communications.
Civil liberties groups want stricter rules, including warrants for searching Americans’ data, while officials argue this would hinder national security efforts.
There have been reports of improper use of the program’s data in investigations related to the January 6 Capitol riot and other political cases.
Political disagreements over the program have created unusual coalitions of lawmakers both supporting and opposing the surveillance powers.
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Three men have been jailed for their involvement in violent disorder during a protest in Southampton after the murder of Henry Nowak. The protest led to injuries of 12 police officers and a police dog, and a total of 13 men have now been sentenced over the violence.
Key Facts
The protest happened on 2 June in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak, 18.
Denis Read (28), Harry Varney (24), and Benjamin Jones (23) were sentenced to prison terms between two years and eight months to three years.
The protest involved violent clashes where police were attacked with missiles, injuring 12 officers and one police dog.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life (minimum 21 years) for stabbing Henry Nowak.
The disorder cost the police £443,000 and Southampton City Council £6,700 for clean-up.
A total of 22 people have been charged related to the protest.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police response to the incident.
One sentencing, for Mariusz Szczyglo, was postponed until 30 June.
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A measles outbreak in a county in Virginia has grown to nearly 90 cases. State health officials are advising people who are sick or not vaccinated to avoid large groups to help stop the spread.
Key Facts
There is a measles outbreak in a Virginia county.
The number of confirmed measles cases is nearly 90.
State health officials are involved in managing the outbreak.
Officials recommend that sick people stay away from large gatherings.
People who are not vaccinated are also asked to avoid big groups.
The goal is to reduce the spread of measles in the community.
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A man is facing federal charges after he allegedly slapped a Delta flight attendant’s buttocks during a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles on May 9, 2026. The incident is being treated as a serious offense by authorities.
Key Facts
The incident happened on a Delta Air Lines flight on May 9, 2026.
The flight was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles.
The man is accused of touching a flight attendant inappropriately.
The charge against the man is filed at the federal level, meaning it involves U.S. government law.
Such charges usually relate to the safety and respect of airline crew members during flights.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed emergency use of the drug nitenpyram to treat New World screwworm infestations in dogs and cats. This drug kills the larvae of the parasite that eats live flesh and has recently appeared again in some U.S. animals after being thought eradicated.
Key Facts
The FDA authorized emergency use of nitenpyram for pets with screwworm infestations.
Nitenpyram is the first generic animal drug approved to treat this flesh-eating parasite.
It can be given to dogs and cats weighing at least two pounds and at least four weeks old.
The drug was previously approved in 2000 under the brand name Capstar to treat fleas.
New World screwworm larvae eat live flesh and lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals.
Recent cases of screwworm were found in cattle in Texas and a dog in New Mexico.
Treatment with nitenpyram quickly kills most larvae, but pets may need veterinary help to remove dead or remaining larvae.
Nitenpyram does not prevent new screwworm infestations; a second dose should be given six hours after the first.
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At least seven U.S. states have decided not to participate in President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair, an event celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. These states cited cost issues and concerns about the event becoming politically divisive.
Key Facts
The Great American State Fair is a 16-day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., running from June 25 to July 10.
It is organized by Freedom 250, a nonprofit linked to President Trump, to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The fair plans to include pavilions from all 50 states and U.S. territories showing their culture and heritage.
At least seven states—Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington—have said they will not send official exhibits.
Reasons given include high costs, such as a $70,000 shipping fee, and worries that the event is becoming politically one-sided.
Participating states must pay for designing and decorating their exhibits; Freedom 250 pays for building the booths.
Some states want to focus their resources on local celebrations instead of this national event.
A concert planned to open the fair faced issues after many performers withdrew due to controversy.
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Large numbers "8647" appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., several hours before police arrived to investigate on June 11. The U.S. Park Police are treating the markings as possible vandalism and are looking into the incident amid upcoming large events on the Mall.
Key Facts
The numbers "8647" were visible on the grass near the World War II Memorial from about 6 a.m. until police arrived at 11:30 a.m.
The discoloration caused by the numbers is under investigation, and grass samples have been collected.
"86" is U.S. slang meaning "get rid of," and "47" is interpreted as a reference to President Donald Trump, the 47th president.
The phrase "8647" has been used by critics of President Trump as a protest slogan but is also seen by officials as a potential threat.
The U.S. Department of Interior said any threats against the President are taken seriously and that responsible parties will be held accountable.
The markings appeared during a period of increased activity on the National Mall, including events related to President Trump’s birthday and a UFC fight.
Similar uses of "8647" have appeared in protests and legal cases, drawing federal attention.
U.S. Park Police confirmed they responded after a report of the markings and are continuing their investigation.
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Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano told lawmakers that customer service at the Social Security Administration (SSA) has improved, with shorter wait times and fewer disability claim backlogs. However, some Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups say many people still face difficulties accessing benefits, challenging these claims.
Key Facts
The SSA serves over 70 million Americans with retirement, survivor, and disability benefits.
Commissioner Bisignano said the SSA reduced phone wait times to under 5 minutes in May 2026, down from 42 minutes in 2024.
Field office wait times fell by about 30 percent, with 99% of offices open and no closures due to staffing cuts.
Online transactions increased by 37%, and new online accounts rose by 21%.
The backlog of initial disability claims dropped from 1.26 million in June 2024 to about 862,000 in 2026.
Average processing time for initial disability claims decreased from 233 days to 184 days between May 2024 and May 2026.
Disability hearing wait times fell by nearly 80 days since fiscal year 2024.
Critics argue that agency changes, including staff cuts and office consolidations, have made it harder for some people to get help.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a mother and arrested a father near a Baltimore elementary school while children were arriving. The incident caused concern among school and government leaders who said families should feel safe at schools without fear of arrest.
Key Facts
The ICE actions took place at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School during morning drop-off.
School principal Marc Martin said the event disrupted the community and disappointed the school district.
Maryland state officials condemned ICE’s actions, especially since it happened during a pre-K graduation.
DHS said the arrest started outside the school and involved Jesus Acevedo-Sanchez resisting arrest and using a vehicle to evade officers.
Acevedo-Sanchez faces federal charges for resisting arrest and damaging government property.
A second person in the car punched officers and is also charged.
Maryland recently passed a law to limit federal immigration enforcement actions at sensitive places like schools.
ICE stated they do not target schools but will act to catch criminals who put children’s safety at risk.
Videos show the arrest happening near children and school grounds, with a child in the vehicle and a woman shouting that the incident is happening on school property.
President Donald Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement and recently increased funding for his immigration agenda.
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A large fire broke out on June 11 at a medical equipment warehouse near San Francisco, in Tracy, California. Firefighters evacuated workers from the warehouse and nearby buildings while working to control the fire.
Key Facts
The fire happened at the Medline distribution center, a medical equipment warehouse.
The location is about one hour east of San Francisco, in Tracy, California.
All staff from the warehouse were safely evacuated and accounted for.
Other buildings in the same industrial park were also evacuated.
Firefighters were actively working to control and put out the fire.
Thick smoke was seen rising over the area.
No information about injuries or damage beyond the warehouse was reported.
The event happened on June 11, 2026.
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The Department of Homeland Security has waived several environmental and historic preservation laws to allow construction of border security infrastructure, including barriers and roads, within Big Bend National Park in Texas. This decision supports President Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall, despite opposition from local leaders, environmentalists, and the fact that illegal crossings in the area are very low.
Key Facts
Congress allocated $46.5 billion last year for border wall construction.
Big Bend National Park covers 800,000 acres and attracts about 500,000 visitors yearly.
The waiver exempts the border wall project from major environmental and historic protection laws.
The plan includes building 4-6 foot tall vehicle barriers in four parts, new roads up to 24 feet wide, and installing surveillance technology.
Big Bend is home to endangered species, a declining bighorn sheep population, and Native American rock art.
Local leaders and public land users have strongly opposed wall construction in the park.
Illegal border crossings in the Big Bend sector are less than half a percent of total U.S. illegal crossings.
Customs and Border Protection has provided little clear communication about the project’s details.
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