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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Attorneys general from Australia’s federal and state governments are meeting to work on a national system for working with children checks. This system aims to better protect children from abuse by setting consistent rules and sharing information across the country, with a final system expected by mid-2028.
Key Facts
The meeting is taking place in Darwin and involves federal, state, and territory attorneys general.
The goal is to create a national system for working with children checks (WWCC) to improve child safety.
Under current plans, the national system will be fully in place by mid-2028.
The Coalition party has criticized the government for moving too slowly on this reform.
Federal Attorney General Michelle Rowland says they aim to agree on a list of crimes that will automatically prevent someone from getting a WWCC.
They also plan to set minimum standards for how risks are checked during the WWCC process.
The reforms respond to serious safety and child abuse allegations in the childcare sector.
Alongside this, Indigenous land rights issues and other news are also being reported, but the main focus is child safety reform.
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First responders gave testimony in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who admitted to killing her three children. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the deaths of her three children.
She admits to killing them.
She pleads not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder.
First responders, the people who arrived first at the scene, testified in court.
The testimony took place on a Thursday.
CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul reported on the trial.
The case is being covered by CBS News.
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Major Collin Welch, a National Guard officer, pleaded guilty to stealing about $54,000 of government money and forging documents to support a secret second marriage and unlawful stay of a Mongolian woman and her daughter in the U.S. He used government resources to hide his double life and convince them they were legally allowed to stay.
Key Facts
Major Collin Welch served in the National Guard and was deployed overseas, including Mongolia.
He secretly married a Mongolian woman in 2022 while still married to his first wife.
Welch forged a fake divorce decree to convince the second wife he was divorced.
He used a government travel card to conceal hotel stays during video calls.
Welch submitted false expense reports and lied to get approval for trips to visit the second wife.
He brought the woman and her daughter to the U.S. using government funds for airline tickets.
He created fake government documents to falsely show the woman and her daughter had legal immigration status.
Welch is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is considering reopening oil refineries that have been shut down to help reduce high gasoline prices. This effort includes looking at a refinery in the Virgin Islands as gasoline costs rise partly due to tensions involving Iran.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants to reopen closed oil refineries in the U.S.
One refinery under consideration is located in the Virgin Islands.
High gasoline prices have increased partly because of the conflict with Iran.
A White House official confirmed this plan in an email to The Hill.
Reopening refineries could increase fuel production and lower prices.
The focus is on helping supply more gasoline during price spikes.
This move reflects efforts to address energy supply problems inside the U.S.
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A federal judge sentenced Matthew Kawa, owner of Paradigm Peptides, to nearly six years in prison for selling unapproved drugs that contained steroids and for illegally importing them. Kawa and his company lied about their products being for research use only, while they were actually sold for human consumption, reaching thousands of customers in the U.S. and abroad.
Key Facts
Matthew Kawa pleaded guilty to selling unapproved drugs and illegally importing them.
He was sentenced to 70 months (almost six years) in prison by a federal judge in Indiana.
Paradigm Peptides had about 54,000 customers across all 50 states and 80 other countries.
The company falsely claimed its products were made in America, 99% pure, and tested by third-party labs.
Paradigm imported products from China, India, and other countries and used forged lab certificates.
Some products labeled "for research use only" actually contained testosterone, a regulated steroid.
Kawa admitted he knew the products were marketed and sold for human consumption, not just research.
Jennifer Stechkober, Kawa’s sister and main employee, was sentenced to 16 months for her role.
The products sold included peptides and SARMs, which can have serious health risks according to the FDA.
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A controversy has arisen in Pennsylvania as several candidates seeking to run as Green Party nominees have not been officially endorsed by the party. Democrats worry these candidates might be supported by Republicans to split votes and affect tight congressional races, especially in the 7th District.
Key Facts
Several Green Party candidates trying to get on the November ballot in Pennsylvania have not been endorsed by the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA).
Andrew Tupone is running as a Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District but says he was not recruited and did not pay people to gather signatures for his campaign.
Tupone was a registered Republican in 2025 and has voted in GOP primaries before switching to the Green Party.
The GPPA says some people listed on candidate petitions didn’t know their names were being used and that petition circulators were reportedly paid but could not say by whom.
Democrats fear these Green Party candidates could draw votes away from their nominees, helping Republican candidates keep their seats.
Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to influence the election by secretly backing third-party candidates.
Third-party candidates rarely win in federal elections but can change the results by splitting votes in close races.
The dispute is part of a wider battle for control of the House of Representatives between Democrats and Republicans.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Brendan Carr, is reviewing ABC’s TV station licenses after concerns linked to speech that President Donald Trump dislikes. Various groups from both political sides are opposing the FCC’s actions, warning that this could limit free speech and set a risky precedent for future government control over broadcast content.
Key Facts
The FCC ordered ABC to apply early for license renewals for its eight TV stations.
Conservative groups filed petitions to deny ABC’s license renewals, partly due to alleged bias against President Trump.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to revoke ABC licenses over statements made by Jimmy Kimmel, a TV host who made jokes about the Trumps.
Some conservative groups argue against the FCC policing speech, fearing it could be used against conservatives in the future.
Former FCC chairs and commissioners from both Republican and Democratic administrations criticized the FCC’s action as an attempt to censor speech.
Free speech organizations like the ACLU argued that the FCC’s move violates the First Amendment right to free speech.
The FCC claims the license review is related to ABC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, but many see it as a response to political speech.
There are deadlines in late July and early August for submitting oppositions and replies to the petitions regarding ABC’s licenses.
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Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Joani Reid have been allowed back into the Labour Party and had their parliamentary rights restored after separate investigations. Abbott was suspended twice for comments about racism but apologized and received a formal warning, while Reid stepped aside voluntarily following her husband's arrest linked to a spying investigation but was never accused of wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Diane Abbott and Joani Reid were readmitted to the Labour Party and had the parliamentary whip restored.
Both decisions came after independent disciplinary processes separate from party leaders.
Abbott was suspended twice, first in April 2023 and again last July, due to controversial comments about racism.
Abbott apologized and completed antisemitism awareness training; she received a formal party warning.
Joani Reid voluntarily gave up the whip in March 2024 after her husband was arrested in a case linked to suspected Chinese spying.
Reid was never investigated or accused of wrongdoing by police or the Labour Party.
The Labour Party emphasized it operates disciplinary processes independently and expects high standards from its members.
The party’s independent review board approved the investigations and the decisions to readmit both MPs.
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Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. face losing their legal representation this week because the government contract for nonprofit legal groups is expiring. The government has withheld $65 million in payments, demanding confidential information about the children, which the groups refuse to give.
Key Facts
A federal contract for nonprofits providing legal help to over 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children expires this Friday.
The contract is managed by the Acacia Center for Justice, which oversees over 100 service providers.
The government, through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), has withheld $65 million in payments.
ORR wants the nonprofits to provide confidential client data and bill for immigration relief applications.
The nonprofits say sharing this confidential data is illegal and refused to comply.
Legal groups have started furloughs, cannot hire or keep experienced staff, and many children are losing their lawyers.
A federal judge set a hearing for August 6 to address the payment and contract issues.
During the Trump administration, legal groups said migrant children and sponsors were targeted under immigration policies.
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Elon Musk plans to spend $100 million to $120 million through his super PAC called America PAC to support Republican candidates in at least eight states for the 2026 midterm elections. This effort is focused on helping conservative politicians get elected.
Key Facts
Elon Musk is involved in political spending again before the 2026 midterm elections.
He controls a super PAC named America PAC.
America PAC will spend between $100 million and $120 million on a new campaign program.
The program targets at least eight U.S. states.
It aims to help Republican candidates win election.
The focus is on supporting conservative political goals.
The effort is a major financial commitment to influence the 2026 midterms.
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A father in Georgia was sentenced to 15 years in prison for giving his son the gun used in a high school shooting that killed four people. The son was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the attack, which also injured several others.
Key Facts
Colin Gray, 55, was convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter related to his son's school shooting.
The shooting happened on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Four people were killed: two students and two teachers. Several others were injured.
Colin Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, a SIG Sauer SIGM400 rifle as a Christmas gift before the shooting.
Colt Gray, 16, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Family members had expressed concerns about Colt’s mental health and asked Colin Gray to secure the guns.
The case highlights legal responsibility of parents in shootings involving their children.
Similar parental prosecutions have happened before, including a case in Michigan with the Crumbley parents.
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President Donald Trump has not ended a controversial deal that gives him broad protection from tax audits and created a $1.8 billion fund. This deal is linked to settling a $10 billion lawsuit over the unauthorized release of his tax records, and its existence has caused delays in confirming Todd Blanche as the permanent US attorney general.
Key Facts
The agreement protects President Trump, his family, and business entities from tax audits related to matters covered by the deal.
It also created a $1.8 billion fund described as a "slush fund."
Todd Blanche, a loyal Trump ally and former personal lawyer, is the acting attorney general nominated for permanent confirmation.
Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, initially withheld support, wanting limits on the tax immunity agreement to be clearly stated.
President Trump publicly opposed these senators, noting past political conflicts and threatening to withdraw Blanche's nomination if they did not support him.
Blanche can continue serving as acting attorney general indefinitely without Senate confirmation.
A federal judge criticized the government’s handling of the tax record lawsuit as favoring the president.
The White House declined to comment on the situation, directing inquiries to Trump's social media statements.
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U.S. authorities are investigating a cyberattack that targeted more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota. Officials believe the attack may be linked to hackers aligned with the Iranian government but have not confirmed who is responsible.
Key Facts
Over 30 community water systems in Minnesota were affected by a coordinated cyberattack.
Minnesota IT Services reported the attack and is monitoring the situation.
The cyberattack methods resemble incidents linked to hackers aligned with Iran.
The FBI is working with victims and supporting efforts to protect critical infrastructure.
U.S. officials have not definitively identified the attackers and are still gathering information.
The attack temporarily disrupted some water facilities but did not make water unsafe to drink.
The cyberattack occurred amid ongoing conflict and rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Recent military strikes have been exchanged between the U.S. and Iran, affecting civilian infrastructure.
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The U.S. Army gave Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to make Patriot interceptor missiles over seven years. This contract replaces an earlier one-year deal and aims to rebuild the country's low missile supplies.
Key Facts
The contract is for seven years and can be worth up to $58.6 billion.
Lockheed Martin will produce Patriot interceptor missiles under this contract.
This deal replaces a previous one-year contract valued at $4.7 billion from April.
The U.S. Army is focusing on quickly replenishing its missile stockpiles.
Patriot missiles are used by the U.S. military to intercept and destroy incoming threats.
The contract was officially announced on a Wednesday.
This production is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities.
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Most Americans say the war in Iran, which started on February 28, is not worth fighting. President Donald Trump's approval rating on how he is handling the Iran conflict has decreased slightly since last month.
Key Facts
The war with Iran began on February 28.
Around two-thirds of U.S. adults believe the war is not worthwhile.
Most Democrats and independents think the war is not worth fighting.
About 37% of Republicans also say the war is not worthwhile.
President Trump's approval rating on his handling of Iran has dropped slightly since last month.
The poll was conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The conflict has lasted longer than President Trump originally expected.
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Hair found at the home of Nancy Guthrie, who was abducted in Tucson, Arizona, does not match any suspect, according to the Pima County Sheriff. Investigators have a mixed DNA sample from the scene that is hard to decode, and multiple labs are working to identify whether it links to a suspect.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home in early February 2026.
Hair found at her home was tested and showed no connection to a suspect.
A mixed DNA sample from the home contains genetic material from up to four people.
Several labs across the U.S., including the FBI lab, are trying to analyze this mixed DNA.
Surveillance video showed a masked man outside Nancy’s home during the abduction.
It is unclear whether the man acted alone or had help.
The sheriff believes the case can still be solved.
Savannah Guthrie, Nancy’s daughter and a TV host, is helping keep public attention on the case.
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Heavy rains caused flash flooding in parts of upstate New York, leading to water rescues and damage, including the destruction of a historic grist mill. Cleanup efforts began as floodwaters started to recede, and officials advised local residents to boil water due to damage to a water plant.
Key Facts
Nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of rain fell in Columbia and Rensselaer counties near Albany over 48 hours.
Albany received 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain during the same period.
Flash floods led to people being rescued from homes and vehicles in Albany and nearby towns.
There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the flooding.
Floodwaters damaged the oldest part of a centuries-old grist mill in Castleton-on-Hudson.
The local water plant was damaged, prompting a boil water advisory and calls to reduce water use.
Photos show stranded cars, flooded farmland, and fast-moving floodwaters spilling onto roads.
Similar flooding and water rescues occurred earlier in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
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The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement turns health concerns into a political and lifestyle issue. It links public health topics like diet and toxins to daily family decisions and has gained attention through online influencers and a White House commission led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Key Facts
MAHA started as a slogan and became a movement blending health and conservative politics.
The White House created the MAHA Commission to study children's chronic diseases and causes like diet and toxins.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads efforts to reform food, health, and science systems in the U.S.
The movement connects public health policy with personal lifestyle choices, such as food and parenting decisions.
Online influencers turn these concerns into content, sharing tips and skepticism about medicine and food.
In 2024, 21% of U.S. adults get news from social media influencers, showing the reach of this new style of communication.
MAHA has changed how people think about health, making it a daily political expression at meals.
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A recent CNN poll shows Democrats leading Republicans by 8 points ahead of the congressional midterm elections. The poll found 47% of registered voters would vote for a Democrat, while 39% would vote for a Republican.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by CNN.
Democrats are currently ahead by 8 percentage points.
47% of registered voters said they would vote for a Democrat or were open to it.
39% of registered voters said they would vote for a Republican.
The midterm elections are a little over three months away.
The poll reflects voter preferences if elections were held on the day of the survey.
The poll focuses on congressional elections, which decide control of the U.S. Congress.
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The U.S. Postal Service is playing a critical role as midterm election ballots will soon be mailed. President Donald Trump is pushing for more control over mail voting, while changes in mail handling have caused delays in ballot delivery, raising concerns about timely counting.
Key Facts
Midterm election ballots will start mailing out in about six weeks.
President Donald Trump wants more control over mail voting through an executive order.
The Postal Service changed how it processes mail, which critics say slows ballot delivery.
In past elections, many ballots arrived too late to be counted in some states like California and Wisconsin.
Election officials in Kansas and Michigan recommend voters drop off ballots in person if they want to vote early.
The timeliness of the Postal Service's delivery is crucial for the midterm elections.
Delays in mail delivery have raised concerns about fair and complete vote counting.
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