Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who was killed almost two weeks ago, will lie in state on Friday. Her funeral, along with her husband's, will take place on Saturday.
Key Facts:
Melissa Hortman was a Minnesota State Representative.
She was killed nearly two weeks ago.
Her husband, Mark, was also involved, as both will lie in state.
The public can view them lying in state on Friday.
The funeral for Representative Hortman and her husband is scheduled for Saturday.
Canada's parliament has passed the One Canadian Economy Act, which allows the government to quickly approve major national projects to boost the economy. The law aims to reduce dependence on the U.S. amid trade tensions, but it has faced criticism from Indigenous groups and environmental activists who are concerned about being overlooked in the process.
Key Facts:
The One Canadian Economy Act was passed to fast-track national projects.
The law gives the cabinet power to bypass certain federal laws to approve projects.
It aims to reduce Canada's economic reliance on the U.S., especially because of trade tensions.
Indigenous groups and environmental activists have criticized the lack of consultation.
The law is intended to streamline projects like pipelines, electricity grids, and ports.
It focuses on removing trade barriers and improving internal trade and labor movement.
An amendment requiring Indigenous consent for projects was not included in the law.
The government promised to consult with Indigenous peoples before approving projects.
An Egyptian man, Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, admitted to kicking a customs dog at Washington Dulles International Airport. He was ordered to pay for the dog's medical bills and was deported to Egypt after the incident.
Key Facts:
Hamed Aly Marie, 70, pleaded guilty to kicking a customs dog named Freddie.
Freddie is a beagle working with US Customs to find illegal agricultural items.
The incident happened in the baggage claim area at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Freddie alerted customs officers to Marie's luggage, which contained over 100 pounds of prohibited food.
Prohibited items included beef, rice, vegetables, corn seeds, and herbs.
These products are banned because they can carry diseases harmful to local plants and animals.
Freddie sustained injuries and was treated at an emergency vet clinic.
Marie was deported to Egypt after being sentenced and ordered to pay $840 for Freddie's vet bills.
Criminal trials for the Post Office Horizon IT scandal might not start until 2028. The investigation, led by Cdr Stephen Clayman, involves many suspects and will only proceed after a public inquiry report is reviewed. The scandal involved false shortfalls in Post Office accounts, leading to over 900 wrongful prosecutions.
Key Facts:
Criminal trials for the Post Office Horizon IT scandal may not start until 2028.
The Horizon IT system created false shortfalls in Post Office accounts, affecting sub-postmasters.
Over 900 people were wrongly prosecuted due to these false shortfalls.
Some of those affected have since had their convictions overturned.
Cdr Stephen Clayman is leading the police investigation, known as Operation Olympos.
The investigation has already identified seven suspects and is looking at 45 to 50 potential suspects.
The police are waiting for the final report from the public inquiry before proceeding to trial.
Tim Brentnall, a former sub-postmaster, had his conviction overturned and emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation.
Police reported that Brad Pitt's Los Angeles home was broken into by three people who entered through a front window. The burglars took items from the house, but it's not clear what was stolen. Pitt was not home at the time as he was in the UK for a film premiere.
Key Facts:
Three suspects broke into Brad Pitt's home in Los Angeles.
The burglary happened late on a Wednesday night.
Suspects entered through a front window and took items from the home.
It's unclear what items were stolen.
Brad Pitt was not home during the break-in; he was in the UK for a film event.
The burglary is part of a series targeting celebrities in Los Angeles.
The home is located near Griffith Park and is well shielded from public view.
Police have not confirmed whether Pitt's home is involved or the value of stolen items.
Federal prosecutors plan to start new deportation proceedings against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man wrongfully deported earlier. The legal action involves sending him to a third country, not El Salvador, though no immediate steps are planned. Abrego Garcia is currently in detention in Tennessee facing criminal charges, and there's an ongoing legal battle over his deportation and return to the U.S.
Key Facts:
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March.
The U.S. government plans to deport him again, this time to a third country.
The legal proceedings for this new deportation are not expected to start soon.
Abrego Garcia is held in Tennessee under human smuggling charges but has pleaded not guilty.
His lawyers want him moved to Maryland to avoid quick deportation when released from Tennessee custody.
Abrego Garcia's initial deportation was described by officials as an "administrative error."
The U.S. government has accused him of being linked to the MS-13 gang, based partly on a 2022 traffic stop video.
A court had earlier ruled that the government must help bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. after his mistaken deportation.
Rama Duwaji is an artist and animator married to Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary, making him a key candidate for mayor of New York City. Duwaji, who has Syrian roots, gained attention during the campaign despite staying mostly out of the public eye.
Key Facts:
Rama Duwaji is a 27-year-old artist and animator with Syrian heritage.
She is married to Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary for the New York City mayoral race.
Duwaji's art often explores Middle Eastern themes and has been featured in major media outlets and museums.
The couple met on a dating app and had a traditional Islamic wedding ceremony in Dubai.
Duwaji studied at Virginia Commonwealth University and the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
During Mamdani's campaign, some criticized him for not featuring his wife more prominently.
Some of Duwaji’s artworks address topics like American foreign policy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Early Thursday, people in Southeastern U.S. states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee reported seeing a bright fireball in the sky. Experts identified it as a bolide, a large fireball that can cause a loud noise called a sonic boom.
Key Facts:
A large fireball was seen early Thursday in the Southeastern U.S.
States where it was visible include Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The American Meteor Society received reports about the fireball.
Video footage from drivers showed a bright light moving quickly downward.
Experts called it a bolide, a rare type of large fireball.
A bolide is known for creating a sonic boom, a loud noise caused by something moving faster than the speed of sound.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has objected to parts of a large tax bill proposed by former President Donald Trump, stating some sections break Senate rules. Her decision puts billions of dollars in tax cuts at risk and is causing disagreement within Congress as they try to pass the bill by 4 July.
Key Facts:
Elizabeth MacDonough is the Senate parliamentarian who reviews if a bill follows Senate rules.
She found some parts of Trump's tax bill violate Senate rules, which could impact large financial cuts.
The tax bill, called the "big beautiful bill" by Trump, involves reducing spending and tax cuts.
The bill includes cuts to Medicaid and changes to food assistance and job-related taxes.
Republicans are trying to pass the bill by 4 July, but internal disagreements are causing delays.
The Byrd Rule prevents unrelated items in reconciliation bills that affect budget decisions.
Reconciliation bills only need a simple majority to pass in the Senate.
Some Republicans want to ignore or dismiss MacDonough's rulings to proceed with the bill.
The Trump administration announced an investigation into the University of California's hiring practices over concerns of race and sex-based criteria. The Department of Justice suspects these practices might violate federal anti-discrimination laws. The University of California denies any wrongdoing and states it follows fair and legal hiring procedures.
Key Facts:
The Trump administration opened an investigation into the University of California's hiring practices.
The investigation focuses on whether the university uses race and sex in hiring decisions.
The Department of Justice expressed concerns about potential violations of federal anti-discrimination laws.
The University of California system includes 10 campuses with over 299,000 students.
The UC system argues it complies with federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
The Trump administration has previously clashed with universities over diversity initiatives.
Other universities like Harvard have faced similar scrutiny and disputes over diversity and foreign student policies.
Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City's mayoral primary is receiving significant attention. This win is being discussed as important for the Democratic Party.
Key Facts:
Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral primary.
The event is gaining a lot of media attention.
Some see this win as significant for the Democratic Party in the United States.
Adrian Finighan presented the news about Mamdani's victory.
Linda Sarsour, Joi Chaney, and Omar Rahman discussed the political impact of this win.
The Justice Department plans to try Kilmar Abrego Garcia on federal smuggling charges in Tennessee before deporting him. Although a judge ruled he could be released while awaiting trial, concerns exist that he might be deported quickly by immigration officials. Abrego Garcia was previously deported to El Salvador in 2019, which was found to be a mistake due to a judge's order that protected him from expulsion.
Key Facts:
The Justice Department will try Abrego Garcia on federal smuggling charges in Tennessee.
A judge ruled he could be released from jail before his trial but delayed his release over deportation fears.
Abrego Garcia was previously deported in March following an administrative error by the Trump administration.
His attorneys filed an emergency request to prevent his deportation before trial.
He lived in Maryland with his family for over a decade before being deported.
A hearing is scheduled for July 7 in Maryland to address the emergency request and other issues.
The deportation occurred despite a judge's order in 2019 protecting him from removal due to gang threats.
The Trump administration defended its airstrikes on Iran's nuclear program, saying they destroyed key facilities. A leaked report claimed the program was only delayed for a few months, and the FBI is looking into the leak.
Key Facts:
The Trump administration said it destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities in airstrikes.
A leaked report said the nuclear program was only delayed by a few months.
Defense Secretary Hegseth criticized the leaked report.
The FBI is investigating how the report was leaked.
Amna Nawaz and David Albright discussed the situation further.
Republican Senator Michael Rounds from South Dakota, who is part of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, attended a briefing about airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program. The briefing included information from top U.S. officials like the CIA Director and Defense Secretary.
Key Facts:
Senator Michael Rounds is from South Dakota.
He is a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees.
On Thursday, he participated in a briefing about airstrikes on Iran's nuclear program.
The briefing was conducted by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Gen. Dan Caine also provided information.
Journalist Amna Nawaz interviewed Rounds after the briefing.
Hong Kong's top U.S. diplomat, Gregory May, said that actions by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments have reduced freedoms. He mentioned the national security law's impact on activists like Jimmy Lai and concerns about its enforcement reaching into the U.S. The Hong Kong government criticized May's comments, highlighting their own national security needs.
Key Facts:
U.S. Consul General Gregory May raised concerns about reduced freedoms in Hong Kong.
May pointed out the case of activist Jimmy Lai, who is facing charges under a national security law.
Jimmy Lai and other activists could face life imprisonment under this law.
The Hong Kong national security law was put in place after the 2019 protests.
May expressed worry about the law being applied in the U.S. against Hong Kong activists abroad.
The Hong Kong government criticized May's comments, defending their legal system.
U.S. voiced displeasure over restrictions on July 4th events organized in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's education authorities advised schools to be cautious about national security issues.
In Gaza, an airstrike reportedly killed at least 18 people as they waited for supplies. The severe summer heat in the eastern U.S. is starting to cool down. In France, storms caused deaths and injuries. Former Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has passed away.
Key Facts:
An airstrike in central Gaza killed at least 18 people who were waiting for flour, according to hospital officials and witnesses.
The intense summer heat in the eastern United States is beginning to ease.
Violent storms in France resulted in at least two deaths and injured 17 people.
Carolyn McCarthy, a former U.S. Congresswoman, has died.
The Supreme Court decided that Planned Parenthood and a patient could not legally challenge South Carolina's decision to stop giving Medicaid money to Planned Parenthood. This ruling allows other states to also potentially stop giving funds to abortion-care providers.
Key Facts:
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina in a case involving Planned Parenthood and Medicaid funds.
The decision was made with a 6-3 vote among the justices.
The ruling prevents Planned Parenthood and its patients from suing South Carolina over Medicaid funding issues.
The decision could influence other states considering cutting funds to organizations that provide abortion care.
This case highlights ongoing debates over funding for healthcare services related to reproductive rights.
President Trump's budget bill is about to be voted on in the Senate, possibly starting Friday. A decision was made that some of the proposed Medicaid changes do not meet the requirements for the budget process the Republicans want to use.
Key Facts:
The Senate is getting ready to vote on President Trump’s budget bill.
Voting could start as early as Friday.
The Senate parliamentarian made a ruling about the bill.
The ruling said some Medicaid changes in the bill don’t fit the current budget process.
The Republicans are using a specific budget process to try to pass the bill.
Medicaid is a program that helps with healthcare costs for people with limited income.
The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, held a briefing to argue that the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites were successful, despite an earlier report suggesting otherwise. His goal was to change public opinion and counter negative media coverage.
Key Facts:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a briefing at the Pentagon.
He aimed to show that the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was a success.
Hegseth disputed a preliminary report that found the strikes less effective.
He criticized the American media for negative coverage, calling it unpatriotic.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe's letter claimed key Iranian sites were destroyed.
General Dan Caine described the use of "bunker buster bombs" in the attack.
Hegseth urged Americans to think critically about the strike's effectiveness.
The briefing addressed the quick pace of American politics and public opinion.
