The U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit have chosen Antares to build and run small nuclear reactors at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. These reactors aim to provide reliable energy for military operations without depending on the civilian power grid.
Key Facts
Antares will build nuclear microreactors at Fort Bragg, a major Army base in North Carolina.
This project is part of the Army’s Janus program, which answers a White House executive order to improve energy for military bases.
Antares plans to deliver the reactors in groups of three.
The reactors will help power military equipment and housing without relying on outside electricity sources.
Antares has contracts with the Army, Air Force, and Space Force worth around $1 billion.
The company recently raised $470 million in funding.
The nuclear fuel used, called TRISO, was developed for a Pentagon project focused on mobile reactors.
Other companies won contracts to build microreactors at different Army bases in the U.S.
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The U.S. Department of State paused visa processing worldwide to train staff on new rules about public charge, which could deny visas if applicants rely on government benefits. This pause delays interviews for many green card applicants living abroad who have already waited years, causing more uncertainty about their immigration status.
Key Facts
The U.S. temporarily stopped visa interviews globally to train embassy workers on new public charge rules.
Public charge rules assess if an applicant might depend on government benefits, potentially leading to visa denial.
The pause mainly affects green card applicants living outside the U.S. using consular processing.
Consular processing requires an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate as a final step before visa approval.
Applicants inside the U.S. using Adjustment of Status are not affected by this pause.
The government canceled many visa interviews without saying when they will resume.
This pause comes after prior policies under President Trump that slowed parts of legal immigration.
The Department of State has not fully explained the new rules to the public, causing frustration for applicants.
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Meta agreed to settle lawsuits with nearly every US state by paying almost $18 billion and setting limits on how much time children can spend on its social media apps. The deal includes a two-hour daily limit for teens, restricted night use, and a school mode to reduce distractions, but Florida rejected the settlement and plans to continue fighting Meta in court.
Key Facts
Meta will pay about $16.7 billion to 47 states, D.C., and several territories, plus an additional $1 billion to Texas in a separate deal.
The settlement includes a two-hour daily limit on Facebook and Instagram use for people under 18, which teens can only disable with parental permission.
Meta will block app use between midnight and 6 a.m. by default for teens and mute notifications during school hours.
Teens will get prompts after 15 minutes of continuous use and at 60 and 90 minutes of total daily use.
If other major social media companies don’t make similar deals, Meta’s payment will reduce by $5 billion.
Florida Attorney General rejected the settlement, calling it too small given the harm caused and plans to continue legal action.
Some advocacy groups said the deal is not enough to change Meta’s business practices permanently.
New Mexico won a separate state court case against Meta, resulting in fines and funds to address social media’s public harm, which Meta is appealing.
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Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty in July 2025 to killing four University of Idaho students, has been granted a new court hearing to try to withdraw his guilty plea. His new hearing is set for June 17, 2027, after he claimed he was pressured to confess and that important information was withheld from his defense.
Key Facts
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in July 2025.
The murders happened in November 2022 at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger received four life sentences plus 10 years for burglary as part of a plea deal.
The plea deal removed the possibility of the death penalty.
Kohberger now wants to take back his guilty plea and has filed for a new hearing.
He claims he was pressured to confess and that evidence was kept from him.
The new hearing will take place on June 17, 2027.
At the time of the murders, Kohberger was a criminology student at Washington State University.
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A federal judge in Texas decided not to send an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer back to Minnesota after he was charged with shooting a man and lying about the incident during an immigration operation in Minneapolis. This decision allows the officer to stay free from custody in Texas.
Key Facts
The incident involves an ICE officer accused of shooting a man.
The officer is also charged with lying about what happened.
The shooting took place during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Minnesota asked Texas to extradite the officer so he could face charges there.
A federal judge in Texas denied this extradition request.
The judge’s ruling means the officer will not be sent to Minnesota and may be released from custody.
The case relates to immigration enforcement actions by ICE.
The judge made the decision on a Wednesday in Brownsville, Texas.
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A man named Mario Fernandez Saldana was found guilty of planning the murder of Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft design manager, in Florida. The killing was connected to a difficult child custody dispute between Bridegan and his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
Key Facts
Jared Bridegan was shot and killed in 2022 while removing a tire from a road in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
His murder was linked to a dispute over parenting their twins between Bridegan and his wealthy ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
Mario Fernandez Saldana, Gardner's husband, was convicted of first-degree murder and paying someone to kill Bridegan.
The alleged gunman, Henry Tenon, was a former tenant of Fernandez Saldana and received $10,000 after the killing; his trial is upcoming.
Gardner is scheduled for trial in September and is the daughter of a co-founder of an arts-and-crafts company in Utah.
Bridegan was with his 2-year-old daughter at the time of the shooting.
The conflict involved disagreements over religion and child care between Bridegan and Gardner.
Kirsten Bridegan, Jared’s wife at the time of his death, said the post-divorce relationship was very bad and founded a nonprofit to help children feel safer at police stations.
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Florida’s Catholic bishops disagreed with Attorney General James Uthmeier after he threatened to cut funding to Catholic schools for not allowing religious vaccine exemptions. The bishops said the decision on vaccine policies is a religious matter and that their schools only allow medical exemptions, supporting vaccination even if some vaccines involve cell lines from decades-old fetal tissue.
Key Facts
Florida law requires schools to allow religious exemptions for vaccines, but Catholic schools in Florida do not accept these exemptions.
Catholic schools only allow vaccine exemptions for medical reasons confirmed by a doctor.
Attorney General Uthmeier, a Catholic himself, wrote to the bishops that he saw no legitimate religious reason to deny religious vaccine exemptions.
Uthmeier threatened to withhold state scholarships and vouchers from Catholic schools if they continued rejecting religious exemptions.
The Catholic bishops responded with a public letter, rejecting Uthmeier’s arguments and explaining that only church authorities can interpret Catholic teachings.
The bishops cited the First Amendment, state laws, and court rulings to support their right to set vaccine policies.
They said the government cannot force the Church to explain or change its religious beliefs as a condition for funding.
The bishops explained that vaccines involving cell lines from old fetal tissue do not conflict with Church teaching because no new fetal cells or abortions are involved.
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A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration broke a court order by moving forward with a mail-in ballot rule despite a ban from the court. The judge also criticized a recent Supreme Court decision that allowed parts of the administration’s election plans to continue, highlighting tensions between lower courts and the Supreme Court over election rules and presidential power.
Key Facts
Judge Indira Talwani said federal officials ignored her injunction and finalized a mail-in ballot rule.
The issue involves President Donald Trump's executive order on federal elections and mail voting.
The executive order directs federal agencies to help verify voter eligibility and manage mail ballots.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was ordered to limit certain ballot mail services to voters verified through state and federal databases.
Critics say the order could limit eligible voters and go beyond presidential authority.
The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to proceed with some election rules by staying another injunction.
Judge Talwani’s ruling shows conflict between lower courts and the Supreme Court about election rules and presidential power.
The case is part of a bigger legal fight about how presidential powers apply to election rules before the 2026 elections.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy, who admitted to killing her children and then attempting suicide in 2023, has brought attention to problems in the U.S. postpartum mental health system. Clancy's defense says she had postpartum psychosis, a serious but rare mental illness after childbirth, and did not get the proper care she needed. Experts disagree on her diagnosis and legal responsibility.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her children and then trying to kill herself in 2023.
Her defense claims she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental health condition post-childbirth.
Postpartum psychosis symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and trouble sleeping.
Experts for the prosecution say Clancy is criminally responsible and have a different diagnosis.
The case has raised public discussion about lack of research, education, and proper care for postpartum mental health.
Postpartum psychosis affects about 1 in 1,000 women and can be hard to diagnose because symptoms vary and may be hidden.
Mental health stigma and lack of provider knowledge are barriers to care for women with postpartum conditions.
Advocates call for better awareness, support, and health systems to help mothers before and during postpartum mental health crises.
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Maine’s Republican candidate for governor, Bobby Charles, said he plans to ask a top Homeland Security official to send U.S. Marshals and ICE agents to polling places during the fall elections. Charles said this is to prevent violence, intimidation, and illegal voting at polling sites.
Key Facts
Bobby Charles is the Republican nominee for governor in Maine.
He wants to ask Tom Homan, a Homeland Security official, to send federal agents to polling places weeks before Election Day.
Charles mentioned this plan during a speech to a Maine Young Republicans group.
The purpose is to stop violence, voter intimidation, and illegal votes at polling stations.
Charles emphasized only legally eligible voters should vote without intimidation.
President Donald Trump has questioned election security and pushed for stricter voting rules, including proof of citizenship.
Voting by noncitizens is very rare and illegal, punishable by law including possible deportation.
DHS has not confirmed any talks with political campaigns about sending federal agents to polling places.
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Carson Peters-Berger, the cousin of 10-year-old Lily Peters from Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to intentionally killing her in 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison after the court rejected attempts to have the case handled in juvenile court.
Key Facts
Lily Peters was killed on April 24, 2022, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
She was riding her bike home when Carson Peters-Berger convinced her to explore nearby woods.
Lily was beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted, according to an autopsy.
Peters-Berger was 14 years old at the time of the crime and is now 18.
He pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and received a life sentence.
Two other sexual assault charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.
His lawyers asked to move the case to juvenile court for mental health treatment, but the judge and a state appeals court denied this request.
The case was handled in adult court due to the seriousness of the crime.
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In July, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained nearly 50,000 people. This is the highest number of arrests in one month during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to new data from a research project by the University of California.
Key Facts
ICE detained about 50,000 people in July.
This is the largest monthly total during President Trump’s second term.
The data comes from the Deportation Data Project.
The project is a joint effort by the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA.
The report focuses on immigration enforcement by ICE.
The increase in arrests signals a rise in immigration-related detentions under President Trump.
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A federal judge has ruled Texas’ law limiting certain drag performances unconstitutional for the second time. This decision challenges efforts by Republican-led states to regulate drag shows and other LGBTQ-related events, with similar laws facing court challenges in several states.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge David Hittner struck down Texas Senate Bill 12, which tried to restrict "sexually oriented performances" including drag shows.
The law was struck down because it was found to violate the constitutional right to free speech.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton plans to appeal the ruling.
Several Republican-led states, including Montana, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, have passed similar laws restricting drag shows.
These laws are part of a broader political effort targeting LGBTQ rights and expression.
Courts in multiple states have blocked these drag performance laws, ruling many too broad and unconstitutional.
Democratic-led states have generally opposed such restrictions and support drag shows as protected free expression.
Public opinion in the U.S. shows continued majority support for LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has withdrawn his support for limiting how much individuals or groups can donate to political parties in the UK. This decision disappointed many activists and Labour MPs who want stricter rules on political funding to reduce the influence of wealthy donors.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, no longer supports a cap on political donations.
The proposed cap would limit how much one person or organization can donate to a political party.
Labour party trade unions opposed the cap, fearing it would restrict their donations.
Burnham previously promised support for a £500,000 donation cap in May.
Activists and some Labour MPs argue large donations allow wealthy people to control politics.
The elections bill under discussion aims to lower voting age to 16 and limit foreign donations.
Some Labour members want to add rules banning cryptocurrency donations and fighting misinformation.
The government plans to cap donations from British citizens living abroad at £100,000.
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In the trial of Lindsay Clancy, an FBI psychiatrist testified that he does not believe Clancy heard a voice telling her to kill her three children. The psychiatrist said Clancy showed control and planned her actions, suggesting she knew right from wrong when the killings happened.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children and then trying to kill herself in 2023.
The defense argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness after childbirth, which made her not responsible for her actions.
FBI psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Saathoff testified that Clancy planned and controlled her actions during the killings.
Saathoff does not believe Clancy heard a voice ordering her to kill the children.
Clancy admitted to killing her children but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
On the day of the killings, Clancy visited a doctor, made lunch, and played with her children, showing organized behavior.
Prosecutors argue Clancy was a high-functioning, perfectionist mother who planned the killings.
Supporters of Clancy say she was failed by the health system and rally for her outside the courthouse.
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Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother, is on trial for the murder of her three young children in January 2023. She admits to the killings, but her lawyers say she was suffering from a severe mental illness called postpartum psychosis. The jury is expected to decide if she is legally responsible.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for killing her children Cora (5), Dawson (3), and Callan (8 months).
The killings occurred on January 24, 2023, in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Prosecutors say Clancy strangled her children with fitness bands and then jumped from a second-story window, injuring herself.
Clancy’s lawyers say she had postpartum psychosis, causing hallucinations and delusions after giving birth to her youngest child.
She checked into a psychiatric hospital days before the murders.
Clancy’s ex-husband, Patrick, testified about her declining mental health and the events on the day of the killings.
The trial has received public attention with some showing support for Clancy and discussions about mental illness.
Clancy faces life in prison without parole if convicted.
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Mike Mazzei won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor after receiving support from President Donald Trump. Mazzei will face Democrat Cyndi Munson in the November general election.
Key Facts
Mike Mazzei narrowly won the GOP runoff for Oklahoma governor.
President Trump endorsed Mazzei and criticized Mazzei’s rival, Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
Mazzei and Drummond led a nine-person primary with about 26% of votes each before the runoff.
Over $14 million was spent on ads during the 10-week runoff, mostly negative and from independent groups.
Mazzei is the founder of an investment firm and served 12 years in the state Senate.
Drummond is an attorney, rancher, former Air Force pilot, and current state attorney general.
Mazzei thanked Trump and supporters after winning and praised his faith.
Drummond congratulated Mazzei but urged him to serve all Oklahoma residents fairly.
Trump criticized Drummond for his stance on Trump’s 2021 impeachment related to the January 6 attack.
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Senator Josh Hawley has started an investigation into Flock Safety, a company that uses cameras for surveillance across the U.S. He wants to find out who can access the personal information collected by these cameras.
Key Facts
Senator Josh Hawley chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism.
He has launched an investigation into Flock Safety’s national camera network.
Hawley sent a letter to Flock Safety’s CEO, Garrett Langley.
The investigation focuses on who can see the data collected by Flock cameras.
Flock Safety operates a large surveillance program across the United States.
The cameras collect personal information about Americans.
The inquiry is part of the Senate’s oversight of crime and security issues.
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Wes Streeting, the UK’s first openly gay defence secretary, said he has faced a large amount of online homophobic abuse since his appointment last month. He noted that many in the UK Ministry of Defence welcome his role as a sign of progress, and highlighted the government’s efforts to compensate military personnel previously discharged due to their sexuality.
Key Facts
Wes Streeting became the UK’s first openly gay defence secretary last month.
He has received a high volume of homophobic abuse online since his appointment.
The UK military banned gay men and lesbian women from serving until 2000.
About 200 people were discharged annually before the ban was lifted, but records were incomplete.
The UK government created the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme in 2024 to compensate those affected by the ban.
Some veterans are unhappy with the slow payment process and have started legal action about payment amounts.
Streeting said many in the Ministry of Defence support his appointment and see it as a positive change.
He mentioned ongoing cooperation with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who opposes some equality measures.
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