A court has confirmed an EPA rule requiring companies that pollute with certain toxic chemicals to pay for cleaning up those chemicals. The rule officially labels two specific chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, as dangerous, allowing the EPA to act more strongly against pollution.
Key Facts
The EPA’s rule targets “forever chemicals” known as PFOA and PFOS.
These chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily and can stay in the environment for a long time.
The rule classifies PFOA and PFOS as “hazardous substances.”
By doing this, the EPA gains more power to investigate pollution and require cleanup.
Industry groups challenged the rule in court, but the court upheld it.
The decision means polluters must pay to clean contamination caused by these chemicals.
The EPA can now enforce actions against sites contaminated by PFOA and PFOS more effectively.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a national campaign to help all rough sleepers in England find housing by Christmas. He pledged an extra £100 million to support this effort, focusing on providing homes and services like medical and addiction help.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham announced a new campaign to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas.
He pledged £442 million to help end rough sleeping, with £340 million over three years for new homes and support.
An additional £102 million will fund services including medical care and addiction support.
This money will support building 1,200 homes and help 3,000 people over five years.
Local leaders will decide how to use the funds as they know local needs best.
The government will not force local authorities to house all rough sleepers but aims to offer help to anyone who wants it.
Rough sleeping rose again after Covid-era housing schemes ended, with nearly 4,800 people sleeping rough in England as of autumn 2025.
Burnham previously worked on reducing homelessness as mayor of Greater Manchester.
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The USDA has proposed ending the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which currently restricts road building and logging on nearly 45 million acres of national forest. The proposal aims to help reduce wildfire risk by allowing local forest managers more control over the land. Environmental groups oppose the change, fearing it will increase wildfires and harm wildlife habitats.
Key Facts
The 2001 Roadless Rule bans road construction and logging on about 45 million acres of national forest land.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins supports removing the rule to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
The Trump administration and some Republican leaders believe local control will help firefighters access wildfires more easily.
There are already roads near many roadless areas; about half are within 1 mile of an existing road.
Environmental groups warn that building roads could increase the chance of human-caused wildfires.
Roadless forests provide habitats for animals like jaguars, owls, and ocelots.
The US has had a severe wildfire season, with 7.3 million acres burned in about 49,000 fires so far in 2024.
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until September 21, 2024.
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The U.S. Department of Defense has made a large contract with Raytheon to grow the production of Tomahawk missiles quickly. This move suggests concerns about low missile stockpiles and the need to strengthen U.S. military supplies.
Key Facts
The Pentagon is increasing the production of Tomahawk missiles.
Raytheon, a long-time U.S. weapons supplier, will deliver missiles faster and in greater numbers than before.
Tomahawk missiles play an important role in U.S. defense strategy.
Military experts are watching to see if this increase could lead to a global arms race.
Concerns about running low on critical weapons partly drive this decision.
The deal is worth billions of dollars.
The Pentagon is urging faster production of weapons due to stockpile worries.
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A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Benfold, lost power for four days in the South China Sea last month. During this time, sailors aboard did not have working toilets, air conditioning, kitchen service, or drinking water.
Key Facts
The USS Benfold is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.
The ship lost power on July 24 due to an “engineering casualty.”
The power outage lasted for four days while the ship was in the South China Sea.
Sailors were unable to use toilets or air conditioning during the outage.
The galley (kitchen) service was unavailable, and there was no potable (safe to drink) water.
The incident was reported by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.
The South China Sea is part of the Indo-Pacific region.
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COVID-19 cases are increasing in almost every state in the United States. Health officials expect more people to show symptoms like coughing in the coming weeks.
Key Facts
COVID-19 is spreading more widely across the U.S. again.
Nearly every state is seeing growth in case numbers.
This rise may lead to more people experiencing symptoms such as coughing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking this increase.
Public health experts monitor local COVID-19 levels to guide safety measures.
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President Donald Trump voted by mail in Florida’s recent primary election, marking his second mail ballot in the state this year. Despite his criticism of mail-in voting, the White House said the president voted by mail due to his role and residence, and continues to support legislation to restrict mail-in ballots except for certain cases.
Key Facts
President Trump voted by mail in Florida’s primary on August 13, 2026.
This is his second mail-in vote in Florida in 2026.
The White House said Trump primarily lives at the White House but is a Florida resident.
Trump supports the SAVE America Act, which would require voter ID and restrict mail voting to cases like illness or military service.
The president has criticized mail-in voting as prone to fraud but used it himself, saying it is allowed for him as president.
About two dozen states and DC have opposed new federal restrictions on mail-in voting, saying they could reduce voter participation.
An analysis by the Brookings Institution found mail-in voter fraud to be rare.
Voting records showing Trump’s mail ballot request appear private and are not publicly disclosed by officials.
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Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia and the White House have entered a heated dispute. The conflict grew worse after Ossoff mentioned Natalie Harp, a longtime aide to President Donald Trump, during a political event.
Key Facts
Jon Ossoff is a Democratic senator from Georgia.
Ossoff is known as a rising figure within the Democratic Party.
The White House is involved in a political confrontation with Ossoff.
Ossoff referenced Natalie Harp, an aide to President Donald Trump, during a campaign event.
The clash intensified at an event where Ossoff appeared with Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona.
The disagreement involves strong political language and insults.
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Wyoming voters are choosing the Republican and Democratic candidates to run in the November election. They will pick someone to replace Senator Cynthia Lummis, who is retiring. Representative Harriet Hageman is running as the Republican candidate.
Key Facts
Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming is retiring.
Wyoming voters are selecting candidates for the November election.
The election will decide who fills Lummis’s Senate seat.
Harriet Hageman, Wyoming’s only member of Congress, is running as a Republican.
Wyoming is known as a reliably Republican (red) state.
Both Republican and Democratic candidates are being chosen in this primary election.
The winner will serve as Wyoming’s U.S. Senator.
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Wyoming voters are choosing who will run for the state’s only U.S. House seat in the upcoming election. The current representative, Harriet Hageman, is running for the U.S. Senate, leaving her House seat open with many Republicans competing for it.
Key Facts
Wyoming has one at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (Republican) is running for the U.S. Senate.
Because Hageman is leaving her House seat, it is open for new candidates.
A large number of Republicans are competing for this House seat.
Wyoming is generally known as a reliably Republican (red) state.
Voters are holding primary elections to choose the Republican and Democratic candidates.
The primary elections are taking place on Tuesday.
The winner of the primary will represent their party in the general election.
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Voters in California’s 14th Congressional District will choose a new representative in a special runoff election. This election follows the resignation of Rep. Eric Swalwell in April after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Key Facts
The election is a runoff between two Democratic candidates.
It covers a part of Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The seat became vacant when Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned in April.
Swalwell resigned due to allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
The district is considered a safe seat for the Democratic Party.
Voters will decide the winner in the runoff on Tuesday.
The election will determine who officially replaces Swalwell in Congress.
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Voters in Alaska are voting in a primary election to select candidates for the upcoming Senate race. Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is trying to keep his seat while Democrats aim to win it with former Representative Mary Peltola.
Key Facts
Alaska is holding a primary election for the U.S. Senate seat.
Senator Dan Sullivan is the current Republican candidate seeking re-election.
Democrats support former Representative Mary Peltola to try to win the seat.
The Senate race in Alaska is considered one of the most closely watched this election cycle.
The outcome will determine who competes in the general election for the Senate seat.
A different Republican candidate from Alaska is also involved, adding complexity to the race.
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Florida held primary elections on Tuesday to choose Democratic and Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives races in November. This election follows the redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts by state Republicans, aiming to win up to four more seats. One notable change is that Rep. Byron Donalds is running for governor, creating an open seat in his district.
Key Facts
Florida conducted primary voting to select candidates for the U.S. House races.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties chose their candidates on the same day.
Florida Republicans redrew the state’s congressional district boundaries recently.
The redrawing aims to help Republicans gain up to four additional House seats.
Rep. Byron Donalds (Republican) decided to run for governor instead of Congress.
Donalds’ decision left his House seat open for new candidates.
The changes and primaries are important for control of Florida’s seats in the U.S. House.
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Florida held a special primary election to choose who will finish the last two years of Senator Marco Rubio’s term. Republican Ashley Moody, who was appointed to the seat in 2025, is competing in the primary against other Republican candidates.
Key Facts
The election is a special primary to fill the remainder of Senator Marco Rubio’s Senate term.
Marco Rubio left the Senate seat before his term ended.
Ashley Moody, a Republican, was appointed to the Senate seat in 2025.
Moody is running in a contested Republican primary.
The winner of this primary will serve the final two years of Rubio’s term.
The election is taking place in Florida.
Voters are casting their ballots on a Tuesday.
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Alaska voters are choosing who will replace Governor Mike Dunleay, who cannot run again because of term limits. Many candidates from different parties, including Democrats and Republicans, are competing in an open primary election.
Key Facts
Governor Mike Dunleay of Alaska is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.
The election is an open primary, meaning voters can choose any candidate regardless of party.
More than a dozen candidates are running to be the new governor.
Former state Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, a Democrat, is one of the top candidates.
Bernadette Wilson, a business owner and Republican, is also leading in recent polls.
Other candidates include Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker.
The election results will decide who moves on to the general governor’s race.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will leave office in January because of term limits. The race to replace him includes several Republican candidates, with Rep. Byron Donalds leading and having President Donald Trump’s endorsement. On the Democratic side, David Jolly is leading in the polls.
Key Facts
Governor Ron DeSantis cannot run again due to term limits.
The election to replace him is happening soon.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds is leading the GOP candidates.
Byron Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Democrat David Jolly is leading in the Democratic race.
Polling and voting are currently underway or have just finished.
This election will decide Florida’s next governor starting in January.
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Wyoming voters are choosing their Republican and Democratic candidates for governor in an election where the current governor, Mark Gordon, cannot run again. Megan Degenfelder, the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction, is running for governor and has been endorsed by President Trump.
Key Facts
Wyoming is holding primary elections for governor on Tuesday.
The current governor, Mark Gordon, is not allowed to run for another term.
Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming's Superintendent of Public Instruction, is a candidate.
Degenfelder has received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
President Trump’s endorsements have shown mixed results in this primary season.
Both Republican and Democratic parties are selecting their candidates in this election.
The governor’s seat is open, meaning no incumbent is running.
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Voters in Alaska are voting to choose candidates for the November election. First-term Republican Rep. Nick Begich is trying to keep his seat, while independent Bill Hill is leading among many challengers. Democrat Matt Schultz withdrew and supported Bill Hill.
Key Facts
Alaska voters are voting in a primary election.
Nick Begich, a Republican, currently holds Alaska’s at-large House seat.
Bill Hill, an independent candidate, is leading among challengers.
Matt Schultz, a Democrat and pastor from Anchorage, was initially leading Hill in polls.
Matt Schultz dropped out of the race.
Schultz endorsed Bill Hill after leaving the race.
The seat is for Alaska’s single (at-large) House seat.
The winner will compete in the November general election.
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The Department of Justice’s independent watchdog is reviewing how the Drug Enforcement Agency investigates cases involving fentanyl, a powerful and dangerous synthetic opioid. Some DEA agents, both current and former, say the agency has used tactics that let drug dealers move large amounts of fentanyl without getting arrested.
Key Facts
The DOJ’s independent watchdog is conducting a review of DEA investigation methods related to fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is highly potent and linked to many overdoses.
Some DEA agents have reported that the agency’s tactics involve allowing traffickers to transport large quantities of fentanyl.
These tactics aim to catch bigger targets in the drug trade rather than arresting smaller dealers immediately.
The review will examine whether these investigative methods are appropriate and legally sound.
The DEA’s goal is to reduce fentanyl availability on the streets while disrupting major drug networks.
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