A U.S. Navy destroyer called USS Benfold lost power for four days in the Pacific Ocean due to generator problems. The ship's crew had no water, meals, toilets, or air conditioning during this time, and the ship was later towed to the Philippines for repairs.
Key Facts
The USS Benfold broke down on July 24 and lost power for four days.
About 300 sailors were aboard the ship during this time.
The crew did not have access to drinking water, meals, functioning toilets, or air conditioning while powerless.
No crew members were injured during the incident.
Help came from the USS Robert Smalls, which provided meals to the Benfold crew.
The Benfold was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs, arriving on July 28.
The ship left port on August 8 with all systems working normally again.
This event raised concerns about living conditions and supply issues on U.S. Navy ships during ongoing conflicts.
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Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment where the actor was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. Police found no obvious injuries or signs of foul play, and her death is still under investigation.
Key Facts
Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive in her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina.
Brian Hickerson, her on-and-off boyfriend, and his brother were present at the scene.
Emergency workers tried to save her but declared her dead at 2:31 p.m.
Police saw no signs of physical trauma or foul play at the apartment.
The cause of death has not been determined and investigations are ongoing.
Hickerson previously faced felony abuse charges related to Panettiere and served jail time.
He pleaded no contest to injuring a partner, received probation, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous classes.
Panettiere wrote about their relationship and his jail time in her memoir, published in May 2023.
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Many people in Maine use private wells for their drinking water, but less than 55% have tested their wells for arsenic, a harmful contaminant. The state has tried to help low-income homeowners test and treat their wells, but funding is limited, and treatment can be expensive.
Key Facts
About half of Maine homes rely on private wells for drinking water.
Only 53% of homeowners had tested their wells for arsenic as of 2023, up slightly from 48% in 2014.
The Maine CDC aimed for 65% of wells to be tested by 2020 but fell short.
Lower-income households (under $25,000 yearly income) were least likely to test their wells.
Arsenic is found naturally in Maine’s bedrock and can dissolve into groundwater.
Arsenic cannot be detected by taste, smell, or sight but can harm health, especially children’s development.
Testing and treating wells can cost thousands of dollars, and state help programs have limited, temporary funding.
A proposed $1 million fund to help homeowners test and treat wells did not pass in the state legislature.
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New photos show damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during repairs connected to President Donald Trump's renovation project. The damage was caused by mistakes made during installation, not vandalism, and crews are still working to fix the pool.
Key Facts
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool shows peeling and patching damage after recent renovation work.
Federal prosecutors said the damage was caused by contractor errors, not vandalism.
President Trump acknowledged some contractor mistakes but also claimed vandalism happened.
The pool renovation included adding a new blue coating called "American flag blue."
The project cost over $15 million, more than originally expected.
Algae quickly returned to the pool after cleaning efforts, causing the water to look green again.
Repairs are ongoing as crews work to restore the pool.
The White House referred questions about the pool to the National Park Service.
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A court case has started against Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. Several U.S. states claim Meta broke rules by harming children’s privacy and using manipulative features to keep kids using its apps too much.
Key Facts
The lawsuit involves 29 attorneys general from both Democratic and Republican states.
States accuse Meta of designing features that keep children scrolling and using the platforms compulsively.
The lawsuit claims Meta misled the public by hiding the true harms of its products.
States say Meta broke the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting children’s data without parent permission.
Meta denies all allegations and argues that its products are not addictive and public statements were not misleading.
Meta says it has age restrictions and that children who misuse the apps do so by lying or fraud.
Research on social media’s effects on children is unclear, showing both positive and negative impacts.
Experts say moderate social media use can help kids connect, but too much use may cause problems like negative self-image.
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John Bolton, who used to advise President Trump on national security, criticized the president’s approach to dealing with the war involving Iran. Bolton said that President Trump’s recent threat to Oman shows he is confused and unsure about how to handle the situation.
Key Facts
John Bolton was President Trump’s national security advisor in the past.
Bolton spoke on the show "State of Play" with Peter Alexander.
The discussion focused on President Trump’s foreign policy during the Iran conflict.
Bolton said President Trump’s threat to Oman is a sign of confusion.
Bolton believes President Trump does not have a clear plan to manage the Iran war tensions.
The comments were made on a TV program called MS NOW.
This criticism highlights public disagreement about the U.S. approach to Iran under President Trump.
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A former Justice Department lawyer claims that investigations into antisemitism at three Ivy League universities had outcomes decided before the facts were fully checked. The lawyer filed a complaint saying the investigations did not follow normal rules and sometimes ignored objections from staff.
Key Facts
The complaint was filed by Haley Van Erem, a former DOJ Civil Rights Division attorney with nearly 10 years of experience.
The investigations involved Brown, Columbia, and Harvard Universities and focused on alleged antisemitism.
The complaint says DOJ and Health and Human Services officials ignored standard investigative procedures to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Some investigations started without enough factual reason and had results planned before evidence was reviewed.
In the Brown University case, no legal violation was found, but DOJ leaders still pushed for a settlement.
Columbia’s investigation was rushed due to media attention, while Harvard faced proposed funding freezes and changes before any violations were proven.
Brown settled with the DOJ to restore some federal funding; Harvard and Columbia cases remain in court.
The DOJ reportedly warned Van Erem not to create a written record when she raised concerns about these methods.
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The U.S. government has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 1 million people from 13 countries. This means these individuals no longer have special permission to live and work in the United States temporarily.
Key Facts
Temporary Protected Status allows people from certain countries affected by disasters or conflicts to stay in the U.S. temporarily.
More than 1 million people from 13 different countries had TPS revoked.
When TPS ends, those individuals may lose their legal right to work and remain in the U.S. temporarily.
The affected countries experienced changes in conditions that led to the government ending the protections.
People with TPS may have to leave the U.S. unless they have another legal status.
This change impacts many families and workers living in the United States.
The decision was reported by CBS News and covered by immigration correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez.
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David Morens, a former senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States by hiding federal records related to COVID-19. Morens and others used his personal email to avoid public records laws and received illegal gifts in connection with the scheme.
Key Facts
David Morens served as a senior adviser at NIAID from 2006 to 2022.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit offenses and to defraud the U.S., facing up to five years in prison.
Morens worked with two co-conspirators, including Peter Daszak, president of the EcoHealth Alliance.
The group hid emails about COVID-19 origins and a terminated coronavirus grant by using Morens’ personal Gmail instead of official NIH email.
The EcoHealth Alliance had received a grant related to bat coronaviruses, which was terminated in 2020 amid lab-leak allegations.
Morens and co-conspirator 1 exchanged illegal gifts, including two bottles of wine and offers of meals at expensive restaurants.
Emails and actions were investigated by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2024.
Former NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci denied involvement and said Morens was not his adviser on major policy issues.
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The Pentagon has ordered 30 US universities to review and end foreign academic partnerships it sees as national security risks, mostly involving Chinese institutions. These universities, including Harvard and MIT, must complete their reviews by August 31 or face losing federal funding.
Key Facts
The Pentagon’s directive targets 30 universities with potential security risks from foreign partnerships.
Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Cornell, and several University of California campuses are on the list.
The reviews must identify and end partnerships that could compromise national security by August 31.
The Pentagon aims to protect US research from unauthorized technology transfer and intellectual property theft.
The Pentagon previously published a list of 130 foreign institutions (mainly Chinese) linked to risks involving US-funded research.
The directive is part of a broader effort started under President Trump to address national security concerns about foreign influence in US universities.
Harvard has faced additional federal investigations related to donor scholarships and protection of certain student groups.
China rejects the US view that academic cooperation presents a security threat and calls for open scientific exchanges.
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Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a new law to stop the federal government from taking Social Security money to pay back unpaid student loans. This change would protect older Americans and people with disabilities who depend on Social Security from losing part of their benefits due to student loan debt.
Key Facts
The proposed law is called the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act.
It would stop the government from deducting money from Social Security payments to collect defaulted student loans.
Over 3 million people over 62 years old have federal student loan debt.
Many Social Security recipients with student loans rely on this money for basic living needs like food, medicine, and housing.
Currently, the government can take up to 15% of monthly Social Security payments to pay defaulted student loans.
The bill would also protect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits from being garnished.
Some borrowers lose access to medical care or prescriptions when their Social Security payments are reduced.
The Trump administration has paused some student loan collections from Social Security, but this law aims to make that protection permanent.
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Senator Jon Ossoff called President Donald Trump a "draft-dodging crook president" during a town hall meeting in Georgia. Ossoff spoke alongside Senator Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords while talking to voters.
Key Facts
Senator Jon Ossoff represents Georgia in the U.S. Senate.
Ossoff made the statement during a town hall event with local voters.
He called President Trump a "draft-dodging crook president."
Ossoff shared the stage with Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona.
Gabrielle Giffords, a former Arizona congresswoman, was also present at the event.
The town hall focused on political discussions relevant to voters.
Ossoff and Kelly work together on issues related to Senate Intelligence.
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A whistleblower alleges that President Donald Trump’s administration predetermined investigations into anti-Semitism at top universities for political reasons, ignoring normal legal procedures. The Justice Department denies these claims, saying the whistleblower was not involved in the investigations.
Key Facts
A whistleblower claims the Trump administration’s anti-Semitism investigations at Ivy League schools were politically driven and ignored proper procedures.
The whistleblower, Haley Van Erem, worked in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division but was not part of these university probes, according to DOJ.
Van Erem filed a complaint accusing the task force of targeting professors based on religion and ethnicity and forcing multimillion-dollar settlements without legal proof.
The task force was created by President Trump’s executive order in early 2025 to address anti-Semitism on college campuses amid protests during the Gaza conflict.
The complaint alleges political appointees overruled career investigators and predetermined outcomes to pressure universities financially.
The Justice Department spokesperson stands by the investigations and denies any wrongdoing.
House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin has opened an investigation into the whistleblower’s allegations of political manipulation in these federal probes.
The complaint and investigation focus on possible violations of Title VI, a law that prohibits discrimination in programs receiving federal funding.
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Steve Bannon, an adviser to President Donald Trump, urged the administration to declare a national emergency to place immigration agents (ICE) at polling stations during the 2024 midterm elections. Bannon says this would help stop illegal voting and ensure election security, but critics argue it could intimidate voters and block some Americans from voting.
Key Facts
Steve Bannon wants a national emergency declared for election security.
He suggests having an "up-armored ICE presence" at voting sites in November.
Bannon believes this will stop illegal voters from casting ballots.
Critics say this may intimidate voters and prevent legal voters without ID from voting.
President Donald Trump has not confirmed any national emergency plans for the elections.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act includes voter ID and mail-in ballot limits but has not passed the Senate.
Election experts say a national emergency cannot force changes to state-run elections.
Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer, oppose these efforts and say they will fight attempts that undermine voting rights.
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The article explores important American objects that reveal parts of U.S. history over the last 250 years. It invites readers to test their knowledge of 10 notable items connected to American culture and history.
Key Facts
The article discusses objects like apple pie, baseball, and the atomic bomb.
These objects reflect different periods and aspects of American history.
Some items, like the “whites-only” sign, represent historical social issues.
The focus is on things Americans have made, shaped, or owned.
The article is written by Holly Meyer, a member of the Associated Press Global Religion team.
Holly Meyer is based in Nashville, Tennessee.
The article is designed to educate and engage readers about U.S. heritage.
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A judge nominated by President Donald Trump, Jeffrey Kuntz, has taken over as the judge in Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The case concerns the BBC’s Panorama programme editing a speech Trump gave before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, and the trial is set for February 2027.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Kuntz was nominated by President Trump in April 2024 and confirmed by the Senate last month.
Kuntz replaced Judge Roy Altman, who was previously handling Trump's defamation case against the BBC.
Trump is suing the BBC over edited footage in its Panorama episode that combined parts of his speech from January 6, 2021.
The BBC has apologized for the editing but asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing lack of defamation and court jurisdiction.
The trial is scheduled for February 2027, and President Trump has requested a jury trial.
Kuntz was involved in another defamation case favoring Trump involving the Pulitzer Prize board in 2025.
There were concerns about a conflict of interest because Kuntz was in talks about his federal appointment while ruling on a case involving Trump.
Kuntz stated he followed judicial ethics and was contacted by the White House only after giving his legal opinion.
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A woman from Massachusetts was sentenced to more than six years in prison for planning to kill Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, using homemade firebombs at the US Capitol in January 2025. She said she was going through a mental health crisis and drug abuse at the time and had no real chance of harming anyone.
Key Facts
Riley English, 26, brought homemade firebombs to the US Capitol intending to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his Senate confirmation.
English was experiencing mental health problems and drug abuse when she made the plan.
She was sentenced to six years and one month in prison, with credit for nearly 20 months already served.
No one was hurt, and the firebombs appeared unable to ignite.
Prosecutors recommended a longer sentence of over 10 years, calling the plan an attempted political assassination.
English was inspired by another criminal case and planned attacks on other political figures and a conservative thinktank.
Her defense argued she was traumatized and acting irrationally due to fears for transgender people under President Donald Trump’s second term.
The judge said her chance of success was extremely low and viewed her actions as a cry for help.
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Duane "Keffe D" Davis is on trial in Las Vegas for his alleged role in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. A forensic pathologist testified about the gunshot wounds Tupac suffered, and family members viewed some of the autopsy photos as prosecutors presented evidence.
Key Facts
Duane "Keffe D" Davis is charged with planning the shooting that killed Tupac Shakur in 1996.
Tupac’s family attended the trial; some left when autopsy photos were shown.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Lisa Gavin described three bullet wounds to Tupac’s body, including one that caused a lung collapse.
Tupac spent six days in the hospital before dying from his injuries.
The trial included surveillance video showing a fight at the MGM Grand, involving Davis’ nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, earlier on the day Tupac was shot.
Davis is accused of orchestrating the shooting but is not charged with firing the gun.
If convicted, Davis faces life in prison.
Tupac was riding in a BMW with hip-hop mogul Marion "Suge" Knight when the shooting happened.
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The Trump administration wants to restart criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who was wrongly deported. A judge had dismissed the case, saying the charges were political retaliation, but the government is appealing that decision.
Key Facts
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported from the US to El Salvador.
He was held in a detention center in El Salvador known for abuse and alleged torture.
A 2019 immigration judge ruled that Abrego Garcia had a well-founded fear of being targeted in El Salvador.
After the wrongful deportation was admitted, he was brought back to the US.
The Trump administration filed human trafficking charges against him.
US District Judge Waverly Crenshaw called the prosecution an abuse of power and dismissed the charges.
The Justice Department is appealing the judge’s ruling to try to revive the case.
Abrego Garcia wants to be deported to Costa Rica, but the administration wants to send him to Liberia, a country he has no ties to.
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A man named Larry Montes attacked a woman and a security guard at a New York synagogue during Shabbat services. He has been charged with federal hate crimes and damaging religious property.
Key Facts
Larry Montes allegedly hit a 63-year-old woman and head-butted a security guard.
He spat at the security guard and damaged property inside Central Synagogue.
Montes was already facing hate crime charges at the state level.
Federal prosecutors charged him with two counts of hate crimes and one count of damaging religious property causing injury.
The woman injured had a cut on her lip and an injured forearm.
A police sergeant working at the synagogue arrested Montes immediately.
The attack happened just after 6 p.m. at the start of Shabbat services.
The incident was recorded and shown on a livestream of the synagogue service.
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