A recent poll shows that half of U.S. voters believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The poll also reveals varying opinions among different political groups and finds that many voters oppose more U.S. military aid to Israel. Quinnipiac University conducted the poll, which highlights changing sympathies among Americans regarding the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
Key Facts
50% of U.S. voters think Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Among Democrats, 77% believe genocide is occurring; among independents, 51% agree.
64% of Republicans believe Israel is not committing genocide.
60% of U.S. voters oppose more U.S. military aid to Israel.
Sympathy is nearly split with 37% of voters feeling more for Palestinians and 36% for Israelis.
The poll indicates the highest recorded U.S. sympathy for Palestinians since 2001.
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,220 registered voters with a margin of error of ±3.4%.
Rights organizations have accused Israel of genocide, which Israel denies.
Authorities in Minnesota have identified a suspect in a mass shooting that occurred at a Catholic school and church in Minneapolis. In this incident, two school children were killed, and 17 other people were injured.
Key Facts
A mass shooting occurred at a Catholic school and church in Minneapolis.
The shooter killed two school children.
Seventeen other people were injured in the attack.
Authorities have identified a 23-year-old suspect.
Investigators are trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.
A father recounted his four-year-old daughter's experience of hiding in a preschool basement during a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The father described his reaction upon learning about the incident.
Key Facts
A shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
A four-year-old girl hid in the preschool basement during the incident.
The girl's father described his intense reaction to the news.
The event took place while the girl was attending the preschool.
The article highlights the father's emotional account of the situation.
A mass shooting took place at a Catholic church and school in Minneapolis. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison discussed the incident in an interview.
Key Facts
The mass shooting happened in Minneapolis.
It took place at a Catholic church and school.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is involved in addressing the incident.
The event was covered by NPR's Leila Fadel.
The discussion about the shooting was aired by NPR.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and other officials have expressed their sorrow and support following a school shooting in Minnesota. They shared messages to support the families affected by the incident.
Key Facts
A school shooting occurred in Minnesota on a Wednesday.
The Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, publicly spoke about the shooting.
Senator Amy Klobuchar also shared messages about the incident.
Other local officials expressed their grief and support.
The officials' messages were directed at the families affected by the shooting.
A woman named Brittany Penn has spent 20 years working to rebuild her community in New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina. She began her efforts when she was just 16 years old.
Key Facts
Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
Brittany Penn was 16 years old when Katrina affected her community.
She has been involved in rebuilding efforts for two decades.
Her work focuses on the Upper Ninth Ward in New Orleans.
The report about her efforts was made by NPR's Michel Martin.
The story was shared on multiple platforms like Facebook and Flipboard.
A shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 17 people. Mayor Jacob Frey discussed the city's response to the incident.
Key Facts
A shooting occurred at a Catholic school in Minneapolis.
The incident took place on a Wednesday morning.
Two children were killed in the shooting.
Seventeen other people were injured.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is addressing how the city is handling the situation.
NPR's Leila Fadel interviewed Mayor Frey about the event.
Susan Monarez, who became the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) less than a month ago, is no longer in the position. The CDC confirmed her departure, but her lawyers say she has not been informed and has no plans to resign.
Key Facts
Susan Monarez was the director of the CDC for less than a month.
The CDC has announced that she is no longer in the role.
Her legal team claims she has not received any official notice about her removal.
Monarez's lawyers stated that she does not intend to resign.
The exact reason for her departure has not been shared publicly.
Former President Trump criticized a court decision in Utah requiring new congressional maps due to concerns about gerrymandering. He argued that the decision is unconstitutional and urged Utah Republicans to prevent changes that could favor Democrats. The court's decision stems from a 2018 voter-approved initiative aimed at preventing gerrymandering.
Key Facts
A Utah court ruled that new congressional maps must be drawn due to gerrymandering concerns.
Former President Trump stated that this ruling is unconstitutional.
Trump urged Utah Republicans to keep their current Republican representatives in Congress.
Utah Senator Mike Lee agreed with Trump, criticizing the use of independent commissions for redistricting.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that independent redistricting commissions are allowed by the Constitution.
States like Arizona have independent commissions to draw congressional district lines.
Utah's ruling is based on a state constitutional provision allowing public input in government reform.
The Utah legislature must draw new maps by September 24, complying with anti-gerrymandering rules from Proposition 4.
An official from the CDC, Demetre Daskalakis, resigned after expressing concerns about policy changes and communication issues at the agency. He accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of ignoring scientific advice and claimed that recent decisions could harm public health. Daskalakis pointed out problems with changes in vaccine policies and leadership approaches at the CDC.
Key Facts
Demetre Daskalakis resigned as director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
He criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for ignoring expert advice.
Daskalakis expressed concerns about changes to vaccine policies for both adults and children.
He mentioned a lack of communication and transparency from CDC's leadership.
Daskalakis said social media was used to announce policy changes without proper notice.
He noted his resignation was not related to a shooting at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters.
Daskalakis warned of potential harm to public health and criticized the involvement of outside organizations in policy-making.
A pilot named Mark Finkelstein made an emergency water landing after his plane's engine failed near Oak Island Pier in North Carolina. Rescuers quickly arrived, saving him in under 30 seconds, and the rescue video was released after an official investigation concluded.
Key Facts
Mark Finkelstein's plane experienced engine failure.
He made an emergency landing in water near Oak Island Pier, North Carolina.
Rescuers were nearby and responded quickly.
The rescue operation took less than 30 seconds.
The Federal Aviation Administration completed an investigation before releasing the rescue video.
Several senior leaders at the CDC resigned following the removal of the agency's director, Susan Monarez, shortly after the Senate confirmed her. The reasons for her removal are unclear, and other leaders have exited amid concerns about vaccine policy and health misinformation. The situation occurs as the US Health Secretary, a vaccine skeptic, expresses confidence in the CDC team.
Key Facts
Susan Monarez was ousted as the CDC director less than a month after Senate confirmation.
The reasons for Monarez's removal are not clear.
Three senior officials, including the chief medical officer, have resigned from the CDC.
Health experts are worried about how the CDC is handling immunizations.
The US Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr., is known as a vaccine skeptic.
Dr. Monarez, unlike previous CDC directors, did not hold a medical degree.
A gunman attacked the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, misunderstanding COVID vaccine effects.
President Trump started a crackdown on crime in Washington D.C. on August 11, deploying federal agencies and National Guard troops. Since then, reported violent crime has decreased, and over 1,000 arrests have been made. The court system is struggling to handle the increased number of cases resulting from these arrests.
Key Facts
President Trump's crackdown began on August 11 in Washington D.C.
National Guard troops, FBI, and ICE agents were deployed to the streets.
Reported violent crime fell by 23% between August 12-26 compared to the previous two weeks.
Over 1,000 arrests were made from August 11 to August 25.
Nearly half of those arrested were described as "illegal criminals."
88% of these arrests have resulted in charges being filed.
The court system in Washington D.C. is facing challenges due to the increased caseload.
Judge Zia M. Faruqui noted that suspects are being detained longer than usual due to federal prosecutions.
A man from Wisconsin named Ryan Borgwardt tried to fake his death during a fishing trip to escape to Europe and start a new life. He was sentenced to 89 days in prison for obstructing law enforcement, which is the same amount of time authorities spent searching for him. Borgwardt also has to pay $30,000 to cover the search costs.
Key Facts
Ryan Borgwardt is a 45-year-old father from Wisconsin.
He faked his death by leaving his phone, ID, and overturned boat during a fishing trip in August 2024.
Borgwardt fled to Canada and then to Georgia, a country in the former Soviet Union.
He planned to meet a woman from Uzbekistan whom he met online.
A judge sentenced him to 89 days in jail and ordered him to pay $30,000 for search costs.
Borgwardt's actions included taking out a life insurance policy and transferring funds to a foreign bank.
His plan was revealed in November 2024 when a Russian-speaking woman connected him with authorities.
Borgwardt returned to the US in December and was charged with obstruction, and his wife filed for divorce.
Susan Monarez, who was recently sworn in as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has left her position. This follows a series of exits by other high-level officials within the Trump administration's health agencies. Her departure coincides with a new decision to limit COVID vaccine eligibility.
Key Facts
Susan Monarez left her position as CDC Director shortly after being sworn in.
The CDC's chief medical officer, Debra Houry, also resigned.
Two other CDC officials, Daniel Jernigan and Demetre Daskalakis, resigned on the same day.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced limits on COVID vaccine eligibility on the same day Monarez left.
Monarez was confirmed to her CDC role on July 29 and was nominated by President Trump.
Her tenure was marked by a gunman attack on the CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
Monarez faced challenges in supporting vaccines without opposing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Her departure is part of widespread changes in federal health agency leadership.
Two children were killed and 17 people were injured in a shooting at Annunciation Church, which also houses a school, in Minneapolis. The shooter, Robin Westman, died from suicide after the attack. The incident is being investigated as a domestic terrorism and a hate crime.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at a Catholic church in Minneapolis during a Mass service.
Two children, aged 8 and 10, died in the shooting.
Seventeen people were injured, including 14 children, who are expected to survive.
The attacker used three different firearms and a smoke bomb.
The shooter, a 23-year-old man named Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Police found no bullet casings inside the church, suggesting all shots were fired from outside.
The incident is being investigated as domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics.
Police received the first calls about the shooting just before 8:00 a.m. local time.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser discussed the role of federal forces in the city, highlighting issues with certain agencies like ICE and out-of-state National Guard troops. She supported President Trump's funding request for city improvements and acknowledged some positive impacts of increased federal law enforcement, despite her earlier critical stance.
Key Facts
Mayor Bowser criticized "masked ICE agents" and out-of-town National Guard troops as ineffective.
She praised a recent federal crackdown for reducing crime in D.C., noting an 87% drop in carjackings over a 20-day period.
Bowser pledged support for Trump's $2 billion plan to enhance D.C.'s public areas.
She expressed concerns about a "break in trust" between police and the community.
D.C. remains a sanctuary city despite increased ICE arrests and collaboration with immigration authorities.
Bowser plans to conduct a homeless census to better connect individuals to services.
Bowser is working on long-term plans to boost local law enforcement and infrastructure, seeking to recruit 500 new police officers.
A study of American time use data shows a steady decline in people reading for enjoyment over the last 20 years. In 2003, 26% of people read for pleasure daily, but by 2023, this number fell to 16%. The study highlights differences in reading habits based on gender and education level.
Key Facts
A study looked at how many Americans read for enjoyment from 2003 to 2023.
In 2003, 26% of Americans read for fun on a typical day.
By 2023, only 16% of Americans read for pleasure daily.
Women read for pleasure more than men, with 18.6% of women compared to 13.7% of men in 2023.
People with postgraduate degrees are more likely to read for fun.
Older adults, especially those over 66, are more likely to be readers.
The study included all types of reading, like books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, and e-readers.
The study mentions that leisure time is limited, and other activities compete for attention.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, has left her position after less than a month. Her departure was followed by the resignations of several other top CDC officials. The exact reasons for Monarez's exit were not provided, but her attorneys claim she was targeted for refusing to comply with certain directives.
Key Facts
Susan Monarez left her role as director of the CDC after being in office for less than a month.
Several top CDC officials, including Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Daniel Jernigan, and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, also resigned.
Monarez's lawyers stated that she did not resign nor was she told she was fired and suggested she was targeted for not agreeing with certain directives.
The resignations are reportedly linked to budget cuts, reorganization plans, and other internal changes affecting the CDC.
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services have not commented on the specifics of these resignations.
Public health experts have expressed concern over the loss of experienced officials at the CDC.
Monarez was the 21st CDC director and the first to undergo Senate confirmation after a 2023 law change.
A federal grand jury chose not to charge a man who threw a sandwich at a Border Patrol agent during a deployment in Washington, DC. This decision comes amid debates over the Trump administration's heavy-handed response to protests. Sean Charles Dunn, the accused, lost his job at the Department of Justice following the incident.
Key Facts
A man named Sean Charles Dunn threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent.
A federal grand jury decided not to indict Dunn for the sandwich-throwing incident.
Dunn was a former employee at the Department of Justice and was fired after the event.
The incident was part of President Trump's increased security measures in Washington, DC.
The decision marks the second time in recent days that a grand jury refused to indict someone for alleged assault on a federal officer.
Footage of the sandwich incident went viral, sparking public discussion.
Local police statistics indicated a decrease in violent crime in Washington, DC, contrary to the administration's claims of rising crime.
President Trump has deployed National Guard members and various federal agents to Washington, DC.
