A landlocked state of the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West.
The White House has expanded a nonbinding Ratepayer Protection Pledge to include nearly 200 additional utilities, governors and data‑center developers, and President Trump has urged local leaders to welcome data centers as economic opportunities. Critics say the pledge lacks enforcement and will not prevent rising electricity bills as AI-related power demand grows.
Smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada has blanketed large parts of the US Midwest and Northeast and made air quality hazardous in cities including Detroit, Chicago and New York. Authorities have issued health alerts, opened cooling centres and distributed masks; officials expect rain to disperse some smoke but warn that pollution will linger in the Upper Midwest.
Lindsay Clancy's trial is underway in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with prosecutors arguing a premeditated murder and the defense asserting postpartum psychosis. jurors are weighing whether her actions were driven by mental illness, while experts discuss the role of postpartum conditions and treatment.
Michigan is piloting a no-cost pre-K program for home-based child care providers with a $1.5 million federal grant. The effort aims to expand access to four-year-olds beyond schools and centers, supporting 75–80 children this spring and summer, and potentially into the next school year. Advocates say the move could broaden options for families; opponents question quality and oversight.
Former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, involved in the O. J. Simpson case, has died. Reports say he passed away on May 12 from throat cancer, with public attention centering on his role in the 1994 investigation and his perjury conviction the following year.
Public lands policy moves under renewed scrutiny as the administration signals potential changes to long-standing access rules, with Senators and regulators weighing the impacts on conservation, recreation and energy development.
Federal officials have suspended funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority amid a widening investigation into mismanagement and alleged fraud. LAHSA has faced audits and lawsuits over the handling of homelessness programs, with HUD warning that accountability standards must be met as the White House task force acts to curb improper spending. The move places pressure on local leaders to reform funding and oversight while continuing homelessness services.
The Texas Supreme Court has rejected environmental groups’ challenge to Boca Chica Beach access limits, ruling that the Open Beaches Act does not grant private enforcement rights and leaving SpaceX’s launch site protections intact. The decision comes days after SpaceX’s Nasdaq IPO, which analysts say has boosted attention on the Boca Chica area.
Micron has reported blockbuster fiscal third-quarter results — $41.46bn revenue and $28.24bn net income — and has forecast roughly $50bn for the current quarter. The results have pushed Micron above a $1tn market value, restarted buying in memory stocks and have sharpened concerns that soaring AI data‑centre demand is forcing consumer electronics makers, including Apple, to prepare price increases.
The US Supreme Court has rejected President Trump’s executive order that would have denied automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on US soil. In a 6-3 ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court has affirmed that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to those born in the United States, while three justices dissented.
The new SNAP cost-sharing rules require states with high payment error rates to cover a portion of benefit costs starting in October 2027. Several states face bill totals in the billions, raising the possibility that some may withdraw from the program. The Trump-era changes aim to curb waste, while critics warn of deeper harm to vulnerable families.
California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act has gone into effect after signing in 2022. It requires producers to cut single-use plastics, increase recycling, and fund waste programs. A coalition of 17 states and environmental groups are suing, arguing the law overreaches and raises consumer costs. California defends the law as pushing toward a circular economy.
Miller has had misdemeanor drug charges dismissed in Fremont County after authorities cited new information; he has pleaded not guilty to possession of psilocybin mushrooms and his attorney says he did not have drugs on him at the time of arrest. A related active case is cited, with no details released.
Tech stocks retreat after Micron’s results dim optimism for AI demand; Kospi sinks as memory-chip exposure bites—while mega-cap techs hold some ground.
The US Supreme Court has upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws that bar transgender girls from girls' sports, ruling those bans survive Title IX and equal-protection challenges. The decision preserves similar statutes in roughly two dozen states, hands conservative groups a legal lever, and shifts the next fights to state courts, school boards and athletic bodies.
The FDA has classified Utz’s recall of Zapp’s and Dirty chips as Class 1, indicating a serious health risk. The recall covers several product lines with best-by dates July 27–August 31, 2026. Utz first issued the recall in April after a third-party dry milk powder seasoning ingredient was flagged as a possible Salmonella source; thus far, no illnesses have been reported. Consumers should discard affected chips or seek refunds.
The NHS is expanding an AI-driven triage tool across app users, directing patients to the right service and reducing wait times. Trials show a 29% drop in GP phone queue lines, and the program is part of a larger £10bn tech overhaul. Safety, privacy, and digital inclusion remain priorities as the rollout reaches 200,000 patients this year and all users by 2028.
Charles Winters and other Black employees allege systematic racial discrimination at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Planet Fitness facilities, claiming reduced duties, stricter supervision, unlawful terminations, and denial of promotions. Lawsuits seek tens of millions in damages as the cases unfold in Los Angeles Superior Court and related venues.
The United States marks 250 years since independence amid tensions with allies, domestic political divisions, and concerns over civil rights and freedom of expression. Public sentiment ranges from cynicism to cautious optimism as the nation reflects on its future.
On the Fourth of July, hundreds of members of the Patriot Front march through Washington, D.C., with uniforms and flags, prompting police monitoring. Reports from Reuters, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, Independent and The New York Post detail the group’s tactics, the crowd’s reactions, and ongoing safety measures.
The United States is pursuing a coordinated approach to Iran-related talks as Vice President JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio push rival tracks on Middle East diplomacy. The White House is weighing frameworks to end the Iran war while negotiations over Lebanon and Israel shape the final agreement.
Andrea Shaw, 23, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her 18-month-old twins, Dallas and Tyson, found dead in their Payette, Idaho, home in May 2025. Prosecutors allege willful suffocation; defense links the deaths to vaccines. Shaw remains held on a $2 million bond as her case moves toward trial.
A sweeping heat dome has kept tens of millions under heat alerts from the Midwest to the East Coast. Overnight temperatures are failing to cool, heightening health risks and straining power grids. El Niño is intensifying the heat, and cooling centers, water, and hydration remain critical.
CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business quality-of-life rankings have drawn criticism from conservatives who say the methodology unfairly targets red states. Critics argue the list conflicts with population growth data and different state policy outcomes.
Idahoans United for Women and Families has qualified an initiative for the November ballot that would replace the state’s near-total abortion ban with a law allowing abortions until fetal viability. The measure would align Idaho with pre-Dobbs norms, potentially expanding access and triggering broad political debate ahead of elections.
Meta has faced a federal lawsuit alleging its internal AI systems and monitoring tools discriminated against workers on legally protected leave in a May layoff round totaling about 8,000 jobs. The suit seeks an injunction to pause separations and an independent audit of the selection process while claims proceed in arbitration.
The Sunshine Protection Act has passed the House to make daylight saving time permanent in most of the United States. The Senate is considering it amid concerns about sunrise times, sleep health, school schedules, and regional impacts. Public opinion shows broad support for ending clock changes. Health experts warn permanent DST could disrupt sleep patterns and health outcomes for Americans.
University of Minnesota research shows driving at posted speed limits could save millions in fuel costs daily, cut emissions, and add less than a minute to commutes. The study analyzed 120 million US trips on highways 45 mph or higher, finding speeding is common but yields negligible time savings.
The CDC and FDA have tied a cyclosporiasis outbreak to iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier. Taco Bell and other chains have removed affected lettuce as the investigation continues; about 7,000 cases have been reported across 34 states.
The FDA has upgraded Amy’s Kitchen Organic Lentil Soup – Light Sodium recall to Class II after a lid defect raised spoilage concerns. Separately, General Mills has recalled Pillsbury roll doughs for potential glass contamination, and Midwest Poultry Services has halted shipments as nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs are recalled over Salmonella fears. No illnesses are confirmed yet.
Global wildfire smoke from Ontario and other Canadian fires is driving dangerous air quality across the US Midwest and Northeast. President Trump is pressing Canada over forest management, while Ontario faces evacuations and aid efforts. Canadian fires have intensified amid a hotter, drier climate.
The Interior Department has finalized rules that require individualized protection plans for species added to the threatened list and mandate economic analyses for critical habitat. Critics warn the move could hamper wildlife recovery, while supporters say it balances conservation with development. Several species, including monarch butterflies and the grizzly bear, are cited in ongoing debates.
Two men, Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin, have learned they were swapped at birth at Unity Medical Center in North Dakota in 1988. DNA tests linked them to each other’s biological families. The hospital denies responsibility, saying records from the era no longer exist. The men and their families have filed a lawsuit seeking damages and accountability.
Wildfire smoke from Canadian fires continues to affect the US Midwest and Northeast, with air quality remaining unhealthy in several cities. Authorities warn that smoke will transport east and south in coming days, and residents are advised to limit outdoor activity and seal homes where possible.
Over the past weeks, U.S. and Canadian grocers have pulled iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico after a Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms products. FDA and CDC warn consumers to discard recalled items and seek refunds. The recall now covers 27 states and multiple brands, with thousands of illnesses reported.
Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actor known for Jia in Godzilla v Kong, has died at 18 in a Maryland car crash. The crash is under investigation with excessive speed cited as a factor. Co-stars and institutions offer tributes; family statements were shared in ASL.
Trump has accused Canada of poisoning the US air with wildfire smoke and has threatened tariffs. Canada faces massive fires and evacuations as smoke drifts south. Officials say the fires reflect climate-driven extremes rather to mismanagement.