A Midwestern U.S. state known for industry, transport, and political influence
The Jockey Club has ruled that the horse known as Austrian Painter, after winning its debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis, must be renamed Merrylegs. The decision follows a formal complaint about the name, which the body says is ineligible under rules banning names likely to be offensive or threatening. The horse’s full sister, originally named New Order, is also being renamed.
An eight-year-old girl from Ruston, Louisiana, has died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. Officials say exposure most likely occurred at Lake Claiborne during summer; the infection is nearly always fatal. Authorities stress caution for swimmers and nose-clipping to reduce risk.
College football is contending with a wave of lawsuits and conference rules as new NCAA five-year eligibility rules collide with court orders. Schools are barring players returning from professional stints and lawsuits are reshaping rosters ahead of Week 1. The landscape is changing as conferences push uniform restrictions.
Apple has updated Apple Maps to display “Lake America” to U.S. users after President Trump ordered the U.S. geographic names database to rename Lake Ontario. Google had already rolled out the change for U.S. viewers; Canada and many services continue to display Lake Ontario. MapQuest has refused to change and has seen a surge in downloads.
Israel faces a potential reduction in the excise tax on gasoline as prices surge amid global tensions with Iran and a volatile oil market. Government officials weigh legality and fiscal feasibility ahead of the October 27 election; experts warn of budget strains even as prices at the pump were raised recently.
The Los Angeles Rams have added two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald returns from retirement, forming a fearsome pass-rush duo alongside Matthew Stafford as they pursue a second Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
A U.S. judge has authorized emergency feeding for Rahmanullah Lakanwal amid a high-stakes murder case tied to a Washington, D.C. incident near the White House. The court order allows nonconsensual nutrition and medical care as prosecutors press for life-saving measures while defense attorneys challenge the move.
The FTC and 22 states have filed a federal lawsuit alleging Amazon has secretly inflated prices in its ad auctions since 2019 by inserting a "soft reserve" bid, extracting about $20bn from roughly 1.2 million advertisers and passing higher costs to shoppers. Amazon has called the suit "misguided" and denied it harmed advertisers or consumers.
The Looney Tunes feature has opened after Warner Bros. shelved it in 2023 to claim a tax write‑off. Independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment has released it to solid numbers, with critics praising its blend of satire and slapstick. The film follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues Acme, aided by a personal-injury lawyer and a cast that includes Will Forte and John Cena.
New data from Truveta shows vitamin K refusals at birth have surged in 2026, driven by political messaging around vaccines. The rate of non-administration increased sharply in the first half of the year, with 81-fold higher risk of life-threatening bleeding without the shot for infants in their first six months. Health officials warn the trend risks newborn lives as US debates policy changes echoed by Kennedy and Trump.
Sen. John Fetterman has recorded a one-minute video praising Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and saying he will work with President Trump to defend Pennsylvania’s steel industry. The clip has intensified Democratic doubts about Fetterman’s party loyalty, prompted fresh talk of a possible party switch and handed Republicans a high‑profile talking point ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
Influencers have been credentialed to cover the U.S. Open, doubling from last year. Disruptions during matches have drawn criticism from players and observers about etiquette and the balance between growing the sport and preserving on-court focus. Naomi Osaka and other stars say etiquette must guide fan coverage as attendance rises.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block Canadian manufacturer Bombardier from selling aircraft in the United States as Ottawa and Washington have exchanged tariffs on roughly $20–28 billion of goods. Canada has imposed retaliatory levies of 15–50%, and Bombardier has said it employs thousands in the US and sources components from 47 states.
The Transportation Security Administration has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allowing eligible PreCheck and other trusted-traveler members to apply one to three days in advance to pass through security and enter gate areas at 13 U.S. airports without a flight ticket. The pass is free, valid for one calendar day with re-entry, and the agency plans to expand the program.
Trump has pledged a $5,000 dividend for every American if Republicans retain control of Congress; the plan faces legal, fiscal and political hurdles and is criticized by experts and opponents as economically risky.
Robinhood is expanding beyond trading into wealth management, banking and AI-powered tools as it targets mass-market customers while pursuing higher revenue per user. Executives say the company is building a full financial platform to capture aging and wealthier customers, with retirement accounts and private wealth services in sight.
The DC Circuit has ruled that the Energy Department exceeded its authority by keeping Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell coal plant online under emergency powers, despite an earlier plan to retire it in 2025. The decision affects Michigan and other states, with ongoing debates over electricity reliability and costs.
The Falcons have shifted QB plans as Tua Tagovailoa is unavailable due to an oblique injury, leaving Cooper Rush to start Week 1 and Michael Penix Jr. inactive; Penix remains day-to-day as he recovers from a knee injury.
Channel 4’s Apocalypse puts 14 strangers in an abandoned Indiana town to survive 28 days with scarce resources. Two camps, tense leadership struggles, and board-up supermarkets mark the early days of the social experiment.
The Environmental Protection Agency has repealed most of the Biden-era carbon-pollution standards for power plants and is proposing to eliminate remaining greenhouse-gas rules for the sector. The agency argues the rules exceed its authority under the Clean Air Act and would not meaningfully curb emissions. The move follows a broader push by the Trump administration to unleash American energy and roll back climate regulations.
UEFA has announced 2028, 2029 finals across Europe. The Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final; Camp Nou will host in 2029. Barcelona continues reconstruction at Camp Nou, while Madrid’s Metropolitano hosts the 2026-27 final. Women’s final lands in Lyon in 2028 and Cardiff in 2029. London misses 2029 World Athletics and Wembley remains a historic host.
Memory-chip makers SK Hynix and Intel are exploring options to manufacture memory chips in the United States, including leasing space at Intel’s Ohio plant or forming a joint venture with cloud providers. Reuters notes potential government scrutiny; no decisions have been finalized.
The Supreme Court has allowed the Department of Homeland Security to deploy the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) as states verify citizenship status in voter rolls ahead of the November midterms. The decision follows a June ruling blocking the expanded SAVE system and comes as several Republican-led states have already linked their rolls to the database. Critics warn the move risks disenfranchising eligible voters, while supporters say it improves election integrity.