A Midwestern state at the heart of U.S. politics, weather, and agrarian tides.
A severe storm has caused extensive damage across parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with tornadoes ripping through communities. No fatalities have been reported, but homes, schools, and infrastructure have sustained significant damage. Emergency services are responding, and surveys are underway to assess the full extent of the destruction. The storm is ongoing, and further severe weather is expected.
ICE has completed a hiring surge, adding 12,000 officers to support Trump’s deportation efforts. Concerns are rising over the backgrounds of new hires, including financial issues and past misconduct, amid rapid recruitment and limited vetting.
The Trump administration has nominated Robert Hamilton to lead FEMA as its permanent administrator. The move has followed a Trump-appointed council report recommending sweeping reforms to FEMA that would shift more disaster responsibility to states and change how federal aid is triggered and delivered.
Drought and heat have deepened losses for U.S. wheat farmers as irrigation and drought conditions worsen. Growers report sharply lower yields and higher input costs, with USDA data forecasting a historically small crop and insurance considerations shaping farmer decisions.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings as a potent storm system moves through the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast. Forecasters have warned of damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes, with power outages and flight disruptions already reported. Authorities are advising residents to monitor updates as storms unfold.
Yum Brands has agreed to sell Pizza Hut in two deals valuing the chain at $2.7 billion: LongRange Capital will buy Pizza Hut outside mainland China for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China will buy the mainland China business for about $1.2 billion. The transactions are expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Ultra-conservative Catholic group SSPX has announced plans to ordain four bishops in Ecône despite Vatican warnings. Excommunication for participants is set to follow, heightening tensions within the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV faces a decisive crisis over doctrinal unity.
The 19-year-old BYU forward AJ Dybantsa has been selected No. 1 by the Washington Wizards in this year’s NBA draft, after leading NCAA Division I in scoring as a freshman with 25.5 PPG. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson goes No. 2 to Utah, while Duke’s Cameron Boozer is picked No. 3 by Memphis. The Jazz and Wizards assemble a young, high-scoring class.
Trump has canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, saying he will not sign until Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The move follows a tense exchange at a Capitol Hill luncheon where Cassidy challenged the administration’s Iran war approach. The episode highlights deep GOP rifts as lawmakers balance housing affordability with stricter voting measures ahead of midterms.
The Vatican has declared four newly consecrated SSPX bishops excommunicated, calling the act schismatic and extending penalties to priests and lay adherents. The move follows four bishops' ordination at Econe, Switzerland, in defiance of Pope Leo XIV. The Church warns clergy and faithful that participation in SSPX rites may jeopardize communion, while dialogue with SSPX remains on offer.
A brutal heatwave has intensified, forcing event cancellations and stressing power grids from the Midwest to the East Coast. Cities are opening cooling centers as temperatures and feels-like readings soar. Officials urge energy conservation as the Fourth of July weekend arrives.
A survey of how hot dogs have shaped American culture, from early prints to modern debates about regional styles. The piece cites historical milestones, regional varieties and how hot dogs remain a symbol in arts and diplomacy.
Citizens across the United States express resilience, unity, and pride ahead of a 250th Independence celebration. AP interviews capture personal takes on freedom, patriotism, and the role of national symbols, set against a backdrop of political division and public gatherings.