A landlocked state of the Upper Midwest, rich in plains, farms and growing cities.
Multiple recent reports have revealed unsafe conditions across U.S. immigration detention sites and a rising death rate since January 2025. Federal watchdog and medical examiner findings have shown missing evidence, inadequate medical care, suicides and a homicide ruling after a Haitian asylum seeker died days after release. Protests and hunger strikes are escalating at privately run centres.
A B-52 Stratofortress has crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, killing all eight people aboard. The aircraft was on a routine test mission supporting a radar modernization program. Military officials have opened an investigation that could take up to six months.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a Qatari‑donated Boeing 747 that the Air Force has converted and repainted as a temporary Air Force One. The plane has completed flight testing, will serve as a "bridge" until purpose‑built VC‑25Bs arrive around 2028, and has drawn questions about cost, security and the ethics of accepting a foreign gift.
Beekeepers are rescuing tens of thousands of honeybees after a truck carrying 50,000 pounds of hives overturned near Mauriceville, Texas. Officials have closed roads and warn residents to stay indoors as crews relocate hives and assess losses; no serious injuries have been reported.
A series of 6-3 rulings across several federal circuits has reinforced broad presidential authority in immigration and asylum matters. The courts have allowed mass detention and swift enforcement actions under executive orders, while some panels require bond hearings for detainees. The fabric of due process and administrative power is being tested as the administration pushes sweeping policy changes.
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.
The Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 that federal pesticide law bars state failure-to-warn lawsuits over Roundup, overturning a $1.25m jury verdict and imperilling thousands of similar claims against Bayer. The decision follows the EPAs position that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer and clears the way for dismissal of many pending suits.
Recent reporting shows Donald Trump has publicly labeled Democrats and candidates allied with democratic socialism as “communists,” arguing this stance threatens religion and the American way of life. He cites New York primary victories by Mamdani-backed progressives as evidence of a leftward shift, while analysts warn the tactic risks conflating democratic socialism with communism.
The Reflecting Pool renovation has been plagued by an algae bloom and peeling coating after initial completion, with officials citing vandals, while investigations highlight contracting questions and security measures as the 250th anniversary approaches.
The Supreme Court has upheld Mississippi’s policy allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five days, a decision that maintains state flexibility and could affect upcoming midterms. Justice Barrett writes for the majority, while Justice Alito dissents.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the president can remove leaders of most independent federal agencies, overturning the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent, while carving out an exception for the Federal Reserve. The decisions leave Lisa Cook in place for now but open the door for presidents to exert new control over agencies such as the FTC, shifting regulatory power toward the White House.
Solar generation has surpassed coal in the US grid, led by rooftop and utility-scale projects, signaling a growing dominance of renewables. The Energy Information Administration data show renewables outpacing coal in total power delivery, with solar near the gap but not yet yearly total. The trend continues as demand climbs and permitting hurdles persist.
Three major egg producers—Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch—have agreed to a civil settlement with the DOJ and 17 states over alleged price manipulation. The deal requires them to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks, with court approval pending. They deny wrongdoing and will adopt antitrust compliance programs.
The Qatar-gifted Air Force One has a redesigned interior and new color scheme. Officials say it remains a temporary measure as Boeing delivers long-delayed replacements; critics question ethics and cost. The president is traveling to North Dakota for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening; updates emphasize ongoing controversy and transparency around the gift.
Donald Trump is flying aboard a Qatar-gifted Air Force One for the first time. The jet’s use and the source of the gift have drawn bipartisan criticism over potential conflicts of interest as questions about funding and security upgrades persist.
The United States has declined to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its current form and has begun annual reviews instead. Washington has said it will continue talks with Mexico and Canada to address trade deficits and "shortcomings." The pact remains in force and will expire in 2036 unless countries agree changes.
Trump has toured the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library with an AI Roosevelt, discussing Roosevelt’s legacy and US control of the Panama Canal. He reiterates calls to reassess sovereignty over the canal as tensions with Panama persist. The library opening followed with Roosevelt’s Medal of Honor loaned to the museum.
Trump Accounts are launching with a $1,000 federal seed for babies born 2025–2028, with philanthropic and employer contributions expanding the program. Morningstar warns outcomes depend on ongoing contributions and owner behavior; leakage could erode gains. Companies pledge to match and push auto-enrollment to broaden reach.
Barrett has authored a 5-4 ruling allowing states to count mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day, while other decisions reject global tariffs and birthright citizenship restrictions. The court’s conservatives maintain a controlling stance, though Barrett’s recent votes show occasional divergence from Trump positions. The publishing window spans early July 2026 and stems from Independent reporting.
A global look at paid time off shows most countries guarantee some leave by law, but the U.S. stands apart, treating it as a voluntary benefit. Top earners in the U.S. still enjoy paid time off at lower rates than peers in other economies, while debates over policy and AI-era work norms shape future protections.
The government has proposed ending the affordable housing quotas for new developments of 10 to 49 homes to jumpstart housebuilding. The National Housing Federation warns this could cost up to 32,000 affordable homes over 10 years, hitting rural England hardest. Ministers say the aim is to simplify the process and speed up housing delivery.
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.
House Republicans have advanced a reconciliation budget resolution that would channel roughly $60 billion to the Iran war, boost Pentagon and farm aid and include parts of President Trump’s elections package. Democrats have opposed the plan’s high spending and social riders. Separately, more than 100 House Democrats voted to withhold military aid to Israel, exposing a deep intra-party split ahead of the midterms.
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.
A wave of 2026 surveys shows Gen Z in the United States delaying major life milestones due to high costs in housing and education. Many rely on family support or deplete retirement savings, while rising student debt and mortgage costs reshape plans for homeownership, marriage, and parenthood.
The multistate Salmonella Javiana outbreak has been traced to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. The outbreak spans 27 states with 345 infections and 36 hospitalizations; Chipotle and Qdoba have removed the peppers from affected restaurants. Health officials say there is no ongoing risk after product removal. The CDC, FDA, and Coast Citrus are coordinating recalls and investigations.
A wave of malpractice cases and billing scrutiny has spotlighted hospital practices nationwide. Reports show high payout settlements and aggressive billing in pediatric gender-care, while audits probe claims across major centers. Authorities say the goal is transparency and cost control as patient outcomes and hospital revenues come under focus.
A multi-state outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts has infected at least 55 people nationwide, including four hospitalizations. Cases are linked to Minnesota grower Everything Sprouts and its Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. FDA and CDC are coordinating testing and monitoring, with recalls and safety reviews ongoing.
Justus Kelley has won Miss USA 2026, becoming the first married woman, first mother, and the first contestant in her 30s to win the pageant as the 75th edition crowns her in Miami. The Virginia native uses the platform to champion foster care and reflects on her family’s dedication.
The FDA, CDC and state health officials have identified more cases of cyclosporiasis in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, bringing the national tally to 11,458. Investigators continue examining iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico, with officials insisting recalled product is off the market. The illness, cyclosporiasis, has prompted ongoing surveillance as outbreaks peak in warm months.
The US Army has awarded an $11.26 million contract to TERN to deploy AI-based navigation and vehicle health systems that can operate offline, providing independent positioning when GPS is disrupted. The system preloads a local map, works offline, and updates when connections return, with cybersecurity considered. The move aims to reduce GPS vulnerability on the battlefield.
Researchers have identified a 23-foot trackway of four adult Tyrannosaurus rex footprints in North Dakota’s Hell Creek Formation. The prints suggest an adult T. rex was moving at a brisk pace about 3.5–4.5 mph, offering rare insight into dinosaur behavior as they roamed the landscape 66.5 million years ago.
President Donald Trump has spoken by phone for one hour with Vladimir Putin after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv. The Kremlin has said both leaders discussed possible steps to end the war in Ukraine and praised the envoys' diplomacy, while Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have resumed.
President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran will end "immediately after" the US midterm elections and has predicted oil prices will fall once voting concludes. His comments have come as Brent crude has climbed above $100 a barrel, US approval of the war has declined, and Republicans are holding a two-day midterm convention in Dallas.
At the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Donald Trump has promised every adult American a $5,000 dividend if Republicans win both chambers of Congress. The claim, which could cost over $1 trillion, has drawn bipartisan concerns about legality and economic impact. The plan remains unquantified and faces legal questions.