united states news

Michael Lewis, a 55-year-old Texas man, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for sending hundreds of threatening and sexually explicit messages to basketball star Caitlin Clark. Lewis, who was arrested in January near where Clark's team plays, claimed during his sentencing that he never intended to threaten Clark and was merely pointing out security issues. The judge warned Lewis that his statements could jeopardize his plea deal, which reduced his potential six-year sentence for harassment and stalking. As part of his sentence, Lewis is prohibited from contacting Clark, using the internet during his prison term, and attending any Indiana Fever games.

Maryland officials, including Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks along with several Representatives, were denied access to a Baltimore ICE detention facility during a scheduled visit on Monday despite having legal authority to inspect federal facilities. The lawmakers sought the tour following concerning reports and a federal class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane treatment of detainees, including holding people in windowless rooms for up to 60 hours—far exceeding ICE's 12-hour maximum policy. Detainees have reportedly been denied adequate food, water, and vital medications, with advocates rallying for accountability. ICE maintains the Baltimore location is a holding room rather than a detention center, claiming it's not subject to standard detention regulations while asserting its commitment to transparency.

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is facing allegations that he displayed nude images on his office television during a closed-door meeting with education board members. Two board members, Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson, claim they witnessed explicit content on a TV connected to Walters' computer, with Carson stating she demanded he turn it off immediately. Walters has denied the accusations, calling them "politically motivated attacks" as he pushes for parental rights and opposes "radical" education agendas. The incident has prompted Republican state leaders, including Governor Kevin Stitt, to support an investigation into Walters' conduct, while the Office of Management and Enterprise Services has initiated a review.

Detroit's nonpartisan mayoral primary election on August 5 will determine the two candidates who will compete in the November 4 general election, with campaign finance disclosures providing insight into candidates' financial backing. The top three candidates raised $526,560 from Detroit addresses, while $1.5 million came from non-residents, according to BridgeDetroit, which created an interactive map showing donation origins. City Council member Mary Sheffield leads the nine-candidate field with $737,176 raised, followed by Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. with $407,548 and nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins with $400,961. Donations came from various sources including political action committees, business leaders, church members, and individuals across Metro Detroit and beyond.

Washington, D.C. is experiencing a dangerous heat wave with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s and heat index values between 102 and 106 degrees through Wednesday. Mayor Muriel Bowser has activated an extreme heat alert effective until Thursday morning, with cooling centers opened throughout the city to provide relief. Officials are urging residents to stay indoors, hydrate frequently, and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces to avoid heat-related illnesses. Meteorologists warn that the conditions are life-threatening, with Tuesday and Wednesday expected to be the most oppressive days before a cold front brings relief on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Candace Owens for repeatedly claiming that Brigitte was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux (who is actually her brother). Despite the lawsuit, Owens has doubled down on her false claims, even releasing an eight-part podcast series called "Becoming Brigitte" after the Macrons requested a retraction. This case represents a broader trend of gender-focused conspiracy theories targeting prominent women in politics and culture, including Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris, which experts attribute to these women's influence, perceived left-leaning politics, and breaking of traditional gender stereotypes.

Congressman David Scott of Georgia has introduced the Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act of 2025 to protect Black farmers amid the Trump administration's elimination of DEI protections at the USDA. The legislation, co-sponsored by Congressman Jonathan Jackson, aims to expand market access and enforce civil rights protections for historically marginalized farmers whose numbers have declined from 14% to less than 2% of all U.S. farmers in less than a century. The bill establishes grant programs, tax credits, procurement priorities, and a Civil Rights Ombudsperson while the USDA simultaneously announced it will no longer use the term "socially disadvantaged" in response to Trump's executive orders eliminating DEI programs. Critics argue this policy reversal disproportionately harms Black farmers and represents a step backward in addressing the USDA's history of discrimination.

A major coalition of Black faith organizations, led by leaders from the National Baptist Convention USA, Church of God in Christ, National Baptist Convention of America, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), has announced a strategic partnership to address systemic disparities affecting African American communities nationwide. The collaboration unites two historically influential institutions in Black America—the Black Church and Black Media—to create a unified approach to longstanding inequities in healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic opportunity, and access to capital. This partnership aims to replace fragmented responses with a consolidated voice grounded in shared values, spiritual conviction, and cultural empowerment. The coalition has established five core initiatives and is inviting various stakeholders to join their movement for unity, justice, and progress.

Bill Cosby appeared on the Black Press of America's "Let It Be Known" to share his thoughts on the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" and reportedly drowned at age 54. During the interview, Cosby recounted emotional conversations with Warner's mother Pamela and fellow cast member Phylicia Rashad following the news. He revealed that the character of Theo was based on his real-life son Ennis, and praised Warner's intelligence, efficiency, and love of life while reflecting on the cultural significance of "The Cosby Show" in portraying Black professionals and family structure. Cosby emphasized the importance of celebrating Warner's life and legacy rather than responding with anger, while also acknowledging civil rights leaders and expressing his longstanding support for the Black Press.

The news article presents a statement from Patrick Rodenbush, spokesperson for President Obama, addressing unspecified claims made by the current White House. Rodenbush calls these allegations "outrageous," "bizarre," and "ridiculous," characterizing them as a diversion tactic. The statement defends previous findings that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 presidential election without successfully manipulating votes. Rodenbush notes that a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio, confirmed these conclusions.

Prince's iconic 1987 concert film "Sign O' The Times" is being re-released in IMAX theaters globally, with special opening night screenings at AMC theaters on August 28, followed by a wider release on August 29. The film has been remastered using IMAX's proprietary technology to deliver superior sound quality and visuals, showcasing Prince at the height of his creative power performing memorable tracks like "If I Was Your Girlfriend," "U Got The Look," and the socially relevant title track. Attendees of the opening night screenings will receive exclusive collectible concert-style tickets, giving fans both new and old an opportunity to experience Prince's extraordinary musicianship, stagecraft, and artistic vision in an immersive format.

The recently signed "Big Ugly" legislation will cause health insurance premiums to increase significantly in 2026, with a projected median spike of 15% nationwide according to KFF and the Peterson Center on Healthcare. A key factor driving this increase is the termination of enhanced premium tax credits that currently help over 24 million Americans afford health coverage, resulting in individual premium payments rising by more than 75% on average for subsidy recipients. Additionally, Trump's tariffs on imported goods including pharmaceuticals are compelling insurers to increase premiums beyond medical inflation rates. The impact will disproportionately affect low-income Americans, with insurers warning that as healthier individuals leave the market due to affordability issues, the remaining risk pool will become sicker and more expensive to cover.

Kellie Todd Griffin presents a powerful critique of California's systemic inequalities affecting Black communities despite the state's progressive reputation. She highlights the extensive documentation in California's Reparations Report that details generations of discrimination in housing, policing, education, and healthcare affecting Black Californians. Griffin emphasizes stark statistics showing Black Californians face disproportionate rates of poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and healthcare disparities, including that Black women earn just $0.61 for every dollar earned by white men. She calls for immediate policy changes and substantive investment rather than platitudes, urging Californians to listen to Black voices demanding accountability and justice.

California experienced a significant drop in most crime categories in 2024, with violent crime decreasing by 5.5% and property crime reaching a 40-year low after dropping 10%. Despite these positive trends, shoplifting increased by nearly 14% and remains almost 48% higher than pre-pandemic levels. The NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference received three national awards at the 116th NAACP National Convention, including the Willis Edwards Award for LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Additionally, a Yale University study revealed worsening disparities in nitrogen dioxide pollution exposure for Black and Latino Californians over the past 42 years, and a federal appeals court recently struck down California's ammunition background check law, ruling it violates the Second Amendment.

Detroit Public Schools Community District is actively reforming its curriculum to better represent Black history and culture beyond just slavery and civil rights, addressing the fact that only 13% of Michigan's K-12 curricula include meaningful Black historical content. Under Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti's leadership, the district has developed specialized programs including a Detroit History curriculum and the Detroit Perspectives Project, which incorporate local Black history, movements, and diverse literary works. Chief Academic Officer Leenet Campbell-Williams emphasizes their commitment to creating education that is both academically rigorous and culturally relevant for the district's predominantly Black student population. This initiative continues despite growing national pressure to reduce race-conscious education, as district leaders prioritize curriculum that authentically reflects students' identities and experiences.

The US and EU have announced a historic trade agreement framework in Scotland, though specific details remain unclear. Under the deal, the US will levy a 15% tariff on goods imported from the EU, which is less than previous rates for sectors like automobiles but still represents a significant trade barrier. The agreement includes provisions for the EU to purchase $750 billion in US energy and increase overall US investment by $600 billion. While markets responded positively to the announcement, the deal has received mixed reactions from EU member states and must still be approved by all 27 EU countries.

of "Rep. Debbie Dingell's Fight Against Domestic Violence" Representative Debbie Dingell shares her harrowing childhood experiences with domestic violence, including a traumatic incident where her father, who struggled with prescription drug addiction and mental illness, threatened the family with a gun. Despite her reluctance to discuss these painful memories, Dingell uses her platform in Congress to advocate for domestic violence survivors through legislative action and awareness campaigns. Since first publicly speaking about her experiences during a 2016 House sit-in on gun safety legislation, she has established the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence and authored key provisions in the Violence Against Women Act. Dingell emphasizes that domestic violence affects families across all socioeconomic backgrounds and advocates for community resources to help survivors escape dangerous situations.

The European Union and the United States have reached a framework trade agreement following tense negotiations, with both leaders directly involved in finalizing the deal. Under the agreement, the EU will face a 15% US tariff rather than the threatened 30%, though this still represents a significant increase from pre-April rates. The deal includes the EU opening its markets to American exports at zero tariff, committing to purchase US energy products and arms worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and boosting investment in the US by $600 billion. This agreement addresses Trump's concerns about the trade deficit and regulatory barriers while reducing economic uncertainty for the EU, which was negotiating from a position of limited leverage.

Joseph Czuba, a 73-year-old Illinois landlord convicted of murdering six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea al-Fayoume and attempting to murder the boy's mother Hanaan Shaheen, has died in custody after serving less than three months of his 53-year sentence. The attack, which occurred in October 2023 at Czuba's property in Plainfield where the victims rented rooms, was determined to be a hate crime targeting the family for their Islamic faith shortly after the Israel-Gaza war began. During the attack, Czuba reportedly told Shaheen "you, as a Muslim, must die" before stabbing the child 26 times. The case, which jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before conviction, renewed concerns about anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian discrimination across the United States.

The Trump administration is leading a controversial peace initiative to end the long-standing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has involved neighboring Rwanda. This effort is driven by U.S. interest in DR Congo's estimated $25 trillion in mineral reserves, which include critical materials needed for electronics, electric vehicles, and military hardware. President Trump has announced that the United States will gain mineral rights from Congo as part of the peace deal signed on June 27, 2023, which includes plans for regional economic integration between DR Congo and Rwanda. The U.S. initiative is running alongside a Qatar-led mediation effort, with experts noting that while documents are being signed quickly, the path to actual peace will be challenging due to complex issues including the M23 rebel group's territorial control and Rwanda's military presence.

The United States and European Union have reached a trade agreement that establishes a 15% US tariff on EU goods, half of what President Trump had threatened to implement. The deal follows negotiations between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland. As part of the agreement, the EU will invest $600 billion in the US and spend $750 billion on American energy over the next three years, while eliminating tariffs on certain US exports including aircraft parts, chemicals, and some agricultural products. Both leaders hailed the agreement as beneficial, though it still requires approval from EU member states whose ambassadors will meet for a debrief from the commission.

Tom Lehrer, a renowned American musician, mathematician, and satirist known for his darkly humorous songs with political themes, has died at age 97. Despite achieving musical fame in the 1950s and 1960s with controversial songs like "The Elements" and "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," Lehrer primarily devoted his life to academia, teaching at prestigious institutions including Harvard, MIT, and the University of California. His influential work, which was often banned by the BBC for its controversial content, inspired modern comedians like Weird Al Yankovich and enjoyed a revival in 1980 when Cameron Mackintosh staged the musical revue "Tomfoolery." In 2020, Lehrer placed all his songwriting copyrights in the public domain, allowing free use of his work without compensation.

A 42-year-old man, Bradford James Gille, has been charged with terrorism and assault with intent to murder after randomly stabbing 11 shoppers at a Walmart supermarket in Traverse City, Michigan. The victims, aged between 21 and 84, were attacked with a folding knife but are all expected to survive their injuries. Law enforcement arrived quickly at the scene, where armed citizens had already confronted and contained the suspect in the parking lot before deputies took him into custody without incident. Investigators, with FBI assistance, are still working to determine the suspect's motive for the attack, which has been classified as terrorism due to its intent to instill fear in the community.

At least 11 people were injured in a random stabbing attack at a Walmart supermarket in Traverse City, Michigan, with the victims being treated at Munson Medical Centre. A 42-year-old Michigan resident armed with a folding knife was apprehended, partly with the assistance of store customers who also helped treat the wounded. As of Saturday night, six victims were in critical condition and five in serious condition, with law enforcement including the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office and FBI personnel responding to the incident. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her concern for the victims and community affected by what Sheriff Michael Shea described as an apparently "random act" of violence.

Astronomer, a US tech firm, released a humorous promotional video featuring Gwyneth Paltrow after its CEO and chief people officer resigned following a viral incident where they were caught embracing at a Coldplay concert. In the 60-second clip, which has garnered over 27 million views, Paltrow cleverly redirects attention to the company's data workflow automation services while acknowledging the viral scandal. PR expert Jordan Greenaway praised the strategy as an effective way to build brand awareness beyond the scandal, noting that since the incident didn't impact their product quality, the company could appropriately use humor in its response. Following the viral incident, Astronomer appointed Pete DeJoy as interim CEO and reportedly experienced a significant spike in website traffic.

New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health have issued an air quality health advisory for New York City and surrounding areas due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The affected regions include Long Island, NYC Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks, with air quality deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and predicted to reach an Air Quality Index (AQI) of up to 135. Currently, Canada is battling over 550 active wildfires, with the highest concentration in Manitoba, resulting in 6.1 million hectares of burned land and the evacuation of thousands of residents. Scientists have consistently linked the intensifying wildfire seasons to climate change, noting that Canada is warming at twice the global average rate.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America experienced a major data breach on July 16, 2025, when hackers used social engineering techniques to access a third-party cloud-based CRM system. The breach compromised personally identifiable information of most of Allianz Life's 1.4 million North American customers, along with data from financial professionals and select employees. Allianz has reported the incident to the FBI and taken immediate containment measures, emphasizing that the company's main network and policy administration system remained secure. The parent company is currently working to contact and assist individuals affected by this breach, which was limited to the North American life insurance division.

Tea Dating Advice, a women-only app with 1.6 million users that allows background checks on potential male partners, has experienced a significant data breach. The hack exposed 72,000 user-submitted images, including verification photos with ID that should have been immediately deleted according to the company's privacy policy. Additionally, 59,000 images of posts, comments, and direct messages from over two years ago were accessed in the breach. Tea has stated they are working with cybersecurity experts to address the issue, which affected members who signed up before February 2024.

The 3rd Annual Detroit Is Different Collard Green Cook-Off is moving to the Samaritan Center's Wellness Center Gym on July 26, 2025, with the theme "Bridging Detroit Through Culture and Cuisine." This free community event celebrates Detroit's urban farming heritage and Black culinary traditions, featuring eight local chefs competing for the Collard Green Cook-Off Champion title. Attendees receive one free tasting ticket upon entry and can purchase additional tickets for $2 each, allowing them to sample dishes and participate in voting alongside a panel of judges to determine the winner. The cook-off aims to connect generations, preserve cultural food traditions, and strengthen community bonds through the shared appreciation of collard greens.

A widespread strike by Republic Services waste management workers, organized by the Teamsters union, has resulted in uncollected garbage piling up across multiple American cities since July 1st. The workers are demanding better pay and benefits, claiming they receive significantly less compensation than other sanitation workers, while Republic Services accuses the union of refusing to compromise and engaging in illegal behavior. The strike has affected communities in Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington, with over 2,000 garbage collectors participating at its peak, causing cities to implement emergency measures and even pursue legal action against the company. While agreements have been reached in some locations like Lacey, Washington and Manteca, California, the stalemate continues in Massachusetts with no negotiations currently scheduled, forcing municipalities to create alternative waste disposal solutions and businesses to endure overflowing garbage amid summer heat.