united states news

The U.S. Department of Education has granted San Diego Mesa College $1,762,655 over five years through the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to boost retention and graduation rates among disadvantaged students. The program provides individualized services such as academic tutoring, financial guidance, and counseling to help students overcome barriers to education success. SSS has demonstrated significant effectiveness, with participating students at two-year colleges being 48% more likely to earn degrees or transfer compared to non-participants. As one of eight federal TRIO programs established under the Higher Education Act of 1965, SSS has helped millions of students graduate and contribute to society since 1968.

Donald Trump, currently visiting Scotland for the opening of a new Trump course in Aberdeenshire, has an unusually intense relationship with golf that extends beyond recreation into business, competition, and politics. Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney describes Trump as a fiercely competitive golfer who has little tolerance for slow play and poor shots. Trump owns 11 golf courses in the US and three in the UK, with more planned internationally, though not all properties are profitable, with Balmedie reporting its 11th consecutive year of losses. For Trump, golf serves as both a business venture and a means to forge connections with political allies, foreign leaders, and wealthy individuals away from media scrutiny, though controversy exists about his claimed golfing accomplishments and alleged cheating.

Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 from Burbank to Las Vegas experienced a rapid elevation drop on Friday after responding to traffic alerts, injuring two flight attendants. Passengers reported the pilot had to take evasive action to avoid colliding with another aircraft, which CNN identified as a privately owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet that passed dangerously close to the commercial flight. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating this incident, which occurred less than a week after another near-miss involving a Delta regional flight and a US military bomber. Southwest Airlines acknowledged the event and emphasized their commitment to passenger safety while cooperating with the FAA investigation.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, transferring broadcast licenses for 28 CBS television stations to the new ownership. This approval comes shortly after Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a legal dispute with President Donald Trump over a CBS interview with Kamala Harris, though without issuing an apology. FCC Chair Brendan Carr welcomed Skydance's promised changes at CBS, including a commitment to "unbiased journalism" and the installation of an ombudsman to evaluate bias complaints, while also ending diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The companies expect to complete the merger by August 7, despite opposition from Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez, who dissented in the 2-1 approval vote.

Former congressman George Santos has begun serving a seven-year prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, after pleading guilty to federal charges including wire fraud and identity theft. The 37-year-old was expelled from Congress following allegations that he misused campaign funds, laundering over $44,000 to finance personal expenses and luxury items while also illegally claiming unemployment benefits. Santos, who gained attention by flipping a New York district to Republican control in 2022, had fabricated significant portions of his background, including false claims about his education, work experience, and family history. He was ordered to pay at least $374,000 in restitution and became only the sixth member in history to be expelled from Congress.

A one-of-a-kind signed Caitlin Clark rookie card has shattered records, selling for $660,000 at a Fanatics Collect auction, more than doubling the previous women's sports card record. The Rookie Royalty WNBA Flawless Platinum Logowoman card features Clark's signature, a photo of her mid-dribble with a bloodied shin, and a patch from her Indiana Fever uniform. This remarkable sale exemplifies Clark's immense market value, as she now has 14 cards that have sold for amounts significantly exceeding her estimated $80,000 seasonal salary. Currently, the 23-year-old basketball star is sidelined with a groin injury sustained on July 15, with no confirmed timeline for her return to play.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced over $600 million in grants to help states and local entities detain undocumented migrants awaiting transfer to federal facilities. This new program replaces FEMA's previous shelter and services initiative that supported migrants released by the Department of Homeland Security. The funding shift aligns with the Trump administration's mass deportation policies, with Florida already operating a 2,000-person detention facility nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades. Meanwhile, FEMA itself is undergoing significant transformation as the administration considers transferring its responsibilities to states and reducing federal workforce.

Lori Vallow Daybell received two additional life sentences in Arizona for plotting her ex-husband's murder and the attempted murder of her niece's ex-husband, adding to her existing life sentence for killing her two children. During the emotional sentencing, family members including her surviving son Colby Ryan and the grandparents of her murdered son condemned her actions and character. The crimes were committed as part of Daybell's bizarre apocalyptic beliefs shared with her current husband Chad Daybell, who awaits a death sentence in Idaho. This sentencing concludes Daybell's third and final trial in a case that has captivated the American public since the children's disappearance and the discovery of their bodies on Chad Daybell's property.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about reaching a trade deal with Canada before his August 1 deadline, suggesting Canada might simply face tariffs instead of negotiation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has firmly stated Canada "will not accept a bad deal" despite the pressure. Trump has already imposed various tariffs on Canadian goods, including 25% on certain items, 50% on aluminum and steel, and 25% on foreign-built vehicles, claiming these measures will boost American manufacturing. The trade tensions are particularly significant as Canada sells three-quarters of its products to the U.S. and their auto industries are deeply interconnected.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," died at age 54 in a drowning accident while vacationing in Costa Rica with his family. His unexpected death has triggered profound grief within the Black community, similar to the reactions following the deaths of Prince, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Warner was widely respected for successfully transitioning from child actor to versatile adult performer across multiple television series, avoiding the typical pitfalls of early fame. Beyond his acting career, Warner was also recognized as a poet and musician who valued family life and consciously built a meaningful legacy separate from his iconic childhood role.

Senior US justice department official Todd Blanche has concluded two days of meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and helping Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls. Maxwell's attorney David Markus stated that she answered all questions truthfully during the three-hour meeting on Friday without asking for anything in return, though he noted she would welcome relief. This development occurs amid growing pressure on the Trump administration to release Epstein-related files, following President Trump's campaign promises last year. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have criticized the decision to send Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, to interview Maxwell ahead of potential public testimony.

The Upward Bound Summer Academy, hosted by the Institute for Transformative Education (ITE) at San Diego State University, recently concluded with a mock thesis defense symposium where low-income, first-generation high school students presented research on public health issues. During the month-long program, participants experienced college life by living in dorms, attending lectures, and conducting independent research on topics ranging from mental health to climate change, with students representing Sweetwater, San Diego Unified, and Grossmont school districts. The program, part of the federally funded TRIO initiatives founded by Dr. Cynthia Park in 1983, provides crucial academic support to underserved students but now faces potential cuts to Department of Education funding. One notable presentation came from Rukundo Muhuzi, who researched war's impact on women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has announced he will not seek a third term, opening up a competitive race in this key battleground state. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, a nurse and former public health official, has become the first major Democratic candidate to enter the primary, with several other prominent Democrats considering runs. On the Republican side, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and manufacturing executive Bill Berrier have already declared their candidacies. Wisconsin's political environment remains highly competitive, with voters consistently delivering close elections and often splitting tickets between parties, as evidenced by recent presidential and statewide races.

Four Venezuelan men from Los Pescadores, Maracaibo have returned home after spending four months in El Salvador's maximum-security Cecot prison following their deportation from the United States. The men—Mervin Yamarte, Edwuar Hernández Herrera, Andy Perozo, and Ringo Rincón—were released as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between the US, Venezuela, and El Salvador. They claim they were subjected to severe abuse while incarcerated, including beatings, being forced to eat with their hands, and being treated "like animals." The men deny US allegations that they were members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua criminal gang, stating they were arrested in Texas for immigration offenses after being misidentified as gang members because of their tattoos.

Donald Trump's administration faces a contentious decision about releasing files related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, creating divisions among the president's supporters. Online pro-Trump communities are split between those demanding transparency and others defending Trump's recent position shift against releasing further documents. The controversy has intensified following a Justice Department memo rejecting conspiracy theories about Epstein's death and recent meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell. While some MAGA influencers attempt to redirect attention elsewhere, prominent allies including Senator Thom Tillis have publicly called for the release of the files, putting pressure on the administration.

India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has expressed optimism about "fantastic progress" in trade negotiations with the United States, following his signing of a free trade deal with the UK. This comes as the August 1 deadline approaches, when the US could impose 26% tariffs on Indian goods if no agreement is reached. President Trump recently indicated the countries are "very close" to finalizing an interim trade agreement, with both nations targeting a comprehensive bilateral deal by year's end. Key sticking points remain, particularly regarding US access to India's protected agricultural and dairy sectors, even as both countries work toward expanding their bilateral trade from $190 billion toward a $500 billion target.

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson has announced a vote on a revised Washington Commanders stadium deal for August 1, with a second vote likely on September 17. The new terms, negotiated over the past 10 days, reportedly generate over $900 million in revenue for the District, including $674 million in tax revenue over 30 years and $50 million for community benefits. The revised agreement addresses previous concerns by restructuring debt financing, redirecting $600 million from the Sports Facility Fee to transportation improvements, and requiring the Commanders' leadership to relocate their offices to D.C. This accelerated timeline follows pressure from the Commanders, Mayor Bowser, and Republican leadership, though the Council still needs to finalize specific details through a Development Financing Agreement.

A significant leadership shakeup occurred at US tech company Astronomer following a viral video from a Coldplay concert that allegedly showed Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot and CEO Andy Byron embracing and then hiding when spotted on the jumbo screen. The incident gained millions of views across social media platforms, prompting Astronomer to launch an investigation and place Byron on leave before he ultimately resigned. Following Byron's departure, Cabot has now also resigned from her position, as confirmed by the company to the BBC. Co-founder Pete DeJoy has stepped in as interim CEO, acknowledging the unexpected media attention while committing to moving the data and AI company forward.

The United States is experiencing its most severe measles outbreak in 33 years, with 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and Washington D.C., surpassing 2019 figures and marking the largest outbreak since 1992. Officials attribute this surge to declining vaccination rates and travel-related exposures that have spread infections across state lines, putting significant pressure on public health agencies. The Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI), operating within Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, has developed specialized tools, resources, and a Community of Practice to help health departments respond effectively to outbreaks. CORI's comprehensive support includes analytic platforms, risk assessments, decision-support tools, and collaboration networks designed to strengthen outbreak response capabilities at state, tribal, local, and territorial levels.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has reinstated two officers convicted in Karon Hylton-Brown's 2020 death, despite internal recommendations for termination and a federal jury's guilty verdict. According to a D.C. Auditor report, Police Chief Pamela Smith overruled her department's Disciplinary Review Division, giving Officer Terence Sutton just a 25-day suspension while Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky paid a $2,500 fine and retired with full benefits. This decision followed President Trump's pardons of both officers in January 2025, though the auditor called the discipline "grossly inadequate" and criticized Smith for rejecting all 11 policy reforms proposed by investigators. The report concluded that MPD failed a critical test of accountability and abandoned decades of reform progress.

Christina Chapman has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for identity theft and fraud that benefited North Korea. She admitted to stealing the identities of 68 US citizens and helping foreign workers pose as Americans to gain employment at more than 300 companies, generating $17 million that was sent to North Korea. Chapman ran "laptop farms" from her homes in Arizona and Minnesota, allowing North Korean workers to remotely connect to company-issued computers. Despite claiming ignorance about working with North Koreans, Chapman shipped equipment to locations including China, Pakistan, UAE, and Nigeria as part of the scheme that prosecutors say funded North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

of NAACP National Convention in Charlotte The 116th Annual NAACP National Convention, held July 12-16 in Charlotte, North Carolina, focused on strengthening Black entrepreneurship, engaging youth in activism, and recommitting to core civil rights principles amid challenges like federal furloughs and threats to DEI programming. The five-day event featured panel discussions, workshops, a Black business showcase, and voting on several resolutions including defending LGBTQIA+ rights and opposing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. Youth participants like Morgan State University senior Layla Amin gained a renewed sense of urgency for activism, while speakers like Elizabeth Booker Houston encouraged sustained civic engagement despite obstacles. The convention emphasized the NAACP's continuing mission since 1909 of advancing the needs of people of color and creating "a safe space for all people" committed to multiracial democracy.

The Grandparents Connection (GPC) held its 21st Annual Community Picnic and Cancer Awareness Walk on July 12th at Bayside Park in Chula Vista. The event featured a buffet from Soul Food & BBQ, entertainment from various performers including jazz harpist Mariea Antoinette and the Junkyard Dance Crew, and activities like bounce houses and a popular mechanical bull. Local officials including Monica Montgomery-Steppe, Henry Foster III, and Paloma Aguirre attended to support event organizers Cliff and Shearl Lambert. The celebration maintained a family reunion atmosphere while raising money and awareness for cancer.

The 6th Annual Purple Dress Luncheon, hosted by S.H.A.D.E.S. (Sisters Honoring Authentic Divas & Empowering Successful Women), adopted an All-Pink theme this year as women gathered at Admiral Baker Golf Course in San Diego on July 19. Founder Aisha Davis served as host and keynote speaker, sharing her personal journey of overcoming setbacks and discovering her purpose of creating a supportive environment for women. The four-hour event featured awards recognizing women's resilience and accomplishments, fostering an atmosphere of empowerment, authenticity, and connection among attendees. Throughout the luncheon, women engaged in honest conversations and meaningful interactions that embodied the organization's mission of empowering women and creating a supportive community.

Victor Walker shares his deeply personal experience with kidney failure and dialysis, describing how invisible illnesses often go unrecognized despite their severity. He details the exhausting reality of dialysis treatment—a life-sustaining but draining process he undergoes three times weekly for four hours at a time while awaiting a kidney transplant. Walker highlights the significant racial disparities in kidney disease treatment, noting that Black Americans develop end-stage kidney disease at nearly four times the rate of white Americans yet face longer transplant wait times. Through his story, he advocates for increased awareness, early testing, and encourages more Black Americans to consider becoming living donors to address these healthcare inequities.

"Washington Black," a 2018 novel by Esi Edugyan about a young enslaved boy's journey to freedom, has been adapted into an eight-episode Hulu miniseries premiering Wednesday, with Sterling K. Brown as both producer and actor. The adaptation follows 11-year-old George Washington "Wash" Black from slavery in 1830s Barbados through adventures across the seas after he flees with Christopher "Titch" Wilde, requiring filming across multiple locations including Nova Scotia, Mexico, and Iceland between 2022 and 2024. The production team conducted extensive casting searches to find the perfect actors to portray Wash at different ages, ultimately selecting Ernest Kingsley Jr. and 14-year-old Eddie Karanja. Brown became a mentor to the inexperienced actors on set, creating a supportive environment where they could voice doubts and ask questions comfortably.

This letter to the editor expresses deep disappointment with legislators who voted for "One Big Beautiful Bill" (BBB), criticizing them for not reading the 870-1000 page legislation before voting. The author claims the rushed bill fails to represent constituents' interests while benefiting wealthy corporations. The letter criticizes Republicans for supporting measures that allegedly remove healthcare, reduce clean energy programs, sell public lands, and provide tax breaks to billionaires. The writer urges readers to advocate for policies and support politicians who prioritize people and environmental protection over corporate interests.

Anthony Tilghman, a Black father of a daughter with autism, shares his journey of overcoming initial fear and confusion to become a strong advocate for his child and others in similar situations. He highlights how Black children face systemic disadvantages in autism diagnosis and treatment due to healthcare disparities, stigma, and bias. Tilghman emphasizes the often overlooked role of Black fathers in supporting children with autism and calls for both cultural change and policy reform. Through his advocacy work in Prince George's County, he aims to build community support, reduce stigma around neurodiversity, and reframe the conversation about strength and vulnerability for Black men caring for children with special needs.

Detroit is receiving $410,000 in state funding through Michigan's Make MI Home initiative to support local entrepreneurs and recent graduates via two new programs. The City of Detroit was granted $210,000 to establish the Detroit Tech Fellowship for recent Michigan university graduates developing startups in sectors like AI and clean energy, while Michigan Women Forward received $200,000 for its Founder Forward program supporting existing founders and returning Michigan talent. These investments aim to address long-standing inequities in access to capital and resources, particularly for Black entrepreneurs in the majority-Black city, while focusing on both attracting new talent and retaining existing Detroit innovators. The initiatives represent part of a broader state strategy that recognizes Detroit's central role in Michigan's population growth and economic recovery.

A Black man named William McNeil Jr. was forcibly removed from his car during a traffic stop in Florida, an incident captured on both body cameras and a cellphone video that has sparked nationwide controversy. The cellphone footage shows deputies punching McNeil and dragging him from his vehicle after he asked to speak to a supervisor, while body camera footage reveals he had been repeatedly asked to exit the vehicle before force was used. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters cautioned against rushing to judgment based solely on the viral cellphone video, while civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels accused officers of fabricating claims in their arrest report about McNeil reaching for a knife. McNeil ultimately pleaded guilty to resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, while an administrative review of the officers' conduct remains ongoing.