united states news

California's approximately 28,000 student teachers face significant financial challenges as they work unpaid while completing required credential programs costing between $20,000-$40,000. To address this issue, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi has introduced Assembly Bill 1128, which would establish the California Student Teacher Support Grant Program to compensate teacher candidates at the same rate as substitute teachers ($140/day). The bill has received unanimous support in the Assembly with a 79-0 vote and Governor Newsom has already allocated $100 million for the program in his 2025-26 budget, though analysts estimate the full program could cost up to $300 million annually. The California Teachers Association strongly supports this legislation, noting that unpaid student teaching disproportionately impacts educators of color and those from low-income backgrounds.

The California Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 11-1 to advance Assembly Bill 1263, introduced by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), which would expand restrictions on "ghost guns" - untraceable firearms without serial numbers often made from kits or 3D-printed components. The bill has now moved to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations for consideration. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, nearly 71,000 alleged privately made ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement between 2016 and 2022. While supporters argue these restrictions are necessary for public safety and traceability, organizations like Gun Owners of America oppose the bill, claiming it violates Second Amendment rights and the right to privately build firearms.

A US appeals court has ruled that Pedro Hernandez, convicted in 2017 for the 1979 murder and disappearance of six-year-old Etan Patz in New York City, must receive a new trial or be released. The ruling states that the jury received improper instructions regarding Hernandez's confessions, contradicting established federal law in a way that was not harmless to his case. Patz's disappearance became one of the most prominent missing children's cases in the US, leading to nationwide awareness campaigns featuring the boy's face on milk cartons and posters. Hernandez had confessed to luring the boy to a basement and attacking him, though his attorney argues these confessions came after lengthy questioning and despite Hernandez's documented mental illness and low IQ.

President Donald Trump has called for the Washington Commanders NFL team to revert to its former name "Redskins," a term widely considered a slur against Indigenous people, and threatened to block stadium funding if the change isn't made. Trump also demanded that Cleveland's baseball team return to its former "Indians" name from its current "Guardians" identity. Both teams' owners have firmly rejected these suggestions, with Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris previously stating "the name was changed, and it's not going back." The controversy over Washington's team name spans decades, with Indigenous leaders and civil rights advocates fighting against the racist name until it was finally changed in 2020 after mounting pressure from activists, sponsors, and officials.

The Trump Justice Department, through Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, has requested a one-day sentence for former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison who was convicted of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a fatal 2020 "no knock" warrant raid. Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, was killed in her apartment by police who were searching for a drug dealer, making her death a pivotal case in the Black Lives Matter movement. Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings will consider this sentencing recommendation on July 21, which includes one day in prison, time served, and three years of supervised release. The case highlights a pattern where officers involved in the deaths of Black individuals rarely face significant punishment, despite Taylor's family receiving a $12 million settlement for her wrongful death.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the 54-year-old actor famous for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," has reportedly drowned while on vacation in Costa Rica according to family sources cited by People magazine. His death on July 21 shocked fans and colleagues, leaving behind his wife and daughter whose identities he kept private throughout his career. Warner had built a diverse career spanning four decades, including roles in numerous TV shows, voice acting, directing, and music, even winning a Grammy Award in 2015. Beyond his entertainment career, Warner was an advocate for mental health in the Black community and had just released the final episode of his podcast "Not All Hood" days before his death, focusing on generational trauma and healing in marginalized communities.

of "When July 21, 2024, Arrived, Black Women Were Ready" On July 21, 2024, when President Biden announced he was withdrawing from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Black women leaders across the Democratic Party rapidly mobilized to secure her nomination. That evening, over 44,000 Black women joined a previously planned Win With Black Women Zoom call that transformed into a historic rally of support, raising $1.5 million for Harris' campaign in under two hours. Key Democratic strategists including Donna Brazile and Minyon Moore worked behind the scenes making calls to lock down delegate support, while organizer Jotaka Eaddy and others coordinated the massive virtual gathering that ultimately expanded to hundreds of thousands of participants across various platforms. This unprecedented coordination by Black women leaders demonstrated their political influence and organizing power within the Democratic Party during a crucial moment of transition.

A Delta SkyWest Flight 3788 pilot was forced to make an aggressive evasive maneuver to avoid a potential collision with a B-52 bomber while approaching landing in Minot, North Dakota. The incident, which occurred on Friday during a flight from Minneapolis, involved the commercial aircraft performing a sudden, steep right turn that left passengers disoriented and concerned. After safely landing, the pilot explained to passengers that he had to make the quick decision when he spotted the military aircraft on a converging course, noting that air traffic control had not provided adequate warning about the bomber's presence. Both SkyWest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration have launched investigations into the near-miss incident.

A Wells Fargo managing director, Chenyue Mao, has been prevented from leaving China due to her involvement in an unspecified criminal case being handled by Chinese authorities. In response, Wells Fargo has suspended all employee travel to China while working through official channels to secure Mao's return to the United States. The U.S. embassy in Shanghai expressed concern about China's use of arbitrary exit bans, stating they have raised the issue with Chinese officials. This incident occurs amid broader diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding business relations as President Trump's tariffs continue to strain bilateral economic ties.

A 61-year-old man died after being pulled into an MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York, when he entered the scanning room wearing a heavy 20-pound metal chain necklace. According to his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, she had called her husband Keith into the room after her knee scan, but the machine's powerful magnetic field attracted his metal chain, causing him to be violently drawn toward the machine, resulting in a fatal medical episode. Police are investigating the incident, which highlights the serious safety risks associated with metal objects near MRI machines, as patients are typically required to remove all metal items before approaching the equipment.

The Trump administration and Harvard University are engaged in a legal battle over more than $2 billion in frozen federal grants, with the White House demanding changes to Harvard's practices regarding antisemitism and diversity programs. Harvard has filed lawsuits requesting summary judgment, with a hearing scheduled before US District Judge Allison Burroughs, who has previously ruled in Harvard's favor on related matters. Harvard argues the administration is violating free speech provisions and failing to follow proper procedures for suspending funds, while the Justice Department contends that funding comes with conditions requiring support of government policies. This case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to pressure elite universities, with the possibility of appeals potentially reaching the Supreme Court.

Canada is experiencing a severe measles outbreak with over 3,800 infections in 2025, nearly three times the number in the US despite Canada's smaller population. Alberta has become the epicenter with the highest per capita measles spread rate in North America, making Canada the only Western country among the top 10 nations with measles outbreaks. The outbreak began in late 2024 when an individual contracted measles at a Mennonite gathering in New Brunswick and returned to Ontario, with cases spreading rapidly among communities with lower vaccination rates. Health experts attribute the outbreak primarily to declining vaccination rates, which have dropped significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with vaccine hesitancy rising across Canada.

The Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) Foundation hosted a dinner event at Scott's Seafood and Grill on July 10, 2025, featuring keynote speakers and panelists who addressed healthcare disparities affecting marginalized communities, particularly elderly Black individuals. Dr. Stacey Gambrell Hunt emphasized the critical importance of self-advocacy in medical settings, highlighting how Black Americans make up 13% of the population but only 6% of physicians, leading to underrepresentation and inadequate healthcare. The event brought together diverse attendees to learn about SCAN's mission to amplify marginalized voices, fund elder healthcare programs, support equity-centered policies, and strengthen health and aging infrastructure. Panelist Donna Hillard shared her personal experience of having to translate for her Korean mother at age 7, further illustrating the need for better representation and advocacy in healthcare settings.

The recent flash floods in Texas following a July 4th torrential downpour have resulted in 135 deaths, including children at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, while the number of missing persons has dramatically decreased from 160 to just three. Officials in Kerrville, the disaster's epicenter, credit more than 1,000 federal, state, and local personnel who worked tirelessly on search and rescue operations to locate those initially reported missing. At Camp Mystic, at least 27 campers and staff perished when the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, prompting questions about the adequacy of warnings and evacuation procedures. Experts attribute the flood's deadly impact to multiple factors including its pre-dawn timing, home locations, spotty cell service, and the flood's unprecedented speed and severity.

Sectarian clashes have persisted in southern Syria despite an "immediate ceasefire" announced by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin gunmen continuing in parts of Suweida province despite government forces being deployed. Over 900 people have reportedly been killed in the past week, with all sides accused of atrocities, prompting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to demand an end to the violence. Israel declared support for the Druze minority and conducted military strikes against Syrian government forces, though a US-brokered ceasefire was later announced with conditions that Druze citizens be protected. The violence erupted following the abduction of a Druze merchant, with the UN human rights chief reporting credible accounts of widespread violations including summary executions and arbitrary killings.

At least 20 people were injured when a vehicle drove into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, Los Angeles at 2:00 AM local time. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that seven people were critically injured, six seriously injured, and ten in fair condition, with one patient discovered to have a bullet wound. The incident occurred near a music venue, with Captain Adam VanGerpen noting that most victims were women waiting to enter a nightclub. The chaotic scene prompted a large response of 124 fire personnel and a substantial police presence, with all injured individuals transported to hospitals or trauma centers.

Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Dow Jones and Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal article claiming he sent a "bawdy" birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump denies writing the note, which allegedly contained inappropriate content and was framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman. The lawsuit comes amid broader controversy surrounding the Epstein case, with the US Justice Department now requesting the unsealing of grand jury materials related to Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case. Trump's handling of the Epstein files has created tension even among his supporters, with some congressional representatives from both parties pushing for greater transparency.

Astronomer, a US tech company, has placed its CEO Andy Byron on administrative leave and initiated a formal investigation following a viral video from a Coldplay concert. The video captured two individuals embracing at Gillette Stadium who quickly hid when shown on the venue's big screen, leading to widespread speculation about their identities and relationship. Though rumors circulated that the pair were Astronomer executives potentially having an affair—fueled by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's comment to the crowd—the company has not confirmed the identities of those involved beyond stating that Byron is on leave and that Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO. The incident gained massive attention across social media platforms, generating millions of views, memes, and television coverage in the days following the concert.

Three veteran officers from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department were killed in an explosion at the Biscailuz Center Academy Training facility in East Los Angeles on Friday morning. The blast occurred in the parking lot of the facility's special enforcement bureau, marking the department's largest loss of life in a single incident since its founding in 1857. All three deceased officers were assigned to the sheriff department's arson explosives detail and had served between 19 to 33 years. Multiple agencies including the FBI and ATF are investigating the explosion, which Sheriff Robert Luna described as "an isolated incident."

Donald Trump is facing challenges from his base over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related information. After a February Department of Justice meeting that yielded little new information and a July statement confirming Epstein's suicide with no evidence of a "client list," many MAGA supporters who expected revelations feel misled. This situation highlights the tension between conspiracy theories that have animated Trump's base for years and his administration's attempts to move beyond the issue. While Trump initially promised to release Epstein files, he has since called the case "sordid, but boring," though he recently asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce pertinent Grand Jury testimony after continued pressure from supporters.

El Salvador has repatriated approximately 250 detained Venezuelans to their home country in exchange for the release of 10 US nationals held in Venezuela, as announced by both the US and El Salvador governments. The Venezuelans being returned were migrants originally deported from the US and held in El Salvador's Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot) prison, with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele claiming they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. This prisoner exchange, completed on Friday, means there are currently no US nationals being held by Nicolas Maduro's government in Venezuela. The deal highlights the strengthened relationship between Bukele and US President Donald Trump, with a US administration official expressing "deep gratitude" to Bukele for making the exchange possible.

The Trump administration has significantly cut funding and staff dedicated to combating human trafficking, including a major reduction at the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) last Friday. These cuts have affected multiple federal agencies despite human trafficking being historically championed as a Republican priority, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi both having advocated strongly for anti-trafficking efforts. The administration's pullback has surprised many advocates who expected bipartisan support would protect these initiatives, especially given the prominence of anti-trafficking work during Trump's first term. The cuts come amid controversy surrounding the handling of Jeffrey Epstein investigations and have affected the office responsible for producing a critical annual global assessment of human trafficking prevention work.

William Lacy Clay Sr., a civil rights leader and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, has died at 94. In 1968, he made history as Missouri's first Black congressman, serving 32 years in the U.S. House where he championed labor rights, education, and social justice initiatives. During his tenure, Clay pushed landmark legislation including Hatch Act reforms and the Family and Medical Leave Act, while also co-sponsoring H.R. 40 for reparations studies in his final term. After his retirement in 2001, his son William Lacy Clay Jr. continued his legacy by representing Missouri's 1st District until 2021.

The National Urban League has declared a "state of emergency" for democracy and civil rights in the United States in its 49th annual State of Black America report. Titled "State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack," the report warns of a coordinated campaign to reverse decades of progress for Black Americans through voter suppression, dismantling of civil rights protections, and attacks on diversity initiatives. The report details specific threats including the rollback of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, transformation of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, digital extremism against progressive candidates, and organized opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. In response, the National Urban League has launched multiple initiatives including legal challenges, advocacy campaigns, and community organizing efforts to defend civil rights and democratic principles.

A global study of 4,213 adults across 34 populations has determined that increased calorie consumption, rather than decreased energy expenditure, is the primary driver of obesity in economically developed societies. The research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that increased energy intake was approximately ten times more influential than declining energy expenditure in causing the modern obesity crisis. Among African Americans, obesity affects nearly 48 percent of adults, with higher rates among women (56.6%) than men (37.1%), attributed to disparities in housing, income, education, and access to healthy food and safe physical activity spaces. The study also found a positive association between ultra-processed food consumption and body fat percentage, highlighting the public health challenge of regulating food environments while acknowledging the continued importance of physical activity for overall health.

A nurse scientist's research reveals the severe mental health impacts of incarceration on Black men in Philadelphia. The study, published in Social Science & Medicine, interviewed 29 formerly incarcerated Black men who described experiencing trauma, racism, and violence while incarcerated, with effects lasting long after release. Many participants reported struggling with PTSD, depression, hypervigilance, and feeling "institutionalized" even years after returning to society. These mental health challenges are compounded by barriers to employment, family reconnection difficulties, and returning to under-resourced neighborhoods, highlighting the need for trauma-informed support services.

A Trump-appointed federal judge has blocked a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would have removed medical debt from approximately 15 million Americans' credit reports. Judge Sean Jordan ruled in favor of credit reporting industry groups, finding that the CFPB exceeded its authority under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The blocked rule, issued in January under the Biden administration, aimed to prevent medical debt from negatively impacting credit scores, recognizing that such debt often results from billing errors, insurance disputes, or unavoidable emergencies. This decision particularly affects Black Americans, who disproportionately carry medical debt, with nearly 20 million U.S. adults owing an estimated $220 billion in total medical debt.

American consumers are facing significant financial strain as prices have risen approximately 26% since the COVID-19 pandemic began, making many everyday purchases and experiences increasingly unaffordable. Hotel rooms, rental cars, groceries, and dining out have all seen dramatic price increases, with hotel rates up 24% over the past decade and restaurant prices soaring 49.3% in the same period. The Times of London reports that this persistent inflation, which began accelerating in 2021, has impacted Americans across all income brackets, forcing difficult spending decisions. Some companies have been accused of exploiting the situation by passing along rising costs to consumers while seeking increased profit margins.

President Trump announced to Texas Republicans that the GOP will attempt a mid-decade redistricting in Texas to create five new Republican congressional seats, with the state legislature scheduled to consider this unusual move next week. Republicans currently hold strong majorities in both chambers of the Texas legislature despite Texas being a majority-minority state, with the last congressional maps drawn in 2021. Democratic representatives, including Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, have expressed strong opposition to this redistricting effort, arguing it intentionally dilutes minority voices. Crockett highlighted that Texas has historically been found by courts to be intentionally discriminatory in its redistricting efforts, noting that despite the state's growth being 95% people of color, previous redistricting provided zero new seats for communities of color.

The Trump administration has frozen $171 million in congressionally approved education funding for Michigan, affecting critical programs that support vulnerable students. Michigan has joined over 20 states in filing a lawsuit against this sudden halt of funds for six essential programs that provide services for immigrant students, English learners, after-school care, and other educational support. The freeze has left school districts and nonprofit education providers scrambling to maintain programs that were already planned for the 2025-2026 school year, with funding typically received by April now under "review" as of July 1. This unexpected decision particularly impacts organizations like SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers EcoSchool, which provides crucial after-school and summer programs for nearly 1,000 children in low-income rural communities across Michigan.