united states news

The US Secret Service has suspended six personnel following the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2023, which Deputy Director Matt Quinn acknowledged as an "operational failure." The staff received unpaid suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days, though the timing and specific roles of those suspended have not been disclosed. Quinn emphasized accountability and stated the agency has implemented improvements including military-grade drones and enhanced mobile command posts to prevent similar incidents. Multiple reports from Congress and the Senate have criticized the Secret Service's security failures during the incident, which killed rally attendee Corey Comperatore and led to the resignation of then-director Kimberly Cheatle.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry criticized fellow Democrats for allowing the US-Mexico border to be "under siege" during Biden's presidency, stating they "missed" on immigration and gave Republicans like Trump a political advantage. Kerry expressed that Democrats should have emphasized border protection and law enforcement rather than portraying Trump's immigration positions as harsh. While illegal border crossings have dropped during Trump's second term, his administration has shifted to detaining and deporting undocumented migrants across the US, including those who have lived in the country for years, prompting demonstrations and legal challenges from Democratic officials and cities.

Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Triumph Church and Detroit mayoral candidate, is exploring how to leverage the recent IRS rule change that now allows churches to engage in political activities while maintaining their tax-exempt status. This change effectively strikes down the "Johnson Amendment," which previously prohibited churches from endorsing or opposing political candidates from the pulpit. According to Kinloch's campaign spokesperson Dan Lijana, they began strategizing immediately after the ruling, with plans for a major church-based get-out-the-vote effort while still respecting his congregation's spiritual needs. Political strategists note this ruling could significantly impact campaigns through direct pulpit endorsements and church-based political mobilization, though they caution pastors to balance political messaging with their primary religious duties.

The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 33 years, with 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and DC, surpassing 2019 levels and marking the largest outbreak since 1992. Health officials attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates and travel-related exposures that have spread the disease across state lines. The Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI), operating within the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, has developed specialized tools and resources to help jurisdictions manage outbreaks, including analytic platforms, risk assessments, and decision-support products. Additionally, CORI manages a national Community of Practice connecting various health departments to share experiences and strengthen response capabilities, with the goal of improving preparedness for measles outbreaks through modeling and collaboration.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on America's highest court, delivered a powerful keynote address at the 2025 Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) during the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Speaking to 500,000 in-person attendees and millions online, Justice Jackson shared her journey from Miami's public schools to the Supreme Court, emphasizing that justice requires active participation in decision-making processes. The GBEF Public Convention, part of the Essence Festival which generates $1 billion in economic activity, features various programming including health initiatives and policy discussions, with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore scheduled to speak next. Led by President and CEO Alphonso David, the GBEF works to address economic disparities by building power across industries and creating opportunities for Black communities worldwide through global summits, leadership development, policy advocacy, and workplace innovation.

The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is facing criticism from some local entrepreneurs who believe more coordinated efforts are needed to support businesses in this Southeast Washington neighborhood. While some business owners praise Executive Director Kristina Noell's work on beautification and arts infrastructure, others like Ronald Moten and Andy Shallal express concerns about insufficient coordination with businesses and inadequate marketing to increase foot traffic. The situation is complicated by the District's financial challenges, including budget deficits and reduced federal funding. Noell emphasizes that the BID focuses on infrastructure work and promoting Anacostia as an arts hub, while acknowledging the need to improve the area's image to attract more visitors.

California's police education standards, initially proposed in 2020 following George Floyd's murder, are being revisited through Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin's new bill that would require incoming officers to obtain a policing certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree by 2031, with certain exceptions. The legislation represents a compromise between the original reform vision of former Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who sought stricter education requirements, and concerns from law enforcement agencies about exacerbating current staffing shortages. While the bill has gained widespread support from law enforcement groups, Jones-Sawyer and some policing experts criticize its exceptions for military experience and out-of-state law enforcement experience as undermining the original intent of improving officer decision-making and reducing use of force. The bill also establishes a law enforcement recruitment task force to address ongoing staffing challenges across California's police departments.

A new national poll by ecoAmerica reveals that 86% of Americans report increased concern about climate change due to record-breaking heat waves, with the sentiment crossing political lines (97% of Democrats, 83% of Independents, and 79% of Republicans). Nearly 90% of respondents recognize extreme heat's impact on public health, with Black Americans showing some of the highest concern levels (91%) while also facing disproportionate exposure to extreme heat due to historical redlining practices that have left their neighborhoods up to 10 degrees hotter than nearby white areas. The survey also found growing bipartisan recognition that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, occurring as proposals advance to cut funding for FEMA and NOAA, agencies critical for disaster response and weather forecasting that 79% of Americans worry will undermine the government's ability to address climate impacts.

The Trump administration has proposed replacing deported immigrant farmworkers with Medicaid recipients, which is facing strong opposition in Washington D.C. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins described the plan as quickly utilizing the 34 million "able-bodied adults on Medicaid" as replacement labor while eliminating "amnesty" for undocumented farmworkers. Health experts and civil rights groups warn this policy would disproportionately affect Black D.C. residents, who make up 40.9% of Medicaid enrollees in the district compared to 36.7% who are White. Critics argue the proposal amounts to coerced labor, targeting poor Black and brown residents while potentially violating constitutional protections against involuntary servitude.

Donald Trump's proposed health care legislation, labeled the "One Big Ugly Bill" by Democrats, threatens to strip insurance coverage from up to 16 million Americans over the next decade according to Congressional Budget Office projections. The bill targets Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children's Health Insurance Program, with states like Florida, Texas, California, New York, and Georgia expected to experience the most significant coverage losses. Meanwhile, the administration has allocated substantial funds for military displays and presidential recreation, including an estimated $25-45 million for the Army's 250th Anniversary Parade and approximately $30 million for Trump's golf outings. Critics have highlighted the contrast between these expenditures and the impending health insurance losses that could reverse a decade of coverage gains across the country.

The legislation signed by President Trump on July 4, which Senator Tim Scott praised as fiscally responsible, has been criticized as a plan that concentrates wealth and negatively impacts Black communities. Independent analyses project the law will significantly increase the federal deficit through permanent corporate tax cuts and expanded defense spending, potentially leading to cuts in essential assistance programs. While Scott claimed the law delivers tax relief to working people, studies indicate the wealthiest households will receive the majority of benefits, with middle-income families seeing only temporary reductions. The law includes controversial provisions such as expanding the Opportunity Zone program and introducing a permanent school choice tax credit, which critics argue will accelerate gentrification and deepen educational disparities.

In Zimbabwe's capital city of Harare, thousands of informal scrap metal collectors like Ezekiel Mabhiza earn their living by sifting through illegal dumpsites to salvage metal for resale. These workers, who face hazardous conditions while sorting through waste, unintentionally contribute to environmental conservation by reducing pollution and helping combat climate change through metal recycling. The recycled materials they collect account for a significant portion of the raw materials used in steel production, which requires less energy than producing steel from virgin resources and generates fewer carbon emissions. While Harare generates approximately 1,000 tons of waste daily with most going uncollected, these informal pickers serve as essential "unsung heroes" in Zimbabwe's waste management system, supporting both their families and a cleaner environment.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals a significant decline in U.S. children's health over the past 17 years, with increasing rates of obesity, chronic diseases, and mental health issues like depression. Researchers analyzed multiple data sources including surveys, electronic health records, and mortality statistics to compile a comprehensive picture of deteriorating childhood health across 170 indicators. While Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has highlighted children's health concerns through his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, experts argue that the Trump administration's policies, including cuts to health agencies and Medicaid, may worsen rather than improve these trends. The study's lead author, Dr. Christopher Forrest, described children as "canaries in the coal mine," reflecting broader societal health issues.

Detroit City Council has unanimously approved new business licensing ordinances designed to reduce bureaucratic barriers for small businesses. The reforms extend license renewal periods from one to two years, introduce a provisional license option, and establish a dedicated "business concierge" team to provide personalized assistance to entrepreneurs. These changes follow a year-long review of licensing practices and community feedback from business owners who struggled with the previously complex, costly, and time-consuming compliance processes. City officials believe these reforms will support business growth while creating a more equitable landscape for entrepreneurs, particularly in historically underserved communities.

AfroFuture Detroit will make its U.S. debut on August 16-17, 2025 at Bedrock's historic Douglass Site, once home to the Frederick Douglass Homes where Motown legends like Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson lived. The festival extends beyond a two-day event with a comprehensive series of community-focused activities from August 11-28, including a bar crawl, restaurant week featuring Black-owned establishments, pitch competitions for Black entrepreneurs, spoken word performances, and Afrocentric movie nights. With headliners Asake and Davido leading an international lineup, AfroFuture aims to honor Detroit's cultural significance while celebrating Black innovation, culture, and legacy on grounds that hold deep historical importance to the city's Black community.

A historic American flag, flown at half-mast after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, has been stolen from Foyle College in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The flag had significant historical value, having been originally flown at the former US Naval Communications Station that previously occupied the school's site. Since being gifted to the school in 2019, the flag was only raised twice annually—on US Independence Day and the anniversary of JFK's assassination. The theft has distressed many people with connections to the flag, including Frank Ekstrom, who was on duty when Kennedy was assassinated and personally lowered the flag on that historic day.

Detroit City Council has unanimously approved ordinances to streamline business licensing processes, reducing burdens on small businesses by extending license renewals from annual to biennial periods, creating provisional licenses, and eliminating redundant health licenses for restaurants. The reforms, developed after a year-long review and consultations with business owners, aim to dismantle complex regulations that disproportionately hindered small local entrepreneurs compared to large corporate chains. While these changes will reduce city revenue from licensing fees by approximately $530,000 annually, officials believe the economic growth from supporting small businesses will ultimately benefit Detroit's neighborhood corridors and change the culture for entrepreneurs.

A protest encampment has been established outside Union Station since May 1, serving as an act of resistance against President Donald Trump's administration rather than addressing housing issues. Led by Catherine Economopoulos, the encampment works in coordination with May Day Movement USA and is focused primarily on impeaching and removing Trump from office. The initiative recently rebranded as FLARE (For Liberation and Resistance Everywhere) on June 28, with organizers emphasizing the importance of active demonstration to achieve political change. The protesters plan to maintain their presence until significant political change occurs.

Tenants of Acorn Town Center and Courtyards in West Oakland are organizing against what they describe as exploitation and neglect in their low-income housing community. The article details how West Oakland has historically faced systematic disinvestment through policies like redlining, resulting in uninhabitable living conditions, environmental hazards, and health disparities, with asthma hospitalization rates 85% higher than the rest of Alameda County. Residents believe city officials prioritize profit-centered organizations over community needs, leading to deteriorating conditions that force working-class residents to leave. The authors frame these conditions as deliberate displacement strategies designed to ultimately transfer control of Oakland to wealthy interests.

President Trump has threatened to assume federal control over Washington D.C., suggesting that his administration could directly "run D.C." to address crime and city management issues. Simultaneously, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is working to repeal the city's 2019 Sanctuary Values Amendment Act, which limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Critics view Bowser's actions, including removing immigrant protection information from city websites and dismantling Black Lives Matter Plaza, as attempts to appease Republicans and prevent deeper federal interference. Trump has also indicated potential intervention in the Washington Commanders' stadium deal at the RFK Stadium site, reminding that "the federal government ultimately controls" the property.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is pushing to repeal Initiative 82, a ballot measure that incrementally raises tipped worker minimum wages until they equal non-tipped wages in the District. Restaurant managers and owners claim the initiative is causing financial strain, forcing them to cut staff, raise prices, and implement service fees to meet wage requirements. During a roundtable at Shaw's Tavern, industry workers shared concerns about reduced hours and profits, while Initiative 82 supporters argue the measure ensures consistent pay regardless of customer traffic. The D.C. Council appears divided on whether to approve Bowser's proposed repeal as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act.

The article describes escalating immigration enforcement under President Trump's second term, including ICE raids in California that have prompted significant protests and controversial military deployments. A June 7 memorandum authorized National Guard and active-duty forces to support ICE operations, leading to the massive "No Kings" protest on June 14 involving over 5 million participants nationwide. Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have criticized these enforcement actions, noting that 65% of those detained by ICE had no criminal convictions. California officials are pursuing legal challenges and legislation to address what they view as unconstitutional federal actions, while economists warn of significant economic damage to California if mass deportations continue.

California's Assembly Bill 3074, passed in 2020, requires property owners in high fire hazard areas to create an "ember-resistant zone" within five feet of their homes to reduce wildfire risks. Despite Governor Newsom's February 2024 executive order to expedite implementation, the regulations have faced delays and are still in the "pre-rulemaking phase," with full implementation not expected until the end of 2025. Many homeowners like Oakland resident Tina Sanders remain unaware of these pending rules and have concerns about compliance costs and potential impacts on property values. The regulations will prohibit combustible materials like wooden fences and flammable vegetation in Zone 0, with immediate application to new constructions in designated high-risk areas once finalized.

New and recent retirees face significant "sequence-of-returns risk" when market downturns occur early in retirement, potentially shortening the lifespan of their savings. Financial experts recommend several protective strategies including adjusting spending during market declines, drawing income from safer assets rather than selling devalued stocks, and delaying Social Security benefits when advantageous. Additional recommendations include utilizing Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) to combat inflation and leveraging market volatility for tax-efficient Roth IRA conversions. These combined approaches aim to help retirees maintain financial flexibility and extend the longevity of their retirement portfolios.