united states news

U.S. Representative Dwight Evans announced he will not seek reelection to his Philadelphia congressional seat, marking the end of a 45-year career in public office. The 71-year-old Democrat, who is currently serving his fifth term in Congress, stated he is in good health despite suffering a minor stroke last year. Before his congressional career, which began in 2016, Evans served for 36 years in the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives, where he became the first Black chairman of the Appropriations Committee. His heavily Democratic district is likely to see a competitive Democratic primary in 2026 to determine his successor.

Public Enemy has made a surprise return with "Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025," a new 12-track album available for 72 hours on a pay-what-you-want basis. The collection features Chuck D and Flavor Flav delivering pointed social commentary on topics including gun violence, climate denial, political corruption, and ageism. The album, which includes production from Carl Ryder, C-Doc, JP Hesser, and Sam Farrar, along with contributions from Green Day's Tré Cool, demonstrates the group's continued commitment to using hip-hop as a platform for addressing injustice. Throughout the record, Public Enemy maintains their signature style while tackling contemporary issues, reaffirming their relevance and determination to speak truth to power.

The California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) has transformed into a permanent, independent institution called the Black Freedom Fund (BFF), continuing its mission to invest in Black-led organizations and communities throughout California. Since its inception, BFF has distributed over $45 million to 205 Black-serving organizations across 17 issue areas, with 95% of grants being unrestricted and 65% going to organizations led by Black women. Executive Director Marc Philpart led this evolution after the fund not only met but exceeded its initial $100 million goal, filling a crucial void in sustained support for Black power-building organizations. The BFF's work has become increasingly important as some public and private funding for minority-centered initiatives is being withdrawn.

North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly challenged President Trump's budget bill on the Senate floor, arguing it would eliminate Medicaid coverage for 663,000 people in his state and 17 million Americans overall. Tillis stated the bill "will betray the promise Donald Trump made" regarding healthcare cuts and firmly declared the president had been misinformed about the legislation's impact. Following his opposition to the bill, Tillis was attacked by Trump, and subsequently announced he would not seek re-election. The controversial budget bill, which would affect multiple states including North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Arkansas, is expected to be voted on this week and will significantly increase the national debt.

The NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference honored Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and former State Senator Steven Bradford at its 13th annual Legacy Hall of Fame Gala on June 28, recognizing their decades of service and civil rights advocacy. Weber, California's first Black Secretary of State, was appointed by Governor Newsom in 2021 before being elected to a full term, and previously authored landmark legislation in the State Assembly including bills on police use of force and establishing California's Reparations Task Force. Bradford, the first Black person elected to the Gardena City Council who later served in both the Assembly and Senate, authored key legislation such as SB 2 allowing decertification of law enforcement officers for serious misconduct and the California Cannabis Equity Act. During a fireside chat moderated by California Black Media's executive director Regina Brown Wilson, both honorees reflected on their personal backgrounds, legislative experiences, and expressed concerns about current threats to civil rights in America.

President Donald Trump attended the opening of a new migrant detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz," being built in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve as part of his administration's mass deportation agenda. The facility, supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, has sparked significant opposition from environmental groups including Friends of the Everglades, which was founded by the renowned conservationist Marjory Stoneman Douglas who previously fought to protect the area from development. Environmental organizations and Native American tribal leaders have mounted legal challenges and protests against the detention center, arguing it threatens protected wetlands and endangered species habitats in an ecosystem that taxpayers have spent billions to protect.

Target CEO Brian Cornell met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus diversity task force on Capitol Hill on June 26, including Chairwoman Yvette Clarke, Rep. Steve Horsford, and Rep. Troy Carter. When questioned afterward, Cornell indicated the meeting provided helpful feedback and mentioned ongoing business priorities rather than addressing boycott concerns. The article notes that companies like Target face conflicting pressures regarding diversity policies, particularly as the Trump Administration has actively worked against diversity and inclusion initiatives, including issuing an executive order against DEI programs in January.

A controversy erupted in Detroit's mayoral race when UAW members supporting City Council president Mary Sheffield created a flyer using the union's logo for a campaign event, despite the UAW officially endorsing her opponent, Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr. The unauthorized flyer was briefly posted on Sheffield's Instagram before being removed after media inquiries. UAW leadership criticized Sheffield for the confusion, though her campaign denied responsibility, clarifying that union members created the flyer independently. Some UAW members are supporting Sheffield despite their leadership's endorsement, comparing their situation to UAW members who supported Trump despite the union's endorsement of Harris.

A controversy erupted within the UAW when some members created and distributed a flyer featuring the union's logo to promote a campaign event for Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield at a UAW hall, despite the union officially endorsing her opponent, Solomon Kinloch Jr. UAW leadership quickly intervened, instructing members to remove the logo and relocate the event to Sheffield's campaign headquarters instead of the union hall. The incident prompted criticism from both the UAW and Kinloch's campaign about Sheffield potentially causing confusion about the union's official endorsement. UAW member Lynda Jackson clarified that Sheffield's campaign was not responsible for creating the flyer, and defended the members' right to support their preferred candidate despite the union's official position.

The 50501 Movement is organizing "Free America Weekend," a nationwide protest planned for July 4 across all 50 states to oppose President Trump's second-term policies. More than 170 events are scheduled, including rallies at state capitals, block parties, dance protests, and community gatherings, following earlier "No Kings Day" demonstrations. Organizers, including the Women's March, chose Independence Day to highlight perceived threats to democracy, citing Trump's executive orders on immigration, agency dismantling efforts, and the influence of Project 2025. The movement, which gained momentum through social media platforms like Instagram and Reddit, emphasizes nonviolent resistance while some local groups have reported receiving online threats and harassment.

The House-passed tax overhaul supported by President Trump, called the "One Big Beautiful Bill," promises wide tax relief but would disproportionately benefit wealthy households according to Penn Wharton analysis. The legislation makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, increases the SALT deduction cap to $40,000, temporarily eliminates taxes on tips and overtime pay, and boosts the child tax credit by $500 through 2028. To offset the estimated $2.8 trillion cost over a decade, the bill cuts Medicaid and SNAP by more than $1.2 trillion combined, resulting in net losses for many low-income families while high-income households receive significant gains. The Penn Wharton Budget Model concludes that approximately 70% of the bill's value would go to the top 10% of income earners, projecting long-term negative impacts for future generations due to increased federal debt and weakened social support programs.

The Social Security and Medicare programs face imminent financial shortfalls, with both trust funds projected to be depleted by 2033, after which recipients would receive reduced benefits. According to the 2025 Trustees Report, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund will only be able to pay 77% of scheduled benefits after 2033, while Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund would pay 89% of benefits upon depletion. Contributing factors include the repeal of certain provisions, slower fertility rates, and decreasing labor compensation as a share of GDP. Simultaneously, the Social Security Administration is reducing its workforce by approximately 12%, resulting in service delays, while political debate continues about potential solutions, with Republicans indicating plans to address entitlement spending despite public opposition to cuts.

The Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) hosted its "The Art of Black Business 2025 Juneteenth Awards Ceremony" on June 20 to honor notable Black business leaders and advocates in the D.C. metropolitan area. The annual event recognized several individuals for their contributions, including Kristina Noell, the first African American woman to serve as a Business Improvement District executive director in D.C., and Amanda Stephenson, founder of Fresh Food Factory addressing food deserts in Ward 8. Legacy Awards were presented to B. Doyle Mitchell Jr. of Industrial Bank and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, with the ceremony attended by various local officials and community leaders. The event celebrated both the achievements of Black entrepreneurs and the significance of the Juneteenth federal holiday.

Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old former criminology student charged with killing four Idaho college roommates in 2022, is expected to accept a plea deal to avoid the death penalty according to US media reports. The agreement, revealed in a letter to victims' families, would result in life imprisonment without parole if accepted by a judge at a hearing reportedly scheduled for Wednesday. Some family members, particularly the Goncalves family, have expressed outrage at the state of Idaho over the deal, while Madison Mogen's father supported it to avoid prolonged legal proceedings. The defendant was arrested weeks after the stabbings when investigators found DNA evidence on a knife sheath at the crime scene, though his defense team had previously questioned this evidence's accuracy.

The US Senate is engaged in a marathon voting session on the nearly 1,000-page "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a crucial budget bill for President Trump's agenda that includes increased spending for border security, defense, and energy production while cutting healthcare and food-support programs. Republican lawmakers are divided over the extent of welfare program cuts needed to extend tax breaks, creating uncertainty about the bill's passage. The legislation would add approximately $3.3 trillion to the national debt and could strip nearly 12 million Americans of their health insurance coverage according to the Congressional Budget Office. After the Senate vote, the bill must return to the House of Representatives for final approval before reaching President Trump's desk, potentially by July 4th.

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum implementing stricter restrictions on Cuba, reversing Biden administration policies that had eased pressure on the Communist-run country. The new measures include more stringent enforcement of the existing ban on American tourism to Cuba, opposition to international calls to end the U.S. economic embargo, and prohibitions on U.S. citizens doing business with GAESA, a military-run conglomerate. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the memorandum as strengthening "aggression & economic blockade" that hinders Cuba's development. The White House stated these actions aim to end economic practices benefiting the Cuban government and military at the expense of the Cuban people while fostering "a free and democratic Cuba."

A controversy erupted within the United Auto Workers (UAW) when some members created and distributed a flyer using the union's logo to promote Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield at a UAW Local 7 union hall. This caused tension because UAW leadership, including president Shawn Fain, had officially endorsed Sheffield's opponent, Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr. The members who created the flyer, led by Lynda Jackson of UAW Local 7, were instructed by senior UAW leadership to remove the logo and relocate their event to Sheffield's campaign headquarters. Both the UAW and Kinloch's campaign criticized Sheffield for the unauthorized logo use, although her campaign maintains she had no involvement in creating the flyer.

A Disney Dream cruise ship rescued a father and daughter after the girl fell overboard from the fourth deck and her father jumped in to save her during a voyage from the Bahamas to Florida on Sunday. Witnesses report the pair treaded water for approximately 10 minutes while the captain slowed and turned the ship around to deploy a rescue tender. Passengers observed the dramatic rescue from the 4,000-capacity vessel, with videos capturing the moment the two were pulled to safety amid cheers. Disney Cruise Line confirmed the rescue in a statement praising crew members for their swift actions that ensured both guests were safely returned to the ship within minutes.

The White House has declared victory after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to rescind a 3% digital services tax on major US tech companies following pressure from President Donald Trump. The tax would have affected tech giants like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple on Canadian revenue above $20 million, potentially costing them over C$2 billion in its first year with retroactive charges dating back to January 2022. After Trump called off trade talks and threatened tariffs, Canada halted collection of payments due Monday and promised to introduce legislation to eliminate the tax entirely. Trade negotiations between the two North American neighbors have now resumed, with White House officials characterizing the reversal as a "big victory" for American tech companies and workers.