united states news

Detroit faces significant economic challenges with high unemployment rates and income disparities, with households earning $31,000 less than the regional average and $45,000 below what a family of four needs to survive. The Detroit Economic Justice Coalition (DEJC) is advocating for policy changes in their 2025 platform to address workforce barriers, including blanket exclusion policies that prevent people with prior convictions from accessing jobs. According to estimates, persistent inequities are costing the Detroit region approximately $28 billion in lost economic activity annually. The author, Margrit Allen, Director of Workforce Innovation at a multi-state healthcare system, argues that economic justice initiatives are not just moral imperatives but practical solutions for business growth and talent retention.

Former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola has emerged as the leading potential candidate for Alaska's 2026 gubernatorial race according to a new Data for Progress poll. The survey shows Peltola with the highest favorability ratings among major Alaskan politicians and leading potential Republican opponents by double-digit margins in simulated ranked-choice voting scenarios. As the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House and the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, Peltola could potentially become Alaska's first Alaska Native governor if she chooses to enter the race. Her popularity stems from her focus on issues like fisheries management and opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger, giving her strong appeal despite Alaska's Republican-leaning presidential voting patterns.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration of Israel's intent to take control of the Gaza Strip has met with a notably indifferent response from the Trump administration, marking a shift in US policy. While President Trump has stated it's "pretty much up to Israel" and Ambassador Mike Huckabee emphasized it's not America's job to dictate Israel's actions, this stance contrasts with previous US involvement in Gaza's future and efforts to broker a ceasefire. The Trump administration had been optimistic about peace negotiations as recently as early July, but talks collapsed by the end of the month with Trump accusing Hamas of not wanting a deal. This US position diverges significantly from allies like France, the UK, and Canada, who have recognized a Palestinian state to pressure Israel toward a negotiated settlement.

Actress Gina Carano has reached a settlement with Disney and Lucasfilm in her wrongful termination lawsuit after being fired from "The Mandalorian" in 2021 over controversial social media posts comparing being Republican to being Jewish during the Holocaust. The settlement, funded by Elon Musk, concludes a case where Carano had sought $75,000 in damages and reinstatement to the show, claiming male co-stars faced no consequences for similar posts. Following the agreement, Lucasfilm released a positive statement about Carano, describing her as "well respected" and indicating potential future collaboration.

The United States has increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from $25 million to $50 million, with Attorney General Pam Bondi accusing him of being a major narco-trafficker. The Trump administration alleges Maduro has ties to criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, claiming the DEA has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed these allegations as "pathetic" and "political propaganda," suggesting they serve as a distraction from other controversies. This development continues long-running tensions between the US and Venezuela following Maduro's contested re-election in January, which was widely rejected by the international community.

President Donald Trump has ordered regulators to explore ways to ease restrictions on retirement accounts (401ks) to allow investments in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies, private equity, and gold. This initiative aims to give average Americans access to investment opportunities typically available only to wealthy individuals, while also opening new funding sources for these alternative sectors. Critics warn this could expose retirement savers to greater risks. The Department of Labor has 180 days to review relevant rules, though immediate changes are unlikely despite major investment firms already forming partnerships to offer private-equity focused retirement options.

Former "Superman" actor Dean Cain has announced plans to become an "honorary ICE Officer" with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency as part of their recruitment efforts. Cain, already a sworn deputy sheriff and reserve police officer, released a video encouraging Americans to join ICE, which is working to double its personnel by adding 10,000 new staff members. This recruitment drive is aligned with the Trump administration's goal of increasing deportations to one million per year, supported by a significant budget increase that makes ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Cain will be sworn in within the coming month, describing the initiative as encouraging Americans to become "real-life superheroes."

Two Pennsylvania state troopers, Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins, were shot and seriously injured while responding to a call in northeast Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles north of Scranton. The armed suspect, who was carrying a rifle and refused to comply with police commands, was fatally shot by officers during the incident. Governor Josh Shapiro announced the shooting at an event near Philadelphia and indicated he would be visiting the injured troopers at the hospital. According to state police, the officers remain in stable condition, and following a coordinated response that established a secure perimeter around the scene, there is no longer any threat to the public.

Detroit's primary election on Tuesday saw a smooth voting process with a 16.9% turnout (85,971 voters), an improvement from 14% four years ago. City Council President Mary Sheffield emerged as the frontrunner in the mayoral race, securing 50.82% of votes, while Pastor Solomon Kinloch finished second with 17%. The election will reshape the City Council with new representatives coming to Districts 5 and 7, where candidates including Denzel McCampbell, State Rep. Karen Whitsett, Willie Burton, and Renata Miller advanced to the November general election. Despite Sheffield's strong showing, the 42,399 voters who chose other candidates represent potential support that Kinloch will need to target before the general election.

Representative Ayanna Pressley, along with 15 Democratic colleagues, has called for a congressional hearing where Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking survivors can testify, emphasizing the importance of centering survivor voices in the pursuit of justice. In a letter to House Oversight Chairman James Comer, Pressley argued that amid national conversations about Epstein and related Department of Justice files, Congress should hear directly from those affected. Pressley, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, highlighted the recent contradiction between Republican rhetoric about protecting women and children and the Trump administration's actions, including cuts to anti-trafficking programs. The congresswoman stressed that granting survivors a platform is crucial for ensuring justice and allowing Americans to hear their truth directly.

D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has issued a comprehensive business advisory detailing legal obligations for restaurants regarding employee wages, tips, paid leave, and recordkeeping requirements. The guidance emphasizes protecting restaurant workers' rights while acknowledging the industry's importance to D.C.'s economy and culture. Key provisions include the District's minimum wage of $17.95 per hour (effective July 2025), tipped minimum wage of $12.00, mandatory overtime pay, payroll requirements, tip pooling regulations, and paid leave obligations. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington expressed support for the guidance, noting it helps operators create fair and lawful workplaces while focusing on their core business.

Oklahoma's State Board of Education meeting was disrupted when explicit content from a 1985 Jackie Chan film appeared on Education Chief Ryan Walters' office television during a closed-door session on July 24. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert's investigation suggests this was an accidental technical glitch with Samsung's streaming service on a newly installed TV. Despite this explanation, which appears to vindicate both Walters and the board members who reported seeing nude images, law enforcement continues investigating the incident. Walters had previously accused board members Becky Carson and Ryan Deatherage of fabricating the allegations as a political attack, potentially exposing himself to defamation claims.

Unarmed soldiers at Fort Stewart military base in Georgia displayed remarkable heroism when they tackled and subdued Sergeant Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old US Army soldier who allegedly opened fire, injuring five people. Six soldiers who intervened were honored with service medals for their courage, as they ran toward the gunfire, restrained the shooter, and provided immediate medical care to victims. The suspect, who reportedly sent a cryptic text message to his aunt before the shooting saying "he loved everybody" and would "be in a better place," is now in custody while the Army Criminal Investigation Division and FBI investigate the incident. According to the suspect's father, Sgt. Radford had sought a transfer from Fort Stewart and complained about alleged racism on the base, though officials declined to comment on this claim during the ongoing investigation.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media, following a suspicious $16 million settlement between Paramount and Donald Trump over a "60 Minutes" interview. Critics claim this merger represents Trump's growing control over media, as it requires Paramount to eliminate diversity initiatives, install political monitors for "bias," and fund $20 million in public service announcements for Trump-favored causes. Following the merger, BET has indefinitely suspended both the BET Hip Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards, which many in the Black community view as part of a systematic effort to silence Black voices in media. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr openly acknowledged that "President Trump is fundamentally reshaping the media landscape" through his influence over major networks.

The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to reinstall two Confederate monuments, one in Washington, DC, and another at Arlington National Cemetery. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the return of Moses Ezekiel's "Reconciliation Monument" to Arlington, while the National Park Service is preparing to restore Albert Pike's statue in DC by October. Both actions are aligned with Trump's executive orders to "beautify the nation's capital" and "restore truth and sanity to American history." Critics like DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton oppose these moves, arguing the monuments represent racism and America's legacy of slavery, while supporters contend they preserve historical artifacts.

LaTania Michelle, an executive coach and author, has released a new devotional titled "Still Chosen: A Devotional for the Woman Who Feels Forgotten but Still Called," now available on Amazon Kindle, Audible, and in paperback. This 14-day devotional is designed for women experiencing periods of waiting in various life areas including singleness, infertility, career transitions, grief, or spiritual burnout. The book combines Scripture, guided prayer, spiritual declarations, and neuroscience-informed mindset techniques through LaTania's Warfare + Rewiring™ framework. As the founder of Design Your Destiny Communications, LaTania brings over twenty years of leadership experience to help women transform feelings of delay or invisibility into clarity, courage, and confidence.

California is experiencing a severe housing crisis with disproportionate impacts on Black and Latino families, who make up 70% of extremely low-income renters in the state. The root problem is insufficient housing supply, with the state building only about 100,000 new homes annually instead of the 300,000 needed according to Governor Newsom. A new generation of Democratic lawmakers is embracing housing reform through the YIMBY movement, supporting zoning reforms and affordable housing development as paths toward racial and economic justice. However, progress faces opposition from both affluent suburb residents (NIMBYs) and groups like the American Economic Liberties Project, which advocates for banning algorithmic pricing tools used by landlords.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has announced plans to reintroduce legislation to permanently remove the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike from federal land in DC, following the National Park Service's intention to reinstall the controversial monument. The bronze statue was toppled by protesters in June 2020 during demonstrations after George Floyd's death, having been a longstanding subject of criticism. Norton argues that Confederate statues belong in museums rather than public spaces where they imply honor, particularly highlighting Pike's dishonorable service record including war crimes and his resignation in disgrace from the Confederate Army. The statue, originally installed in 1901 through congressional authorization sought by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, has faced significant opposition from DC residents who lack voting representation in Congress.

The Royal Family held a four-day reunion in San Diego from July 31st to August 3rd, bringing together descendants of Fant and Phyllis Royal from across the United States. Organized by a dedicated San Diego committee, the event featured activities including a meet and greet, city tour, dinner dance with awards, family cookout, and a farewell fish fry. The celebration honored the family's legacy while creating new memories, with entertainment including line dancing, live music by J-Movelle, and DJ performances. The reunion concluded with the symbolic passing of responsibility to the Detroit chapter, which will host the next gathering.

President Donald Trump has ignited controversy with his statement that undocumented immigrants are "naturally" suited for difficult farm labor while claiming people in "inner cities" don't do such work. During a CNBC interview, Trump described undocumented laborers as "very special people" while simultaneously promoting policies of mass deportation and expanded third-country agreements. His comments echo his previous claim to Black journalists that immigrants were "taking Black jobs," despite federal law prohibiting employment discrimination based on race. Critics argue these statements perpetuate racist stereotypes and are designed to divide communities, comparing Trump's rhetoric to plantation-era logic that assigns specific jobs to certain racial or ethnic groups.

President Trump is executing an agenda aligned with Project 2025, with recent FCC approval of Skydance Media's $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global (parent company of CBS and BET) raising significant concerns. The merger occurred shortly after Paramount paid Trump a $16 million settlement over a "60 Minutes" interview, required eliminating diversity programs, installing a political monitor, and contributing $20 million to Trump-approved causes. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr explicitly stated that "Trump is fundamentally reshaping the media landscape," while BET has suspended major Black cultural awards shows indefinitely, prompting criticism that this represents systematic erasure of Black voices in media.

In Texas, a political conflict has intensified over a Republican redistricting plan as Senator John Cornyn claimed the FBI would assist in locating Democratic state lawmakers who fled to Illinois to prevent a vote. The Democrats' departure is a tactical move to block the Republican proposal that would create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Tensions escalated further when Democrats evacuated their Illinois hotel following a bomb threat, while former President Trump suggested FBI involvement might be necessary. The dispute centers on maintaining quorum requirements, as Texas law requires two-thirds of the 150-member state legislature to be present for voting to proceed.

Recent tariff policies in the United States have evolved significantly, with the Trump administration reintroducing widespread tariffs in 2018, the Biden administration continuing their use, and new tariff actions emerging since Trump's return to office in 2025. Experts from UC San Diego, including economists, a political scientist, a finance professor, and a historian, provide insight into how these tariffs function as economic and foreign policy tools in today's global economy. Their analysis reveals that while tariffs may protect specific domestic industries and jobs, they typically result in reduced real income across all states, with potentially destabilizing effects on international trade relationships and global supply chains. The experts also note that the current trend represents a concerning shift away from multilateralism toward protectionism not seen since the 1930s.

The 8th Annual Afrofuturism Lounge was held on July 24, 2025, at Fleet Science Center in San Diego, coinciding with Comic-Con but specifically celebrating Black creators in the comic industry. Under the theme "Minds Over Matters!", the event explored the intersection of Afrofuturism, Black speculative arts, and social change through discussions, immersive art installations, and interactive activities. The Lounge, curated by founder Dr. LaWana Richmond and other prominent contributors, featured a diverse program including The Stardust Project Preview, a fireside chat with Keithan Jones, music performances, and various creative activities like tarot readings and a scavenger hunt. This gathering showcased Black creators, artists, thinkers, and innovators who utilize various mediums to envision more inclusive futures for people of African descent.

Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins hosted a Back to School Health Resource Fair on August 2nd at New Creation Church, drawing hundreds of families who accessed free resources from over 30 vendors. The event provided school supplies, health screenings, and educational information to prepare students for the new academic year. Partners including Sycuan Casino, PhRMA, and AT&T supported the fair, which featured backpack giveaways, free haircuts, and representation from organizations like the County of San Diego, UCSD programs, and educational institutions. Dr. Sharp-Collins emphasized that the event served as both a community check-in for her 79th Assembly District constituents and an opportunity to demonstrate the partnerships she has developed to support local families.

Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D., who represents Senate District 39 in the California State Senate, hosted her Annual Backpack Giveaway and Family Resource Fair on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at KIPP Adelante Prep Academy in Southeast San Diego. The event provided free backpacks filled with school supplies to K-12 students, along with opportunity drawings including chances to win desktop computers from Computers 2 Kids. Additional resources included free kids' helmets, vision screenings, and over 20 community resource tables, with the fair starting at 9:30 a.m. and backpack distribution running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

An active-duty U.S. soldier, Taylor Adam Lee, has been arrested and charged under the Espionage Act for allegedly attempting to share classified information about the Abrams tank with Russia. Prosecutors claim the 22-year-old Fort Bliss soldier, who held a top secret security clearance, delivered sensitive hardware to a storage unit in El Paso after meeting with a Russian government representative in July. Lee allegedly sought Russian citizenship in exchange for exposing U.S. military weaknesses and sent a "Mission accomplished" text message to the Russian representative after completing the delivery.

Golden Gate Village residents in Marin City, California are protesting against what they describe as intentional neglect of their homes by the Marin Housing Authority and County Board of Supervisors, which they believe is aimed at justifying demolition rather than genuine redevelopment. Residents have developed their own professional redevelopment plan that would preserve the historic integrity of their community while providing modern upgrades, but claim this plan is being ignored in favor of demolition that would displace low-income Black families. They argue that Golden Gate Village represents the last intact historically Black neighborhood in Marin County, built to house African American workers after World War II, and they resist becoming another example of Black community displacement through gentrification.

The Zambian government has rejected US embassy claims of dangerous pollution in the Copperbelt mining region following a February tailings dam collapse at the Sino-Metals mine. US officials ordered their personnel to leave Kitwe and surrounding areas, citing "widespread contamination" with hazardous and carcinogenic substances in water, soil, and potentially air. Zambian officials countered that laboratory tests show water safety has returned to normal levels, with government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa stating there are no serious public health implications and no need for alarm. The Chinese-owned mining company had previously pledged compensation to affected communities after the spill, which impacted aquatic life and local farmers.