In 1979, Catina Salarno, a college freshman, was shot and killed at the University of the Pacific. Her family has since worked for decades to keep her killer in prison and raise awareness about victims' rights.
Key Facts
Catina Salarno was found unconscious and bleeding on her first day of college in 1979.
Her parents, Harriet and Mike Salarno, and her sisters were deeply affected by her death.
The family has been involved in legal efforts since 1990 to prevent the release of Catina’s killer.
Harriet and Mike worked as juvenile commissioners to support young people in San Francisco.
Catina was known as a kind and caring older sister and was close to her sisters Regina and Nina.
The Salarno family had a strong, middle-class background with a focus on faith, family, and community.
Catina had a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship with Steven Burns, a nearby neighbor’s son and athlete.
The family's story has been featured in news programs like "48 Hours" to highlight their journey for justice.
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A South African couple saw a rare gathering of nearly 300 humpback whales, called a "supergroup," off the coast of South Africa. This large group shows that humpback whale numbers are rebounding after international whaling bans since 1986, though new dangers, such as conflicts involving Iran, could threaten them.
Key Facts
Nearly 300 humpback whales formed a "supergroup" seen off South Africa in December 2026.
The whales were counted by photographing their tails, as each whale's tail pattern is unique.
This is possibly the largest group of humpback whales ever recorded.
Humpback whale numbers in the southern hemisphere have grown from fewer than 10,000 during heavy whaling to over 100,000 today.
The International Whaling Commission monitors whale populations and enforces the whaling ban that started in 1986.
Humpbacks usually travel alone or in small groups but form supergroups in areas with lots of food like small fish and krill.
Whale sightings are increasing in many parts of the Southern Hemisphere.
Experts warn that conflicts like the war involving Iran could bring new threats to whales in the region.
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Brazil refused visas to two U.S. officials who wanted to visit before Brazil’s October elections. The Brazilian government said the officials intended to question the election’s legitimacy, a claim the U.S. State Department denied.
Key Facts
Brazil denied visas to Riley M. Barnes and Samuel Samson, U.S. State Department officials.
The two officials had applied for visas on July 20 and were denied on July 26.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry accused the officials of trying to cast doubt on Brazil’s upcoming elections.
The U.S. said the officials were visiting to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva is running for reelection against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s family has close ties to President Donald Trump’s administration.
The U.S. recently labeled Brazil’s biggest drug gangs as terrorist groups, a move Lula opposes.
The U.S. imposed tariffs on many Brazilian exports, accusing Brazil of unfair trade and labor practices; Brazil denies these claims.
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Israeli forces arrested over 70 people in the West Bank after clashes that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians. The Israeli military conducted searches at more than 300 locations in the area during this operation.
Key Facts
Over 70 people were detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
The arrests followed violent clashes in a northern Palestinian village.
Two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians died in the violence.
The Israeli military searched more than 300 locations to find those involved.
The events happened overnight from Friday to Saturday.
The military described the detainees as connected to the clashes.
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Brazil’s government refused visas to two U.S. officials who planned to visit for talks about the upcoming Brazilian elections. This decision reflects rising political tensions between Brazil and the United States ahead of Brazil's October elections.
Key Facts
Brazil denied visas to two U.S. State Department officials, Riley M. Barnes and Samuel Samson.
The officials intended to travel to Brazil between July 27-30 to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry did not publicly explain the reason for the visa denial.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking reelection and will face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, whose family has ties to President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Trump administration recently labeled Brazil’s largest drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations, a move opposed by President Lula.
The U.S. also increased tariffs on thousands of Brazilian exports, citing unfair trade and forced labor concerns, which Brazil denies.
The U.S. State Department described the planned visit as routine and denied allegations that it aimed to interfere in Brazil’s elections.
Sen. Bolsonaro has echoed previous unproven claims by his father about fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system.
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The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is facing pressure to change its policy to allow voluntary assisted dying (euthanasia) through telehealth services. While the new party platform supports this change, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prefers euthanasia discussions to happen face-to-face due to concerns about medical safety and misuse.
Key Facts
The ALP’s national conference updated its platform to support voluntary assisted dying via telehealth.
The change would overturn an old law banning euthanasia consultations through telehealth.
Labor MPs would have a conscience vote, meaning they can vote according to their personal views.
Prime Minister Albanese supports assisted dying but wants face-to-face assessments to protect patients.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent Kate Chaney plan to introduce private bills to advance telehealth euthanasia access.
Current federal law criminalizes encouraging suicide over telecommunications, with fines up to $300,000.
Advocates argue telehealth access is needed for people in rural areas or with mobility problems.
Labor’s updated platform promises to remove legal barriers to telehealth for end-of-life care while keeping clinical safeguards.
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Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has announced he will run for president of Brazil. He aims to defeat the current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and has gained support from Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei.
Key Facts
Flavio Bolsonaro is running for president of Brazil.
He is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Flavio wants to continue his father's political approach.
He is trying to unseat the current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei, known for his right-wing views, supports Flavio Bolsonaro.
Jair Bolsonaro is described as a disgraced former president.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week while attending the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. Zelenskyy has accused Russia of helping Iran with satellite surveillance related to attacks in the ongoing conflict involving Ukraine.
Key Facts
Zelenskyy will meet President Trump at the White House on Tuesday next week.
Zelenskyy is in Washington, D.C., to attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral.
Senator Lindsey Graham had a close relationship with Zelenskyy and had recently visited Ukraine.
Zelenskyy claims Ukraine has tracked Russian satellite use that helped Iran conduct attacks.
Ukraine's intelligence suggests a link between Russian surveillance and Iranian strikes.
The White House has not confirmed receiving this intelligence or commented on the claims.
President Trump expressed trust in Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi when asked about their roles in aiding Iran.
Trump said both leaders denied major support to Iran.
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Ryan Gosling will play the character Ghost Rider in the Marvel movie coming out in 2028. He was announced at Comic-Con by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, and the film will be directed by Shawn Levy.
Key Facts
Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie set for 2028.
The announcement was made at Comic-Con International in San Diego in front of about 7,000 fans.
Shawn Levy, who directed Gosling in "Star Wars: Starfighter," will direct the new Ghost Rider film.
The character Ghost Rider appeared in standalone films in 2007 and 2012, but this is the first time he will be part of the MCU.
Film rights for Ghost Rider returned to Marvel after Sony’s sequel in 2012.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige also announced a re-release of the 2019 film "Avengers: Endgame" with new footage related to the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday."
Famous actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal appeared at the Comic-Con panel.
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Seattle police are looking for two men who climbed over the glass wall of the Space Needle, jumped off with parachutes, and disappeared. The men entered the building with tickets, put on helmets, and BASE jumped from the 605-foot tall observation deck.
Key Facts
Two men climbed over the glass wall at the Space Needle in Seattle on Friday night.
They jumped off the 605-foot tall structure using parachutes.
The men entered the Space Needle with purchased tickets around 8:50 p.m.
They were seen on security cameras wearing helmets before jumping.
Police and security do not know where the men landed.
The jumpers have not been caught or identified but are described as white men in their late 20s.
BASE jumping means jumping from fixed objects like buildings or bridges and deploying a parachute.
The men face trespassing charges for their illegal jump.
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Israeli police arrested nine people at a protest in Tel Aviv against violence by settlers in the occupied West Bank. The protest happened after clashes in the West Bank where four Palestinians and two Israelis died during a violent confrontation near the town of Tal.
Key Facts
Around 200 people protested in Tel Aviv against settler violence and Israeli military control in the West Bank.
The protest was organized by the left-wing Hadash party and allies.
Israeli police said the protest was not authorized and caused public disruption, leading to arrests.
The protest followed a deadly clash in Tal, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed during a settler incursion.
Settlers had tried to enter Palestinian homes in Tal, and residents responded, leading to shootings.
Israeli forces launched a large military operation in the West Bank after the incident, arresting dozens of Palestinians and raiding homes.
Palestinian groups described the Israeli response as collective punishment and reported many arrests across the West Bank.
Since October 2023, over 1,180 Palestinians have been killed, more than 13,000 wounded, and nearly 24,000 arrested amid ongoing conflict.
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A large area of very hot weather, called a heat dome, is causing high temperatures across much of the central United States. This weather pattern traps hot air over the region and may continue for several more days. Heat warnings have been issued for about 80 million people.
Key Facts
A heat dome is a high-pressure system that keeps hot air trapped over an area.
This heat dome is affecting the central part of the United States.
Temperatures are dangerously high across this region.
Heat advisories were issued for roughly 80 million people.
The hot weather could last into next week.
The National Weather Service issued the warnings.
Such heat can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces criticism from the Conservative Party over his new policy plans, including possible tax changes to fund social care. Meanwhile, the UK government plans to give city mayors more control over income tax, and there are ongoing wildfires in France and Spain causing evacuations.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is proposing new policies that may increase taxes on working families.
The Conservative Party says these policies could put financial pressure on people, but Burnham’s office says all plans are fully funded.
Burnham has suggested a "care levy" to fix social care, which could lead to inheritance tax on some estates.
The UK government will soon announce plans to give mayors a share of income tax revenue to manage local spending.
Reform UK’s bank account was frozen after receiving donations linked to a convicted fraudster’s family.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting aims to improve relations with US President Donald Trump and modernize the UK Armed Forces.
Wildfires are burning in France and Spain, leading to the evacuation of over 250,000 people.
A security guard jailed for a serious crime was denied permission to attend his mother’s funeral for safety reasons.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Health received $242,000 for the Child Death Review program, which is much less than the $2.5 million proposed by Governor Josh Shapiro. Counties are required by the state to review deaths of people under 21, but many struggle due to lack of resources and complicated requirements.
Key Facts
The budget allocation for the Child Death Review program is $242,000, far below the original $2.5 million proposal.
The program requires counties to have boards reviewing each death of a person under 21 to help prevent future deaths.
Since 2020, only about half of the relevant child death cases have been reviewed.
County officials find the review process time-consuming and difficult to manage.
Governor Shapiro’s plan included more state staff, grants, and public education, but these efforts are limited by the small budget.
Most local review board members volunteer their time in addition to their regular jobs.
Advocates say the current funding is insufficient and want the state to create better support systems for local teams.
The program aims to use data to understand patterns in child deaths and suggest prevention measures for local officials.
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Two sons of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston, spoke at a congressional hearing demanding a clear investigation into his death. The shooting happened after ICE officers chased Salgado Araujo’s van, but conflicting accounts exist about the events leading to the shooting.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by ICE officers in Houston on July 7, 2026.
ICE said Salgado Araujo used his van to try to run over an officer, prompting the shooting.
Passengers in the van say the officers crashed into the van and were not in danger when the shot was fired.
None of the ICE officers involved were wearing body cameras during the incident.
Salgado Araujo’s sons described him as a hardworking family man with no prior legal trouble.
The hearing was held by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Houston.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare reported he was not given key information by the Department of Homeland Security about the case.
The three passengers in the van, including Salgado Araujo’s brother, were arrested and remain in immigration detention.
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President Joe Biden dropped a lawsuit that aimed to stop the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with a ghostwriter made before he became president. A court had ruled that there was strong public interest in sharing the material, allowing a Republican-led congressional committee to receive it.
Key Facts
President Biden asked a court to block the release of interview recordings and transcripts with a memoir ghostwriter.
The interviews were done before Biden became president, in 2016 and 2017.
A panel of appeals court judges ruled 2-1 that the public should see the recordings, citing public interest.
Judge Florence Pan disagreed, saying Biden had a strong privacy interest in keeping the material private.
Biden’s lawyers called the conversations personal and meant to be private.
The recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Republicans in Congress requested the recordings after Hur decided not to charge Biden.
Biden dropped the lawsuit less than a week after the appeals court decision, ending efforts to block the release.
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A third person has died due to severe flooding in Texas, which has caused over 500 rescues and damaged homes and businesses. Governor Greg Abbott visited Cotulla to inspect flood damage and warned people about ongoing dangers in areas near rising water levels downstream.
Key Facts
Three deaths have been confirmed from the recent floods in Texas.
More than 500 people have been rescued due to the flooding.
Floodwaters swept away a person who tried to drive through them.
Governor Abbott flew over Cotulla to assess flood damage; some areas remain unreachable.
The Nueces River reached a high flood level but has started to go down.
Floodwaters downstream, including at Lake Corpus Christi, are still expected to rise into early August.
Officials warned residents and commuters near the Nueces River to be cautious of flood dangers.
A disaster declaration was made for 59 Texas counties, with federal help requested for 33 counties.
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Brazil and Peru have agreed to work together to protect Indigenous lands along their shared border in the Amazon rainforest. This agreement follows recent violent attacks on the Ashaninka Indigenous community and aims to improve coordination in stopping illegal activities like invasions and drug trafficking.
Key Facts
Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples signed a cooperation agreement with Peru’s Ministry of Culture to protect Indigenous territories near their border.
The deal has been in negotiation since early 2024 and will allow both countries to share information and work on joint protection efforts.
The Ashaninka Indigenous group experienced a violent invasion by armed men earlier in June 2024.
The Ashaninka territory spans the Brazil-Peru border in the western Amazon rainforest.
Criminal groups, including drug traffickers, are using Indigenous lands and rivers as part of their routes.
Protecting Indigenous lands helps reduce deforestation and protect the global climate.
Brazilian federal police and the army have increased their presence to stop further attacks and illegal activities.
Preliminary reports indicate the attackers were likely from Peru and crossed the border into Brazil.
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Thomas Goldstein, a well-known Supreme Court lawyer and co-founder of SCOTUSblog, was sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud. He concealed millions of dollars in income, hid gambling debts, and falsely reported finances while spending heavily on poker and luxury items.
Key Facts
Thomas Goldstein was sentenced to six years in prison by a U.S. District Judge.
He was ordered to pay more than $3.1 million in restitution.
Goldstein concealed over $25 million in income from 2016 to 2023.
He avoided paying over $9.5 million in federal taxes.
He was found guilty of 12 charges, including tax evasion, false tax return preparation, failure to pay taxes, and mortgage fraud.
Goldstein was a prominent Supreme Court litigator who argued over 40 cases before retiring in 2023.
His gambling, especially high-stakes poker, was not widely known until his indictment in January 2025.
A celebrity poker player, Tobey Maguire, testified in the trial regarding a gambling debt dispute involving Goldstein.
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Texas courts are increasingly requiring the state to follow stricter rules before permanently removing children from their families. Recent court decisions emphasize that parents must be given proper legal rights, including a chance to appeal, when child protective services question child abuse or neglect.
Key Facts
Texas voters approved a parental rights amendment to the state constitution last year.
Three recent court rulings have challenged the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) on removing parental rights.
The Texas Supreme Court overturned two DFPS decisions that aimed to permanently remove children from parents.
An Austin judge ruled DFPS violated parents’ constitutional rights when it removed a newborn without proper appeal options.
The rulings demand due process, meaning parents have legal protections and must be allowed to contest agency decisions.
Texas has spent decades reforming its foster care system after lawsuits about poor conditions and abuse.
The state is shifting foster care responsibilities mostly to private companies.
Efforts to protect parental rights also respond to concerns about racial bias and poverty being mistaken for abuse in child welfare investigations.
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