Jimothy the raccoon became famous online because of his unusual body shape caused by a rare condition likely called short spine syndrome (SSS). Experts say the condition may not affect Jimothy's lifespan much but could make it harder for him to avoid dangers like dogs and cars in the city where he lives.
Key Facts
Jimothy is a raccoon from Seattle with a short, round body and little visible neck.
His shape is likely caused by short spine syndrome (SSS), a rare condition that affects the spine and is more common in dogs.
SSS can affect vertebrae (bones in the spine), sometimes making movement harder, especially head and neck mobility.
Jimothy’s condition likely has genetic and environmental causes.
Despite his condition, Jimothy appears to move around well and finds food easily in the city.
Possible threats to Jimothy include off-leash dogs and cars, rather than natural predators.
SSS might affect Jimothy’s interactions with other raccoons and his ability to reproduce.
Seattle is celebrating Jimothy’s unusual story with local events and items inspired by him.
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A new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis shows that only about 53% of U.S. adults actually own homes, which is much lower than the commonly reported 65% homeownership rate. The traditional measure counts homes as owned if someone in the household owns the home, even if some adults living there do not own it themselves.
Key Facts
The usual homeownership rate counts the share of homes where the owner lives, not the share of adults who own homes.
The new Federal Reserve measure, called the homeowners-to-population ratio (HPOP), counts the percentage of adults who own a home.
About 14% of U.S. adults live in owner-occupied homes but do not themselves own the home.
These adults can include grown children living with parents, relatives living together, or roommates.
According to the HPOP, only 53% of U.S. adults own homes, less than the 65% rate commonly cited.
The new measure shows homeownership is lower in every state, especially in states with high housing costs like California and New York.
Policymakers might need to reconsider strategies since the traditional data overestimates actual homeownership.
The new measure highlights how difficult it has become for many Americans to buy homes.
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A new AARP poll shows Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff leading Republican Mike Collins by 9 points in the race for Georgia’s Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections. Ossoff is seen as vulnerable but holds strong support among younger voters and independents, while Collins is favored by older voters.
Key Facts
Jon Ossoff has 52% support, Mike Collins has 43%, with 5% undecided in the recent AARP poll.
The poll surveyed 1,060 likely Georgia voters from July 13-16, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3 points.
Ossoff leads by large margins among voters aged 18-34 (33 points) and 35-49 (29 points).
Collins leads by 24 points among voters aged 65 and older.
Independent voters favor Ossoff 55% to 35%.
The race is classified as Lean Democratic by political analysts like Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
Ossoff benefits from incumbency, financial advantages, and a divided Republican opposition.
Other recent polls also show Ossoff with a lead ranging from 4 to 13 points over Collins.
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Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese militant linked to the Japanese Red Army, died in Beirut at age 78. He participated in a 1972 attack on Tel Aviv’s airport that killed 26 people, was imprisoned in Israel for 12 years, and later lived in Lebanon under the protection of the Palestinian Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Key Facts
Kozo Okamoto was part of the Japanese Red Army, a militant group active in the 1970s.
In 1972, Okamoto and two others attacked Tel Aviv’s international airport, killing 26 people and injuring many.
Okamoto was wounded during the attack; the two other Japanese attackers were killed.
He was sentenced to life in prison in Israel but was released in 1985 during a prisoner exchange.
After his release, Okamoto moved to Lebanon and lived under the protection of the PFLP.
Okamoto was known as Ahmad al-Yabani, meaning Ahmad the Japanese, in the PFLP.
The PFLP said the 1972 attack was in response to an Israeli commandos’ attack on Beirut airport in 1968.
Okamoto rarely appeared in public but made one appearance in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the airport attack.
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Two gun rights groups sued the U.S. Virgin Islands government for not allowing nonresidents to get licenses to carry concealed guns there. The lawsuit focuses on a Florida man who wants to carry a gun for self-defense when visiting the islands. This is the second lawsuit against the territory over gun rights.
Key Facts
Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation filed the new lawsuit.
The suit claims that the U.S. Virgin Islands police won't allow nonresidents to get concealed carry licenses.
Florida resident Sean Dale Henry wants a license to carry a concealed handgun there for visits.
Henry tried contacting the U.S. Virgin Islands police multiple times without success.
The groups say the Second Amendment rights apply in U.S. territories like the Virgin Islands.
The U.S. Justice Department previously sued the territory for denying gun rights to residents.
Local laws in the Virgin Islands require applicants to prove a good reason and have two people vouch for them to get a gun license.
The territorial government says it supports constitutional rights but also public safety.
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Police are looking for a woman named Isabelle Rose Johnson. She is suspected of killing a man in Florida who was found buried in a shallow grave last month. The search for her is happening across several states.
Key Facts
Isabelle Rose Johnson is wanted by police.
She is connected to a murder investigation in Florida.
The victim is a father who was found buried in a shallow grave.
The crime happened last month.
The search involves multiple states.
Authorities are actively working to find Johnson.
The investigation is ongoing.
No further details about the victim or suspect were provided.
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A Secret Service agent protecting Vice President JD Vance is under investigation for possibly leaking secret information. The leak involved details of the vice president’s helicopter trip that were published in the news, causing security concerns.
Key Facts
The agent is investigated for possibly sharing secret operational information.
The leaked information was about a planned helicopter trip with the vice president’s son.
The trip was canceled due to bad weather.
The leak caused concern among the Secret Service, FBI, and White House officials.
Investigators think they have identified the agent responsible for the leak.
The Secret Service confirmed the investigation but did not give details.
The case is now with the agency’s internal affairs and may involve the Department of Justice.
This investigation is part of a wider effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to stop leaks to the media.
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Axel Rudakubana, convicted of killing three children and attacking others in Southport, has been moved from a high-security prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital after psychological assessments said he cannot be safely managed in prison. He will remain locked up and is unlikely to be released.
Key Facts
Rudakubana was moved from Belmarsh prison to Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital.
Broadmoor treats people as patients, not prisoners, but Rudakubana will stay locked up.
He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 52 years in January 2025.
Rudakubana killed three children and attacked eight others and two adults at a dance class in 2024.
He was found guilty of producing the biological toxin ricin and possessing an al-Qaida manual.
He had a history of mental health treatment and concerns raised through the UK counter-extremism program, Prevent.
The move to hospital care will cost more than £300,000 per year, compared to £60,000 for prison.
Prison officers’ union members believe Rudakubana is pretending to be mentally ill to get transferred to a hospital setting.
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A Secret Service agent protecting Vice President JD Vance has been suspended and is being investigated for possibly leaking sensitive information. The agency said the leak could pose risks to the people they protect, and there has been a big increase in threats against public officials, including President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance is under investigation for leaking sensitive information.
The agent faces a possible criminal inquiry related to safety and security concerns.
Vance and his family receive 24/7 Secret Service protection.
Threats against protectees, including President Trump, have sharply increased recently.
The Secret Service Director said the current threat level is the highest he has seen in 24 years.
Nearly 10,000 threat investigations have been opened since January.
Most threats now come from online sources, including lone individuals, extremists, foreign enemies, and people with mental health issues.
The White House has not commented on the ongoing investigation.
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Rep. Kat Cammack said Congress has a problem with inappropriate behavior toward staff members. She expressed that she would not feel safe sending her daughter to work in Congress because of this culture.
Key Facts
Rep. Kat Cammack is a Republican from Florida.
She said there is a “culture of creepiness” in Congress involving how members treat staff.
Cammack stated she would not want her daughter to work in that environment.
Her remarks were made during an interview with Pablo Manríquez from MeidasTouch.
Rep. Jeff Crank, a Republican from Colorado, introduced a resolution related to this issue.
The focus is on the conduct of members of Congress toward their staffers.
The discussion highlights concerns about workplace behavior on Capitol Hill.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with the Scottish and Welsh first ministers in Glasgow before the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Burnham said a second Scottish independence referendum is not allowed and discussed plans to give more power to local governments while working closely with Scotland and Wales.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham met John Swinney (Scottish First Minister) and Rhun ap Iorwerth (Welsh First Minister) in Glasgow.
Burnham said another referendum on Scottish independence is "off limits."
Swinney welcomed discussions about giving more powers to local communities with the Scottish government’s involvement.
Burnham wants devolution (giving powers from the central government to local areas) to help bring jobs and revive local economies.
The meetings were partly about improving cooperation between the UK government and Scotland and Wales.
Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth asked for Wales to have powers equal to Scotland.
Both Scottish and Welsh leaders expressed hope for better relationships with the UK government.
The meetings took place ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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President Donald Trump will speak about expanding a plan to protect electricity users from higher costs related to the growth of AI data centers. This plan, called the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, is voluntary and aims to stop price increases for customers. There is also a new law called the Ratepayer Protection Act moving forward in the House of Representatives.
Key Facts
President Trump is making remarks about a plan to protect electricity consumers.
The plan is called the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
It is designed to prevent electricity prices from rising due to AI data centers.
The pledge is voluntary, meaning companies can choose to join.
The Ratepayer Protection Act is a proposed law related to this pledge.
The Act is currently gaining support in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The goal is to stop electricity costs from increasing because of demands from AI technology.
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Political commentator Bill O’Reilly said that President Donald Trump, who is 80 years old, should take a break for the next month. O’Reilly made this comment while discussing the challenges President Trump faces both inside the United States and in international affairs.
Key Facts
Bill O’Reilly is a political commentator and host of the podcast “No Spin News.”
O’Reilly suggested President Trump should take the next month off.
President Trump is currently 80 years old.
The suggestion comes as President Trump deals with increasing challenges at home and abroad.
O’Reilly has known President Trump for about 40 years.
The comment was made during the latest episode of O’Reilly’s podcast.
O’Reilly himself is 76 years old.
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Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov refuses to accept a different government role and wants to be reinstated as defence minister. His removal led to public protests, and the conflict between Fedorov and President Zelensky over his position is ongoing.
Key Facts
Mykhailo Fedorov was removed as Ukraine’s defence minister last week.
Fedorov refuses other government posts offered by President Zelensky, including deputy prime minister.
Fedorov played a key role in improving Ukraine’s military by using data and leading the Army of Drones project.
His removal sparked protests demanding his return as defence minister.
Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was also removed after conflicts with Fedorov.
Fedorov claims his team had a clear plan to end the war through better air defense, stabilizing the front, and economic strikes on Russia.
The new defence minister is Yevhenii Khmara, a former security official.
President Zelensky says innovation must be coordinated between defence ministry, military leadership, and the president.
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Vance Boelter was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years in prison for killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter, who targeted Democrats and pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty, admitted his crime was politically motivated.
Key Facts
Vance Boelter killed Melissa Hortman and her husband while dressed as a police officer.
Boelter received two life sentences plus 40 additional years with no chance of parole.
He pleaded guilty in June to avoid the death penalty.
Boelter targeted several Democrats in the attack and apologized before sentencing.
The crime was politically motivated, aiming to shift power in the Minnesota Legislature.
State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot but survived.
Prosecutors said Boelter followed the political balance in Minnesota closely before the attack.
Democratic leaders say Boelter’s attack failed to weaken their party’s commitment.
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Dr. Erica Schwartz, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the CDC, received support from Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health Committee. However, the vote on her nomination was delayed due to some senators not being present.
Key Facts
Dr. Erica Schwartz is President Trump’s nominee for CDC director.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and chair of the Senate Health Committee, endorsed her.
A vote on her nomination was planned but postponed.
The postponement was because some senators could not attend the vote.
The CDC is a major U.S. health agency focused on controlling diseases.
Senator Cassidy expressed confidence in Dr. Schwartz’s abilities.
The delay means her confirmation process will take longer.
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A Minnesota man, Vance Boelter, was sentenced to life in prison for killing Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting state senator John Hoffman and his wife. Boelter pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and admitted to stalking and attacking his victims while disguised as a police officer.
Key Facts
Vance Boelter received two life sentences plus 40 years for the killings and shootings.
He pleaded guilty in June 2025 to six charges related to the attacks.
Boelter targeted the victims after months of stalking and disguised himself as a police officer during the attacks.
Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed; John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were critically injured.
The attacks happened in the early morning hours and led to the largest police search in Minnesota’s history.
Survivors and family members described lasting physical and emotional harm from the shootings.
Boelter avoided the death penalty by accepting the maximum prison sentence short of it.
Family members expressed anger that Boelter would not face execution and about taxpayer costs to keep him imprisoned.
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President Donald Trump agreed to a 30-year deal with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear technology for civilian energy use. The deal raises concerns that Saudi Arabia might develop nuclear weapons, potentially sparking a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. The agreement is now under review by the US Congress.
Key Facts
The US-Saudi nuclear deal lasts 30 years and focuses on sharing nuclear technology.
The deal is intended for civilian nuclear energy, but details are not fully public.
Saudi Arabia may be allowed to enrich uranium, which is a key step toward making nuclear weapons.
Saudi leadership has said it would develop nuclear weapons if Iran does.
US officials say American contractors will manage the project to prevent weapon development.
Israel opposes the deal, fearing it will lead to more nuclear arms in the region.
There are concerns about nuclear plants being targets in Middle East conflicts, risking radiation leaks.
The deal includes a possible uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, run by US companies, but its necessity is still being studied.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comment that President Trump is losing patience with him over delays with the SAVE America Act. Thune suggested that those concerned should call senators to gather the necessary votes to pass the bill.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt said President Trump’s patience is running out with Sen. John Thune.
The issue is the stalled progress of the SAVE America Act in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Thune reacted by saying someone should call senators and get votes.
The SAVE America Act requires at least 50 votes to advance in the Senate.
Thune’s comments came during a Thursday news interaction.
The exchange shows tension between the White House and Senate GOP leadership.
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, raising tensions connected to the conflict involving Iran. President Donald Trump warned of strong military action if the attacks on ships keep happening.
Key Facts
The Houthi rebels in Yemen are backed by Iran.
They attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday.
These attacks may expand the conflict related to Iran’s involvement in the region.
The world oil price recently went over $100 a barrel.
The Houthis have threatened to close another important trade route.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key path for oil and gas shipments.
Iran and the U.S. are conducting military strikes as they compete for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump warned the Houthis of major military punishment if they keep attacking ships.
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