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Over 50 university professors sent a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to bring back independence for government agencies. This follows a recent Supreme Court decision that lets President Donald Trump fire leaders of independent agencies without needing a reason.
Key Facts
More than 50 academics signed a letter to congressional leaders.
They want independent government agencies to have their independence restored.
The letter was sent after a Supreme Court ruling last month.
The ruling allows President Donald Trump to fire agency commissioners without cause.
One example mentioned is the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The professors believe the ruling has caused delays or problems in agency work.
The letter asks Congress to take action to fix this situation.
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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is facing financial difficulties and internal problems. Reports say DNC Chair Ken Martin lost his temper and threw a phone at a staff member.
Key Facts
Ken Martin is the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC is experiencing money problems.
There are reports that Ken Martin threw a phone at a staffer.
Political strategists Joel Payne and Jesse Arm discussed these issues.
The situation has caused turmoil within the DNC.
The information comes from a report by The New York Times.
The topic was covered by CBS News with expert analysis.
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President Donald Trump visited the state of Michigan to campaign ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. His visit took place less than 100 days before voters go to the polls.
Key Facts
President Trump traveled to Michigan on Monday.
Michigan is considered a battleground state, meaning it could vote for either major party.
The visit happened with fewer than 100 days remaining before the midterm elections.
The midterm elections will determine control of Congress.
Campaigning in key states like Michigan is important for both parties.
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Police reported that at least three people were involved in a shooting at a food festival in Seattle. One suspect is in custody, one is still free, and one died at the scene.
Key Facts
The shooting took place on a Sunday at a food festival in Seattle.
Police say at least three suspects were involved.
One suspect has been arrested and is in custody.
Another suspect is still at large and has not been caught.
Police believe one suspect died at the scene of the shooting.
Details about the victims or motive were not provided in this report.
The investigation is ongoing.
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President Donald Trump decided not to increase military action against Iran after meetings with top advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and General Dan Caine. The U.S. is trying to revive diplomacy focused on the Strait of Hormuz while managing concerns about military and diplomatic risks.
Key Facts
President Trump held off on escalating military conflict with Iran following a White House meeting with advisers.
Vice President JD Vance and General Dan Caine expressed concerns about war escalation and military supply issues.
The U.S. and Iran had signed an agreement more than a month ago to work towards a deal in 60 days, but recent fighting resumed.
Trump denied shortages in military munitions, saying the U.S. has more than any other country and is increasing production.
There is ongoing diplomatic engagement at technical levels aiming to make progress on issues like the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite tensions, Vice President Vance continues to support diplomatic solutions.
The U.S. military leadership does not publicly discuss confidential advice given to the president.
Iranian officials say their delegation has not made new requests related to continuing talks.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called the Trump administration’s plan to deport Haitian migrants a mistake, saying it could harm Ohio’s economy and put Haitians in danger. More than 300,000 Haitians are losing Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that allowed them to stay and work in the U.S. because of unsafe conditions in Haiti.
Key Facts
The Trump administration plans to increase arrests and deportations of Haitian migrants after the Supreme Court approved ending TPS for Haitians.
TPS protected over 300,000 Haitians from deportation and let them work legally in the U.S.
Many Haitians live in Ohio, especially in Springfield, where they have helped fill jobs and opened businesses.
Governor DeWine said deportations would hurt Springfield and Ohio’s economy.
Haiti faces political instability and violence, with gangs controlling many areas and the U.S. government warning against travel there.
The Department of Homeland Security said Haiti’s situation has improved enough for Haitians to return safely.
TPS was originally given to Haitians after a 2010 earthquake and was extended by the Biden administration due to ongoing problems in Haiti.
Lawsuits challenged the Trump administration’s decision to end TPS, but the Supreme Court allowed the government to proceed.
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Bryan Kohberger, who was convicted of killing four University of Idaho students, is now asking a court to allow him to take back his guilty plea and go to trial. He says his lawyers pressured him into pleading guilty by promising better prison life and misrepresenting conditions on death row.
Key Facts
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2023.
He is serving four life sentences without parole at Idaho Maximum Security Penitentiary.
Kohberger filed a hand-written request to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming his lawyers manipulated him.
He says his lawyers promised better prison conditions and told him misleading information about death row.
Kohberger originally pleaded guilty voluntarily in court and admitted guilt to the judge.
He waived his rights to appeal as part of the plea deal, which spared him the death penalty.
Idaho law makes it difficult to withdraw a guilty plea after sentencing unless serious errors or injustice are shown.
Kohberger’s attorneys fought for years to avoid the death penalty citing autism and questioning some evidence.
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David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete, is charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He is asking the court to review the secret grand jury testimony because his lawyers believe there were problems with how the charges were presented.
Key Facts
David Hearn pleaded not guilty to one felony count of property destruction related to the Reflecting Pool.
The charge claims Hearn caused at least $1,000 in damage, which could lead to up to 10 years in prison.
Hearn’s lawyers request the full transcript of grand jury proceedings and instructions given to jurors.
A National Park Service official said the pool was already damaged before Hearn’s actions and that needed repairs would have happened regardless.
Hearn’s defense says the government did not preserve key evidence from the pool properly.
The case is connected to a multi-million dollar renovation project supported by President Donald Trump.
President Trump stated that the pool liner was cut by a “sick person” but mentioned repairs are underway and the pool will reopen soon.
Hearn and his supporters suggest the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at shifting blame for the pool damage.
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The leader and president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil, announced they will step down after eight years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised their work in improving workers’ rights and strengthening unions.
Key Facts
Sally McManus was the ACTU secretary; Michele O’Neil was the ACTU president.
Both held leadership roles in the ACTU for eight years and were the first all-female leadership team in its history.
They helped pass laws protecting workers’ right to disconnect, pay equality, and criminalizing wage theft.
They worked on improving pay, insurance, and safety for gig economy workers.
The ACTU has recently focused on political challenges from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
McManus will leave in August; O’Neil will help transition new leadership and leave by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Albanese said their leadership led to higher wages, lower gender pay gaps, and increased union membership.
O’Neil said new leadership will be best for workers and the union movement.
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Sara Gilson, a social media influencer, was killed along with her husband, Jeremiah Duffy, in Oklahoma in a suspected murder-suicide. Gilson had accused Duffy publicly of child sexual abuse and had filed several protective orders against him before her death.
Key Facts
Sara Gilson accused her husband, Jeremiah Duffy, of child sexual abuse in a video on TikTok.
Twelve days after the accusation, police found both Gilson and Duffy dead from gunshot wounds.
Gilson had filed multiple protective orders against Duffy, with the most recent one requiring him to stay away from her home.
Gilson’s ex-husband said she was trapped in an abusive relationship and had tried but struggled to leave Duffy.
Duffy was accused of inappropriate behavior with a 15-year-old girl whom he coached, including sending explicit messages and paying her to stay silent.
Police had difficulty locating Duffy after the abuse allegations were reported, tracking his phone signals and using drone searches.
Because some alleged crimes occurred on Cherokee land and Duffy was a member of the Osage tribe, the investigation was passed to the US attorney’s office handling tribal land crimes.
Authorities including the FBI and the US attorney’s office had not given public comments at the time of the report.
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US diplomats left a United Nations Security Council meeting when France began speaking about Russia’s war in Ukraine. This happened after a disagreement between the US and France over the renewal of the UN human rights chief’s term.
Key Facts
US diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting as France took the floor.
The walkout followed a dispute over the US voting against renewing UN human rights chief Volker Turk’s four-year term.
France criticized the US for no longer being a “beacon of human rights” and compared its stance to countries like North Korea and Russia.
The US ambassador said France supported a rights chief who criticized democracies like the US, UK, and Israel while aligning with oppressive governments.
The US said it would continue walking out until France stopped using “condescending and disrespectful” language.
France’s representative focused on preserving the UN’s independence during the meeting and did not address the walkout.
Volker Turk was reappointed despite US and Israel opposition, receiving a large majority vote in the UN General Assembly.
The US under President Trump has reduced funding and participation in many UN agencies since 2025 and has clashed with France on various issues like NATO spending and trade.
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Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old, was found dead on Horn Island, Mississippi, on July 6, 2026. Witnesses said he had been drinking a lot before he went missing, but the cause of his death is still unknown and under investigation.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells was 18 years old.
He was on Horn Island in Mississippi.
Witnesses reported that Wells had consumed a large amount of alcohol.
Wells went missing on July 4, 2026.
His body was found on July 6, 2026.
The official autopsy and toxicology test results are not yet available.
A private autopsy by Wells’ family said the cause and manner of death are "undetermined pending investigation."
Authorities and search teams were involved in trying to locate him after he disappeared.
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Europe is introducing stricter rules to make more paper and cardboard packaging recyclable by 2030 and beyond. German companies and research groups are developing new ways to seal paper packaging without using glue or labels, which can harm recycling processes.
Key Facts
Paper and cardboard with glue or labels can be hard to recycle because adhesives damage machines and reduce recycled paper quality.
About 74% of paper and board used in Europe in 2024 is already recycled.
New EU rules require packaging to be at least 70% recyclable by 2030 and 80% by 2038.
Germany will also enforce stricter reporting and fees for packaging waste.
Fraunhofer research group developed a laser-based heat process to seal paper without adhesives (called the PAPURE project).
The PAPURE project ends in September 2024 and may be taken to market soon.
Hermann Ultraschall bought rights to an ultrasonic welding-like paper sealing technology and is talking with large companies about mass production.
Switching to new sealing technologies needs changes to existing machines, which can be expensive and slow down production at first.
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Savannah Guthrie, a TV host, made a public plea for help finding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Authorities believe Nancy was kidnapped, and the FBI is investigating ransom notes related to her disappearance.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie went missing from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
Blood was found near the front door of her house.
FBI released video showing a masked man on the porch the night Nancy disappeared.
Search teams and volunteers have looked for Nancy in the nearby desert and near the Arizona-Mexico border.
Multiple ransom notes were received by news organizations; the FBI considers some scams but is investigating others.
Savannah Guthrie and her family offered a $1 million reward for information about Nancy.
Savannah has publicly appealed to the kidnappers to reveal her mother's location.
Savannah acknowledged the possibility that her mother might not be alive but remains hopeful.
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A shooting happened at a busy food festival in Seattle, resulting in three deaths and four injuries. One suspect has been arrested, but police believe another person involved may still be free.
Key Facts
Gunfire broke out at a food festival in Seattle.
At least three people died because of the shooting.
Four or more people were hurt in the incident.
Police have one person in custody related to the shooting.
Authorities think another suspect might still be on the run.
The city is experiencing grief and fear after the event.
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The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a video linked to Iran that targets First Lady Melania Trump. The agency monitors any possible threats to those it protects, but has not confirmed a specific threat from this video.
Key Facts
The video was circulated by a media channel connected to the Iranian government.
The Secret Service said it is aware of the video and reviews content that could threaten protected people.
Melania Trump and her son Barron receive full-time Secret Service protection.
The agency did not provide details about the video or confirm a direct threat.
This video broadens the focus of hostile messages that have mostly targeted President Trump.
President Trump has publicly stated he believes Iran poses a threat to him.
Security concerns related to Iranian threats have influenced President Trump’s travel choices.
The White House and the Office of the First Lady had not commented on the video at the time.
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Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Troy Jackson, the new Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine. Jackson was chosen after the original nominee withdrew, and Harris highlighted the challenge of entering a race with little time before the election.
Key Facts
Troy Jackson became the Democratic nominee for the Maine U.S. Senate race after a last-minute party convention.
The original nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew following sexual assault accusations, which he denied.
Jackson will face Republican Senator Susan Collins in the general election.
Kamala Harris endorsed Jackson two days after his nomination, sharing her experience of running with little preparation time.
Jackson has 101 days from his nomination to the election day to campaign.
Jackson is a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate president.
He previously ran for governor but lost in the primary before becoming the Senate candidate.
Jackson’s campaign has raised $2 million since nomination; Collins has raised over $16 million.
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Artist Betye Saar, known for her art about Black identity and culture, died at age 99 in Los Angeles. She was a key figure in the 1960s Black Art Movement and used objects from history in her sculptures to express ideas about race and freedom.
Key Facts
Betye Saar passed away at 99 years old and would have turned 100 soon.
She was a major artist in the 1960s Black Art Movement.
Saar created sculptures from found objects, including items linked to Black history and culture.
One of her famous works is “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima,” which changed an offensive stereotype into a symbol of strength.
Saar began making art at age 35 after working in design.
Her 1969 piece “Black Girl’s Window” was recognized decades later and is now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
She inspired many Black artists and was active in teaching and mentoring others.
In 2026, Saar was honored by being inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Firefighters in southwest France are working to control a large wildfire that has caused over 200,000 people to leave their homes. In the U.S., nearly 100 million people are under heat warnings due to rising temperatures and high humidity. A new bridge has also opened, allowing traffic to move between the U.S. and Canada.
Key Facts
A large wildfire is burning in southwest France.
More than 200,000 people have been forced to evacuate because of the fire.
Almost 100 million people in the United States are currently under heat alerts.
The heat alerts are due to high temperatures and severe humidity.
A new bridge connecting the United States and Canada has opened to traffic.
The bridge opening allows vehicles to travel between the two countries.
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Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong expressed concern about a potential merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. They warned that this merger could reduce competition, threaten jobs, and concentrate too much power in the entertainment industry.
Key Facts
Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong wrote an opinion piece about the merger.
The merger involves Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The actors are worried the merger will reduce competition in the film industry.
They say it could lead to fewer independent movies being made or acquired.
The merger might put many jobs at risk.
Concentrating power in a few companies can limit the variety of creative work.
The op-ed calls on the UK to take action to stop or regulate the merger.
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