Madison, Wisconsin police do not require officers to wear body cameras, so no footage exists from a recent fatal shooting involving four officers and a homeless man. The city is now planning to approve funding to start a body-camera program after years of debate and concerns about cost and community impact.
Key Facts
Madison police officers do not currently have a body-camera program.
A homeless man named Corey Ruiz was fatally shot after officers said he pulled a knife and injured one officer.
All four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the state investigates.
Residents lack official footage of the incident because no body cameras were used.
The Madison Common Council rejected a body-camera funding proposal last November but will likely approve a $414,800 plan for a three-year rollout soon.
Police Chief John Patterson supports body cameras as important tools for modern policing.
Experts say almost all cities with about 500 officers have body-camera programs.
Opposition to body cameras in Madison came from budget concerns and community worries about surveillance of marginalized groups.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Democratic Party plans to finalize its 2028 primary election calendar, likely placing either South Carolina or Nevada at the start instead of traditional early states like Iowa. This change aims to highlight states with more racial diversity and better represent the party’s coalition. The decision will need approval from the full Democratic National Committee in August.
Key Facts
Democrats want to change the 2028 primary schedule from past traditions by moving Iowa off the top spot.
South Carolina and Nevada are competing to hold the first primary contest.
The change is meant to give more influence to racially diverse states, including Black and Latino voters.
The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will decide the calendar, with final approval expected in August.
South Carolina has been important because it tests candidates’ support among Black voters and was key in President Biden’s 2020 campaign momentum.
Nevada argues it better represents today’s Democrats due to its diversity, union presence, and status as a battleground state.
Republicans have not yet set their 2028 calendar and are expected to keep Iowa and New Hampshire first.
Without an incumbent president running, the early states will play a major role in deciding which Democratic candidates gain momentum and support.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A photojournalist captured an image of Carolina Munoz praying while searching for her son’s body in the rubble of a collapsed building in Venezuela after a strong earthquake. The photo shows the grief and desperation of families looking for their loved ones weeks after the disaster.
Key Facts
The earthquake caused a building with 12 floors to collapse in Caraballeda, La Guaira, Venezuela.
Carolina Munoz was searching for the body of her son, Carlos Munoz, in the debris.
The photo was taken three weeks after the earthquake during ongoing search efforts.
Photojournalist Ariana Cubillos took the picture using a telephoto lens from the top of the collapsed tower.
Many families were trying to recover bodies so their relatives could be properly laid to rest.
The area was difficult to navigate due to deep holes, cables, ropes, and pieces of cloth.
The photo shows Munoz praying with her face raised toward the sky, expressing deep sadness and helplessness.
Ariana Cubillos has worked in Venezuela since 2009 covering humanitarian crises and social unrest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring from the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, where he led the community after a deadly antisemitic attack in 2018 that killed 11 people. He plans to return to New Jersey to be near family and focus on personal healing and interests.
Key Facts
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers survived the 2018 attack that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue.
He led the congregation through years of recovery, including a trial that resulted in the gunman’s death sentence.
The synagogue shared its building with two other congregations at the time of the attack.
Myers struggled with prayer after the attack but found comfort in the Book of Psalms.
After the attack, the congregation worshipped at a nearby synagogue while their building was a crime scene.
Myers is retiring at age 70 and will move back to New Jersey to be near his daughter and granddaughter.
He intends to spend more time reading, writing, and working on his own healing.
Myers began his spiritual journey in New Jersey, initially training as a cantor before becoming a rabbi.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A doctor who performed the autopsy on 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez will testify at a hearing to decide if singer David Burke, also known as D4vd, should face trial for her killing. The autopsy found her death was a homicide caused by penetrating wounds, but the body was severely decomposed, making some details hard to confirm.
Key Facts
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found dead in a Tesla owned by singer D4vd in September, months after she was killed.
The autopsy reported that she died from penetrating wounds to her upper body, including injuries that damaged her liver and ribs.
Prosecutors accuse David Burke (D4vd) of sexually abusing Rivas Hernandez starting when she was 13 and killing her when she threatened to expose their relationship.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, sexual abuse of a child, and mutilation of a body.
Prosecutors claim Burke dismembered the body in his garage, where blood stains matching Rivas Hernandez’s DNA were found.
The autopsy was limited by the body's decomposition, leading to some uncertain conclusions in the report.
The Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner criticized the delay in releasing the autopsy report to the family.
Toxicology tests showed a low level of alcohol in the victim’s liver, possibly caused by bacteria after death, not contributing to her death.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Canada is opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. The new bridge will improve trade and travel between the two countries but comes amid trade tensions after President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods to the U.S.
Key Facts
The Gordie Howe Bridge links Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, over the Detroit River.
The bridge officially opens to traffic on Monday after a ceremony in Windsor.
Canada canceled a joint U.S.-Canada celebration due to recent U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports.
Over 70% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S., its largest trading partner.
The bridge offers an alternative to the Ambassador Bridge, which has been the main commercial crossing for almost 100 years.
Construction began in 2018 and finished after delays caused partly by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bridge has six lanes, is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, and allows free crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists with ID soon.
Canada paid about $6.4 billion to build the bridge and will share toll revenue with the U.S. and Michigan after recovering costs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scientists predict a strong El Nino weather pattern may develop starting mid-2025, potentially the strongest on record. This natural warming of Pacific Ocean waters will affect global weather, causing extreme heat, droughts, and heavy rains in different areas.
Key Facts
El Nino is a natural cycle that warms parts of the Pacific Ocean near the equator, changing global weather patterns.
It usually happens every 2 to 7 years and lasts about 9 to 12 months.
Current ocean temperatures and warm water below the surface suggest an El Nino event is forming and may get very strong.
A very strong El Nino is called a "super El Nino."
El Nino causes heat waves, droughts in some places, and heavy rainfall leading to floods in others.
It typically reduces hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean by dominating the heat there.
Scientists warn the weather effects could be more severe than in recent history.
The impact is global, including hotter summers and drought signs in areas like the Amazon and the Caribbean.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, spiritual leader of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Congregation, is retiring at age 70, eight years after surviving the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. He led his community through the tragedy, the shooter's trial, and the pandemic while also helping start a new synagogue building.
Key Facts
The attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers survived the shooting and led his congregation through multiple funerals of those killed.
After the attack, Myers found comfort and inspiration by reading the biblical Book of Psalms.
Myers struggled with prayer following the tragedy but eventually found renewed faith.
He guided his community through the shooter’s trial and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under his leadership, the congregation began construction of a new synagogue building.
Rabbi Myers is retiring at age 70 in July 2026.
A retirement dinner was held to honor Rabbi Myers with friends, family, and community members.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Colt Gray, a 16-year-old accused of killing four people in a 2024 school shooting in Georgia, is scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing. The hearing will be non-negotiated, meaning the judge will decide the sentence without a plea deal between the defense and prosecution.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Four people were killed: two students and two teachers.
Colt Gray was 14 when the shooting occurred and faces 55 charges including murder and aggravated assault.
Gray’s father, Colin Gray, was convicted of giving Colt the rifle used in the shooting and faces sentencing soon.
The plea and sentencing hearing is set for Friday in Barrow County Superior Court.
Prosecutors plan to present witnesses, videos, crime scene photos, 911 calls, and Colt’s school, medical, and social media records.
The defense plans to call a psychologist, a juvenile detention center worker, and Colt’s grandmother as witnesses.
Colt Gray allegedly planned the attack in detail, including notes with instructions and diagrams, estimating potential casualties.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Christian Brothers and Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) have agreed to fully compensate survivors of historical abuse after public pressure. EREA will now help pay claims by selling off properties previously gifted by the Christian Brothers and will take responsibility for both current and future legal claims.
Key Facts
The Christian Brothers is a Catholic order with a history of clergy abuse.
They said they could not afford to pay abuse survivors and planned to sell 36 properties worth about $217 million.
Survivors were originally owed about $774 million.
The Christian Brothers transferred valuable properties to EREA for $1 over several years.
EREA had previously refused to replace the Christian Brothers in legal claims.
Both groups now say EREA will help pay all survivors in full and take on responsibility for future claims.
This change follows strong public and legal pressure.
The new plan needs court approval and a vote by creditors before it can proceed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump switched his support in the Georgia governor race to Rick Jackson after Jackson won the Republican primary over Trump's first choice, Burt Jones. Trump urged Republicans to unite behind Jackson, who will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the general election. Polls show the race is very close between Jackson and Bottoms.
Key Facts
President Trump initially endorsed Burt Jones in the Georgia governor Republican primary.
Rick Jackson won the primary, defeating Jones in an upset.
Trump praised Jackson as a successful businessman and urged GOP voters to support him.
Jackson will compete against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the 2026 Georgia governor race.
Recent polls show a very tight race, with some showing Bottoms slightly ahead and others showing Jackson slightly ahead.
The Cook Political Report calls the race a toss-up, meaning it is too close to predict.
Georgia is a key battleground state, where Trump narrowly won in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump’s shift highlights his goal of uniting Republicans and backing winners ahead of the general election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A newly studied short story written by Alan Turing shows a different side of him, depicting him as playful and open about his sexuality. The story challenges common views of Turing as a lonely and humorless figure, revealing his enjoyment of life and interest in literature.
Key Facts
Alan Turing wrote a short story called "Pryce’s Buoy" after his 1952 arrest for homosexuality.
The story features characters including a scientist named Alec Pryce, who represents Turing himself, and a working-class sex worker named Ron Miller.
The story is racy and shows Turing’s playful, funny, and cheeky side, different from the usual serious image.
Turing was a leading WWII codebreaker and helped develop early computers and artificial intelligence.
He was chemically castrated after his arrest and died in 1954, with his death officially ruled a suicide.
The UK government apologized in 2009 for how Turing was treated due to his sexuality.
The story was difficult to read and had been overlooked but was recently transcribed by a Cambridge literature professor.
The popular film "The Imitation Game" presents a less accurate and more solitary version of Turing than this new evidence suggests.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Consumer confidence in the UK rose sharply in July, driven by the strong chance of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister, England’s good performance in the World Cup, and better weather. Despite this optimism, people remained cautious about their personal finances, and rising oil prices could slow economic improvement.
Key Facts
UK consumer confidence jumped by its largest amount in nearly three years in July.
Andy Burnham’s byelection win on June 18 raised hopes that he could become the next prime minister.
Positive feelings also came from England’s success in the men’s World Cup and sunny weather.
Consumers expected the UK economy to improve over the next year and rated past performance better too.
Optimism was limited by concerns about personal money matters, which improved only slightly.
Conflicts in the Middle East and rising oil prices (up to $100 per barrel) could raise inflation again.
Inflation had dropped to 2.6% in June but was expected to rise toward 4% by November.
Analysts said Burnham’s government would need to deliver strong results to keep confidence growing amid ongoing economic challenges.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A rare black-crowned night heron was spotted at the Holnicote Estate in south-west England, where a river restoration project is improving habitats for wildlife. The estate is becoming a refuge for many birds and animals as the river is allowed to flow naturally again.
Key Facts
The black-crowned night heron was seen on camera at Holnicote Estate for three days in a row.
The estate is in Somerset, south-west England, where a river "reset" project is restoring natural wetlands.
Other birds observed include white-tailed eagles, white storks, and cranes.
The river restoration allows water to spread into streams, pools, and bogs, helping plants and animals.
The area also supports water voles, otters, pine martens, and grass snakes.
The black-crowned night heron is usually active at night and is uncommon in the UK.
The estate uses live cameras to show the wildlife and the forest streams.
Over 500 years, England has lost about 90% of its wetlands, and projects like this aim to bring them back.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Irish politicians have asked their government to send observers to a trial in Germany involving pro-Palestinian activists accused of attacking an Israeli arms company. They have expressed concern about the treatment and detention conditions of the Irish defendant, Daniel Tatlow-Devally, and want these issues raised during the German chancellor’s upcoming visit to Ireland.
Key Facts
A group of Irish politicians attended the trial in Stuttgart of five activists charged after an attack on Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company.
Daniel Tatlow-Devally, an Irish activist, is one of the accused and is reportedly held in harsh conditions with 23 hours per day in a small prison cell.
The activists are accused of trespassing, damaging property worth about €1 million, and being members of a criminal organisation.
The group aimed to protest against Germany’s support for Israel and its role in supplying arms.
The trial includes defendants from several countries: Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Spain.
The accused face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
The use of a glass barrier in court limits the activists' ability to communicate freely with their lawyers, raising concerns about their right to legal representation.
German authorities consider the activists a threat to society and have denied bail, keeping them in pre-trial detention beyond six months.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A seaplane with 11 people on board crashed near Sucia Island in Washington state. Everyone was rescued, but multiple people were injured, including one in critical condition, and the plane caught fire and sank.
Key Facts
The plane was a DeHavilland DHC-3 seaplane operated by Kenmore Air.
The crash happened around 5:20 p.m. near Sucia Island, Washington.
There were 10 passengers and 1 pilot on board.
All 11 people were rescued from the water.
Injuries included head wounds, broken bones, and cuts; one person was seriously hurt.
The plane caught fire after landing in shallow water and then sank.
Rescue efforts involved local boats, the U.S. Navy, and the Coast Guard.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel due to disruptions in major shipping routes caused by Yemen’s Houthi group. The Houthis declared a naval blockade in the Red Sea, targeting Saudi, Israeli, and U.S.-linked tankers, which has raised concerns about crude oil supply and market stability.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil prices rose to $100.65 a barrel, the highest since May.
Yemen’s Houthis declared a naval blockade in Bab el-Mandeb, a key shipping passage linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
The Houthis attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, with one reported set on fire.
The Houthis’ actions are partially in response to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Some Chinese-owned tankers have continued to pass through the blockade area, showing selective enforcement by the Houthis.
The current disruptions come amid a period when global oil reserves have not fully recovered from earlier crises.
Diesel prices in the U.S. have also risen due to refinery outages in Russia caused by drone attacks.
The national average price for gasoline in the U.S. is about $4.09 per gallon, with diesel averaging $5.34 per gallon.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for parts of England due to temperatures reaching around 30°C (86°F). While some rain is expected this weekend, it will be light and unlikely to ease drought conditions affecting many areas.
Key Facts
Heat alerts cover central, southern, and eastern England from Friday morning to Sunday morning.
Temperatures in affected areas will reach as high as 30°C (86°F).
Heat risks are mainly for vulnerable people and may affect health and social care services.
Parts of north and mid-Wales have been officially declared in drought.
Large areas of Wales and much of England experience prolonged dry weather.
Hosepipe bans are in place for millions of people to save water.
Some rain will occur this weekend, mainly in northern and western UK, but rainfall will be light in the south and east.
There is a possibility that heatwave conditions may return next week if high pressure builds in the southeast.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A youth protest movement called the "Cockroaches" has emerged in India, led by young people upset about failures in the education system and government corruption. The group is calling for the resignation of the Education Minister after exam paper leaks and challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Key Facts
The movement began after India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice compared some unemployed youth to “cockroaches,” which sparked an online response.
Young Indians adopted the cockroach as a symbol of resilience and formed the Cockroach Janta Party (People’s Party).
The protests focus on exam paper leaks affecting important entrance exams for medical college and government jobs.
Millions rely on these exams for stable employment and better social opportunities.
The leaks have caused cancellations and delays, harming students’ preparations and futures.
The Cockroach movement quickly gained over 21 million followers on Instagram and widespread social media support.
Supporters have organized protests in New Delhi demanding the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down.
The movement represents a significant public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A man named Marat Ganiev, who was charged in the death of 19-year-old Isla Bell from Melbourne, lost his request to have the last charge against him dropped. The court ruled that prosecutors could file new charges and that Ganiev will continue to face trial.
Key Facts
Isla Bell’s remains were found in a rubbish tip in Dandenong in November 2024, about six weeks after her suspected death.
Marat Ganiev was first charged with her murder in October 2024.
Police said Ganiev killed Bell, stored her body in a fridge, wrapped it, and it was moved around Melbourne before being dumped.
Ganiev’s murder charge was reduced to manslaughter, then withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
After the manslaughter charge was dropped, Ganiev was charged with attempting to stop justice from taking its course.
Ganiev asked the Supreme Court to permanently stop the case, claiming the timing of new charges was unfair.
Justice James Elliott rejected Ganiev’s request, saying prosecutors have the right to reconsider evidence and file new charges.
Ganiev will return to court in August, and Bell’s family has expressed ongoing grief and called for justice system reform.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
