Dan Hiers Jr., a former South Carolina police officer wanted for sexual abuse and murder, was brought back to the United States from China after being on the run for over 20 years. He disappeared in 2005 after failing to appear for a court date when his wife was found dead, and was arrested in Shanghai in 2018 under a fake name before being extradited to South Carolina in 2024.
Key Facts
Dan Hiers Jr. was suspended from the Charleston Police Department in 2004 over sexual misconduct accusations involving a minor.
He was arrested in November 2004 for lewd acts on a child under 16 but released on bond.
Hiers failed to appear at a scheduled surrender in March 2005, the same day his wife was found shot in the back of the head.
A warrant was issued for murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Hiers was on the U.S. Marshals' "15 Most Wanted" list and featured on TV shows like "America’s Most Wanted."
In 2018, Hiers was found and arrested in Shanghai, China, where he used the name David Williams and worked as an English teacher.
His extradition back to the U.S. followed a long investigation and involved cooperation between U.S. and Chinese authorities.
Hiers has been returned to South Carolina to face charges.
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A police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge in central London, injuring five Metropolitan Police officers. The officers were rescued from the water and are receiving medical treatment, while no members of the public were hurt.
Key Facts
The crash happened around 3:40 pm near Westminster Bridge.
The boat belonged to the Marine Policing Unit.
Five officers were injured and helped out of the water.
Police and emergency services responded quickly to the scene.
No civilians were involved or injured in the incident.
Part of Westminster Bridge was closed off by police.
A police helicopter and air ambulance were present during the emergency.
Westminster Underground station entrances were temporarily shut after the crash.
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The Pentagon website tracking deaths and injuries in the war with Iran removed the names of four recently killed service members, temporarily showing fewer casualties than actually occurred. Pentagon officials said this was due to data problems, and they are working to fix the errors. The war casualties are listed under Operation Epic Fury, and updates about injuries and deaths have been slow and inconsistent.
Key Facts
The Pentagon website showed 14 deaths but should show 18 killed in the Iran war since February.
Four service members recently killed were removed from the list due to data disruptions.
These deaths happened after President Trump ended a ceasefire and resumed military action on July 7.
The Pentagon named the Iran war "Operation Epic Fury" for reporting purposes.
There was confusion over how some deaths were classified initially, with some wrongly listed under an operation targeting ISIS.
Nearly 100 service members have been injured since July 7, with most injuries being minor concussions.
One Navy member, Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, is missing after a helicopter emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1.
Pentagon officials have not given reporters recent briefings on the Iran war and have been slow to update casualty information online.
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A Democratic representative from Michigan, Hillary Scholten, has not said whether she would support Abdul El-Sayed if he wins the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. She criticized El-Sayed for his campaign associations with certain political figures and candidates.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is running in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat.
The seat is being vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters.
Representative Hillary Scholten is also involved in Michigan Democratic politics.
Scholten did not confirm if she would back El-Sayed if he wins the primary.
She criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with commentator Hasan Piker.
She also disapproved of El-Sayed’s connection to Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
The remarks were made during a CNN interview with Jake Tapper.
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Senator Joe Manchin has started a new group called the Independent Leadership Council to help elect independent candidates to the U.S. Congress. The group aims to support politicians who do not belong to the Democratic or Republican parties.
Key Facts
Joe Manchin is a Senator from West Virginia.
He is 78 years old.
Manchin created the Independent Leadership Council (ILC).
The ILC focuses on helping independent candidates run for Congress.
These candidates are not part of the two main parties: Democrats and Republicans.
Manchin will lead this new organization.
The goal is to build support and resources for independent political campaigns.
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Rep. Thomas Massie says that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration are not following the law by treating the conflict with Iran as two separate wars. Massie believes this is done to avoid asking Congress for permission to go to war.
Key Facts
Rep. Thomas Massie is a Republican from Kentucky.
Massie accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of breaking the law.
The accusation relates to how the Trump administration views the conflict with Iran.
The administration reportedly splits the Iran conflict into two wars.
This approach may be used to avoid seeking congressional approval for military action.
The claim came after a New York Times report about Pentagon actions.
The issue concerns the legal requirement for Congress to authorize war.
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President Donald Trump has introduced "Trump Accounts," federally funded investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 that start with a $1,000 deposit. These accounts aim to encourage market-based wealth building rather than direct government redistribution, differing from earlier baby bond proposals that focus on reducing wealth inequality.
Key Facts
Trump Accounts are for U.S. citizen children under 18, born from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028.
They start with a $1,000 federal seed contribution.
Families, relatives, and employers can add money to these accounts.
The money is invested privately to grow over time until the child reaches adulthood.
This program is designed to promote asset ownership rather than direct wealth redistribution.
Previous baby bond proposals by Democrats included additional contributions based on family income to address wealth inequality.
Senators Cory Booker and Ted Cruz have supported the program as building on earlier baby bond ideas.
The Trump administration presents this program as a pro-capitalist alternative to socialism.
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The House of Representatives voted to reduce President Donald Trump's authority to conduct military actions against Iran without approval from Congress. However, the Senate did not pass a similar resolution to limit these war powers.
Key Facts
The House passed a measure to limit President Trump's ability to take military action against Iran.
The Senate failed to approve a comparable resolution to restrict the president's war powers.
This disagreement shows a split between the two chambers of Congress on how to manage U.S. military involvement with Iran.
The resolutions aim to ensure that any military action against Iran must get approval from Congress first.
The issue involves current U.S. foreign policy and war powers as defined by the Constitution.
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Courtney Stodden, who married at age 16 with parental consent, is campaigning for a California law to ban all child marriages under 18. Her advocacy gained attention after actor Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch involving Stodden when she was 17. A bill to prohibit all marriages under 18 in California has passed the Assembly and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Key Facts
Courtney Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison in 2011 when she was 16 and he was 51; the marriage was legal with parental consent.
Stodden divorced Hutchison in 2020 and has spoken out against child marriage since then.
Child marriage is still legal in 33 U.S. states under some circumstances, like parental consent or judicial approval.
California Assembly Bill 1267 would ban marriage for anyone under 18 with no exceptions.
Jason Alexander apologized for a 2012 comedy sketch featuring Stodden when she was 17, calling it inappropriate.
Stodden says the sketch was harmful and uses the situation to highlight the need for laws protecting children.
The bill was authored by both Republican and Democratic California Assemblymembers.
The bill has passed the California Assembly and is under review in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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An Arkansas State University student dressed as Spider-Man for his trampoline park job was filmed on a traffic camera helping a man in a wheelchair cross a busy street. The video showed the student jumping out of his Jeep to assist safely.
Key Facts
The event took place in Arkansas.
The man helping works at a trampoline park and was dressed like Spider-Man for his job.
He stopped his Jeep to help a man in a wheelchair cross a two-way street.
A traffic camera recorded the entire incident.
The act took place on a busy street with cars passing by.
The student’s action was described as a helpful moment caught on camera.
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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started hiring new employees called Homeland Defenders, who will work as immigration officers. These hires come from outside the agency and will perform duties like interviewing applicants, checking security, and identifying fraud, but they will not be armed or have arrest powers.
Key Facts
Homeland Defenders are a new role created under the Trump administration at USCIS.
These officers conduct interviews, review immigration requests, and check for fraud and security threats.
Many hires are “off-the-street,” meaning they come from outside USCIS, often with military or law enforcement experience.
The officers receive a few weeks of national training and local instruction on USCIS policies and procedures.
Homeland Defenders are not armed and do not have the authority to make arrests.
The role seems similar to the previous Immigration Services Officer position, with mainly a change in job title.
Some new hires report to physical offices, like in Detroit, while others may work remotely.
USCIS uses a fast hiring process called Direct Hire Authority to fill these jobs quickly.
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A West Virginia Republican lawmaker, David Elliott Pritt, was arrested and charged with enticement of a minor after being accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student at the high school where he taught. State officials have removed him from legislative duties and are calling for his resignation.
Key Facts
David Elliott Pritt is a 36-year-old Republican state delegate and English teacher in Fayette County, West Virginia.
He was charged with enticement of a minor after allegations involving a 15-year-old girl at his school.
The girl’s family reported the abuse, and a federal complaint says Pritt started communicating with her while she was in eighth grade.
Pritt allegedly sent explicit photos and videos, asked for explicit content, and engaged in sexual acts with the girl in his classroom.
The abuse reportedly continued as recently as late last year, with ongoing communication into 2025.
West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw removed Pritt from all legislative roles and demanded his resignation.
State Republican Party chairman Josh Holstein also called for Pritt to step down immediately.
Officials emphasized the importance of holding public officials to high standards and said the law should be fully applied if allegations are true.
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The White House has introduced new tariffs that are legal but generate less money than the previous tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. These new tariffs are narrower and exclude some products to reduce economic harm, raising about 60% of the revenue lost from the old tariffs.
Key Facts
New tariffs are expected to bring in about $105 billion a year.
This amount replaces roughly 60% of the revenue lost when the Supreme Court invalidated earlier emergency tariffs.
Over the years until 2036, new tariffs may raise $950 billion compared to $1.7 trillion from previous tariffs.
The new tariffs have lower rates and exclude some goods to prevent economic problems, such as energy products.
These tariffs are applied under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing for tailored coverage after investigations.
The White House says the new tariffs aim to provide stability, not fully replace the old ones.
Treasury Department figures show that tariff refunds currently exceed collections, leading to negative net customs receipts.
Additional trade actions may still be announced and could affect future revenue.
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Flags are being flown at half-staff in Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina to honor fallen public servants. These gestures recognize the service and sacrifice of military personnel, a firefighter, and a late senator.
Key Facts
North Carolina lowered flags to honor two soldiers from Fort Bragg who died while serving in the Middle East.
1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan was killed in Jordan on July 18, 2026.
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed in Iraq on July 19, 2026.
Michigan lowered flags to honor Sergeant Adam Amrozi, a firefighter who died in the line of duty.
Amrozi served 21 years with the Lincoln Park Fire Department.
South Carolina continues to fly flags at half-staff to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11, 2026.
Governors encourage citizens and organizations to participate in the flag-lowering as a sign of respect.
Flying flags at half-staff is a traditional way to show mourning and respect for those who served their communities or country.
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Twenty-five Democratic state attorneys general have sued the Trump administration for adding political conditions to federal disaster aid grants. They claim these requirements pressure states to adopt certain voting and immigration policies in exchange for funding.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by 25 Democratic attorneys general, led by California’s Rob Bonta.
The case challenges conditions on over $740 million in disaster preparedness and counter-terrorism funding.
Requirements include using a federal system to verify voter citizenship and conducting post-election audits.
The lawsuit opposes forcing states to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement with raids and deportations.
It also objects to FEMA’s power to cancel grants if states do not follow agency priorities.
A FEMA spokesperson defended the requirements as measures to ensure election security.
Previous similar legal challenges against the administration were successful in court.
The suit says these funding conditions are unlawful attempts to push political agendas on states.
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Christopher Stewart, a Black woman from New York, has a name typically associated with white males. Her parents chose this name believing it might help her career opportunities, and she says it has often allowed her to get interviews and jobs where her gender might have been a barrier.
Key Facts
Christopher Stewart is a 40-year-old Black woman with a traditionally male name.
Her parents intentionally gave her a "white male name" to help her succeed professionally.
Research shows names can influence hiring decisions based on race and gender bias.
Stewart believes her name helped her get noticed and given opportunities in her career.
She often does not put pronouns on job applications to avoid bias before interviews.
Stewart used to go by the nickname Chrissy but now uses her full name proudly.
People are usually surprised by her name but respond positively after meeting her.
She shared her story on TikTok, which brought wider attention to her experience.
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A 16-year-old teenager, Colt Gray, pleaded guilty to a school shooting in Georgia that killed two students and two teachers in 2024. Gray was charged as an adult and accepted a plea deal, so there will be no trial. His father was convicted of murder for giving him the gun used in the shooting.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at Apalachee High School in Georgia in September 2024.
Four people were killed: two students (ages 14) and two teachers (ages 39 and 53).
Colt Gray was 14 years old during the shooting but is being tried as an adult.
Gray pleaded guilty through a non-negotiated plea, meaning no trial will occur.
His father, Colin Gray, gave him the gun as a Christmas present and was convicted of murder.
Victims’ families spoke at the court, asking for a life sentence without parole for Gray.
Gray told the judge he has mental health issues and is on medication.
The shooting led to renewed discussions on gun violence in U.S. schools.
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Madison, Wisconsin police officers do not wear body cameras, which means no official footage exists of a recent fatal shooting involving Corey Durell Ruiz, a homeless man. The Madison Common Council voted mostly against funding body cameras last year due to budget concerns and the desire to maintain funding for police oversight and homelessness programs.
Key Facts
Corey Durell Ruiz, 38, was fatally shot by police in Madison, Wisconsin.
Officers involved do not wear body cameras, so only cellphone video shows the incident.
Madison’s police force is about 500 officers and is one of the largest in the Midwest without body cameras.
In November 2023, the Madison Common Council voted 17 to 3 against redirecting funds to start a body camera program.
Council members support body cameras but were concerned about cutting funds from the Office of the Independent Police Monitor.
Budget concerns and priorities like homelessness response influenced the decision.
Police Chief John Patterson is expected to propose a 2027 budget that includes body cameras.
Some council members want clear policies and safeguards before approving body camera funding.
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A seaplane crashed into the Puget Sound off the coast of Washington state, causing fire and smoke. All the people on board survived, but one person is in critical condition.
Key Facts
The accident involved a seaplane that crashed near Washington state’s Puget Sound.
Fire and smoke were seen coming from the plane after the crash.
Everyone on board survived the crash.
One person is reported to be in critical condition.
Officials provided information about the incident.
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The U.S. Department of Justice took back subpoenas that were sent to New York Times journalists. The subpoenas were related to news stories about security problems with an Air Force One plane given to President Donald Trump by Qatar.
Key Facts
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists.
The subpoenas concerned reports about security issues with an Air Force One jet.
The plane was a gift to President Donald Trump from Qatar.
The DOJ decided to withdraw the subpoenas and will no longer require the journalists to provide information.
The reporting was about concerns with the safety and security of the aircraft.
The news was covered by CBS News correspondent Katrina Kaufman.
The withdrawal of subpoenas means the journalists will not have to testify or share sources related to this story.
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