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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
America is celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4. The White House has shared a schedule of events to mark this special anniversary, and several government agencies have started related programs. A major upcoming event is a prayer gathering on the National Mall in May.
Key Facts
The United States is marking 250 years since its founding.
The celebration takes place around July 4, the country’s Independence Day.
The White House has published a list of official events for the anniversary.
Multiple federal agencies have begun holding events and programs related to the celebration.
A significant event planned is a prayer gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in May.
The celebrations highlight the country’s history and heritage.
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The White House Correspondents' Dinner this year is notable because President Donald Trump will attend it as the sitting president for the first time. This event marks a return to a moment in 2011 when former President Barack Obama made jokes about Trump that some believe encouraged him to run for president.
Key Facts
The event is the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual gathering of journalists and government officials.
President Donald Trump is attending the dinner as president for the first time.
In 2011, former President Barack Obama joked about Donald Trump at this dinner.
Some people think those jokes influenced Trump to run for president.
The dinner usually combines speeches, news, and entertainment.
It is a significant event in Washington, D.C., involving the press and political figures.
This year's atmosphere is expected to be unusual compared to previous years.
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Former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December and told he had only months to live. He says that his life was extended thanks to prayer, what he calls providence, and a new drug.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse is a former senator from Nebraska.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December.
Doctors initially gave him a prognosis of only a few months to live.
Sasse credits prayer and what he calls providence for helping him.
He also credits a "miracle drug" for extending his life.
Sasse shared these details during an interview on the CBS News program "60 Minutes."
The interview was conducted by Scott Pelley.
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Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home four months ago. Their elder son, Jake Reiner, wrote a public essay about the loss, while their younger son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with their murders and pleaded not guilty.
Key Facts
Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home in December.
Their younger son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jake Reiner, the elder son, wrote a public essay expressing his grief and asking for compassion.
Jake described the difficulty of losing both parents in a violent way and having his brother accused.
Rob Reiner is a well-known director and actor, famous for movies like When Harry Met Sally... and The Princess Bride.
Nick Reiner struggled with addiction and mental illness; he also wrote a film about his own experiences.
If convicted, Nick could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
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The Justice Department ended its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s handling of building renovations. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the investigation might continue under a different authority.
Key Facts
The Justice Department stopped investigating Jerome Powell’s management of Federal Reserve renovations.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said the case is not necessarily over.
Leavitt referred to a statement from Jeanine Pirro about the situation.
The comments suggest legal actions might continue in another form or by another agency.
Jerome Powell is the current chair of the Federal Reserve, which manages the U.S. central bank.
The topic involves government oversight of federal officials.
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One of the two missing doctoral students from the University of South Florida was found dead. Police have arrested the student's roommate in connection with the case.
Key Facts
Two doctoral students from the University of South Florida were missing.
Authorities found one of the students dead.
The deceased was identified as a doctoral student.
Police arrested the roommate of the deceased student.
The arrest took place after the discovery of the body.
The investigation is ongoing.
The case was reported by CBS News.
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A 16-year-old high school senior named Martha Odom was killed in a shooting at a mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The shooting involved two groups firing guns in the food court, injuring five others, and led to the arrest of five people.
Key Facts
Martha Odom, a senior at Ascension Episcopal School, died from a chest gunshot wound.
Three seniors from the same school were caught in the shooting crossfire.
Five students from the school were at the mall during the shooting, which happened on an unofficial senior “skip day.”
Five people were arrested related to the mall shooting.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called Martha’s death a tragic loss and said those involved must be held accountable.
This shooting adds to over 120 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive.
Gun violence is a leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the U.S.
This event happened less than a week after another mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, where eight children were killed in a domestic violence incident.
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President Trump is extending a waiver of the Jones Act for another 90 days to help lower fuel prices amid the ongoing war in Iran. The waiver allows foreign ships to carry goods between U.S. ports, increasing the supply of oil and other products during a time of energy shortages.
Key Facts
The Jones Act requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be carried on U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-crewed ships.
President Trump first waived the Jones Act on March 18 for 60 days to reduce energy costs.
The new waiver extension begins at midnight on May 18 and lasts for 90 days.
Over 40 tankers have used the waiver, increasing shipping capacity between U.S. ports by more than 70%.
More than 9 million barrels of U.S. oil have been transported using the waiver.
Some experts say the waiver helps lower shipping costs and increases supply; others say it hurts the U.S. maritime industry and has not lowered gasoline prices.
The Trump administration has also released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and lifted some sanctions on Russian oil to address energy price issues.
The war in Iran has reduced global oil supplies and kept shipping levels low in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route.
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The Houston Police Department fired Officer Ashley Gonzalez after a video showed her using racist language repeatedly on her personal Instagram account. The police chief said her behavior was unacceptable and harmful to the community and law enforcement.
Key Facts
Officer Ashley Gonzalez was fired by the Houston Police Department.
The firing followed a viral video where she used a racial slur at least 25 times.
Gonzalez is a former Marine.
The department first suspended her after the video surfaced.
Police officials said racist language on social media damages public trust.
Courts often support police departments when off-duty speech harms their work.
The chief described Gonzalez’s behavior as “abhorrent” and “disgusting.”
The incident reflects ongoing concerns about police officers’ conduct off duty.
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President Donald Trump’s administration plans to end the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of people who sought asylum in the U.S. through the CBP One app. A federal judge ruled that the earlier attempt to end this status was illegal, but the administration intends to issue new termination notices.
Key Facts
About 900,000 people received temporary legal status, called humanitarian parole, via the CBP One app.
This status was granted while their asylum cases were being reviewed.
In April last year, many were told their status was terminated and they needed to leave the U.S.
A federal judge ruled the Department of Homeland Security did not follow correct procedures when ending these statuses.
The Trump administration is now sending new notices to end this temporary legal status.
Lawyers representing those affected say the administration is trying to avoid following the court’s order.
President Trump has taken a strict approach to immigration, including limiting asylum claims at the southern border.
A recent federal appeals court decision blocked the Trump administration’s asylum ban, but the administration plans to appeal this ruling.
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A group of senators from both parties introduced a bill to stop President Trump’s plan to ease sanctions on Russian oil. They want Congress to have more control over decisions about sanctions on Russia because of concerns about global oil shortages.
Key Facts
Senators Ruben Gallego (Democrat) and Chuck Grassley (Republican) lead the bipartisan group.
The bill aims to restore Congress’s role in overseeing U.S. sanctions on Russia.
President Trump decided to loosen sanctions on Russian oil.
The move comes amid a worldwide shortage of oil supplies.
Senators oppose easing sanctions because of concerns about supporting Russia financially.
The legislation is called "No Oil Profits for Enemies."
The bill reflects disagreements about how to handle sanctions on Russia in Congress.
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Johnson & Johnson will start selling four of its prescription drugs on the TrumpRx website, a platform created by President Trump's administration to offer discounted medications. This move is part of a voluntary deal that aims to lower drug costs for uninsured Americans and those without insurance coverage.
Key Facts
Johnson & Johnson is launching four prescription drugs on the TrumpRx website starting Friday.
The company agreed earlier with President Trump's administration to lower drug prices by offering Medicaid access and listing drugs on TrumpRx.
One of the drugs listed is metformin, commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Johnson & Johnson has committed to investing $55 billion in research and production facilities in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Adding J&J’s drugs has more than doubled the number of medications available on the TrumpRx site.
The discounted prices on TrumpRx are only available to uninsured patients or those whose insurance does not cover the medication.
People with insurance typically pay less than the prices listed on TrumpRx.
The story is ongoing and updates may follow.
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Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has not voted in the House since early March because he is dealing with a personal health issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Kean expects to recover soon and return to work. Kean represents a competitive district in New Jersey and is seen as vulnerable in the upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Tom Kean Jr., a Republican congressman from New Jersey, has not voted since March 5 due to a personal health matter.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed Kean is expected to fully recover soon.
Kean’s district is a key target for Democrats in the November midterm elections.
Kean won re-election in 2024, narrowly carrying his district where President Donald Trump also had a close victory.
The Republican majority in the House is very small, with only 217 Republicans plus one independent, versus 212 Democrats.
Several recent resignations and deaths among House members have created challenges for maintaining Republican votes.
Kean comes from a well-known New Jersey political family and defeated a Democrat in 2022 to gain his seat.
Leftwing groups have planned significant ad campaigns to try to unseat Kean in the next election.
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Eric Swalwell, a former U.S. Representative and 2024 California governor candidate, used $40,000 from his campaign funds to pay an attorney who publicly defended him against sexual assault accusations. Swalwell denied the allegations while investigations are ongoing in New York and Los Angeles.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell spent $40,000 from his gubernatorial campaign funds to pay attorney Sara Azari.
Azari publicly defended Swalwell, saying he denies all sexual misconduct accusations.
Swalwell resigned from Congress after the allegations became public.
Investigations are underway in New York and Los Angeles concerning multiple alleged sexual assaults.
Swalwell’s campaign also paid $141,451 to a law firm, Greenberg Traurig, for legal and accounting services.
Video evidence surfaced showing Swalwell with a woman at a Las Vegas hotel on July 13, 2021.
Records show Swalwell’s congressional campaign paid the hotel a day before the video was recorded.
Alameda County District Attorney said no victims have contacted their office yet.
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Senator Roger Wicker, who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that negotiations with Iran’s government should end. He expressed doubt that a peaceful agreement will happen soon to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without more U.S. military involvement.
Key Facts
Roger Wicker is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He said the time for talks with Iran’s regime is over.
Wicker referred to Iran’s leaders as radical and untrustworthy.
The statement reflects growing doubt among Senate Republicans about a peaceful deal.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route that is currently closed or blocked.
Wicker suggested the U.S. might need to take more military action to reopen it.
The situation involves tensions between the U.S. and Iran’s government.
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President Donald Trump and his Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claimed that drug-price discounts reached 600%, a statement that is mathematically incorrect. Experts explain that the correct way to calculate percentage decrease shows the discount would be about 98.3%, not 600%.
Key Facts
President Trump said drug-price discounts reached more than 100%, including claims up to 600%.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended these claims during a Senate hearing and an Oval Office event.
Kennedy said a price drop from $600 to $10 equals a 600% discount, citing two ways to calculate percentages.
Mathematical rules define percentage decrease by subtracting the new price from the original price, then dividing by the original price.
Using correct math, the drop from $600 to $10 is a 98.3% decrease, not 600%.
Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned the validity of the 600% discount claim during the hearing.
The article clarifies that there is only one accepted method to calculate percentage change, which was not followed.
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A study found that nearly 4,400 fewer young people aged 15 to 23 died by suicide in the U.S. after the 988 mental health crisis hotline launched in July 2022. Suicide deaths in this age group were 11% lower than expected during the first two and a half years of the program.
Key Facts
The 988 hotline began in July 2022 as a mental health crisis lifeline.
Researchers studied suicide deaths among 15- to 23-year-olds from July 2022 to December 2024.
Suicide deaths were 11% lower than predicted without the 988 hotline.
This resulted in about 4,400 fewer young people dying by suicide.
The study was published in the medical journal JAMA.
Researchers used death records from 1999 to 2022 to estimate expected suicide rates.
The 988 program has received about $1.5 billion in federal funding.
The study suggests that this funding helped reduce suicide deaths among young adults.
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The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting a Chinese oil refinery and many shipping companies and ships connected to Hong Kong. The goal is to disrupt Iran’s oil exports, which are a major source of income for Iran, ahead of important talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on a Chinese oil refinery.
Dozens of shipping firms and vessels, including those linked to Hong Kong, are also targeted.
These sanctions aim to reduce Iran’s oil export revenue.
Iran’s oil sales help fund its government activities.
The sanctions come before important negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
The measures are part of U.S. efforts to pressure Iran economically.
The sanctions focus on disrupting Iran’s oil supply chain in China and nearby regions.
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President Donald Trump and his administration are considering using the Defense Production Act to help Spirit Airlines, which has financial problems and has declared bankruptcy twice recently. The plan may include a government loan and using the airline for military needs, with the goal of saving jobs and preventing the airline from shutting down.
Key Facts
Spirit Airlines has declared bankruptcy twice in the last two years.
The Department of Justice blocked Spirit's merger with JetBlue during the Biden administration.
Rising jet fuel costs, partly due to the Iran war, have hurt Spirit Airlines financially.
The Defense Production Act can force companies to prioritize government contracts and provide loan authority for national defense needs.
The government may lend Spirit $500 million and become the top creditor in bankruptcy.
The Pentagon could use Spirit flights to transport troops and military cargo.
Spirit owns 48 planes and leases 83 more as of the end of 2025.
The plan is opposed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy but supported by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the White House.
The government would keep control of Spirit’s valuable airport landing and takeoff slots.
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A 76-year-old Vietnam war veteran, Mark Young, got lost in Arizona’s wilderness for four days during a solo hiking trip. He was rescued by his son Josh after search teams found his car and tracked down his location using a satellite phone.
Key Facts
Mark Young went hiking alone on April 16 in Yavapai County, Arizona, but got lost when his GPS lost signal.
His family reported him missing after he missed a planned dinner the next day.
Search crews found Young’s car on April 18 with some belongings left behind.
Young survived by using survival skills from his military training, with limited supplies like a compass, water pills, and lighters.
He faced dehydration, encountered dangerous animals like rattlesnakes, a mountain lion, and a black bear.
On April 20, Young heard his son calling and was found about six miles from his car.
Josh used a satellite phone to contact search teams, helping a helicopter locate and airlift Mark to a hospital.
Mark was dehydrated and injured but expected to recover; his family thanked the rescue teams for their efforts.
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