North Carolina’s Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion state budget that lowers income tax rates from 3.99% to 3.49% next year, with further cuts planned until at least 2033. The budget includes teacher raises, cuts some tax exemptions, eliminates tax reduction triggers, and sets aside money for hurricane recovery but also cuts over 1,000 state jobs.
Key Facts
North Carolina’s income tax rate will drop from 3.99% in 2024 to 3.49%, then to 2.99% by 2033.
The budget is $34 billion and is the first since 2023.
Teacher raises focus more on new educators than veterans, which caused debate.
Tax exemptions for electricity used by data centers were removed.
The automatic tax cut triggers were eliminated from the budget.
Over 1,000 state government jobs will be cut as part of cost-saving.
$700 million is allocated for Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina.
Governor Stein warned of a possible $3.5 billion shortfall and said continued cuts could harm public services like education and safety.
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Many large immigration detention centers in the United States have not been inspected in over a year due to changes in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspection policies. The frequency of inspections was reduced from twice a year to either once a year or once every two years, raising concerns about oversight and detainee conditions.
Key Facts
As of late June, 15 of the 45 ICE detention facilities holding 500 or more people had not been inspected for over 12 months.
Five large facilities have no inspection records at all.
ICE changed inspection policies to inspect most facilities less frequently—once a year or once every two years.
Experts say less frequent inspections can allow problems, such as poor healthcare, to go unaddressed longer.
Since 2019, nearly 90% of inspections found at least one deficiency, including missed suicide checks and unsafe food handling.
ICE’s detention population increased under President Trump’s administration, leading to higher death rates and protests over conditions.
The Department of Homeland Security states the new inspection schedule is based on facility type and population size.
The number of facilities holding ICE detainees rose from 104 in February 2024 to 203 by April 2025.
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Last year, the Supreme Court limited the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions blocking President Donald Trump's policies across the country. Since then, plaintiffs have used other legal tools, like class-action lawsuits, to challenge and sometimes block the administration's policies.
Key Facts
In June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. CASA that nationwide injunctions often exceed federal courts' authority.
Nationwide injunctions are court orders that block enforcement of policies for everyone, not just the people in the lawsuit.
The ruling was supported by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority and criticized by liberal justices.
After the ruling, plaintiffs shifted to using class-action lawsuits to fight President Trump's policies.
A class-action lawsuit challenged Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship soon after the Supreme Court decision.
A New Hampshire judge blocked enforcement of the birthright citizenship order for all babies born after Feb. 20, 2025, covered by the order.
The Supreme Court eventually struck down the birthright citizenship directive as unlawful.
Class-action lawsuits have also targeted Trump administration immigration policies involving protections and deportations.
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Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasite infection causing severe diarrhea, have sharply increased in the United States, especially in Michigan and Ohio. Health officials have not yet identified the source, and they advise washing and cooking produce to reduce risk.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora, which spreads through food or water contaminated with human waste.
Symptoms often include watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and fatigue, lasting from days to over a month.
Michigan has reported nearly 1,000 cases recently, much higher than its usual 50 cases per year.
Ohio reported 177 cases by early July, and other states have smaller outbreaks.
The CDC reported 145 cases across 17 states as of mid-June, but this is lower than actual numbers.
The parasite commonly spreads in summer and is linked to raw fruits, vegetables, and herbs like basil, cilantro, and spinach.
Washing produce helps but may not remove all parasites; cooking vegetables is more effective.
The current outbreak has caused hospitalizations but no deaths have been reported so far.
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The US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, which experts say will worsen the shortage of caregivers in the US. Immigrant workers, who make up a large part of the caregiving workforce, will lose their legal ability to work, leading to staffing problems in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled to allow the Trump administration to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians.
The US is facing its fastest growth in the elderly population, with over 20% expected to be 65 or older by 2030.
Caregiver numbers are not keeping up with the growing elderly population, causing shortages.
Immigrants make up about 30% of caregivers in long-term care, even though they are only about 1 in 6 US workers.
Haitian immigrants represent about 7% of the caregiving workforce in long-term settings.
TPS ending means affected immigrants must stop working, creating gaps in care for older adults.
Care facilities struggle to find and keep qualified staff due to high costs and government reimbursement limits.
The US House approved extending TPS for Haitians, but the Senate has not acted on it yet.
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President Trump’s peace deal with Iran is failing, which is creating problems for Congress’s plans. Republican leaders want to pass bills about defense spending, but possible new U.S. military strikes on Iran are causing difficulties.
Key Facts
President Trump’s peace deal with Iran is not working as planned.
This failure is disrupting the agenda of the U.S. Congress.
Republican leaders want to pass a defense authorization bill.
They also aim to approve an emergency defense spending package.
Threats of new U.S. strikes on Iran are making it harder to pass these bills.
President Trump has worked to stop some Republicans from opposing the war efforts.
The situation is causing uncertainty in U.S. defense policy decisions.
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Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tim Sheehy have introduced a bill to allow students to use federal financial aid to pay for tests that give college credit for skills learned outside school. These tests, called prior learning assessments, help students earn college credits for knowledge gained through work or life experience.
Key Facts
Senators Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) and Tim Sheehy (Republican) are working together on this bill.
The bill focuses on prior learning assessments, which are tests that can grant college credit for learning outside the classroom.
These assessments can recognize skills and knowledge gained from jobs or other life experiences.
Currently, students often have to pay for these tests themselves because federal financial aid does not cover them.
The bill aims to allow federal financial aid to be used to pay for these prior learning assessments.
This change could make it easier and cheaper for students to earn college credits.
The goal is to help students finish college faster and reduce education costs.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for over three weeks, with few details given about his condition. This situation, along with absences of other lawmakers like Rep. Tom Kean Jr., has sparked discussion about how much health information elected officials should share with voters.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican from Kentucky) has been in the hospital for more than three weeks.
McConnell’s aides have provided limited information about his health.
Paramedics were called to assist McConnell, as revealed by 911 dispatch recordings.
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (Republican from New Jersey) has also been absent from Congress for an extended time, with little explanation.
These absences have renewed debate about the amount of health information lawmakers owe to the public.
Lawmakers’ time away from Congress affects their ability to serve constituents and participate in votes.
Some people believe voters deserve clear updates about their elected officials’ health for transparency and accountability.
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Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn posted a campaign ad where she breaks fortune cookies to symbolize her promise to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land. The ad gained over 1.3 million views quickly but received criticism for inaccuracies about fortune cookies and cultural symbols.
Key Facts
Senator Marsha Blackburn is running for governor of Tennessee.
In her ad, she destroys fortune cookies as a symbol of cracking down on China.
She promises to "stop communist China and protect Tennessee land."
Fortune cookies are not originally Chinese but were brought to America by Japanese immigrants.
The ad features a maneki-neko (beckoning cat) and Kikkoman soy sauce, both of Japanese origin.
Fortune cookies and the cat are commonly seen in Chinese-American culture but actually come from Japan.
The video quickly gained over 1.3 million views on social media.
Some people criticized the ad, calling it racist due to its depiction and messages.
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A new poll finds that most American Jewish adults do not feel well supported by either the Democratic or Republican parties, or by President Donald Trump. Many Jewish people are concerned about prejudice against them in the U.S. but feel politically isolated, especially given rising antisemitism and debates over support for Israel.
Key Facts
63% of American Jewish adults say prejudice against Jewish people is a very serious problem in the U.S.
Only 15% of Jewish adults feel the Democratic Party supports them very well, while 41% feel it supports them poorly.
About half of Jewish adults say President Trump and the Republican Party do not support Jewish people well.
36% of Jewish adults say supporting Israel is very important to their Jewish identity.
26% say support for Israel is somewhat important to their identity.
The poll surveyed 1,022 Jewish adults, including those religiously Jewish and those Jewish by culture or background.
Many Jewish Americans feel isolated politically amid growing antisemitism and heated political debates over Israel.
Jewish adults report discomfort even in left-leaning circles because of their Jewish identity and connections to Israel.
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Reform UK activists are being asked to leave the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection and help Nigel Farage in a byelection in Clacton, Essex, about 250 miles away. Farage’s decision to hold this extra election has disrupted Reform UK’s campaign in Greater Manchester, where Labour is currently favored to win.
Key Facts
Reform UK wants its members in north-west England to support Nigel Farage’s Clacton byelection instead of the Greater Manchester mayoral race.
The Clacton byelection was called suddenly by Farage, who is standing down and running again for his seat.
Greater Manchester’s byelection is the largest in Britain and will be held on July 30; Clacton’s is expected on August 6.
Farage’s rivals in Clacton are mostly boycotting the election except for a novelty candidate and a right-wing party leader.
Labour’s candidate Bev Craig is currently leading in Greater Manchester’s contest.
Reform UK won many seats in the May local elections in Greater Manchester but is now shifting focus due to Farage’s call for the Clacton contest.
Some Reform UK members believe the party doubts winning in Greater Manchester, especially since their mayoral candidate is a woman.
Critics call the Clacton byelection a “fake” or “vanity” contest designed by Farage.
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King’s College London has disciplined at least 26 students since October 2023 for their involvement in pro-Palestine protests or related activities. The university said it only acts on complaints involving threats, abuse, or racism, and does not punish lawful protest or political views.
Key Facts
A student named Khadija was banned from attending classes with a lecturer linked to the Israeli army after posting critical remarks in a pro-Gaza group.
She was required to write a 2,000-word essay and faced possible referral to a UK government counterterrorism program called Prevent.
King’s College London had the highest number of disciplinary investigations into pro-Palestine students among British universities.
A total of 42 UK universities have investigated up to 236 students or staff for pro-Gaza activities since October 2023.
University College London had 24 disciplinary cases, University of Oxford had 18, and Cardiff University had 12.
King’s College London says it supports diverse views and only disciplines behavior that threatens safety or free expression.
Seven of the investigated students at King’s are international students on visas.
Some students planned protests that included wearing Palestinian scarves and showing images related to Gaza, but these protests did not take place before investigations began.
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Andy Burnham is expected to become the new leader of the Labour Party because no one else is running against him. If confirmed, he would become the prime minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, shortly after returning to Parliament.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is currently the only candidate running to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.
Labour MPs can officially support candidates from 9:00 BST on Thursday, with an initial count published around 19:00 BST.
Former defence minister Al Carns decided not to run, clearing the way for Burnham.
Labour rules require a candidate to have at least 81 MP nominations and support from local branches or affiliated unions.
Burnham could secure enough MP nominations (323) to prevent any rival from running.
If unopposed, Burnham would be declared leader by the end of next week and become prime minister on July 20.
Burnham plans to create a new unit in Manchester to give local governments more control over housing and transport.
He intends to keep Jonathan Powell as his national security adviser and wants to increase defense spending while being more transparent about military costs.
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Two Muslim women who have faced threats for opposing extremism warn that foreign money, especially from Qatar, is influencing American college campuses. They say this funding shapes what gets taught and pushes moderate voices aside, creating tensions among students and limiting open discussion. They call on the U.S. Senate to pass laws requiring schools to disclose such foreign funding.
Key Facts
The authors are two Muslim women who opposed extremist groups and have faced death threats.
Qatar has sent billions of dollars to U.S. universities since 2001, more than any other foreign country.
Qatar supports groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and runs Al Jazeera, a network seen as spreading anti-Israel views.
Foreign funds affect university teaching, research, and hiring, shaping campus ideas over time.
Moderate Muslim voices on campuses are being pushed out, while tensions between Muslim and Jewish students increase.
A study found that campuses with undisclosed foreign money report more efforts to silence scholars and more antisemitism.
Past congressional actions addressed similar issues with Chinese Confucius Institutes by requiring transparency.
The House has passed the DETERRENT Act twice to increase disclosure of foreign funding, but the Senate has not yet acted.
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A national protest against data centers is planned in the U.S. on July 18, organized by a conservative group called Humans First. The group is concerned about the effects of data centers on local communities, including higher utility costs, water use, noise, and national security risks related to artificial intelligence (AI) growth.
Key Facts
More than 4,000 data centers have been built in the U.S. so far.
A Gallup poll shows 70% of Americans do not want a data center in their community.
Humans First plans protests in over 50 locations on July 18.
The group wants officials to better protect communities from impacts of data centers.
Protest organizers say elected officials are not listening to concerns about these facilities.
They want stronger safety rules for AI technology and more transparency about data center projects.
Some data centers have been built in drought-affected areas and on important water sources.
The Trump administration supports faster building of data centers to compete with countries like China.
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Three people were charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by peeling off parts of its blue coating. They face misdemeanor charges that could result in up to 180 days in jail and fines up to $1,000.
Key Facts
Sophie Dennison-Gibby (49), Justin Carreno (47), and Cameron Thiers (26) were detained on June 20.
They are accused of removing sections of blue coating from the newly renovated Reflecting Pool.
The damage is valued at less than $1,000, leading to misdemeanor destruction of property charges.
Conviction could mean up to 180 days in jail and a fine of $1,000.
These charges are separate from a felony case against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, accused of more serious damage.
The Reflecting Pool was restored earlier this year in a project encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Since the restoration, algae has returned and there have been multiple alleged vandalism incidents at the site.
The story is ongoing and more information may be released later.
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Millions of phone connections across Australia stopped working for hours due to a major Telstra outage, causing disruptions to emergency calls, trains, and payment systems. While Telstra is mainly responsible, questions remain about government regulation and response, with the opposition facing criticism for their handling of the situation and false claims about foreign interference and outage-related deaths.
Key Facts
A large Telstra outage caused nationwide phone failures lasting several hours.
Emergency services (triple zero calls) were affected, delaying urgent help.
Trains stopped running and electronic payments (Eftpos) were disrupted.
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, mentioned unproven Chinese interference claims.
Opposition shadow minister Sarah Henderson called triple zero during the outage, which is against rules for unnecessary calls.
An opposition health aide claimed a death due to the outage, but South Australia police denied this.
Labor government officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells, gave updates and managed the response.
Critics question whether telecommunications are properly regulated after last year’s Optus outage and this Telstra failure.
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President Donald Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near the Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., is under review again by the National Capital Planning Commission. The commission’s staff suggests design changes to meet building height limits and requests more information on traffic and materials before giving final approval.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to build a large arch 250 feet tall in the capital, near the Memorial Bridge.
The National Capital Planning Commission is reviewing the project and asked for design revisions to follow height rules.
The arch would have an observation deck and three gold-colored statues at the top.
Even with changes, the total height would remain 250 feet.
The design was approved earlier by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
Some people oppose the arch because it could disturb important views connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
A group of veterans and a historian sued to stop the arch due to concerns about these view disruptions.
President Trump’s ally leads the planning commission reviewing the arch plan.
Some public money will be used alongside private funds for this and related White House projects.
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A man named Jason lost his hand after an explosive device went off while he was picking up debris on a beach in Northern California. He was seriously injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, and authorities are investigating the explosion.
Key Facts
The incident happened on July 5 at Point St. George beach parking lot in Crescent City, Del Norte County.
Jason was walking along the beach with his girlfriend and collecting discarded fireworks and trash.
He picked up an item described as a "bomb-like device" that exploded suddenly.
The blast caused Jason to lose his hand and injured his vision and hearing.
Jason was first taken to Sutter Coast Hospital, then transported to UC Davis hospital in Sacramento for more treatment.
His girlfriend used her shirt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before help arrived.
The sheriff’s office is investigating and searching the area for more explosive devices.
Authorities advise the public not to touch suspicious items and to report them immediately to law enforcement.
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The son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican man who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Houston, is asking for a complete investigation into the death. Hundreds of people protested in Houston against the shooting.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Houston.
His son, Ronaldo, is calling for a full investigation into the incident.
Hundreds of people protested on the streets of Houston to show their opposition.
The shooting involved an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by immigration officers.
The case is currently under public and community scrutiny.
ICE is a U.S. government agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
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