Democrats are trying to salvage a Senate race in Maine after Graham Platner faced a new rape allegation. Platner denies the claim but is losing support, and his campaign is in trouble.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate in a Maine Senate race.
He has been accused of rape in a new allegation.
Platner denies the accusation.
He has not withdrawn from the race yet.
Platner is losing supporters because of the allegation.
Democrats see the race as important and winnable before this issue.
The future of Platner’s campaign looks uncertain.
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A federal appeals court has blocked a Florida law that stops public universities from teaching certain ideas labeled as "woke." The court said the state cannot control what professors say in classrooms or restrict unpopular ideas. The law aimed to ban teaching critical race theory and related topics, but the court ruled this violates free speech rights.
Key Facts
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a block on Florida's law banning certain "woke" teachings at public universities.
The law targeted instruction that might cause students to feel guilt over past racial or gender discrimination they did not personally cause.
The case was brought by university professors and supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida.
The law was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 to prevent what he called "indoctrination" in schools.
Three judges heard the case: two agreed to block the law, and one judge, appointed by Governor DeSantis, dissented.
The judges said hearing different ideas is not discrimination but a chance to learn or change views.
Past parts of the law banning workplace training on race and gender issues have been ruled illegal by other courts.
The main disagreement is whether the state can decide what professors are allowed to teach in public universities.
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A building in Midtown Manhattan, New York, had to be evacuated because bricks fell from the 21st floor of its 37 floors. Officials now say the building has stopped shifting or moving.
Key Facts
The building is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
It has 37 floors in total.
Bricks fell from the 21st floor, causing safety concerns.
People in several nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
Officials reported that the building is no longer moving.
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The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) pleaded not guilty to federal charges that it misled donors by not revealing some money was used to pay informants inside extremist groups. The Justice Department alleges the SPLC funded these groups while claiming to fight them, but the SPLC says the informant program helped gather important information for law enforcement.
Key Facts
The SPLC is known for tracking hate groups.
The organization faces federal fraud charges for hiding how donations were spent.
$4.1 million in donations were allegedly used to pay informants in extremist groups.
Some money was spent on recruiting members and buying Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning events.
Informants included KKK members and white nationalists who sought help leaving those groups.
The SPLC claims the program provided valuable intelligence shared with law enforcement agencies.
The SPLC has accused the Justice Department of politically motivated prosecution related to President Donald Trump.
The case will go to trial in October, after a remote arraignment took place.
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Democrats are asking Graham Platner to quit his race for the U.S. Senate in Maine after a woman accused him of sexual assault from five years ago. Platner denies the accusation, calling it completely untrue.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
A woman accused Platner of raping her five years ago while he was drunk.
The alleged victim and the timing relate to a past dating relationship.
Platner says the accusation is "categorically false."
Democrats want Platner to end his campaign because of these allegations.
CBS News is covering the story, including a discussion with Dan Merica from the Washington Post.
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A federal immigration agent in Texas shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national without legal status, after he tried to use his vehicle to harm the agent during an arrest attempt. The Department of Homeland Security said the agent acted in self-defense and the FBI is investigating the case.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot by an ICE agent in Houston, Texas.
ICE agents tried to arrest Araujo as part of a targeted enforcement operation.
Araujo attempted to evade arrest and tried to run over an ICE officer with his vehicle.
The ICE agent fired their weapon in self-defense.
Araujo was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries.
The FBI is investigating the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security provided the details about the situation.
This is one of several lethal encounters between federal agents and civilians during President Donald Trump’s administration.
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President Donald Trump cannot lift U.S. sanctions on Turkey without help from Congress. These sanctions were put in place with support from both political parties because Turkey bought a missile defense system from Russia.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to lift sanctions on Turkey.
The sanctions were imposed due to Turkey’s purchase of a Russian missile defense system.
Both Democrats and Republicans supported these sanctions.
Congress approved the sanctions, so they must approve lifting them.
A University of Chicago professor, Paul Poast, explained this legal requirement.
The missile defense system purchase raised U.S. security concerns.
President Trump will need Congress’s help to change the current restrictions.
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Katherine Scarlett, a leading environmental adviser in President Donald Trump’s administration, has left her position. She was the head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and led efforts to reduce federal environmental rules for building new infrastructure.
Key Facts
Katherine Scarlett was a top environmental policy adviser in President Trump’s White House.
She chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Scarlett led rollbacks on federal environmental standards affecting new infrastructure projects.
Her departure from the administration was confirmed by an official.
Scarlett plans to join a consulting firm after leaving the White House.
The news of her exit was first reported by Bloomberg Government.
The Council on Environmental Quality advises the White House on environmental matters.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has stopped plans to put Harriet Tubman’s image on the $20 bill. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the current administration is not moving forward with this change.
Key Facts
Harriet Tubman was planned to appear on the $20 bill.
The Treasury Department has canceled these plans.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke about this on Monday.
The decision was made under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The change to the $20 bill will not happen for now.
Harriet Tubman is a historical figure known for helping enslaved people escape on the Underground Railroad.
This plan had been previously discussed but now is delayed or canceled.
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A 37-story building under construction at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan showed signs of structural instability, causing evacuations and street closures. Emergency crews found buckling columns and sagging floors but no injuries were reported as workers and nearby residents were safely evacuated.
Key Facts
The building is undergoing an office-to-residential conversion.
Firefighters responded after reports of bricks falling shortly before 8 a.m. on July 7, 2026.
Structural damage was observed, including buckled columns on the 21st floor and sagging floors up to the 26th floor.
No injuries were reported, and all workers were accounted for.
Surrounding buildings and a nearby school with about 400 children were evacuated.
Streets from 40th to 45th between First and Third avenues were closed to pedestrians and vehicles.
Emergency crews used drones to inspect the building and started installing emergency supports called trusses.
Officials said the steel-frame design reduces the risk of total collapse but remain concerned about localized collapse.
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A California judge dropped all charges against Dharmesh Patel, who was accused of trying to kill his family by driving off a cliff in 2023, after he completed a two-year mental health treatment program. Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression and hallucinations at the time of the crash, qualifying him for a new California law that allows mental health diversion instead of a trial.
Key Facts
Dharmesh Patel drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff in San Mateo County on January 2, 2023.
Patel’s wife and two young children were injured but survived the crash.
He was charged with attempted murder but completed a two-year mental health program instead of going to trial.
The mental health program included treatment by a Stanford psychiatrist and a family therapist.
Patel was diagnosed with episodic major depression with hallucinations and had delusions about his children being kidnapped.
California law, effective in 2023, allows people with certain mental health conditions to receive treatment instead of criminal prosecution.
The judge dismissed the charges after Patel completed the program, wiping the charges from his record.
Prosecutors opposed the mental health diversion but are working to change the law to exclude serious crimes like attempted murder.
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A federal judge blocked the Justice Department from getting personal information about election workers in Fulton County, Georgia. The request was part of the DOJ’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
Key Facts
The judge involved is U.S. District Judge William Ray.
The Justice Department wanted names and personal details of election staff in Fulton County.
This request was linked to investigating claims of election fraud made by President Trump after the 2020 election.
The judge ruled the DOJ could not use a grand jury subpoena to get this information.
The decision protects the privacy of election workers during the fraud investigation.
Fulton County, Georgia, was a key location in the 2020 presidential election.
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine is facing calls to quit the race following a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. If Platner withdraws, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27, 2026, to choose a replacement candidate through a process that is currently unclear. Several Democrats, including former state official David Costello and state senator Troy Jackson, are potential replacement candidates.
Key Facts
Graham Platner faces a sexual assault allegation and may leave the Maine Senate race.
Maine Democrats want Platner to withdraw by July 13, 2026.
If Platner withdraws, the party has until July 27, 2026, to pick a new candidate.
Maine will not hold a new primary election for the replacement.
The state party committee or delegates might vote to choose the new candidate.
It is unclear if the replacement vote will be in person or virtual, or the exact voting method.
David Costello, who ran in the primary, said he would try again if Platner leaves.
Troy Jackson, a former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, is interested in replacing Platner.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14 for an unknown condition but remains engaged in Senate work through phone calls with fellow Republican leaders. His office has given few updates about his health, but confirmed he is recovering in the hospital and staying informed on political matters.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 for an unspecified illness.
McConnell has spoken on the phone with Senate Republican leaders John Thune and John Barrasso while in the hospital.
These calls discussed topics such as national security, Senate races, and upcoming Senate work including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
McConnell’s office says he is improving and staying involved in Senate and Kentucky issues despite being hospitalized.
Emergency medical staff responded to a call at McConnell’s home on the day he was admitted, related to an unconscious person.
McConnell’s team has not disclosed his medical condition or when he will return to work.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings spoke with McConnell and said the senator remains eager to return to the Senate.
The Senate is currently out of session but McConnell continues communications with his staff.
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A new lawsuit claims that U.S. immigration agencies under President Trump shared private information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government. The lawsuit says this sharing violated rules that protect asylum seekers and puts many Iranians at risk. The Department of Homeland Security denies these claims.
Key Facts
The lawsuit alleges that U.S. agencies shared confidential data about Iranian asylum seekers with Iran.
This sharing is said to be against federal rules that protect asylum seekers' privacy.
The information was reportedly shared during monthly meetings starting in March 2025, with the Pakistani embassy helping as a go-between.
About 600 Iranians were detained in U.S. immigration centers last year.
The U.S. deported some Iranians to other countries, breaking a long tradition of accepting Iranian exiles since 1979.
The Department of Homeland Security denies sharing asylum records with Iran.
Federal laws forbid sharing asylum application details to protect the lives of asylum seekers.
The lawsuit accuses the U.S. and Iranian governments of working together to pressure detained Iranians to return to Iran.
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Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, went missing after a boat trip to Horn Island on July 4. His body was found two days later, and an investigation into his death is ongoing.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells went on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, about 10 miles off the Mississippi coast.
Wells did not return with his friends, leading his mother to report him missing.
A two-day search was conducted and ended with the discovery of a body on the island.
Wells’s mother identified the body as her son’s and shared a message of grief on social media.
Wells was a college freshman and would have turned 19 next month.
No cause of death has been reported yet; the investigation is still active.
Some social media users suggested racial issues might be related, as Wells was Black and his friends were white.
Civil rights groups, like the NAACP, expressed condolences and highlighted concerns about the safety of Black men.
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The Trump administration criticized China for a test launch of a long-range missile from a submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. said the test is worrying because it happens while America tries to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Key Facts
China launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a submarine.
The test took place in the Pacific Ocean on a Monday.
The missile can travel very long distances and is designed to carry nuclear weapons.
The U.S. government called the test a matter of "great concern."
The U.S. was working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons when the test occurred.
The Trump administration made an official statement condemning China’s action.
China’s test is seen as going against global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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A new study found that up to 30% of people in some U.S. states have an antibody linked to a red meat allergy caused by tick bites. This is much higher than previous estimates, showing more Americans may carry the marker for this allergy, though not all have symptoms.
Key Facts
The allergy is called alpha-gal syndrome and is triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal found in red meat and tick saliva.
The lone star tick is the main tick type that causes people to develop the antibody.
Symptoms can appear 2 to 6 hours after eating and include rashes, stomach problems, or severe reactions like difficulty breathing.
The CDC previously estimated only 0.14% of Americans have this allergy, but the new study found many more carry the antibody.
Researchers tested 3,000 blood samples from 10 states to find how common the antibody is.
States in the tick’s territory showed the highest antibody rates, with some over 20%.
Not everyone with the antibody shows allergy symptoms, making the condition hard to diagnose.
Alpha-gal syndrome was first identified in the early 2000s and is still not fully understood by scientists.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital since mid-June and has not voted since then, raising concerns among Republicans about his ability to return to work. His office says he is improving and staying involved with Senate work, but details about his health have not been shared publicly.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized since June 14.
He has not cast a Senate vote since June 11.
McConnell’s staff reports he is receiving good care and remains involved in work.
Several Republican senators and advisors recently spoke with him.
No specific information about his illness or treatment has been provided.
Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, so his absence impacts voting.
His absence helped Democrats pass a resolution opposing President Trump’s war in Iran.
McConnell plans to retire in January 2027, but an early departure would trigger a special election in Kentucky.
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The private prison company CoreCivic sold two large immigrant detention centers in California to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $1.5 billion. The government now owns the facilities but CoreCivic will likely keep managing them under current contracts, which may be renegotiated.
Key Facts
CoreCivic sold Otay Mesa Detention Center and California City Detention Facility to the federal government.
The total sale price was $1.5 billion, with about $1.1 billion expected as net proceeds to CoreCivic.
Otay Mesa has 1,994 beds; California City has 2,560 beds.
The sales closed on July 2, and DHS paid $739.2 million for Otay Mesa and $732.6 million for California City.
CoreCivic will likely continue running both centers under contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Contracts run through 2027 (California City) and 2029 (Otay Mesa), with options to extend.
The federal government has increased its budget to expand immigration detention capacity, aiming to own more facilities directly.
Some local officials were surprised by the sales and acquisitions, which have faced legal challenges in other states.
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