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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Senator Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital for over three weeks due to unknown health issues. Despite this, top Senate Republicans have talked with him by phone, and he continues to improve while preparing to retire in January.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14 for unspecified health problems.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator John Barrasso each spoke with McConnell recently by phone.
McConnell’s team says he is improving and working closely with staff while recovering.
He plans to retire at the end of his current term in January.
McConnell has a history of health issues, including past hospital stays, a concussion from a fall, and childhood polio.
He has continued to attend Senate sessions, often using a wheelchair.
No new details about his condition have been released, leading to public speculation.
The Senate is currently out of session and will return next week.
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A federal judge stopped the Department of Justice (DOJ) from demanding the names and personal details of workers involved in the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into the 2020 election that began during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
The DOJ issued a subpoena to get information about Fulton County's 2020 election workers.
A federal judge quashed (canceled) this subpoena on July 7, 2026.
The subpoena was part of an election probe started under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Fulton County challenged the subpoena legally.
Fulton County is located in Georgia and was involved in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The investigation relates to events and actions during the 2020 election.
The judge’s decision protects the privacy of election workers in Fulton County.
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Prosecutors released new video footage they say shows Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Charlie Kirk. The footage includes Robinson driving a car and walking through a parking garage.
Key Facts
The video was shared by prosecutors on Tuesday.
The footage shows a man believed to be Tyler Robinson.
Tyler Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
The video shows Robinson driving a vehicle.
It also shows him walking through a parking garage.
The video is part of ongoing legal proceedings.
The incident took place in Utah.
Authorities are using the footage as evidence in the case.
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Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital for more than three weeks due to undisclosed health problems. Senate Republican leaders have spoken with him recently, and no new information about his condition has been released.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14, 2026.
His health issues have not been publicly detailed by his aides.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator John Barrasso have spoken with McConnell by phone.
McConnell, 84, is retiring at the end of his current term in January.
His hospital stay follows several past health incidents including a concussion in 2023 and falls in previous years.
McConnell uses a wheelchair sometimes due to mobility difficulties partly related to polio in his childhood.
Statements from his office say he is improving and staying involved with Senate work during his recovery.
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and led Senate Republicans from 2007 to 2025.
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The Trump administration ended a special permission that allowed some sales of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. This decision followed reports that Iran attacked three ships near the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for shipping oil.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump’s administration revoked a sanctions waiver for Iranian oil and petrochemical sales.
The waiver allowed certain transactions that are now no longer permitted.
The revocation was announced by the U.S. Treasury Department.
This action came after reports of Iran striking three ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway used for transporting oil internationally.
The sanctions aim to limit Iran’s oil exports as part of U.S. policy.
The measure tightens restrictions on Iran in response to regional security concerns.
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The article discusses the need for a shared national purpose in the United States to bring people together. The author, a retired Army brigadier general, suggests creating a universal national service system to unite Americans across different backgrounds and political beliefs.
Key Facts
The author is a Greek American who served as an Army doctor and retired as a brigadier general.
He reflects on questions about identity and belonging that persist after 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
National identity is built through shared responsibility, not just slogans.
The author proposes a universal national service to connect young Americans from all races, religions, and political views.
Shared historical experiences do not guarantee a shared identity because people remember events differently.
Institutions today often divide people by background, income, culture, and politics rather than unite them.
The military is one of the few institutions that bring people together across these divides.
The article highlights that a common mission is needed to strengthen national unity in the U.S.
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Recent changes in federal energy policies under President Donald Trump are expected to increase energy bills for American households. A report by Energy Innovation predicts that rolling back clean-energy programs and incentives will add an average of $460 to energy costs per year by 2035, with some states facing even higher increases.
Key Facts
Energy Innovation analyzed seven major federal policy changes made since President Trump took office in January 2025.
These changes include cutting clean-energy incentives, rolling back emissions rules, and ending programs like Solar for All.
The report estimates households could pay $460 more annually for energy by 2035, with some states seeing increases over $500.
States likely most affected include Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
States like Maine, Vermont, Washington, and New Hampshire might face smaller impacts due to existing state energy-efficiency policies.
President Trump’s energy plan focuses on increasing fossil fuel and nuclear energy production while reducing clean energy support.
The administration aims to strengthen the energy grid, lower costs, and support manufacturing.
White House officials say these changes will make energy more affordable despite the report’s findings.
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