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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
West Virginia declared a state of emergency because of a large fire at a warehouse in Parkersburg. The fire is burning plastics, which could harm the air quality for many people. Firefighters are trying to control the fire.
Key Facts
A big warehouse caught fire in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
The warehouse held plastics that are burning in the fire.
Burning plastics can cause poor air quality and health risks.
West Virginia's government declared a state of emergency because of the fire.
Firefighters are actively working to contain and put out the fire.
Officials are monitoring the situation to protect residents' safety.
The state of emergency helps access extra resources to handle the fire.
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The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit in Nebraska to challenge a state law that allows some U.S. citizens who have never lived in Nebraska to vote there based on their parents’ residency. The RNC argues that this law breaks the state constitution because voters must live in the state. This legal action is part of a larger Republican effort to change voting rules ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The RNC sued Nebraska over a law letting certain overseas U.S. citizens vote using their parents’ Nebraska residency.
These voters have never lived in Nebraska but can vote if their parents are registered voters there.
The RNC says Nebraska’s constitution requires voters to be state residents and this rule violates that.
The law being challenged dates back to 2005 and was designed to help U.S. citizens living abroad, including military members, vote.
Nebraska is a Republican-leaning state, but experts say the lawsuit aims to set a legal example for other states.
The Nebraska Secretary of State, also a Republican, called the lawsuit’s focus confusing since other voting issues remain unresolved.
The case is part of a wider Republican push to tighten voting laws before the upcoming midterm elections.
A recent federal ruling blocked another Trump administration effort related to verifying voter citizenship using government databases.
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A federal judge refused to dismiss charges against Brian Cole Jr., who is accused of planting pipe bombs near political committee offices before the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. The judge ruled that President Trump's pardons for January 6 rioters do not cover Cole, since he was not convicted at the time the pardons were issued.
Key Facts
Brian Cole Jr. is accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee buildings on January 5, 2021.
The bombs were found on January 6 but did not explode. The FBI said they were functional.
Cole faces charges including transporting explosives across state lines, terrorism, and using weapons of mass destruction.
His lawyers argued his actions were linked to the January 6 events and should be covered by Trump's pardons.
Judge Amir Ali ruled the pardons only cover people convicted of January 6 offenses at the time the pardons were given.
Cole was charged months after the pardons were issued and had not been convicted then.
President Trump pardoned about 1,500 people connected to the January 6 Capitol riot.
Cole pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
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Planned Parenthood and two smaller family planning providers have restarted billing Medicaid for services other than abortion after losing this funding for most of a year. The funding cut, required by a law signed during President Donald Trump’s term, led to clinic closures and fewer patients receiving cancer screenings and birth control.
Key Facts
Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood services (excluding abortion) was cut off for nearly a year due to a law signed under President Trump.
The funding was restored starting Sunday, allowing clinics to bill Medicaid again.
Nearly 30 Planned Parenthood clinics closed in the past year, partly due to the funding loss.
Planned Parenthood provided 25% fewer birth control packs and conducted 20% fewer breast cancer exams during the funding gap.
Some Planned Parenthood affiliates, like in Wisconsin and Arizona, paused or reduced services for Medicaid patients.
Two smaller family planning providers were also affected differently; one closed three primary care clinics, causing patient wait times of 4-6 months for new care.
The number of abortions provided by some affiliates, such as Maine Family Planning, remained steady despite funding changes.
The resumption of Medicaid billing does not mean federal abortion policy disputes are over or all previously cut services will return.
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A toddler in a Phoenix suburb was found in a backyard pool and declared dead at a hospital, but was later found breathing in the morgue and survived. Police are considering negligence charges against the child’s parents while the hospital reviews its care.
Key Facts
The incident happened on February 8 in Gilbert, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.
The toddler was found in a backyard pool and emergency responders tried to save him.
Medical staff declared the boy dead about an hour after he arrived at the hospital.
Hours later, the boy was found breathing in the hospital’s morgue “cold room” by the medical examiner’s team.
The toddler was flown to another hospital, recovered, and was released from care.
Police are recommending negligence charges against the parents.
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is reviewing its care procedures to learn from the case.
Similar cases exist where people were thought to be dead but were later found alive, leading to legal actions.
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Graham Platner, Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, is reviewing his campaign after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Platner denies the claims and his campaign says the allegations are politically motivated.
Key Facts
Graham Platner faces a sexual assault allegation from a Maine woman named Jenny Racicot.
Racicot says Platner entered her home without permission and forced himself on her in 2021.
Platner denies all allegations and calls them "categorically false."
Platner’s campaign describes the accusations as coordinated political attacks.
Platner won the Democratic primary but can withdraw as nominee before July 13 under Maine law.
Democratic activist Cheyenne Hunt called for Platner to drop out of the race immediately.
Platner has faced other controversies, including past offensive internet comments and a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism.
The case and accusations have not been independently confirmed by news organizations like CBS News.
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The NAACP plans to spend more money on the upcoming midterm elections than it ever has before. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in April that reduced the power of the Voting Rights Act to prevent racial vote dilution.
Key Facts
The NAACP is increasing its spending for the midterm elections to a record high.
The Supreme Court made a ruling in April affecting the Voting Rights Act.
The ruling specifically struck down Louisiana’s second Black majority district.
The decision limits protections against racial vote dilution, which means reducing the voting power of certain racial groups.
The NAACP is reacting by investing $20 million to address these changes.
The NAACP is a civil rights organization and is described as nonpartisan, meaning it does not officially support any political party.
This spending is aimed at protecting voters’ rights in the face of new legal challenges.
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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal agency focused on reducing jobs and cutting funding in the government, officially ended its operations on July 4. DOGE shared a farewell message quoting former President Teddy Roosevelt about the value of meaningful work.
Key Facts
DOGE was a federal government department.
Its main role was to lead job and funding cuts across the government.
The department stopped working on July 4.
DOGE posted a farewell message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The message included a quote from former President Teddy Roosevelt.
The quote emphasized the value of working hard at important tasks.
DOGE’s closure marks the end of its mission to boost government efficiency.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, denied a sexual assault allegation made by a former girlfriend. He said the claim is "categorically false" and that he is thinking about the best way to continue his campaign.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for Senate in Maine as a Democrat.
A former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, accused Platner of forcing her to have sex without consent five years ago.
Platner called the allegation false and denied the accusation.
The allegation was reported by Politico on July 6, 2026.
ABC News has not confirmed the details of the Politico story.
Platner stated he is reflecting on how to proceed with his campaign.
The story is still developing and may have updates later.
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A woman who dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner about five years ago says he forced her to have sex without her consent. This accusation was reported by Politico and adds to previous allegations against Platner.
Key Facts
The woman says Graham Platner forced her to have sex against her will.
The incident reportedly happened nearly five years ago.
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in Maine.
Politico is the news outlet that published this report.
This is not the first accusation made against Platner.
The claim relates to behavior during their past relationship.
CBS News also provides coverage of this story.
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A woman who used to date Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner accused him of forcing her to have sex while drunk, even after she told him to stop. Platner denied the claim and said his campaign is deciding what to do next.
Key Facts
The accusation was reported by Politico on Monday.
The woman said Platner forced sex on her while he was drunk.
She asked him to stop, but the alleged assault continued.
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
Platner has denied the allegation.
Platner's campaign is currently deciding how to respond to the situation.
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Washington, D.C. declared a "Code Red" air quality alert on Sunday morning. This alert came shortly after a large fireworks show took place on the National Mall.
Key Facts
The "Code Red" alert means very unhealthy air quality.
The alert was issued on Sunday morning.
It followed a record-setting fireworks event at the National Mall.
Fireworks release smoke and particles that can pollute the air.
The alert warns people to limit outdoor activities to protect their health.
D.C. officials monitor air quality and issue alerts when pollution is high.
Events like fireworks can temporarily worsen air pollution in cities.
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A mother won an appeal against a family court judge who had allowed her ex-partner, under police investigation for rape, to have overnight contact with their children. The High Court ruled the judge was wrong to dismiss the serious allegations without waiting for the police investigation, and the case will be heard again.
Key Facts
A family court judge, Robin Tolson KC, allowed a father accused of rape and domestic abuse to have overnight contact with his children.
The father admitted to domestic abuse including violence and controlling behavior.
Police were investigating the father for rape at the time of the court decision.
The mother appealed the decision, asking for only limited supervised contact between the father and the children.
High Court Judge Michael Keehan said the original judge was wrong to ignore the ongoing police investigation.
Judge Tolson has been criticized before for his views on rape and domestic abuse and has had multiple decisions overturned.
He stepped down from his senior judge role in London after previous controversies.
The government is working to improve how family courts handle cases involving domestic abuse and serious offenses.
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A woman accused Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexually assaulting her in 2021 after he was drunk. Platner denied the allegation and said he is considering his next steps in his campaign.
Key Facts
Jenny Racicot, a woman from Maine, said Platner forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.
Racicot says she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner but cut contact after the incident.
Platner released a video denying any non-consensual behavior.
Platner has canceled several campaign events since the allegation became public.
Some of Platner’s supporters, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna, have not commented yet.
Platner was recently nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine.
Maine law allows Democrats to replace a candidate if they withdraw before July 13.
The party must name a replacement candidate by July 27 if Platner steps down.
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Prosecutors in Utah have started presenting evidence against Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September. The preliminary hearing will decide if there is enough evidence for Robinson to go to trial.
Key Facts
The hearing began on Monday and will last five days.
Prosecutors want a judge to approve a trial for Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
Robinson has not said if he is guilty or innocent and has not entered a plea.
Robinson’s lawyers tried to stop the death penalty from being an option but failed.
President Donald Trump supports imposing the death penalty for Robinson.
Evidence includes a possible confession note, text messages, and video testimony from Robinson’s roommate.
Ballistics tests could not clearly link the bullet that killed Kirk to the alleged murder weapon.
Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, encouraging young voters to support Trump.
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A woman named Jenny Racicot has accused Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, of sexual assault, which he denies. Platner has faced previous controversies and is preparing to continue his campaign against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Key Facts
Jenny Racicot, 41, alleges Platner forced her to have sex in late 2021 despite her objections.
Platner denies the sexual assault claims, calling them false and politically motivated.
Racicot and Platner had an on-and-off relationship lasting more than two years.
The report includes supporting evidence like messages and accounts from other individuals.
Platner secured the Democratic nomination and will face Senator Susan Collins in the general election.
Platner has been involved in past controversies, including a covered-up tattoo linked to Nazi imagery.
The campaign claims the allegations are coordinated attacks by political opponents.
Maine Democrats have until July 13 to replace Platner as a nominee, with a two-week window to choose a replacement.
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Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, said he is thinking about whether to continue his campaign after a woman accused him of sexual assault from 2021. Platner denied the claim but has not made a final decision about staying in the race against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is the Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat.
A woman accused Platner of forcing her to have sex against her will about five years ago.
Platner denies the allegation.
He said he is taking time to decide his next steps in the campaign.
Platner wants to continue his goal of defeating Senator Susan Collins.
He showed some uncertainty by referring to the campaign in the past tense.
The story is still developing and may change as new information comes out.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, responded to a news report featuring a woman who accused him of sexual assault during their previous relationship. Platner said the allegations are false and that he and his team are considering how to proceed with his campaign.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat from Maine.
A woman who dated Platner accused him of sexual assault.
The accusation was made public in a Politico news report.
Platner called the allegations false and serious.
He stated that he and his campaign are taking time to think about the best way forward.
Platner is an oyster farmer by profession.
This development could affect his Senate campaign.
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The US Supreme Court allowed Texas to enforce a law requiring app stores to check users’ ages and get parental permission before minors download apps or make purchases. The law is still being challenged in lower courts over its impact on free speech rights.
Key Facts
Texas passed the App Store Accountability Act in 2025, signed by Governor Greg Abbott.
The law requires app store accounts for users under 18 to link to a parent or guardian.
Parents must be notified of an app’s age rating and approve downloads for minors.
Texas argues the law protects children from harmful online content.
Opponents say it violates free speech by forcing proof of age before accessing apps.
Apple, Google, and student groups are among those challenging the law.
A federal judge previously blocked the law, comparing it to forcing bookstores to check age.
A federal appeals court allowed the law to take effect during the ongoing legal fight.
The Supreme Court did not stop the law from being enforced while cases continue.
This law is part of a wider effort to increase parental control over children’s online use.
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A heat wave in New York City and the Northeast ended as heavy rain and storms caused flash flooding and property damage. Officials warned of dangers like rising water in basements and investigated possible heat-related deaths in New Jersey.
Key Facts
Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey due to heavy rain.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advised people to leave basement apartments if water levels rose.
The roof of a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township, New Jersey, partially collapsed because of the rain.
Two people were trapped briefly at the store but escaped unharmed.
The heat wave brought record highs, such as 104°F (40°C) at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
At least 29 possible heat-related deaths are being investigated in New Jersey.
About 450,000 people across the U.S. experienced power outages due to storm damage.
The heat dome kept nighttime temperatures high, preventing cooling during the nights last week.
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