The Department of Homeland Security has introduced a new rule to consider immigrants' use of health programs like Medicaid and CHIP when deciding green card applications. This policy, expanded during President Trump's first term and rolled back under President Biden, aims to evaluate whether immigrants might rely on government support.
Key Facts
The new "public charge" rule lets immigration officers decide case-by-case if using public benefits affects green card eligibility.
Programs like Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP can be counted against immigrants applying for permanent residency.
The rule reflects the idea that immigrants should be self-reliant and not rely heavily on government aid.
Public health groups warn that this may discourage immigrant families from using health services, increasing emergency visits and health disparities.
A recent survey showed 11% of immigrant adults avoided public benefits last year due to immigration concerns.
The policy is expected to save over $13 billion annually in government transfer payments.
It may also reduce income for hospitals and medical suppliers that serve Medicaid patients.
The rule applies to green card applications submitted on or after September 18.
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A white separatist group called Return to the Land (RTTL) is creating whites-only communities in rural parts of the United States, especially in Arkansas and the South. They use legal strategies to try to avoid anti-discrimination housing laws, but they face lawsuits alleging illegal racial exclusion.
Key Facts
RTTL started a whites-only community on 160 acres near Ravenden, Arkansas, in late 2023.
The group structures communities as private membership clubs linked to for-profit companies to try to bypass fair housing laws.
They plan more communities in the Ozarks, Appalachia, and the South.
About 40 people, including children, currently live in the Arkansas community.
Membership requires a $25 fee, background checks, and sharing ethnic backgrounds.
RTTL has raised over $200,000 to fund new chapters and legal research.
The group’s founder has made statements praising racial exclusion and referencing Hitler.
RTTL faces a federal lawsuit after rejecting a person with Jewish and Black family ties from buying property.
Legal experts say the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th Amendment make RTTL’s legal defense weak and difficult to sustain.
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A mom in Utah, Elisha Trask, started choking at home while alone with her sleeping toddler. Unable to breathe or call for help, her neighbor felt a strong urge to check on her, arrived in time, and saved her life using the Heimlich maneuver.
Key Facts
Elisha Trask was eating leftover chicken at home when she suddenly choked.
She couldn't cough, speak, or call for help because her airway was blocked.
Trask tried to dislodge the food on her own but failed.
She worried about her toddler upstairs who was sleeping alone.
A neighbor heard commotion and checked on Trask through a partially open garage door.
The neighbor performed the Heimlich maneuver, successfully removing the blockage.
The neighbor said she felt an unusual strong impression to check on Trask even without a clear reason.
The experience changed Trask’s view on following intuitive feelings and reaching out to others.
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A Michigan man named Christopher Popps was arrested for the 1993 murder of his co-worker Patrick Dearth in Alaska. Popps gave an anonymous tip years later that led police to find Dearth’s remains, resulting in second-degree murder charges.
Key Facts
Patrick Dearth was reported missing in Fairbanks, Alaska, in November 1993.
In January 2025, an anonymous tip led police to Dearth’s remains hidden in a barrel by a highway.
Christopher Popps, 54, was identified as the tipster and arrested for Dearth’s murder.
Popps and Dearth worked together at an auto shop, and Popps allegedly shot Dearth during a work argument.
Multiple anonymous tips from Popps to police claimed responsibility for Dearth’s disappearance.
Snow and limited daylight delayed the body search for about four months after the tip.
Popps was charged with second-degree murder and faces 10 to 99 years in prison if convicted.
He was arrested in Michigan and is awaiting transfer to Alaska authorities.
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Singer-songwriter D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is going to court in Los Angeles to face charges of murdering and sexually abusing a minor named Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say he killed and dismembered the 13-year-old girl, whose remains were found inside a Tesla registered to him.
Key Facts
David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, is accused of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April at his home in Los Angeles.
The victim was 13 years old, and Burke allegedly started a sexual relationship with her when he was 18.
Prosecutors claim Burke dismembered Hernandez’s body, including removing a ring finger with a tattoo of his name.
Hernandez’s decomposed remains were discovered in a Tesla at a tow yard in Hollywood in September 2025.
Burke was arrested in April 2026 and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Evidence prosecutors may present includes text messages, surveillance videos, and forensic blood analysis.
Burke gained fame through viral songs and was on an international tour before it was canceled after the body was found.
Celeste’s family has spoken publicly, asking for justice and sharing memories of her.
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House Judiciary Democrats say emails from Jeffrey Epstein to world leaders show he worked like a foreign agent and should have registered as one. These emails also suggest Epstein tried to use his connection with President Trump to benefit his efforts.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein sent emails to world leaders.
Democrats in the House Judiciary Committee think Epstein acted as a foreign agent.
Epstein did not register as a foreign agent, which is required by law if working on behalf of foreign governments.
Emails show Epstein tried to use his relationship with President Trump to influence outcomes.
Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote a letter to senior officials in the Trump administration about these findings.
Epstein is known as a deceased sex offender.
The claim is part of a broader investigation by House Democrats.
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Millions of Americans will receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on different dates in August 2026, based mostly on their birth date. The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a schedule to distribute benefits over the month, and payments vary depending on the benefit type and when the recipient started receiving them.
Key Facts
SSI payments for August 2026 will be sent on July 31, one day earlier than usual because August 1 is a weekend.
Social Security payments are divided by birth date: August 12 for birthdays 1-10, August 19 for birthdays 11-20, and August 26 for birthdays 21-31.
People who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or who get both Social Security and SSI have separate payment dates, starting August 3.
Social Security benefits include retirement, survivor, and disability payments; SSI is a needs-based program for aged, blind, or disabled people with limited income.
The average Social Security retirement payment was $2,084.40 in June 2026 after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment earlier that year.
Beneficiaries should wait three extra mailing days and then check their status online or call the SSA if their payment does not arrive on time.
Recipients can track payments by signing into their my Social Security account or creating one using Login.gov or ID.me.
The SSA continues to monitor the program’s financial outlook as future cost-of-living adjustments are evaluated.
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The U.S. State Department's August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows big progress for family-sponsored green card applicants, with several categories moving forward. Employment-based visa categories, especially for Indian applicants, saw very limited progress, and some remain unavailable due to demand limits.
Key Facts
Family-sponsored green card categories made significant advances in the August 2026 Visa Bulletin.
The F2A category for spouses and children of green card holders moved forward to July 22, 2026.
Other family categories (F1, F2B, F4) also advanced, allowing more applicants to seek green cards sooner.
Employment-based visa categories showed small improvements only in EB-1 China, EB-3, and EB-4.
EB-2 and EB-5 visas remain unavailable for many Indian applicants because the yearly visa limits have been reached.
The State Department warned that some categories, including EB-1 for India, might become unavailable soon if demand stays high.
Family visa dates are advancing as the government tries to use all visa numbers before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026.
The backlog for employment-based visas, especially for Indian applicants, remains a major challenge.
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Many white evangelical Christians in the United States believe that President Donald Trump is chosen by God to lead the country. A recent study shows that 60 percent of these voters think President Trump has moved the U.S. closer to Christian values, mixing religion and government.
Key Facts
Many white evangelical Christians consider President Trump God’s chosen leader.
They do not necessarily see him as personally very religious.
About 60 percent believe President Trump has brought the U.S. nearer to Christian ideals.
This belief causes a blending of church and state, meaning religious ideas influence government actions.
The information comes from a recent study reported by Al Jazeera.
The article focuses on the views of white evangelical Christian voters in the U.S.
The study highlights the strong connection between religion and politics among this group.
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A single father in Castle Cary is struggling to feed his family due to fewer food donations and the end of free supermarket vouchers for families with children on free school meals during holidays. Local charities and food banks have reported record low donations and face challenges meeting demand during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Key Facts
Matthew, a father of two, relies on the Millbrook Hub community larder up to three times a week.
The cost of living increase has made it hard for him to buy food, sometimes leaving nothing for himself.
Somerset Council ended a scheme that gave supermarket vouchers during school holidays to families on free school meals.
The council offers food vouchers through a new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Donations to the community larder and food banks have fallen sharply, causing staff to buy more food themselves.
The Trussell Trust food bank in the region is distributing more purchased food than donated food for the first time.
Food bank managers report stock levels are at their lowest in years, making it difficult to maintain supply.
Somerset Council acknowledges ongoing financial pressure on families and supports local partnerships to provide food aid.
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A charity called FareShare Sussex & Surrey says many families are skipping meals during the school holidays because they cannot get free school meals. The charity is asking people to donate money to help feed children and reduce food waste.
Key Facts
Families struggle to pay for extra food during the six-week school holidays when free school meals are not available.
FareShare Sussex & Surrey is a charity that helps fight food poverty and saves surplus food from being wasted.
The charity estimates parents spend an extra £200 per child on food during the holidays.
Hospital admissions for malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies in the South East have increased significantly in recent years.
Local authorities provide holiday food camps for children who receive free school meals, but these only cover some children.
Steve, a FareShare warehouse manager, shared his experience of struggling to feed his family and encourages people to ask for help when needed.
FareShare turns every £1 donated into enough food for four meals.
The charity urges the public to support them with financial donations to meet growing food needs.
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A federal judge, appointed by President Donald Trump, decided against the Trump administration in an important case about Minnesota's local immigration laws. The administration had argued that Minnesota's sanctuary policies conflict with the Constitution, which says federal law should overrule state laws.
Key Facts
The case involves Minnesota's sanctuary laws, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The Trump administration claims these sanctuary laws break the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The Supremacy Clause says federal law takes priority over state and local laws.
A federal judge nominated by President Trump ruled against the administration's argument.
The ruling means Minnesota's sanctuary policies can continue for now.
The case highlights a disagreement between federal and state governments over immigration enforcement.
The decision was announced in a court filing on Monday.
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Tropical Storm Bertha is moving near the northern Gulf Coast of the United States and is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and storm surges to parts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Officials warn of possible tornadoes and are preparing for strong winds and flooding, especially around New Orleans.
Key Facts
Bertha is about 105 miles south of Panama City, Florida, with winds of 40 mph.
The storm is moving northwest slowly at 3 mph along the northern Gulf Coast.
It may strengthen before making landfall near New Orleans by Wednesday.
Tropical storm-force winds stretch 70 miles from the center of the storm.
Flooding and storm surges of 1 to 4 feet are expected in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Up to 8 inches of rain could fall by Friday in some areas.
Tornadoes might occur in Florida.
Sandbags are being distributed in New Orleans to protect against flooding, and residents are asked to clear storm drains.
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A former US Army soldier set a fire and fired a pellet gun outside a federal building in New York City that houses the FBI and immigration offices. He was arrested after being tackled by federal agents, and three people were slightly hurt during the incident.
Key Facts
The suspect is Andrew Arrabaca, age 43, from Poughkeepsie, New York.
The incident happened at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on Monday morning.
Arrabaca set a fire on the building stairs after pouring a flammable liquid and fired fireworks.
He also shot about 5-7 pellets from an airsoft gun towards the building.
Arrabaca was armed with a machete, two axes, and three knives.
Three people were injured, including two government employees, a bystander, and a security officer who detained him.
Arrabaca made anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the attack.
He served in the US Army from 2001 to 2005 with no deployments and left with the rank of specialist.
The mayor of New York City called the event disturbing and promised safety and accountability measures.
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The U.S. State Department released a report that connects Cuba to several protests in the United States, including those after George Floyd’s death in 2020. The report says Cuba has been involved in supporting protests and unrest in the U.S. since the 1960s.
Key Facts
The U.S. State Department published a 100-page report on Monday.
The report links Cuba to protests in the United States.
Protests mentioned include those after George Floyd was killed in 2020.
It claims Cuba has been actively involved in U.S. protests since the 1960s.
The Cuban government is described as playing a major role in promoting unrest.
The report focuses on Cuba’s long-term influence on protests and social movements in the U.S.
This report is part of the U.S. government's ongoing concerns about foreign influence on American protests.
It does not provide detailed examples of how Cuba was involved in recent protests.
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A United Airlines employee was recorded threatening to call immigration authorities on a customer during a ticket problem at San Francisco Airport. The customer, Julio Varela, and his family, all U.S. citizens, were trying to fix a name error on a ticket when the employee made the threat.
Key Facts
The incident happened at San Francisco International Airport last week.
Julio Varela was traveling with his wife and three daughters; all are U.S. citizens.
The problem was a ticket issued with a middle name instead of a last name for one of Varela’s daughters.
The United employee was rude and refused to give her name when asked.
The employee threatened to call ICE, the U.S. immigration enforcement agency, on Varela.
Varela recorded the interaction on his phone, and the video went viral on social media.
The family eventually resolved the ticket issue and boarded their flight.
United Airlines said it was investigating the incident but gave no further details.
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The Trump administration will add a 50% tariff on some Canadian goods like hockey sticks, wine, and cement, accusing Canada of unfair trade practices against U.S. products. These new tariffs will start next month and affect about $20 billion in Canadian imports.
Key Facts
The tariffs apply to select Canadian goods that currently enter the U.S. duty-free under the USMCA trade deal.
The tariffs use a rarely applied law called Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
The U.S. government claims Canada has retaliated against previous U.S. tariffs and has trade policies that favor Canadian or European products over American ones.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs a violation of the USMCA and intends to push for stronger diplomatic talks.
The new tariffs exclude some important Canadian exports like potash, minerals, and most energy products to limit U.S. industry impact.
The trade tensions come after uncertainty over extending the USMCA trade agreement, which replaced NAFTA.
This action is part of the Trump administration's broader approach to reshaping trade policy using different legal tools after recent court limits on his tariff powers.
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Troy Jackson, a former state senator from Maine, will become the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. He replaces Graham Platner, who left the race after being accused of sexual assault.
Key Facts
Troy Jackson is a former state senator in Maine.
He describes himself as a "pickup progressive," indicating a moderate progressive stance.
Jackson will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Maine.
The previous nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race.
Platner left because of accusations of sexual assault.
This change happened ahead of the upcoming Senate election.
The news was reported by CBS News and journalist Fin Gómez.
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President Donald Trump's border official Tom Homan said he wants ice officers to have body cameras as soon as possible. This comes after two fatal shootings involving officers who were not wearing cameras, which led to criticism about the slow rollout of the equipment. Homan said officers are being trained to use the cameras, and all vehicle stops now require a working camera.
Key Facts
Tom Homan is the border official in charge of ICE under President Trump.
ICE officers are being equipped with body cameras, but the rollout has been slow.
Two people were killed recently by ICE officers who were not wearing body cameras.
Homan blamed delays on government shutdowns and needing time to build systems and train staff.
Democratic senators and others have said DHS had enough time and money to distribute cameras already.
As of now, all ICE vehicle stops must have at least one officer with a working body camera turned on.
An investigation is ongoing into the ICE officer involved in the Maine shooting.
The FBI will continue to investigate shootings involving ICE officers, despite some reports claiming otherwise.
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Five people drowned in Ohio's Scioto River after they entered the water to try to help a swimmer who was having trouble. A driver called 911 after seeing a scared child who had been with the group running near the road.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Ohio's Scioto River.
Several people went into the river to rescue someone who was struggling to swim.
Five people drowned during the rescue attempt.
A motorist saw a frightened child from the group running near the road.
The motorist called 911 to report the situation.
Authorities confirmed the information on Monday.
The group contained at least one child involved in the emergency.
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