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CBS parent company Paramount settles Trump’s lawsuit for $16 million

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NEW YORK – CBS parent company Paramount resolved a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the October broadcast of an interview.

Paramount said it would pay $16 million to settle the lawsuit, and it would be allocated to Trump’s future presidential library and not be paid to Trump “directly or indirectly.”

“The settlement does not include an apology or a statement of regret,” the company’s statement added.

Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS in October, claiming that the network had a seemingly compiled an interview with then-presidential and presidential candidate Kamala Harris that he “took a scale in favor of Democrats.” In an amended complaint filed in February, Trump threw his damages claim to $20 billion.

CBS aired two versions of Harris’ interview, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas.

CBS previously said the lawsuit was “completely meritless” and asked the judge to dismiss the case.

The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Edward A. Palzik, the lawyer representing Trump in the civil lawsuit, could not be immediately contacted for comment.

A spokesman for Paramount Chair Shari Redstone was similarly unable to reach a comment.

The incident began mediation in April.

Trump claimed that the compilation of the CBS interview violated Texas’ deceptive trade practices and consumer protection laws, making it illegal to use commercially false, misleading or deceptive behavior. Media advocacy groups said the novel use of such laws on Trump’s news outlets could be a way to circumvent legal protections for the press.

The settlement will require approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission as Paramount prepares for a $8.4 billion merger with SkyDance Media. On last year’s campaign trail, Trump threatened to revoke CBS’s broadcast license if elected.

He repeatedly assaults news media, often casting unfavourable reports as “fake news.”

The Paramount settlement follows a decision by Walt Disney-owned ABC News to resolve a Trump-stricken defamatory case. As part of that settlement, which was released on December 14th, the network has donated $15 million to Trump’s Presidential Library and publicly apologized for comments by anchor George Stephanopoulos.

It also follows a second settlement by Facebook and Instagram parent company Metaplatform. On January 29, he said he agreed to pay around $25 million to resolve a Trump lawsuit over the suspension of company accounts following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump vowed to pursue more claims to the media.

On December 17th, he filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Registered Newspaper and its previous top votes over the vote issued on November 2nd. The suit seeks an order prohibiting unspecified damages and engagement in “continuous deceptive and misleading conduct and practices” related to polling.

A Des Moines registrar said the organization supported the report and there was no merit in the lawsuit.

On June 30, Trump dropped the federal lawsuit and re-delegated it in Iowa court.

(Reporting by Helen Coster and Jack Queen of New York, edited by Kanjik Gauche and Survi Misra of Bengaluru, Norleen Walder, Rod Nickel and Kate Mayberry)

No. 3 seed jinx? Jessica Pegra and Alexander Zverev are both upset in their first round at Wimbledon

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CNN

This turns out to be not a good year to be the third seeded Wimbledon single.

On Tuesday, American Jessica Pegra and German Alexander Zverev were each ousted in the opening round of the tournament at the All-England lawn and tennis club.

First came the surprising victory by Italian World No. 116 Elisabetta Cocchialetto, who knocked out Pegra 6-2, 6-3 in 58 minutes.

Later that day, at the resumption of the match, which began Monday, France’s Arthur Lindanok notched his upset against Zverev 7-6 (3), 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4.

Cockiallett, 24, who missed Wimbledon last year, was called “A Dream Come True,” coinciding with a decline in the world rankings.

“I was very excited to play Wimbledon this year,” Cocchialett said in an on-court interview. “I was practicing really hard to do everything I could today and couldn’t wait until the game started.”

Italian Elisabetta Cocchialetto celebrates after winning an opening round match against Jessica Pegra.

Pegra has made a fast turn towards Wimbledon and won the title at the Bad Homburg Open on Saturday.

However, last year, US open finalist Pegra quickly gave the opponent credits, saying that Cocchialett played “Incredible Tennis.”

“She was hitting her shots and asking for it, offering a big percentage, doing a big second serve, redirecting the ball,” Pegra told reporters. “Today was her day to be honest.”

Cocchialett will face American Katy Volinette in the second round.

As for the 29-year-old Rinderknech, a five-set victory over Zverev is his first victory over a majors top 10 opponent. Monday’s match was suspended after the second set due to Wimbledon’s mandatory 11pm curfew.

“My legs are still shaking,” Linderneck said in an on-court interview. “I can’t do it anymore. I’m happy the game is over.

“We started yesterday, whatever it was, at 8. Today we finished at 7am. I slept about six hours last night. This sport is extremely difficult, but what a moment. That kind of feeling.”

When asked if he felt like he was in control, Linderneck joked, “Hey.”

“When you play someone like Sascha Zverev, who is number three in the world, you really can’t control it. “He was there for 10 years. It’s my first top five victory at the world’s biggest stadium, so I don’t know.”

Rinderknech’s second round opponent is Chile’s Cristian Garin.

Zverev had no answer to Rinderknech.

Qantas Cyber ​​Hacks may have stolen a “significant” amount of data from 6 million customers

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CNN

Australian airline Qantas says that a data hack on Monday released the personal information of six million customers and predicts the amount stolen is “important.”

The hack has permeated the third-party customer service platform used by Qantas contact centres, the airline said in a statement Wednesday. Six million customers have service records on the platform. You will find data such as your name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and frequent flyer numbers.

However, the platform does not include customer credit card details, financial information or passport details, Qantas said.

Qantas has detected “abnormal activity” on the platform and then took action and stated that it “contained” the system. The statement states that all Qantas systems are safe and have no impact on the company’s operations or safety.

The airline “expects that to be important,” but it is not clear how much data has been stolen. We are currently working to support affected customers and work with Australian Cybersecurity Centre, the Australian Federal Police and independent cybersecurity experts on investigations.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers and recognize the uncertainty this causes. Our customers trust us with their personal information and take that responsibility seriously,” Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said in a statement.

“We are reaching out to customers today and our customers are focused on providing them with the support they need.”

Qantas stock price fell 3.5% in morning trading and fell against an increase of 0.4% in broader markets, according to Reuters.

Australia has seen a series of major cyberattacks and company hacking in recent years. In 2019, the cyberattack targeted Australian rulings and opposition parties within three months of the national election. Two years later, broadcaster Nine News suffered from cyberattacks and forced many live shows to air. It is known as the largest cyberattack by media companies in Australia’s history.

Most recently, in 2022, Russian cybercriminals carried out a ransomware attack against Medibank, one of Australia’s largest private insurance companies. Sensitive personal data, including health claim information, was stolen from 9.7 million customers. Some of it was later released on the dark web.

Last year, Australia publicly appointed and imposed sanctions on Russian citizens for his alleged role in the attack. He was a suspect in Russian ransomware gangster Liville, previously launched massive attacks in the US and elsewhere before Russian authorities destroyed them in 2022 and detained multiple people.

Donald Trump says Israel agrees to terms of the 60-day Gaza ceasefire

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump urged Iran-backed Hamas militants on July 1 to agree to what he called the “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, delivered by mediating officials from Qatar and Egypt.

In a social media post, Trump said his representative was having a “long and productive” meeting with Israeli officials on Gaza. He did not identify his representative, but US Special Envoy Steve Witkov, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance were scheduled to meet Ron Dahmer, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump said Israel agreed to the terms of completing the 60-day ceasefire, saying, “In the meantime, we will work with all political parties to end the war.” He said representatives from Qatar and Egypt would offer Hamas “this final proposal.”

“I hope Hamas will make this deal for the benefit of the Middle East, because it won’t get better. It will only get worse. Thank you for paying attention to this issue!” he said.

Trump told reporters earlier that day that he hopes that the Hostage for Hostage contract will be achieved next week between Israeli in Gaza and Hamas extremists. He is scheduled to meet Netanyahu at the White House on July 7th.

Hamas has said he is willing to release the remaining hostages in Gaza under any contract to end the war, but Israel said that it can only be finished if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay his arms down.

According to Israeli tallies, a war in Gaza was sparked when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Both sides indicate little preparation to agitate from their fixed position.

The United States proposed a 60-day ceasefire and half of hostage release in exchange for the remains of Palestinian prisoners and other Palestinians. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said earlier this week that Israel agreed to the US proposed 60-day ceasefire and hostage contract, putting Hamas liable.

It appears that Trump and his aides are trying to use momentum from us to harness the momentum in Israel’s Iranian nuclear location. It is also a ceasefire that took hold in the conflict last week to ensure a lasting ceasefire in the war in Gaza.

Trump told reporters during his visit to Florida that Israeli leaders would like to do the same, but told Netanyahu that he was “very robust” about the need for a quick Gaza ceasefire.

“I hope that happens and I look forward to it that happens someday next week,” he told reporters. “We want to take hostages.”

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israel’s octo is oct. Seven military attacks killed more than 56,000 Palestinians. The attack also caused a hunger crisis, evacuating the entire population of Gaza internally, prompting accusations of genocide in the International Court of Justice and war crimes in the International Court of Criminal Court. Israel denys the accusation.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick, Additional Reports by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward, Edited by Andrew Haven, Mark Porter, Cynthia Osterman and Lincoln Feast.)

Pope Leo XIV’s hometown approves the purchase of his childhood home

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Bert Odelson, the attorney for Dalton who organized the contract, told USA Today that the House owners have agreed to sell at a private price amid the threat of Dalton taking the home through prominent territory.

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DALTON, Illinois – The small settlement where Pope Leo XIV was raised on July 1st, is a move that hopes to cause a revival of a devastated small town after a village committee approved the purchase of the home he grew up in.

The Dalton Village Board approved the purchase at a special meeting on July 1st, marking a small town coup that it had experienced over decades amid manufacturing employment and the former corrupt mayor. Many thought Dalton had no money or political will to land a small ranch house in which he played the priest as a young Robert Francis Prevost.

“We can grab this moment and move forward or go to investors,” Mayor Jason House addressed the crowd at a public meeting. “We can’t get out of the deficit. We need to make sure we have financial opportunities.”

Leo’s predecessor’s childhood home has also become a museum and a pilgrimage site, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. Leo’s house is also expected to become a museum and shrine, USA Today previously reported.

People all over the country already treat it as a pilgrimage site. It began arriving within hours of the announcement that Leo had become Pope on May 8th.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

According to the list, approval for Dalton’s purchase is also surprising. According to the list, the house was on sale at an auction that is scheduled to close on July 17th.

Village lawyer Bert Odelson, who organized the deal, told USA Today that the homeowner agreed to sell it outside of auction.

Paramount Realty, a New York-based auction known for selling President Donald Trump’s childhood home for more than $2 million, did not immediately respond to USA Today’s request for comment. Homeowner Paweł Radzik also did not respond immediately.

Odelson refused to share the final price, but said it was “significantly lower than what they thought they’d get.” He said he had set aside funds for the purchase and the documents would be completed in about a week.

A well-known Chicago lawyer said the owner agreed to sell in response to the threat of Dalton taking the home through prominent territory.

Odelson described the coup as a cap rock in his decades-long career.

“Even for me, I’ve done so much and I’ve seen a lot, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said the Chicago Southside native. “I dealt with the president, the senator, the mayor, and there’s always something else. Not this. He’s the only American.”

Residents question the project

Several Dalton residents at the meeting questioned the village’s plans to buy Leo’s home.

Dalton has experienced decades in the loss of manufacturing jobs. The village has recently become a symbol of dysfunction under the previous mayor who led the city to more than $3.5 million in debt.

“It’s commendable to buy a Pope’s residence, but in the state we are in now, do we have money? “In my opinion, a house demands money every day, so the house is a pimp.”

Other residents raised issues regarding funding for basic urban infrastructure, including sewerage, storefronts and roads.

“We need to be aware of the issues the city has,” said Rev. Ryan Reese, another resident. “There’s a difficult situation where you’re finding your community’s finances… you’re basically overcoming gravel right now.”

Can Leo’s house save Dalton?

Members of Dalton’s board say Leo’s home is already causing a small town revival.

“If we can see traffic over there, certain bus roads inside and outside our town, this is a great opportunity for us,” Councilman Edward Steve said. “This is historical.”

Steve said the village leaders are well aware of the challenges facing Dalton, but added that they can deal with them and turn the house into a destination.

Dalton’s population was booming when Leo lived there. According to census data, the village grew from 5,000 in 1950 (the year after Leo’s parents bought the family home) to 19,000 in 1960.

Chicago and northwest Indiana have united a wealth of factory jobs, from steel factories behind the buildings that form the hub of industry and make up the city’s iconic skyline to automotive factories that assemble Fords cruising along Lakeshore Drive.

However, many factories closed in the 1980s. The average household income in 1980 was $27,000, or $107,000 for $2025, reported the Chicago Tribune. Census data shows that today’s average income is under $30,000.

According to census data, about a fifth of Dalton’s population is in poverty.

Pope John Paul II’s house was a godsend for a small town

According to Piotr Pollack, a guide to the museum of John Paul’s childhood home, Wadowice, a town in Poland where Pope John Paul II grew up, has benefited greatly.

“There are at least dozens of Wadwas-like towns in southern Poland,” Polack told USA Today from Poland. “None of them has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.”

Pollack said it was a tenement museum that was opened in 1984 by Karol Watiwa at the time. According to Pollack, around 200,000 people visit the museum every year.

“If JP2 weren’t there, there would be no one here from outside the local area,” the guide said. “One of the biggest blessings the town has is the fact that Karol Wotiwa spent the first 18 years of his life here.”

The house where Leo played the priest

The house Leo grew up with his two brothers is a squat brick house on a lush suburban block. He appears to be countless others who rose across the country during the post-war era.

Leo’s parents took him to a modest home, according to Cook County property records. Leo lived there and moved to high school and to a seminary in Michigan.

According to Cook County Real Estate Records, Razic bought the 1,050-square-foot home in 2024 for $66,000. He updated the interior so it no longer looked like when Leo lived with his two brothers. Radzik had planned to sell the house for $219,000, but within days of Leo’s becoming Pope he removed his property from the market.

Village leaders acknowledge the difficulties of the job of turning the updated home into a Pope’s destination. But they expect hundreds of thousands of people to visit each year, and they hope that it will change the area for better people.

“It’s exciting to see people coming from different states and the world to go to this area and see the pope’s home,” Councillor Tammy Brown said. “If those neighbors see what we’re trying to do, it would encourage them to do things too.”

7/1/25 Mega Million Wins: $50 million Jackpot

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After the Virginians won a major award on June 27th, the Mega Millions Jackpot returned to $50 million for the painting on Tuesday, July 1st.

If someone matches all six numbers on Tuesday, they have a one-time cash payment option of $22.4 million.

There were four Mega Million winners this year, but the recent victory on June 27th won Virginia with a $348 million jackpot. Prior to that, on April 18, Ohio players took home a $112 million jackpot, while Illinois Lucky Lottery ticket holders took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25, and on January 17, the Mega Millions Jackpot hit for $113 million.

Here are the wins from Mega Millions drawings on Tuesday, July 1, 2025:

Mega Millions win count on 7/1/25

That’s the number of wins on Tuesday, July 1st. 19, 28, 31, 39, 54. Megaball is 5.

To win a lottery number is as follows: Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network.

Did everyone win the huge millions?

Mega Million winners announced by lottery officials will be posted here.

To view a list of past winners, Visit the Mega Millions website.

How to play Mega Million

To play Mega Million you will need to purchase a ticket. This can be done in a variety of places, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and even grocery stores. In some states, you can purchase millions of Mega tickets online.

Once you have your ticket, you will need to select six numbers. Five of these are white balls with numbers 1 to 70. Gold Megaballs range from 1 to 24.

You can ask for a “quick pick” or “easy pick” especially if you feel unlucky or don’t want to go through the hassle of picking. These options allow the computer to generate numbers at random.

Mega millions of tickets include built-in multipliers, increasing prizes other than jackpots by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. Previously, players had to pay extra dollars to add “Megaplier.”

Where can I buy the lottery ticket?

Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Networkthese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.

Jack Pocket is the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to Jackpocket Services. Must be over 18 in AZ, 21+, and 19+ in NE. It is not affiliated with the state lottery. Gambling issues? Call 1-877-8-Hope-Ny or Text Hopeny (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-mylimit (or); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-Gambler (all other). visit jacketpocket.com/tos In perfect conditions.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.

BTS will return in Spring 2026 with a new album and a world tour

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CNN

Their reunion? It’s as smooth as butter. K-Pop Septet BTS will return in Spring 2026 with a new album and a world tour.

Jin, RM, V, Jimin, J-Hope, John Cook and Suga made their announcement Tuesday on LiveStream, Weverse, an online fan platform owned by BTS management company HEBE. This was the first time that all seven members have been broadcast together since September 2022.

“We plan to release a new BTS album next spring. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely with new music,” the band said in a statement. “It will be a group album, so it reflects the thoughts and ideas of each member. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we were when we first started.”

According to a press release, the band will be in the US this month to start work on new music.

The 2026 album marks the 2022 anthology “Proof,” the 2021 Japanese compilation album “BTS, The Best,” and the first album since the last studio album “BE” and “BE” released in 2020.

They also announced their first world tour in nearly four years. The news came weeks after BTS superstars RM, V, Jimin and Jung Cook were discharged from the South Korean military after serving mandatory services.

In South Korea, all healthy individuals ages 18 to 28 must serve 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system to stop attacks from rival North Korea.

Six of the group’s seven members served in the Army, but when Suga returned last, fulfilled his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service.

Jin, the oldest BTS member, was discharged from the hospital in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged from the hospital in October.

Korean law offers special exemptions to athletes, classic and traditional musicians, ballet and other dancers if they are rated as having won the highest award at a particular competition and strengthened national fame. K-pop stars and other celebrities are not subject to such privileges.

However, in 2020, BTS postponed services after the South Korean National Assembly revised its military service law, allowing K-Pop stars to delay enlistment until they were 30 years old.

23AndMe to court-approved Ex-CEO nonprofit organizations

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The bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of genetics company 23andMe to a nonprofit led by co-founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki, according to a June 27 filing with Bankruptcy Docket.

TTAM Research Institute plans to purchase its personal genomic services, research services, Lemonaid Health Business for $305 million.

“As the founder of 23andme, Wojcicki is well positioned to advance the company’s vision of helping people access, understand and gain health benefits by improving their understanding of the human genome.”

In a June 30 release, Wojcicki said that the nonprofit would continue the company’s mission to understand the human genome of “public goods.”

“The heart of my belief is that individuals can have choice and transparency regarding their genetic data and have the opportunity to continue learning about their ancestors and health risks as they wish,” Wojcicki said.

Sale Plays Regeneron Bid

The sale to TTAM will replace a $256 million bid by drug maker Regeneron in May.

“We are pleased that the competitive bidding process has increased significantly to our stakeholders, while enhancing key protections regarding customer privacy, choices and consent regarding genetic data,” Jensen said.

27 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court in June to block sales, saying that the privacy, security and ethical use of 23 people will prioritize the use of 23andMe customer data.

The lawsuit alleges that the sale to Regeneron violates the privacy laws of individual states.

What happens to data from users on sale?

23Andme said in a press release on June 13th that TTAM will continue its policy allowing users to delete their accounts and genetic data, and will opt out of permanent research.

At the same time, TTAM continues to allow the identified data to be used for scientific and biomedical research to study researchers from academic universities and other nonprofit organizations for scientific and biomedical research.

TTAM will establish a Consumer Privacy Advisory Committee within 90 days of the end of sale, and customers will be emailed at least two business days before the end of sale.

In 2023, hackers released personal data for nearly 7 million 23andme customers over five months, causing a major blow to the company’s reputation and exacerbated growth issues.

Contributor: Mary Walrath Holdridge, USA Today; Router

California lawmakers roll back its groundbreaking environmental impact laws

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California lawmakers have approved two new bills that are expected to jumpstart the stagnant housing market that has long been stumped by residents and employers, leading to a major overhaul of the state’s groundbreaking environmental protection law.

A major change to the California Environmental Quality Act, known as the CEQA, was attached to two bills in a massive $321 billion state budget bill that was eventually easily passed. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law on June 30th.

“This is the most consequential housing reform in California’s modern history. Will it be postponed for a long time? Absolutely,” Newsom said at a press conference signing the law.

Supporters said reforms to CEQA’s intense review process will help to alleviate the state’s ongoing housing shortage and the chronic homeless crisis. Some environmental advocates call backdoor deals for the movement.

Congressional Bill 130, created by D-Oakland’s California Congress member Buffy Wicks, exempts most urban housing projects from environmental reviews. Another bill by California Senator Scott Wiener and D-San Francisco, Senate Bill 131, waives environmental restrictions on other buildings, including clinics, childcare and food banks.

Legal Newspaper: “Too urgent, too important”

California has been considered a national pioneer in environmental action. That change in Signature Impact Review Act comes at a time when it could potentially change the landscape within the country’s most populous state.

It is estimated that California needs 3.5 million housing units more than it has. This shortage is one reason why people and businesses have fled as homes in popular cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The changes are intended to begin home construction. This is often strangled by the signature of the Environmental Act of 1970. Critics say the law is being used by groups that aim to stop buildings rather than conserve the environment.

The bill went into law after threatening to reject the state budget passed last week, unless there is a CEQA overhaul. The process can take months to years, allowing you to add costs and uncertainty to your project.

For years, these environmental impact studies have been known to delay and even halt new developments by CEQA, considered one of the strictest laws in the United States. During a press conference after signing the law, Newsom said the issue was “urgent, too important, the process unfolds like the last generation, and always preys on all sorts of Platfall.”

Behind the bill

Two new laws exempt nine projects from the environmental impact review. They include child care centres, health clinics, food banks, farm worker housing, broadband, wildfire prevention, water infrastructure, parks or trails, and advanced manufacturing.

“It coincides with what I know about history and reform measures,” Mark Bardasare, director of research at the California Institute of Public Policy, a nonpartisan research institute, told USA Today. “We’re watching what happens. Keep waiting.”

Bardasare said that for at least 10 years there have been under intense debate. Newsom and other state lawmakers are aware that voters nationwide criticised politicians, particularly Democrats, during last year’s election, Baldassare added.

Baldassare said PPIC-wide voting for California voters in both 2023 and June 2025 revealed that the cost of living and affordable housing was calling last year’s election a “wake-up call.”

“The idea of ​​reforming CEQA has been around for a long time,” Baldasare said. “Our votes support reforming CEQA across party boundaries despite the strong environmental attributes of the state, and that doesn’t happen very often, especially given today’s polarization.”

California Environmental Law

The 54-year-old California law signed by then-Governor Ronald Reagan was intended to protect wildlife and natural resources in forests, mountains and coastal spaces.

The law requires state and local governments to study and publish the environmental impacts of any decision they make, including permitting new housing, as California home values ​​and rent are the most expensive in the country, according to the California Institute of Public Policy.

This requirement is known as the Environmental Impact Report and can take up to a year to complete.

Aiming to streamline and lower California’s construction costs, the new law limits legal challenges under the CEQA by narrowing the documents that courts can consider. Additionally, there is limited environmental reviews of projects that are not considered to be influential.

California Sen. Scott Winner wrote one of two bills, but told reporters on June 30 that the change would not happen in three years next year, but would occur in the next few decades. He called it a bold step towards addressing the root causes of California’s affordable price crisis.

“The devastating high costs for our community are directly caused by an extreme shortage of housing, childcare and affordable healthcare. Much of what other families need to thrive,” Democrat Winner said in a statement. “These invoices will get red tape, keeping the major processes out of the way, and ultimately addressing these shortages, ensuring an affordable California and a brighter future.”

Weiner added that if the economic situation is correct, the state is prepared to “build a large number of housing” and the structure is in place to promote it.

“The bill was passed in the most undemocratic way possible.”

State Policy Manager Asha Sharma, with Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, described the change as a “backroom, last minute deal,” hanging the national budget into balance, leaving little time for the opposition to public scrutiny.

“The bill was passed in the most undemocratic way possible. It was conditional on the entire state budget,” Sharma told USA Today. “We really couldn’t hear the voice. This had little public process.”

She was not alone. Raquel Mason, senior legislator of the California Environmental Justice Alliance, said her group was opposed to Weiner’s bill. Sharma and Mason said there are 23 super fund sites in Santa Clara County, with tech-rich Silicon Valley there. They say many of those sites are linked to semiconductor manufacturing.

“By moving forward with this bill, Congress has sent a clear message. The right to participate in decisions that affect our health, safety and our lives is disposable,” Mason said in a statement to USA Today. “This bill will guide industrial development without the opportunity to advocate for the mitigation that our community needs to protect themselves.”

Newsom forced the hand of California lawmakers

Weiner wrote a bill that would exempt several types of projects from environmental reviews, but Newsom forced an overhaul of state environmental laws to change.

The governor told lawmakers he would not approve California’s $321 billion budget without them. Last week, the budgetary law provisions approved said that if changes to the state’s environmental review process are not finalized by June 30, the spending plan will be abolished.

On June 30, Newsom said on social media that it has enacted “the most game-changing housing reform” in recent California history.

“We are urgently embracing a rich agenda by demolishing barriers that have been slowing down new affordable housing and infrastructure for decades,” Newsmom wrote.

The governor later mentioned reporters at a press conference on June 30, saying his administration’s goal was to build 2.5 million homes by 2030. Newsmom said it’s left to state leaders to use the new tool to achieve their goals.

“If we can’t address this issue, we lose trust. It’s just the truth,” Newsom said. “And this is very much in many ways than the problem itself. It’s about Sacramento and legislative leadership and executive leadership, as well as the reputation of California.”

Contribution: Elizabeth Weise, USA Today

World Cup 2026, Trump Immigration Policy on ACLU, NAACP

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On July 1, more than 80 civil rights and labor groups wrote to FIFA to express “deep concerns” about the US government’s immigration policy ahead of the 2026 Men’s Football World Cup.

In a letter first reported by Athletic, the group cited President Donald Trump’s executive order banning visitors from 12 countries and banning ongoing Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) attacks in communities across the country. They called on FIFA to “encourage the US government to use its influence to ensure the fundamental rights of millions of foreign visitors and fans.”

“If FIFA continues to remain silent, not only will millions be at risk, but the FIFA brand will also be used as a public relations tool to whitewash the reputation of increasingly authoritarian governments,” Civil Rights and Labor Group wrote.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union and NAACP were among the most prominent national organizations to sign the letter.

The US is currently hosting the FIFA Club World Cup for men’s soccer.

FIFA did not immediately reply to emails seeking comment on the letter. The organization and its president, Gianni Infantino, have repeatedly said there will be no issues with foreign audiences and teams entering the country next summer.

“The world is welcome in America,” Infantino told reporters on May 15th. Of course, the players, everyone involved, all of us, but definitely all of our fans too. ”

The Trump administration reflects that sentiment despite warnings that fans are not allowed to overstay visas or that they will not be allowed to stay in the country after the tournament.

“We know we have visitors from probably around 100 countries,” Vice President J.D. Vice President J.D. Vice President Vance said in May. “We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the game. But when time passes, they will have to go home, or they will have to talk to the secretary (Kristi) Noem (U.S. Homeland Security).”

FIFA also faced questions and criticism from human rights groups ahead of Qatar’s final men’s World Cup. The 2026 edition of the event, co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, will begin on June 11th.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

Virginia’s $2 million lottery jackpot, Idaho is not billed

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Winning the lottery is a dream scenario for many, except for two lucky ticket holders who didn’t charge a jackpot and missed the chance to become a billionaire.

Idaho Lottery and Virginia Lottery officials confirmed that USA Today was not billed for two $1 million prizes expired on Monday, June 30th.

Virginia tickets won the state’s New Year’s billionaire raffle drawing on January 1, 2025, while Idaho tickets come from last winter’s Idaho $1,000,000 raffles. The unclaimed award in Idaho became the fourth $1 million winning draw ticket in state lottery history, and was billed for over a decade and became the first award.

Now that no prizes have been charged, Idaho officials said the funds will go to state public schools and “permanent buildings in Idaho, like our university campus.”

In Virginia, the funds go to the state’s Literary Fund. Officials said they are offering low interest rate loans to cities for “building, renovating and technology upgrades of public schools.”

Where can I buy the lottery ticket?

Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network, These US states and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.

Jack Pocket is the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to Jackpocket Services. Gambling issues? Call 1-800-Gambler and call 877-8-Hopeny/Text Hopeny (467369) (NY). 18+ (19 years old and over for NE, 21+ for AZ). It is physically present where the jack pocket works. Jack Pocket is not affiliated with any state lottery. Eligibility restrictions apply. If it is prohibited, it is invalid. Clause: jacketpocket.com/tos.

Contributed by: Jonathan Limehouse/USA TODAY

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.

The judges reach four decisions out of five counts. What’s next?

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The ju judge returned to the deliberation room at Sean “Diddy Combs” criminal trial on Wednesday to deadlock the highest accusations, but reached a decision on his other four counts.

The ju apprentices arrived at the verdict of two counts of sex trafficking and transport, saying that they were engaged in the prostitution faced by combs, but were unable to reach the conspiracy decision. The decision is not final and can change your mind until the verdict is officially announced.

“We have ju umpires on both sides with non-transferable opinions,” the panel said in a note on their progress.

After deliberations began in the June 30th cleaning case of the federal sexual crimes case, the group of 12 people — consisting of eight men and four women — returned to the Manhattan courtroom after deliberations began.

In his direction to the ju judge, the Subramanian, who called the ju judge “the sole and exclusive judge of fact,” emphasized that the group must determine the outcome of Combs’ case only on the evidence presented at the trial.

“The judgment I made during trial does not represent my view on what your decision should be as to whether the defendant’s guilt has been proven beyond reasonable doubt,” the Subramanian said.

“You are to fulfill your obligation to find facts without bias or bias regarding the parties.”

Combs, 55, was arrested in September after a sexual personnel investigation, including federal authorities attacking his home and subsequent criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Allen’s accusations are instructions given to deadlocked ju apprentices, encouraging them to continue working and reach the verdict. It is sometimes called a “dynamite charge.”

Whatever you call it, it is used to avoid a suspended ju umpire. That’s when the ju judge says they can’t come to the court for a unanimous verdict.

Subramanian did not issue Allen’s charges in the Combs case, but he discussed them with lawyers on both sides.

No, the ju-degrees said they had reached decisions on four of the five charges against the comb, but they were not read aloud in court. They included two counts of sex trafficking and transport engaged in the prostitution that is currently facing.

However, the judgment is not final until it is formally rendered in court. The ju apprentice may reconsider the request during deliberations.

Racketeering is the participation of organizations affected by Racketeer or illegal schemes under Rico as a way for the US government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.

Using the RICO Act, which is generally intended to target multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors join “freak-offs” of threats and drugs, saying that Combs is claiming forced victims, some of whom are sex workers.

The Subramanians reject the ju appellant and continue the process in the morning. They left the court and returned home.

“At this point you’re continuing to deliberate,” Subramanian told the group.

Both the prosecutor and the combs defense attorney agreed that the judge should instruct the ju judge to continue working towards a final verdict on the rapper’s assault charges.

Prosecutors pointed out that Deadlock could mean that the case would be tested again.

The ju judges reported that they have reached a decision on some, but not all, of the number of crimes against comb. They disagree with charges of assaulting a comb, including some of the most drastic allegations of a few weeks’ trial.

Subramanians, prosecutors and defense attorneys are currently discussing ways to move forward, including the judges’ deliberation on July 3rd, and now it is a court holiday. There are no verdicts that have not been read out loud in the court.

Before the Subramanian read the ju-degree notes, Combs rubbed his eyes, resting his face in the palm of his hand, his lawyer leaning around him and sat at the defense table. One defense attorney, Brian Steele, rubbed Combs’ shoulder. Two of Combs’ other defense attorneys placed their arms around each other.

The ju judge asked him to consider testimony about the three trial moments. Here are Cathy’s testimony about the Intercontinental Hotel Incident, her testimony about the Cannes Film Festival, and Daniel Philip’s testimony about the Essex Hotel Incident.

After both parties were awarded, they agreed that the judges would not need to return to the court regarding their review request. However, in the small dispute, prosecutor Emily Johnson wanted two extra lines in the transcript, including two extra lines, but the judge sided with the defense to block the transcript before “freak-off” before those boundaries from Cathy.

The judges will return when the defense and prosecutors are ready to deal with more details about the testimony.

The lawyer continued his discussion regarding the ju trial’s testimony questions. After a brief break, prosecutor Mohren Comey said the defense raised the issue regarding Daniel Phillip’s testimony. Defence counsel Xavier Donaldson said he wanted to rule out Philip’s testimony about why he didn’t do anything after seeing him physically abuse Cathy at the Essex Hotel, but Subramanian said it included Philip’s testimony.

He also had a long-term jock over Cathy’s testimony regarding the InterContinental Hotel Incident. Results: The transcript contains testimony several days before the incident and several days after the incident.

A memo from the ju apprentice immediately after the deliberations began raised concerns that there may be a “stealth ju apprentice” in the deliberation room on June 30th.

According to the memo, Juror 25 will not follow the judge’s instructions. According to Reuters, the ju judge said during the selection of the ju judge he was a 51-year-old veterinarian with a doctorate in molecular biology and neuroscience.

The ju apprentices who created it in the famous trial were examined by the prosecutors, defense and judges through written surveys followed by oral questions. The process is designed to root bias.

There may have been a misunderstanding among the ju-degree judges. Alternatively, this issue may not concern an open-minded assessment of the evidence of Ju-Advisor 25 and willingness to comply with the judge’s instructions regarding the law applicable to Combs’ case.

Subramanian responded to the note by reminding the ju-decides to follow his instructions. They appear to be deliberating ever since. The ju apprentice sent me a note asking about the charges and testimony regarding allegations of drug distribution and sex trafficking.

As judges’ deliberations continued into the afternoon on June 30th, the ju judge sent a question to the judge about how allegations of drug distribution on combs should be evaluated.

Subramanians will get answers to the ju apprentice this morning.

The ry judge asked the Subramanian on June 30 for guidance on one ju judge who warned him that he would not be able to follow the judge’s instructions regarding the law. Their memo read aloud by the Subramanians in the public courts was, “We have a ju judge number 25.

Ju Assistant No. 25 described himself as a 51-year-old veterinarian living in Manhattan along with a domestic partner who is a freelance graphic designer. The memo did not elaborate on instructions that ju apprentices could potentially not follow.

After discussing the memo with the prosecutor and defense attorney, Subramanian said that he would send the memo back to the ju apprentice, who reminded them of their duties but had not taken any further action so far.

On June 30th, the comb put on his glasses and was able to see the ju apprentice’s box directly when he received the instructions. He leaned into his chair and crossed his legs.

Combs’ family sat in the front row and he could see his daughter whispering to each other.

No, we haven’t reached the verdict yet in Combs’ criminal cases.

After more than a month of tragic testimony from several of Combs’ peers, the prosecutors took the case to rest on June 24th. Meanwhile, Combs’ attorneys took the lawsuit to abstain within 30 minutes. The closing discussion ended on June 27th.

The music mogul’s alleged abuse lies at the heart of the trial, but Combs said he would not testify to the court.

The dishonorable music mogul is in custody and remains confined to special housing units at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center despite repeated attempts to release bail. He has been in prison since his arrest on September 16, 2024.

Combs faces federal sex crimes and human trafficking charges in a vast incident that erodes his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.

He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with assault, sex trafficking and transporting to engage in prostitution. The rapper pleaded not guilty to five counts against him.

Contribution: USA Today Staff; Reuters

This story has been updated to include new information.

The endangered turtle shares this Mexican beach with SpaceX Rocket Debris. The company says there is no risk of harm.

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The shards arrive at Rockets Wake: molten plastic, aluminum, and fragments of blue adhesive. The sands of Baghdad Beach, north of Tamaulipas, Mexico, contain endangered sea turtle species. Crossing the border, you will find SpaceX’s Launchpad, Company Town and Starbase.

Conibio Global, a non-governmental organization since November, has been doing a difficult task to clean Trash from SpaceX, one of the world’s most powerful companies.

Conibio Global founder Hesús Elías Ibarra told CNN he witnessed one of SpaceX’s launches in November 2024 and saw one of the rocket boosters fall into the Gulf of Mexico. At that time, Ibarra says that he arrived at at least three helicopters and more than 10 boats a few hours later, and people arrived to clean it. CNN contacted SpaceX and asked if they were responsible for this cleanup.

But in May there was another launch with more debris. Now, activists claim that millions of particles have contaminated the Mexican area. Ibarra said a few days later, the organization had collected a large amount of waste on an area of ​​500 meters.

“We’ve already collected a ton (of garbage) in 0.5 km of the 40-kilometer coastline,” Ibarra added. “We’re a very small group. It’s impossible to clean everything up.”

Ibarra said Conibio Global handed the wreckage to Profepa, the Mexican government’s Environmental Protection Agency.

In response to an inquiry from CNN, SpaceX refers to what it published on social media site X on June 26th, claiming it provided resources and support for its cleanup efforts. The company allegedly requested local and federal government support from the Mexican government to recover debris. Under the Treaty of Space, SpaceX is entitled to return the shard.

Multiple rocket fragments found in Baghdad Beach in May.

The statement added that the company has conducted tests claiming it does not confirm that there is no chemical, biological or toxicological risk associated with the typical SpaceX launches Flotsam and Jetsam.

CNN has contacted Tamaulipas authorities and the Mexican presidency about SpaceX’s offer and is waiting for a response.

Ibarra said Conibio Global has not been in touch with the company.

Marlon Sorge, executive director of Aerospace Corporation for Debris Re Entry Studies (Cords), told CNN in an email that it’s best not to touch any fragments of the universe if they are found.

“Many debris is not dangerous, but spaceflight vehicles can contain dangerous chemicals and materials,” writes Sorge. “Please note that touching debris is not worth the risk, and that it can interfere with important investigations.”

This label washed out the SpaceX logo at Bagdad Beach in May.

Some of the objects found during the cleanup operation are solid, sponge-like plastic, rubber with cork-like consistency, aluminum with SpaceX labels, plastic foam wrap, steel tubes, and fragments of blue adhesive.

Thorns predict that some of the garbage could be consumed by the Redriedertles of Kemp, the endangered sea turtle that lives in the area.

SpaceX says it is working on minimizing impacts as much as possible, improving the environment, and highlighting agreements between various US agencies and the Texas government.

Garbage and blue glue were washed away in Baghdad Beach last month after the SpaceX launch failed, Ibarra said.

After the recent explosion of SpaceX Rocket on June 19, the NGO reported that several large fragments had appeared on Mexican territory the following morning. Several Mexican government officials said they could contact them and let them know the situation.

Conibio follows SpaceX’s social media announcement to find out when it will be released, go to the site to go and collect evidence of the shards they know they will fall. He says this will occur in the northern region of Baghdad Beach and in the communal farmland plots of Matamoros nearby.

After a sustained public complaint, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was voiced at her daily meeting on June 25th.

Sheinbaum said her government discovered that there was indeed pollution and that the impact of rocket launches will generally be reviewed to take action, including legal action, in order to take action “within the framework of international law.”

Ibarra, who is also a veterinarian and director of the Marine Tultle program at Conibio Global, said he believes the vibrations produced by the rockets will compact the sand with the turtle nests and prevent them from appearing. He said at least 300 hatching have died in the compressed nest.

“The final explosion burns, the entire edge of Rio Bravo is on fire, and there are vegetation that has broken down many trees where pipes have fallen near the population of many people,” Ibarra said. He added that in several border cities between Tamaulipas and Texas, it was reported that there was slight damage to the house due to vibrations from the rocket.

A team of environmental staff and staff members from the Mexican Navy Secretariat collected the waste conibio collected last weekend, and during the visit, the thorns found stainless steel pipes about 4 meters long and weighing about 5 kg.

Addressing waste cleaning will cost NGOs more than US$26,000 and beach monitoring for the vehicle fuel used, workers’ wages, and cleaning materials, the organization claims.

Ibarra pointed out that the Mexican government has been working with them, especially as foreign companies are involved. He claimed that he was “harassed” in one of his visits by the SpaceX drones they’re recording.

SpaceX did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on Ibarra’s allegations.

CNN also contacted the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Tamaulipas government regarding comments on Ibarra’s statement.

In a statement on SpaceX’s social media, the company said debris is its property and its attempt to recover is hampered by individuals who “trespass” without authorizing private property.

CNN asked the governments of SpaceX and Tamaulipas about what private property the company refers to.

The Tamaulipas government has always expressed its desire for a joint relationship with SpaceX. Governor Américo Villarreal visited Starbase in November 2024.

Although the large rocket portion has been removed, Ibarra says that trash remains a major problem in Baghdad Beach.

“The wreckage is still there,” Ibarra said. “The tide fills it, so it no longer looks like the picture, but it’s there and needs to be removed sooner or later.”

CNN’s Deblina Chakraborty and Jackie Wattles contributed the report.

Thrifty Ice Cream for sale in Rite Aid bankruptcy

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Rite Aid spotted a Thrifty Ice Cream buyer in the middle of a pharmacy chain’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Hilrod Holdings was appointed a successful bidder for ice cream makers and KPH Healthcare Services in court documents filed June 26th. The transaction was approved by a federal bankruptcy judge in New Jersey on July 1, according to court documents.

The holding company, linked to Monster Beverage Corporation executives Hilton Schlosberg and Rodney Sacks, will pay $19.2 million for the assets purchased, according to court documents. According to SEC filings, Sacks resigned as CO-CEO in June before resigning from the company, but Schlosberg continued as CEO.

Monster Beverage Corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on USA Today on July 1st.

Fans of the ice cream brand were worried about its fate following the closure of ceremonial aid sites around the country.

According to the pharmacy website, some locations still offer ice cream scoops about rif.

As of May 30th, the Thrifty website no longer lists certain locations, so it is unknown how many are still open.

What is rif about ice cream?

According to its website, RIF about ice cream started when RIF about drug store owners Harry, Robert Born and Norman Levin began producing ice cream for sale at the chain’s soda fountain.

According to Thrifty, ice cream had reached “cult status” on the West Coast by the 1970s, with “critical celebrity screams.”

For years, drugstore patrons were able to get a signature cylindrical scoop while receiving their prescriptions. Eventually, the company began producing ice cream cartons. Ice cream is still available for sale at retailers such as Rite Aid and Albertsons, according to its website.

Rite Aid location will be closed

Rite Aid has announced the closure of more than 1,000 stores since its bankruptcy announcement in May.

The latest list of closed stores, published in Bankruptcy Court on June 27, set 123 locations in eight states on the road to closing. An earlier list of closed stores filed with Bankruptcy Docket on June 20th spelled out the end of 118 locations in 11 states.

The pharmacy operated 1,240 stores in 15 states when the bankruptcy was announced.

Canada’s patriotism surges in Trump’s tariff provocation, a nation

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Canada Day has built new importance for many Canadians this year, given Trump’s unwelcome proposal that Canada should become the 51st state.

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  • Trump’s proposal that Canada will become a 51st state, trade tariff and boring attitude towards Canadian leaders has fueled Canada’s day’s national pride.
  • Polls show a surge in Canada’s patriotism and support domestic businesses following Trump’s actions.
  • Some Americans joined the celebration to oppose solidarity with Canada and Trump’s stance.

MONTREAL – Canadians didn’t take Donald Trump seriously at first when they proposed that Canada should be 51st state.

“He’s just a fool. He’s just a joke. He’s just a provocative,” said Daniel Beland, director of the Canadian Institute at McGill University.

There’s no more.

Hundreds of Canadians flock to Placedarms in Montreal, a square in the old Montreal district of town across from Notre Dame Cathedral on July 1st, and it’s time to celebrate the 158th anniversary of their country’s birth and all of the Canadians to begin Canadian Day.

The volunteers wandered through the crowd and handed out miniature Canadian flags. Others stuck red and white Drapau into shirts, shorts and hats, turning it into a statement of fashion as much as political.

From the park bench, Filippa Contarini saw the flag waving crowd and counted everything she liked about being Canadian.

“Our beautiful country, our very open, very free, liberal country – I love it,” said Contarini, a small Canadian flag tucked into the backstrap of her hat. “I love French. I love English. I love everything.”

One thing she doesn’t love? Donald Trump.

“He’s like a big bully, that’s how I see him, and he’s very ignorant,” she said. “He keeps saying Canada should be the 51st state. No, no, no, that’s never going to happen. This is a ridiculous kid he is.”

Crossing the Great White North, Canadians marked Canada Day with parades, festivals, pledges of national unity and distinctive displays of patriotism. Canadians are usually known for their friendlyness and hospitality than for their flashy demonstrations of pride. It is more associated with larger, noisy neighbors in the South.

But Canada Day has built a new importance for many Canadians this year. Trump’s unwelcome proposal that Canada should become the 51st state, the threat to punitive tariffs on Canadian products, and his lightly missiv attitude towards leaders, especially former prime minister Justin Trudeau, made him repeatedly laugh as “governor.”

“The world is changing. Old friendships are fraying,” Trudeau’s successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney, said in a Canadian Day message posted on social media.

While Carney never mentioned Trump by name, there was no doubt who he was talking about when he said that Canada’s economy was affected “by a trade war we didn’t start.” But “as the world becomes more divided and dangerous,” he said, “Canadians are united.”

Canadian pride swell

Recent polls boost him.

Canada’s pride surged after Trump took office in January and opened a war of words and tariffs.

A survey by Harris Poling Canada in March said that in collaboration with Petro Canada, it has reported major changes across the country, linked to a new sense of unity and pride that Canadians are likely to grow each week.

Seven in 10 Canadians are proud to be Canadians, saying it is up from 63% a month ago. Eight in ten said it was important to buy Canadian products and support Canadian companies. 92% intend to give Canadian companies more support in the future, regardless of what happens with Trump’s tariffs.

Patriotism also surged in French-speaking Quebec. There, for decades, the separatist movement has sought independence from Canada. Flagmakers are reporting a boost from sales of Canadian maple leaf. Companies embraced the “Canadian Buy” movement and removed US-made products from shelves. Warning that Canada is not planning to sell, the T-shirts have appeared in souvenir shops windows.

A poll conducted by the Canadian Research Association in May suggested that Canadian Pride fell into Quebec after Carney was selected to take over Trudeau as prime minister after the federal election in April. Still, 76% of Quebec people say they are proud to be Canadians.

Beland said there is no real mystery behind the expansion of patriotism.

“The timing of this is in very clear sync with rhetoric regarding the return of State 51 and Donald Trump to the White House,” he said.

Canada Day celebrations throughout Montreal

From the location D’Armes, the Canadian Day crowd marched through the streets of Old Montreal, a brass band leading the way. The elderly couple held their hands. Parents pushed their strollers down the street and raised their young children over their shoulders for a better view. A wheelchair woman rolls through the crowd, and the maple leaf windmill stuck behind the chair tumbles violently in the breeze.

With brick streets, past art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants, the queue marched for almost a mile to the old harbor of Montreal along the St. Lawrence River. There, thousands of people attended the official festival, beginning with a salute of 21 guns, followed by a two dozen new Canadian citizen oath ceremony, with Canadian flags raised. Dozens of booths offered family-friendly activities, such as painting and face painting.

Shirley Desseldo, a high school teacher born in Niagara Falls, Canada, who spends her summers in Montreal, wore a white T-shirt that said, “I’m Canadian.” It’s no longer enough for Canadians to be proud of their legacy, she said. For Trump, they must stand up and declare it.

“We are friendly and we are polite,” she said. “But we’re really upset with your president.”

Canada is larger than the US in terms of total land area, but the US has more people and power. Reminiscence of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau’s father, Desselud said that being America and his neighbour was like sleeping next to an elephant. Trudeau said no matter how friendly and even the beasts are, everyone is affected by all its convulsions and groans.

“Now,” Desselud said, “The elephant is cracked.”

Denver’s Kirk Anderson said he had been visiting Montreal with his family but decided to attend the Canadian Day festivities to show solidarity with his American north neighbours. “I want to tell Canadians that there are so many of us in the US who don’t want Trump to be president and that’s what we just love Canada,” he said.

Ida Degano, who was with her husband Benny, said Trump’s proposal to make Canada a part of the United States was offensive. “It hurts my heart,” she said, adding that Trump should look at his mouth “as he can’t control the world.”

Degano, who lives outside of Toronto, came to Canada from Italy in 1953, and her husband came four years later, and she said she was able to live a good life together in the country of adoption.

Degano offers suggestions to Americans whose views on Canada may be shaped by Trump’s remarks.

“Come to Canada and see how we live,” she said.

Follow Michael Collins on X @MCollinsNews.

Penn deletes Leah Thomas’ record and bans trans athletes in women’s sports

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The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban trans athletes from competing in women’s sports and strip former swimmer Leah Thomas of the record as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.

Penn signed a resolution agreement on Tuesday, July 1st to comply with Title IX. This was because they were investigating the case of Thomas, the university became the first openly trans athlete to win the NCAA Division I title.

Under the contract, Penn recovers the swimming record and title of a female athlete broken by Thomas. The university also must not allow trans athletes to participate in women’s athletic programs and send personal apology letters to affected swimmers.

Improved rules: How has the NCAA’s Transgender Athlete Policy been changed?

Leah Thomas Records

Thomas competed for a year as a female Penn swimmer after three seasons with the men’s team.

She holds pen women’s swimming records with 100 free (47.37), 200 free (1:41.93), 500 free (4:33.24), 1,000 free (9:35.96), and 1,650 free (15:59.71).

Thomas won the NCAA title at the 2022 women’s 500-yard freestyle event. She also finished fifth in the women’s 200-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle that year.

The NCAA did not respond to requests for comment following the announcement of Penn Resoltion.

Response to Penn’s decisions regarding transgender athletes

The decision comes as the Trump administration focuses on banning girls’ sports where transgender athletes compete. In May, President Donald Trump had promised a “massive fine” in California after transgender athletes were allowed to compete and won two medals at the Athletics State Championships.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Upenn has apologised for past Title IX violations and agreed to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the university for the generation of future female athletes,” US Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

DOE’s Civil Rights Bureau opened an investigation into Penn’s Title IX on February 6th – a month to President Trump surrounding Thomas. Title IX is a law passed in 1972 and prohibits sex discrimination at any academic institution that receives federal funding.

On April 28, the office concluded whether the university violated Title IX and issued a proposal for a resolution agreement, referring the case to the Department of Justice, or launching another process of cutting school federal funds. In March, the White House cut Penn’s federal funds by $175 million related to the issue.

The university said in a statement it would comply with Executive Order 14168, defend women from gender ideological extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government. The president of J. Larry Jameson University said it was a “complex issue” and was pleased to reach an agreement to investigate.

“Our commitment to ensuring an environment of respect and welcoming for all students is unwavering,” Jameson said in a statement. “At the same time, we must comply with federal requirements, including executive orders and NCAA eligibility rules, so that teams and student-athletes can engage in competitive intercollegiate sports.”

Jameson added that the university is following Title IX, which is “always followed and continues to continue” and NCAA and Ivy League policies. Penn began the process of reviewing and renewing women’s swimming records set during team Thomas’ season and “indicates who will keep the records under current eligibility guidelines.”

100,000 recipients could be affected

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According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the personal information of more than 100,000 Medicare recipients may have been compromised in a recent “data incident.” As a result, some beneficiaries will receive a new identification number.

In an announcement Monday, CMS may have been affected by the misuse of data, including details and information about the services it received, including mailing address, last name, date of birth, zip code, plan premium details, treatment, treatment, treatment, diagnosis code, and healthcare provider identity, CMS said.

CMS noticed suspicious activity linked to Medicare.gov accounts on May 2, 2025, according to a notification that Medicare Call Centers began receiving calls from beneficiaries from beneficiaries about letters confirming the creation of accounts they did not create.

The unspecified “malicious actor” was responsible for creating an account between 2023 and 2025, CMS said. Suspicious accounts have since been disabled, and agents have disabled their ability to create new accounts from foreign IP addresses.

Potentially affected beneficiaries will immediately receive a letter detailing the case, along with a new Medicare ID number and card. CMS says it is not aware of identity theft that is occurring as a result of the violation.

What if you are worried about your Medicare account?

The CMS advises Medicare recipients to pay attention to their account activities. He also advises:

  • Check out Medicare summary notifications and explanations of benefits for unfamiliar fees and services.
  • Suspicious activities should be reported to the inspector’s office at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.
  • Get a free annual credit report via www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
  • Call 1-877-IDTHEFT at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or online at www.ftc.gov/dtheft to report any concerns regarding identity theft to your local law enforcement and/or the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Please contact 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) with further questions or concerns.

President Zoran’s President

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Mamdani, a Democratic candidate for New York City mayor and a state legislator, called the threat a “attack on our democracy.”

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President Donald Trump escalated an attack on New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, with Mamdani and New York Democrats responding now.

As mayor, Trump threatened to arrest Mamdani if ​​he pursues a pledge not to support federal officials enforcing immigration laws.

“So we have to arrest him,” Trump told reporters on July 1 when he visited Florida’s detention center. He said, “He is “watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation,” Trump said.

Trump also said, “A lot of people say he’s here illegally.” Mamdani is a naturalized US citizen born in Uganda and moved to the United States at the age of seven with her parents – film director Mira Naia and Professor Mahmoud Mamdani of Columbia University.

Mamdani, a member of the state legislature who won the mayoral appointment on the progressive platform, responded on social media that Trump is threatening him despite the fact that not working with Ice is not violating the law. (The Immigration Law Resource Center states that “state and local jurisdictions do not have federal law legal obligations to use resources to assist in enforcement of immigration.”

“His statement represents not only an attack on our democracy, but an attempt to send a message to all New Yorkers who refuse to hide in the shadows. “We will not accept this threat.”

The clash represents an escalation of tensions over immigration enforcement and the pouring of xenophobic responses to Mamdani’s victory from Republicans and conservatives. R-Tennessee’s Andy Ogles called for Mamdani to be stripped of his citizenship and offensively called on Mamdani as a “little Muhammad” in connection with his Muslim religion.

Trump has made border security a priority in his administration. He deployed the National Guard to help Ice carry out raids in Los Angeles after occasionally violent protests. The Justice Department sued Los Angeles to suspend a “sanctuary” policy that refuses to support federal agents.

But California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Karen Bass said the attack and the tensions that led to the protests that were raids and National Guard forces threw rocks at federal authorities, causing cars to burn.

The threat of arrest is just the latest clash between Trump and Mamdani.

Trump was mistakenly called a communist as Maria Baltilomo’s “radical left-madman” from Fox News’ Maria Baltilomo’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Mamdani, 33, defeated primary and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. it’s not Communist. He is a democratic socialist. Communists believe in all property and collective ownership at the end of capitalism. Democratic socialists aim to reform capitalism through democracy.

Mamdani will face New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in the November poll.

Trump’s comments sparked a quick pushback from some elected officials in New York, including those who distanced themselves from Mamdani after being upset on June 24 against Cuomo, a three-term governor who resigned amid the sexual harassment scandal.

“I don’t care if you’re the president of the United States,” tweeted Gov. Kathy Hokul.

“This is not normal. This is unacceptable. These are the words of an indifferent dictator,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who recently won a City nomination.

Trump supports Mayor Eric Adams when attacking Mamdani

Trump also gave support to Adams, the military mayor who chose not to compete in the Democratic primary amid the corrupt scandal. Adams is currently running as an independent in the November 4th general election.

“I helped him a little,” Trump said. “He had a problem.”

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Adams with corruption before he stepped in to file charges by Trump’s Justice Department. Authorities said the incident hampered Adams’ ability to implement the administration’s priorities regarding immigration enforcement, and he was running for reelection. Several prosecutors resigned in protest of the actions of senior officials to halt the lawsuit.

Adams either denied any fraud or denied that he had negotiated with the administration.

Trump mistakenly stated that prosecutors indicted Adams as “the next day.” He commented on the influx of immigrants to New York City.

Adams’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“It was Biden’s indictment,” Trump said. “I said, ‘I’m not feeling bad, I’ve been charged five times.”

A centralist Democrat, Adams is one of the many candidates in the mayor’s November election. GOP candidate Curtis Swawa has said he won’t drop out of the race, and Cuomo is also pondering his independent bid.

Millions lose health insurance under Trump tax bill

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The Senate will wipe out President Donald Trump’s domestic spending and tax cuts bills and enact a sudden cut in the national safety insurance program for low-income families.

In addition to increasing tax cuts and immigration enforcement, what Trump called the “Big Beautiful Building” will be reduced by nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, a state territorial health program for low-income households and people with disabilities. The bill is projected to eliminate 11.8 million insurance coverage over the next decade, according to the Non-Participation Congressional Budget Office.

An additional five million people could lose coverage if Congress doesn’t extend the tax credits during the Covid-19 pandemic era that made the Affordable Care Act Plan more affordable for consumers.

The law corresponds to “the greatest rollback in health insurance in US history,” said Joan Alker, research professor, executive director and co-founder of the Joantown University Children and Families Center.

Vice President JD Vance, who voted in a tie-break vote on July 1 to pass Senate Bill 51-50, said in a social media post that Medicaid cuts were “not important” compared to the savings the bill funded through strengthened immigration enforcement. The House of Representatives is planning to consider legislation ahead of the deadline for the Signature Domestic Policy Act, July 2nd, July 4th.

How does the law reduce Medicaid?

The law requires states to double the eligibility checks twice a year. States administering Medicaid must set up a system to verify the employment or exemption status of a person.

The law requires “healthy” Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours a month or qualify for exemptions such as students, caregivers, disability, and more. The original house version restricted work requirements to low-income adults without children, while the Senate version added work requirements to parents of children aged 13 and older.

The law defines “healthy” people as those who are not identified as physically or mentally unemployed. The law would also strip the reporting of undocumented immigrants who obtain Medicaid through a state-funded program.

Health policy experts say more frequent eligibility checks and deficits add management costs and cut off those who are eligible but pass through the cracks due to administrative errors.

What do hospitals and doctors think about the bill?

Medicaid guarantees 83 million low-income children and adults, according to KFF, a health policy nonprofit. It represents more than one in five Americans.

Health policy experts warn that cuts could hurt rural hospitals and doctors who serve a higher percentage of those registered with Medicaid. The Senate bill added a $50 billion Rural Health Fund. This is twice the amount proposed by previous versions of the law.

Still, hospitals are “deeply disappointed,” the bill exempts the Senate, said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, a trade group.

Pollack said the $1 trillion Medicaid cut would “cause irreparable harm to our health care system,” reducing access to care for all Americans.

Hospitals need to diagnose and stabilize those visiting the emergency room. Eliminating compensation for around 12 million Americans “promoting uncompensated care in hospitals and healthcare systems,” Pollack said.

Pollack said hospitals could be forced to cut down on services and staff, and patients could face longer waiting times in the emergency room. Pollack said some rural illnesses and facilities in underserved communities could close.

Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said that cutting Medicaid and federal food aid programs would make it difficult to cut taxes by “it risks making our country sick, making our children hungry, and families can afford basic essentials.”

When will Medicaid cuts be effective?

Medicaid recipients are not immediately affected by the law. The bill will establish a state deadline on January 1, 2027, launching two eligibility checks per year and verifying work or exemption status for non-disabled enrollees.

However, some states have filed exemptions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to launch Medicaid work requirements. CMS has chosen to approve the exemption and may be able to launch Medicaid labor requirements by January 2027, Alker said.

KFF’s survey shows that nearly two in three people are employed full-time or part-time in Medicaid, while others are carers or students, and therefore are eligible for exemptions from the work requirements. Just 8% weren’t working, as they couldn’t find a job, retirement or any other reason, according to KFF.

The bill does not mandate labor requirements by January 2027, but it is likely that the state will need to plan major changes prior to that, said Jennifer Tolbert, associate director of the Medicaid and uninsured KFF programs.

States must prepare small Medicaid payments from the federal government, adding additional administrative obligations to verify the status of enrollees’ work or volunteers.

“Some states expect this decline in revenue,” Tolbert said. “At the same time, we need to make some pretty expensive changes to the qualification system.”

“Death from 1 trillion cuts”: Healthcare Worker Lobby Republicans Lobbying in Congress

Johanna Arabi’s days usually consist of feeding, bathing and caring for residents in two nursing homes in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She said most of the patients rely on government health insurance programs.

Medicaid is the primary payer for 63% of nursing home residents, with an additional 13% relying on Medicare as the primary payer, according to KFF, a San Francisco-based health policy.

“If a portion of that money is taken away, then something has to be given,” Arabi said. “It’s going to come down to the care of the residents. It’s going to come down to the food. It’s going to come down to the activity.”

That’s why she was urged last week to vote against the bill and join the employee’s international union members.

They arrive at the Capitol with signs that read “Death from Trillions of Cuts” and wear shirts with the message “Republican Cut Kill.”

Jennifer Woods, another SEIU member who works in Kaiser Permanente’s billing division, met Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a trip to Washington. She said she tried to explain that Cut could “smash people’s lives” and could potentially lead to patient death when she chased him through the Capitol building.

“He shook his head and continues,” Woods said. “He really didn’t say anything. No one else would.”

Nvidia’s best customers are why investors should pay attention

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nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) We do not disclose accurate customer lists. However, the company is a leading supplier of data center chips for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, and Amazon knows (NASDAQ: AMZN)Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL),Meta Platform and Oracle are some of the largest buyers of its hardware based on published filings.

These data center chips are called graphics processing units (GPUs), and it is hard to believe the eye-opening amounts of money customers spend on these chips. Please continue reading.

Being a leader in AI races is not cheap

There are two major AI workloads: This involves supplying track data to AI models with data to make them “smartier” and the process by which the AI ​​model uses that data to formulate or predict responses. These two workloads are processed in a massive data center filled with thousands of GPUs, and will cost billions of dollars of construction.

Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta have the resources to build AI infrastructure to develop their own AI models. Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Oracle are also building AI data centers to rent computing power to smaller developers and rent it for profit.

This is the amount AI companies currently spend on AI data centers across AI, based on current submissions.

  • Amazon has been allocated to capital expenditures (CAPEX) of up to $105 billion in 2025 alone, most of which goes to AI data centers and GPUs.
  • Microsoft’s 2025 fiscal year ends on June 30th, with the company planning to spend more than $80 billion on AI infrastructure.
  • Alphabet forecasts $75 billion in AI CAPEX spending for the 2025 calendar year.
  • The meta platform originally planned to spend up to $65 billion in 2025 to promote AI ambitions, but recently raised the high-end forecast to $72 billion.
  • Oracle’s 2025 fiscal year recently ended on May 31, spending $21.2 billion on AI infrastructure. The company plans to allocate more than $25 billion to AI Capex in 2026.

This list does not openly disclose companies such as Openai, Anthropic, and Elon Musk’s Xai as they do not include private companies.

Not all of that money flows to Nvidia, but each of the above companies publicly acknowledges their commercial ties with the chip giant. Nvidia’s GPUs and networking equipment account for a large portion of AI data center spending, but other key costs include land acquisition, construction, power infrastructure, cooling systems and staff.

Oracle, Meta and Microsoft also purchase GPUs from advanced micro devices. Some hyperscalers, like Alphabet, have worked with Broadcom to design their own chips.

Nvidia believes there is plenty of room for growth in data centre spending

Nvidia’s Hopper GPU architecture is at the foundation of the most powerful AI chips in 2023, including the popular H100 for most of 2024. However, two years after H100 sales increased, Nvidia launched two new architectures called Blackwell and Blackwell Ultra. The latter platform can deliver 50 times more performance than Hopper on a specific GPU configuration.

Blackwell Ultra GPUs like the GB300 are designed for current AI “inference” models, spending time thinking in the background before generating responses compared to traditional large language models (LLM), leading to more accurate output. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said some kind of inference model requires 100 to 1,000 times more computing power than its predecessor.

Nvidia plans to launch another new architecture next year called Rubin. This translates to a staggering performance improvement of 165 times faster than the Blackwell Ultra, 3.3 times faster than the Hopper.

The constant hunt for more computing power is why Huang predicts AI data center spending will exceed $1 trillion by 2028, which should support Nvidia’s continued growth in business. As a result, Nvidia’s stock could be a great purchase for now, despite trading near record highs.

John Mackey, former CEO of Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods Market, is a member of Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of the board of directors of Motley Fool. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development, Facebook spokeswoman and sister to Metaplatform CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of Motley Fool’s board of directors. Anthony di Pizio does not occupy any of the stocks mentioned. Motley Fool introduces and recommends advanced microdevices: Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Oracle. Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and the following options are recommended: A $395 call at Microsoft for January 2026 and a $405 call at short term Microsoft for January 2026. Motley Fools have a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a partner at USA Today, providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people control their financial lives. The content is produced independently of USA Today.

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