Those who need to buy last minute outfits and swimsuits for the 4th July celebration are lucky this year as well.
The US Postal Service banks and offices will close on July 4th, but most retailers will be open during the holidays. Generally, supermarkets and restaurants remain open.
Companies like Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Macy’s will open their doors on July 4th, but many will close earlier than usual.
Why is July 4th a holiday in the US?
The origins of this date date back when Philadelphia residents voluntarily celebrated the first anniversary of American independence, according to a letter from John Adams to their daughter Abigail, who holds the Library of Congress. However, the annual celebrations became regular after the war in 1812, when events such as the Erie Canal and the first rituals of the Baltimore and the Ohio Railroad agreed to the festival on July 4th.
Will Walmart and Home Depot be open on July 4th?
Will Target open on July 4th?yes. Target opened on July 4th, and the company confirmed with USA Today. Schedules vary depending on the location, so we recommend checking with your local store.
Will Walmart open on July 4th?Walmart will open from 6am to 11pm, a spokesman reported. Still, it’s best to check it in your online directory or local store before you go.
Will TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods open on July 4th?Yes, three stores will open, but will close at 8pm local time.
Will Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware open on July 4th?Most Home Depots open, but schedules vary depending on where you are. Lowe’s will also open, but will close at 8pm Ace Hardware is an independent property, so schedules vary. I recommend calling beforehand.
Will Macy’s open on July 4th?Yes, Macy’s will open, but close at 7pm
Will Nordstrom open on July 4th?Schedules vary by store, so check your location.
Will Gap and Old Navy open on July 4th?Schedules vary by location. I recommend calling beforehand.
Will Bass Pro Shop and Cabella open on July 4th?Yes, both are open from 9am to 7pm, but some stores follow the shopping centre schedule.
Will IKEA open on July 4th?Yes, 10am to 6pm
Will Dick’s sports goods open on July 4th?Yes, but closes at 7pm
Will Ray open on July 4th?Yes, 10am to 6pm
Will Burlington open on July 4th?Yes, you can view specific schedules at Burlington.com.
Will Staples, Office Depot and Offmax open on July 4th?Some of the main restaurants are open from 10am to 5pm. The rest will close. Office Depot and Offemax will be open from 9am to 6pm
Will Petco and Petsmart open on July 4th?Petsmart opens from 9am to 6pm Petco schedules vary depending on location.
Will Tractor Supply Company open on July 4th?Yes, 8am to 6pm
What about banks, mail and delivery services?
Will the email be open on July 4th? Is there delivery available?All post offices are closed and there are no regular residential or commercial delivery. Priority Mail Express operates 365 days a year, including holidays.
Will the bank open on July 4th?Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, Citibank and Jpmorgan Chase will be closed. However, the capital cafe will remain open.
Will UPS open on July 4th?There is no collection or delivery of packages. Some UPS store stores can be closed. Check at your location. UPS Express Critical is still available in 24 hours.
Will FedEx open on July 4th?Most FedEx services are not available. Schedules will be changed to the FedEx office. FedEx Custom Critical Opera 24/7.
Contribution: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY
Boris Q’va is a national news reporter for Spanish trends on the Connect/USA Today network. You can follow him on X as @boborisqva or email him at bbalsindesurquiola@gannett.com.
Take out the grill and get ready to celebrate Independence Day with barbecues, lawn chairs and delicious dishes! July 4th is perfect for gathering with friends, family and pets. Remember, fireworks are fun for many people, but they can be scary for some animals. Loud sounds like fireworks and thunderstorms are responsible for one in five lost pets.
Here’s how to keep your four-legged friends safe and happy while celebrating Independence Day:
Poor your dog
If possible, your dog should be at home with at least one human. Stay with your pet in a room with minimal windows and play soft music and movies to deflect from fireworks and other noises. A little love comes a long way. One of the best ways to calm your dog is to give your dog a strong, firm putt, veterinarian Diana Watkins, who owns 143 veterinary services in Massachusetts.
Thunder shirt
You can try anxiety-reducing devices like a thundershirt that acts like a weighted blanket to soothe your dog.
medicine
For dogs who are not overly concerned, there are some situational anxiety medications that the veterinarian can prescribe. It can be useful when you are in the process of leaving your dog behind for longer than usual.
Watkins recommends offering only dog-only veterinary products as commercially available anxiolytics and CBD supplements are not FDA controlled and can be harmful to puppies.
Collar with ID
Make sure your pet has the ID tag on at all times, or if your pet is not microchipped, invest in a GPS locator on the collar.
Take a walk before the night
It’s a good idea to take a walk early the day before the fireworks start. If you think fireworks will be triggered, then put your dog on the leash.
Four tips to calm your dog on July 4th
Dogs and other pets have a wealth of hearing. This is one of the reasons why I hate fireworks.
Staff Video, USA Today
Consider hiring a trainer
If fireworks and fear are affecting animals, you can consider hiring a trainer. Work with a behavioral consultant trainer to gradually decolorize your dog into fireworks. Planning your next fireworks event will never be delayed.
Source: USA Today Network Reporting and Research;American Kennel Club
Experts from the US Food and Drug Administration’s official official agency of best vaccines suggest that they oppose the widespread use of the two COVID-19 vaccines, a newly released document shows.
Dr Vinai Prasad, director of the agency’s Center for Biological Assessment and Research, said in two notes he opposed the reviewer’s conclusions on the safety of the vaccine and the ongoing threat of the virus that causes COVID-19, especially for young and healthy people.
Prasad’s decision is in line with the broader Trump administration efforts under the leadership of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit the availability of coronavirus vaccinations. Kennedy said in May that shots would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant people. The FDA said it would approve the new Covid-19 vaccine before that month, but would only approve elderly and high-risk groups.
In a memo that week, Prasad rejected recommendations from around 30 FDA scientists for people over the age of 12. He cited limited data and “lower risk” of severe COVID-19 infections and safety concerns.
He cited similar safety concerns in a May 30 document entitled “Override Memo” on the widespread use of Modern’s latest version of mRNA vaccine Mnexspike. The company had applied for approval for the updated version for people over the age of 12.
Prasad writes that despite the overall data submitted by Moderna, he was unable to conclude that the manufacturer had improved the safety of the shots or raised concerns about the risk of myocarditis or heart inflammation in teens and young people.
Earlier that week, the FDA had advised Moderna and another manufacturer of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer to update the label to include warnings about this rare condition.
“Novavax is focused on making Covid-19 vaccinations available to those who choose to receive vaccinations at the highest risk,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. “We believe it is important for consumers to choose a vaccine.
Moderna declined to comment on the story.
“The idea that Dr. Prasad ‘dismissed’ FDA scientists is a distortion of fact,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. “He evaluated the whole evidence and made judgments rooted in gold standard science. It’s not political. It’s what principled leadership looks like.”
Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University, said the memo reflects a broader talk point among health officials.
“They seem to be obsessed with myocarditis and they made the decision simply because they have a fixed ideology that they continue to look for confirmation bias,” he said. “And I think the data there is really clear. Early on, I saw 20 to 65 (cases) per million doses when I was giving the first (vaccine) 3-4 weeks apart. In fact, we didn’t really see much in reality. It’s 10 times more expensive than if you were protected by a vaccine.
The memo also marks a break from typical agency responsibilities, Griffin said.
“The role of the FDA is to make decisions whether or not to obtain a license. However, as long as we limit access, we are to provide guidance on who should be vaccinated. The FDA is supposed to have the power to limit access to safe and effective products.”
“In the past, override memos for the centre director have been rare and only made after very careful consideration, usually after consultation with other centre directors,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of Cber before Prasad, told a text message Wednesday.
Dr. Peter Lurie, former FDA Associate Commissioner, now president and executive director of the Center for Public Interest Science, said overrides like Prasad tend to be false in the aspect of being less restrictive and tend to make the product available when reviewers become more cautious. He has never seen reviewers limit the use of products they deemed safe and effective.
“It’s very difficult to escape the conclusion that these Covid vaccines’ resentment plays a key role in this very rare override,” he said. “Yes, I think there is still concern that they were making policy decisions that should have been reserved for the CDC.”
Prasad’s memo was first reported by the New York Times.
Prasad took on the role as CBER director on May 8 after saying Marks was kicked out of his role due to Kennedy’s vaccine strategy. More recently, FDA commissioner Dr. Marty McCurry has also promoted Prasad to become the agency’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer.
Prasad is a hematologist oncologist and an outspoken critic of his claims to be thinking of a medical group. Former University of CaliforniaIn clinical trials, the San Francisco professor also questioned the dependence of developers on drug approval processes and secondary outcomes or surrogate endpoints, as well as the dependence of drug approval processes and developers.
Prasad called “former FDA commissioners, both democratic and Republican administrations, who do not need sufficient randomized clinical trial data for approval decisions, “under both Democrat and Republican administrations.”
The biotech stock fell a few hours after it was announced as CBER director. Some industry analysts called Prasad the “anti-establishment” pick and led the division overseeing vaccines and biological products.
He appears to nod his concerns with McCurry at City Hall on May 20, suggesting a flexible approach to speeding up drug approval.
“We must always accept surrogate endpoints for people with illnesses, extremely rare conditions and few treatment options,” he told FDA staff at the Maryland campus. “We have an obligation to promote the FDA to patients who desperately want those products, and we also have an obligation to check our backend and make sure we are actually achieving what we thought.”
Prasad also showed an approach to the Covid-19 vaccine at its city hall.
“The risk of severe illness and hospitalization is declining among Americans. The effectiveness of repeat doses… The effectiveness of these vaccines further reduce severe illness and symptomatic illness is uncertain, and there are important safety considerations that have not been fully known for their long-term effects,” he said. “We will continue to monitor them closely.”
For 20 years, CARS.COM number clay launchers have used data along with American automotive labeling methods, along with data from countless different sources that generate American-made indexes. This year, there are 99 entries. This is a list of all car and truck models that are at least partially assembled in the US based on a 100-point scale, ranked by content from the lowest American-made* to the lowest American-made* (usually separated by fractions of points). This year’s tariff landscape has increased the aptitude for American-made indexes. Here we break down the highlights and simply know that as the tariff situation continues to change, the models that are ranked the most on this list are the least affected.
*Aala says the parts made in Canada are the same as those made in the US.
Tesla is still up
Tesla has been claiming to be at the top since 2021, but in a surprising move, last year’s No.-21 rank Tesla Model 3 surpassed the three-year list topping model Y due to changes in battery procurement. And this year, like we did in 2023, Tesla was locked up in the top four spots on the list.
36 Big Three Holds in Detroit
GM only has 15 spots on the list, Ford 13 and Stellantis, but the two Jeeps rank higher than all Ford and GM models. Cars.com notes that 50% of all vehicles sold in 2025 are imported.
Jeep Gladiator’s highest rank big three name plate
The Toledo-born Jeep Gladiator, who rose from 8th to 5th this year, is ranked seventh among the Wrangler brothers. 19.
Toprank Ford No. 22
Ford ads will make you believe it is the most American brand. And perhaps considering the hourly car, vehicle and other metrics built here, due to American-made index rules, the electric Ford F-150 Lightning is the highest ranked model of the No. 22 brand. At least no. 31, the Mustang ranked for the highest for Ford in 2024 (Pony will fall to No. 56 this year).
The biggest climbers and losers
We sourced Cross Cross engines from the US instead of Brazil and Japan for the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid engine. From 66, no. 18. Meanwhile, procuring the opposite direction of changes caused the brand’s RAV4 hybrid to fall to the bottom of the list and from no. From 65, no. 99.
Best domestic content
New features on this year’s list are Hyundai Ion Ik 5, KIA EV6, and EV9 electric SUVs, many of which are currently being built in Georgia. The EV6 contains 80% of US/Canada domestic parts.
Michigan builds the most American model
Mittens Auto City assembles 15 vehicles on its list. This helps rank the Midwest, but the number of most American cars from the Southern states has increased by 17% since 2020.
Double the number of EVs
Last year, five EVs created the list, and while the number swelled to 11 in 2025 as battery and assembly plants increased content online in the US, it is worth noting that Cadillac Lyriq’s domestic content plummeted from 62% (71 ranking No. 71) to 11% last year.
Things this list cannot tell you
This is all about the people who assemble the geographical sources of parts and components themselves. It says nothing about where the profits from these sales are. They also do not offer credits for foreign assembled cars with high US-Canadian parts content (probably Mexican-made Ford Maverick, BroncoSport, Mach-E, etc.).
The most American cars, trucks, and SUVs you can buy:
1
Tesla Model 3
2
Tesla model y
3
Tesla Models
4
Tesla Model x
5
Jeep gladiator
6
EV6
7
Honda Ridge Line
8
Honda Odyssey
9
Honda Passport
10
Volkswagen ID.4
11
Acura MDX
12
Honda Pilot
13
Jeep Wrangler
14
Acura Rdx
15
Honda Agreement
16
Acura Integra
17
Get sports
18
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
19
Chevrolet Colorado
20
Nissan Pathfinder
twenty one
Jeep Wrangler 4xe
twenty two
Ford F-150 Lightning
twenty three
Ford Explorer
twenty four
Toyota Camry
twenty five
Dodge Durango
26
Hyundai Santa Cruz
27
Jeep Wagonia, Wagonia L, Grand Wagonia, Grand Wagonia L.
28
Lincoln Aviator
29
Chevrolet Corvette
30
Hyundai Ionik 5
31
Kia Sorento
32
Toyota Grand Highlander
33
Toyota Highlander
34
Lexus Texas
35
Lincoln Corsair
36
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
37
Ford F-150
38
Chevrolet suburbs
39
GMC Yukon, Yukon XL
40
Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV
41
Chevrolet Taho
42
GMC Canyon
43
Toyota Sponge
44
Cadillac CT5
45
RAM 1500
46
Ford Ranger
47
Ford Bronco
48
Kia Telluride
49
Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sports
50
Cadillac XT5
51
Toyota Tundra
52
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
53
Honda Agreement Hybrid
54
Toyota Tundra Hybrid
55
Toyota Sequoia
56
Ford Mustang, Mustang GTD
57
Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
58
Toyota Corolla Cross
59
Nissan Murano
60
Nissan Ultima
61
Ford F-150 Hybrid
62
Hyundai Santa Fe
63
GMC Sierra 1500
64
Ford Escape
65
Infiniti QX60
66
Ford Expedition, Expedition Max
67
The EV9 should be
68
Toyota Corolla, Corolla hatchback, Gr Corolla
69
Lincoln Navigator, Navigator l
70
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L
81
BMW X5 50E
82
BMW X6
83
BMW X5
84
BMW X7
85
Honda CR-V
86
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
87
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
88
BMW X3
89
Honda Civic
90
Mercedes-Benz GLE450E
91
Mercedes-Benz GLS
92
Mercedes-Benz Download SUV
93
Mercedes-Benz Guru
94
Honda Civic Hybrid
95
Genesis GV70
96
Subaru Crosstrek
97
Nissan Rogue
98
Cadillac Like
99
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
We would like to see how this list will grow and change as a result of tariff pressure on land production of vehicles and components over the next few years.
The US recently said it would suspend weapon delivery to Ukraine as the Pentagon has reviewed its ammunition stockpile.
The Hague, July 4 (Reuters) – Dutch and German intelligence agency are gathering evidence of Russian Russia’s use of chemical weapons banned in Ukraine.
Dutch Defense Minister Reuben Brekelmans called for stricter sanctions on Moscow.
“The main conclusion is that we can confirm that Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons,” he told Reuters.
“This intensification is part of a trend we have been observing for years, and this intensification is due to the more normalized, standardized and widespread use of Russian chemical weapons in this war.”
German BND Foreign Intelligence Agency confirmed the findings in a statement that it had obtained evidence along with its Dutch counterparts. Reuters first reported the information.
Peter Leesink, head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD), said the conclusion “follows our own independent intelligence, so we observed it based on our own research.”
Reuters were unable to independently verify the use of banned chemicals on both sides of the Ukrainian War.
The US initially accused Russia of using chloropicrine, which Germany first used in May last year, which is more toxic than riot control agents.
more: Trump, Putin calls after pausing weapon transfer to Ukraine
Ukraine claims thousands of cases of Russian chemical weapons use.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this article. Russia has refused to use illegal ammunition and accused Ukraine of doing so.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that she discovered Ukrainian caches of explosive devices in the eastern part of the country, including chloropicrine.
Ukraine has consistently denied such accusations.
The Hague disarmament agency with 193 member states, the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said last year the first charges that both countries lay “have not been adequately demonstrated.”
They are not asked to conduct a full investigation. This must be initiated by member states.
more: Russia continues record air attacks, and the US cuts off cargo of weapons and cargo to Ukraine
At least three Ukrainians have been linked to the use of chemical weapons, but more than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield have reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities, according to Brekelmans.
The increased use of chemical weapons by Russia poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other countries, Brekelman added.
“We have to raise the pressure even more, which means we will consider more sanctions and not allow them (Russia) to participate in international organizations like the OPCW’s Executive Council,” he said.
Reesink spoke of “thousands of instances” of chemical weapons use, and also cited figures from 9,000 Ukrainians.
OPCW Council’s two-year seat rotation will increase for negotiations in the coming months.
The findings of the information were presented in a letter to the Dutch Parliament on Friday.
Large programme
Russia is a member of the OPCW and, like the US, destroyed declared stockpiles of chemical weapons.
The increase in sanctions could occur in conjunction with the European Commission, which proposes to list 15 additional new entities and individuals in its sanctions framework, including alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The Dutch military and general intelligence agency says it is working with foreign partners to uncover concrete evidence of strengthening Russian chemical weapons production.
This includes recruiting scientists for increased research capabilities and the development of chemical weapons, Reesink said. He added that Russian officials gave soldiers instructions on using toxic war agents.
“This isn’t just about ad hoc trolling at the forefront. It’s really part of a massive program, because, of course, these trends are likely to continue unless they clarify and make public what Russia is doing,” Reesink said.
He called the use of chemical weapons by the Russian army “a nearly standing operational procedure.”
“We specifically linked the use of chloropicrin to use chloropicrin with improvised ammunition, such as light bulbs and empty bottles suspended from drones. When it comes to tear gas, we see that we misuse and convert existing ammunition to act as carriers of gas,” he said.
Chloropicrine is listed as a suffocating agent prohibited by the OPCW, created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
It can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory systems. If consumed, it can cause burns to the mouth and stomach, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
(Additional report by Andreas Linke of Berlin, edited by Mike Collet White and William McLean)
Approximately 39 million Americans do not use AC. Many people can’t afford it or don’t need it (still, as the planet warms up), but some just don’t like it.
Slow temperatures from the Midwest to the East Coast
With heatwave warnings in effect nationwide, temperature inhaling has driven people to parks and fountains.
She is finishing a meeting with the new maid service when the thermometer inside Shelly Snyder’s three-storey Victorian home in Columbus, Ohio reaches 88 degrees., I water plants and do chores. And she does it all without air conditioning.
Snyder said she’d be fine without it. Even during the hot recommendations, she found a way to deal with it.
“You can wait all winter, open windows and doors, and have fresh air and summer,” she told reporters on a day when the heat index exceeded 100 degrees.
Snyder is one of the roughly 12% of people who don’t use AC, one of the roughly 39 million Americans, according to the US Energy Information Agency. Many people can’t afford it or don’t need it because they live in cool climates, but others choose to abandon their air conditioners to lower their carbon footprint. Then there’s something like Snyder. They choose to withstand the swell-like temperatures of her “big old house with high ceilings” and the open high-floor skylight windows.
“The ceiling fans just pull the cold air out of the basement just above the house,” she said.
Air conditioners can save lives, but especially amid setting a record heat wave that burned the country in late June — some people don’t like it, according to Gail Brager, director of the UC Berkeley Center for Construction Environments. Certain AC uses can cause “experiential monotony,” Brager said.
“There’s nothing fun about it,” she said. “It’s not healthy for our bodies to be in the same state all the time, anywhere. And it’s not always comfortable, either empirically or very interesting.”
Cooler cities and states don’t need AC – yet
Alaska leads its citizens without AC, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Energy by Professor Lucas Davis, University of California, Berkeley. Only 7% of households there are air-conditioned, but state temperatures are rising exponentially as the planet warms.
Officials issued historic recommendations during the June heat wave in Alaska. There, it is warmed 2-3 times faster than the global average.
San Francisco is the city with fewer air conditioning in the lower 48 states, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s U.S. Housing Survey.
Devin Carraway’s house is one of them. Caraway said he has lived in the Bay Area for most of his life and heat waves are rare and therefore eliminates the need for air conditioners. Even if the weather changes, he said, “AC will not be the first thing I do.”
“AC throws a lot of energy into problems that need to be solved through building design first,” Carraway says.
Instead, Carraway chose to install insulation and a white roof. He said solar panels on the roof and his neighbor’s “really amazing Monterey Cypress trees” also help keep the house cool on occasional hot days.
Support that is so threatened that AC is out of reach
Many Americans simply can’t afford AC because the cost of cooling in the summer is rising. It could make them at a higher risk of fever disease or death.
According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average electricity bill is projected to reach $784 this summer. According to the health policy organization KFF, blacks, Hispanics and low-income households are more likely to say they don’t have or use air conditioners due to financial challenges.
“Many people are afraid to turn on air conditioners because of the cost,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director at Neada.
There are state and federal programs that help customers pay their energy bills with limited revenue, but Wolfe said it’s not enough to meet their growing needs. And the 2026 budget proposed by the Trump administration will eliminate funding for one of those programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If established, Wolf said nearly six million households might have to go without air conditioning or heat.
Adams, 56, on Tuesday in Cathedral City, California, may be one of them. She arrived at the county aid department, clutching a utility bill that had been postponed to June 25th, as temperatures reached 102 degrees, and was smashing over $20,000. Edison of Southern California extended the deadline for more than a year, but she received a notice of breaking up.
She said she had received help from Liheap in the past but was trying to avoid asking too often. She was not chopped out when informed of the looming elimination of all federal funds for the program.
“They have to do something, they can’t stop this program… There are so many people here who are really, really struggling… there are a lot of families in the dark in this heat,” she said.
Giving up AC to break the “vicious cycle” of climate change
The use of residential energy, including cooling, heating and power, accounts for around 20% of US greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2020 survey published in minutes of the US National Academy of Sciences.
“It is this malicious cycle that air conditioners contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, and the temperatures of the warming require more air conditioners,” says Brager.
Stancox wants to break that cycle. The author of “Our Cool: Losing the Unpleasant Truth About Our Conditional World” unfolds fans underground on hot days at his Kansas home, or spends time in a wooden basement. As a result, he used 80% less electricity last June than neighbors of similarly sized homes, he said he was citing the Utilities Bill.
He acknowledges something about “love relationships” with innovation. When he experienced the central air as a child in 1967, he thought “I died and went to heaven,” but later began to dislike the contrast between the cold indoors and the heat outdoors. “I didn’t like it,” he said.
But Cox turns on AC at least once every summer “to make sure it’s still working properly.”
“Or if there’s someone coming for dinner,” He said. “Because when we’re at 85 degrees in our house, we can’t really invite people to dinner.”
Back in Columbus, Ohio, Snyder’s neighbor has a large oak that partially shades her home in the morning. And when it’s toast or stuffed, Snyder says she’ll find something to do in the basement or outside.
Snyder has a portable window AC unit, but she reserves it just for visitors staying at night. She hasn’t used it in 10 years.
“I’m grateful for the air conditioner like the next guy,” she said. “Do I personally want to have that? Certainly. I will be 70 this year.
Contributions: Sarah Chernikov and Sarah Elbeshvisi, USA TODAY
An international team of researchers may have just cracked the code for something that would make someone “cool”.
And wherever you live, a study published this week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that personality traits that make someone “cool” appear to be consistent across the country.
Researchers found that people considered “cool” are perceived as more extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open and autonomous compared to those considered “good” or “preferred.”
“The most surprising thing was seeing the same attributes appear in all countries,” said Todd Petzutti, an associate professor of marketing at Adolfo Ibañez University in Chile, who was the co-led researcher for the study.
“Whether it’s China or South Korea or Chile or the US, people like people who are pushing boundaries and causing change,” he said. “So you’d say that coolness really really represents something more basic than the label of coolness.”
Researchers – Adolfoy Banes University, University of Arizona and University of Georgia conducted experiments from 2018 to 2022, with approximately 6,000 people in 12 countries in Australia, Chile, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, Spain, South Africa, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.
Participants were asked to think of people in their own lives that they felt “cool”, “cool”, “good”, or “not good.” They were then asked to use two scales to assess the person’s personality. A survey of portrait values aimed at measuring the Big Five Personality Scale, widely used scientific models that help explain personality traits, and portrait values aimed at measuring the fundamental value of an individual.
Participants in this study consistently relate to being calm, conscientious, universal, comfortable, warm, safe, traditional and good person. Ability was considered both “cool” and “good”, but not so clearly. However, the formula for being “cool” had six character traits, which were more extroverted, pleasing, adventurous, adventurous, open and autonomous, regardless of a person’s age, gender, or level of education.
Pezzuti doesn’t think these “cool” traits are something that can be taught.
“We were born with those attributes,” he said. “Five of these attributes are personality traits, and personality traits tend to be fairly stable.”
The study showed that cool people and good people aren’t the same, but there may be some overlapping traits, said Caleb Warren, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Arizona.
“In order to be considered cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likeable or stunning. “But cool people often have other traits that they don’t necessarily think are ‘good’ in a moral sense, such as hedonistic and powerful. ”
A limitation of the study was that only those who understood the meaning of “cool” were included in the study. Pezzuti said it would be interesting – but difficult to determine whether the findings are similar among more traditional cultures or between remote groups of people who may not be very familiar with the term.
“We don’t know what we’ll find in ultra-traditional cultures like hunting and collecting tribes and nutritional farming groups,” Pettsuti said.
“One of the things we propose is that in these cultures, innovation and cultural innovation are not so important in those cultures, so “cool” people don’t have a key role in their role,” he said. “So you’re going to say that cool people probably exist in those cultures, but their role isn’t that big and probably isn’t as praised as other cultures.”
When asked to think about public figures and celebrities who embody “cool” based on his research, Pettuti immediately said Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
“He’s a controversial person, but the person that comes to mind is Elon Musk,” Pettuti said, adding that he checks all boxes of six attributes identified in the study.
Musk is “unmistressly powerful” and autonomous, and appears to be extroverted due to his presence on social media platforms and media, he said.
“I’ve heard he’s TI-disease and probably more TI-disease than he can see, but he looks very extroverted to outsiders. He’s funny. He’s on the podcast and is always in front of the camera,” explained Pettuti.
Some of Musk’s actions also appear hedonistic, he said. “He smoked marijuana on the world’s most popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan’s Experience.” ”
And Pettty added that Mask’s idea of colonizing Mars shows that he is open and adventurous.
Jona Burger, an associate professor of marketing at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, said the new paper is one of the few empirical studies examining exactly what makes people “cool.”
“I’ve been wondering for a long time about what makes people cool (in theory), but there’s not much actual empirical research on this topic, so it’s great to see the work of exploring this space.”
“Coolness may seem like something you were born with, but there are certainly steps people can take to try and move them in that direction,” he said. “It certainly seems worth studying given how many people want to be cool and how much money is spent with that goal in mind.”
John Freeman, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University, said future research in this field could assess coolness in parallel with goodness and badness rather than isolated from it.
“In real life, coolness can be positive quality, but it can have negative implications in certain social contexts as well. It may be worthwhile to look at the difference between good and bad coolness in future work. This research approach provides a great foundation that was not involved in new research either.
“From a scientific perspective, cool seems far more like a product of reasoning and social construction than genetics, but the low level of temperament informed by genetics can nourish continuous personality structure,” he said.
“The “cool” is deeply ingrained in our social vocabulary as it acts as a stenography of complex reasoning. It encapsulates status, affiliation and identity signals in an instant, deeply stereotypical way.
The sudden emergence of 401K and other investment-based plans has led to an declining popularity across all sectors.
No brand – Lifestyle
Consistently saving on a 401(k) is one of the best things you can do for retirement. Social Security probably won’t pay you enough money to cover your living expenses. Therefore, some income is required to compensate for these monthly profits. And the 401(k) is the perfect place to find it.
Not only is the 401(k) funded immediately from the payroll deduction, it is convenient, but many companies also offer workers a 401(k) match. If you donate some money yourself, it’s virtually free money for your retirement.
You might want to know how the balance of your 401(k) plan compares to the average saver. For that reason, Fidelity has some new data. And it may surprise you.
The balance is decreasing, but that’s not the reason for panic
Fidelity reports that at the end of the first quarter of 2025, its average 401(k) balance was $127,100. This is down 3% from the last quarter.
The reason for the decline in the average 401(k) balance is likely due to market volatility, which actually lasted well beyond the first quarter of the year. It is also worth noting that the balance of some people may have already recovered from that volatility. As Fidelity reports 401(k) data per quarter, recent updates are not reflected in the numbers released.
Don’t stress short-term changes
Don’t panic if your 401(k) plan loses value from the beginning of the year to the end of the first quarter, or between the beginning of the year and the present. Balance fluctuations are normal and can occur for several reasons.
The key is to regularly fund the 401(k). In the meantime, make sure you’re at least taking home the full employer match. Also make sure you are investing your 401(k) wisely and not losing too much money in the fees.
To minimize investment costs, we recommend supporting passively managed index funds at 401(k). Be aware of the target date funds. They may seem like an easy investment. However, in the sense that “easy” you are not getting the revenue you want from your retirement savings.
What happens if the 401(k) balance is much lower?
Your 401(k) balance may be close to $127,100. But that doesn’t lead to panic either.
The $127,100 balance represents the average for savers of all ages. It’s because if you’re 34, you might not have as much money as someone who’s 54 and works 20 years longer than you have. Not only did older workers give more time to contribute to their savings, they also had complex returns over the years.
However, if you are not satisfied with the progress you have made with your 401(k), assess your spending. Can you cut in some regions to free up more money for savings? If not, can you get a side hustle and fund that 401(k) at a faster pace?
Also, the balance of the 401(k) may be lower than you would like because you are investing your money modestly. Before you exercise, look at the big picture. If necessary, sit with a financial advisor who can provide guidance on investing in a 401(k) and finding a room on your budget for continuous contributions.
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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Tel Aviv/Cairo, July 4 (Reuters) – At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, local health officials say. US President Donald Trump said he hopes Hamas will answer the “final proposal” of the next 24-hour ceasefire in Gaza.
Health officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Eunice, southern Gaza, said Israeli forces were bombing at a tent camp west of the city around 2am, killing 15 Palestinians who had been evacuated in the war for nearly two years.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment.
Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to pray for funerals before burying those killed overnight.
“A ceasefire came and you lost your brother? There must have been a ceasefire long ago before he lost his brother,” said Mayal Al-Far, 13, who cried. Her brother, Mahmoud, was among those killed.
Trump previously said it is probably known in 24 hours whether Hamas has accepted a ceasefire between Palestinian extremist groups and Israel.
more: Trump urges Hamas to accept “final proposal” for the 60-day Gaza ceasefire
On Tuesday, the president announced that Israel has accepted the conditions necessary to complete a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas.
Hamas previously declared that he agreed to agree to the deal for the enduring purpose of the war, but said it was studying the proposal, but that no official indication was given as to whether it would accept or reject it.
“Trade”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet commented on Trump’s ceasefire announcement. Some members of his right-wing coalition are against the deal, while others have shown their support.
Netanyahu repeatedly says Hamas must be disarmed. This is a position that extremist groups have refused to discuss.
In Tel Aviv, family members and hostage friends held in Gaza were among the protesters gathered outside the US embassy building on the US Independence Day, calling for Trump to secure deals with all prisoners of war.
The protesters set up the iconic Shabbat dinner table and 50 empty chairs to represent those still being held in Gaza. The banner hangs nearby and says Trump, “Make a deal in Gaza. Get hostages back!!!”
Sabbaths, or shabbats observed from the Friday evening to Saturday daytime, are often marked by Jewish families at traditional Friday night dinners.
“Only you can get a contract. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, of Tel Aviv.
Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of Abynatan hostage. One of his employees was lured into Palestinian extremists from the Nova Musical Festival on October 7, 2023.
more: “Let bibi Go”: Trump says we “don’t stand” for Netanyahu’s prosecution
Ruby Chen, 55, and 19-year-old Itai’s father of America and Israel, 1tai, are believed to have been killed after being taken prisoner, urging Netanyahu to return from a meeting with Trump in Washington in a deal that brings all hostages.
“This US Independence Day marks the beginning of lasting peace… that ensures the sacred value of human life and that gives dignity to hostages who have died by ensuring a return to proper burial,” he said.
more: Edan Alexander, Hamas hostages released from New Jersey meet with Trump at the White House
Itai Chen, a German citizen, also served as an Israeli soldier when Hamas launched a surprising attack on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 more hostages.
Israel’s retaliation war with Hamas devastated Gaza. Gaza has been dominated by extremist groups for almost two decades, but now it is partially dominated, drove the majority of its population to over two million, causing widespread hunger.
More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly two years of fighting, most of whom are civilians, according to local health officials.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell of Tel Aviv, Nidal Al Mugravi of Cairo, and Hatem Khaled of Gaza, edited by Alex Richardson)
Lollapalooza 2025 lineup revealed: see who is performing
One of the world’s most iconic music festivals, Lollapalooza has announced its 2025 lineup.
Fox-32 Chicago
We landed it past a fierce heat wave and in July. This only means that “Hard Launch Summer” is back for good.
Glastonbury, a British music festival, was ripe for romance this year. Pop singers Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo had also hinted at the status of their relationship on Instagram along with photos from the weekend festivities.
Rodrigo had subtly posted photos of British actor Louis Partridge at his previous photo dump, but he never had a face. But towards the end of Glastonbury’s summary post on July 2nd, Rodrigo shared a clip dancing on Partridge’s shoulder, smiling and singing alongside the “general people” of Pulp.
The comments section exploded.
“A hard launch that I was waiting for so much happiness,” one fan wrote.
Abrams also shared photos In his Instagram story dancing on the shoulders of Irish actor Paul Mezcal over the weekend,On July 2nd, she dumped the photo into her feed and was lowered by a selfie.
“I’m very happy to see the two of them who don’t know,” one fan commented. “It’s really special to me that both you and Olivia launch hard on the feed,” writes another.
So, what is the art of “hard launch”? The term sparked waves last summer when Taylor Swift finally posted Travis Kelce on her Instagram feed. The relationship between both Abrams and Rodrigo’s rumors is already in the spotlight. Early kisses caught by paparazzi, gossip circulating social media, and songs that appear to be written about partners (Have you heard Rodrigo’s “So American”?). But “hard launch” is when you share the world together, on your terms.
Therapists say celebrities have countless reasons to pull the proverb. But whether it’s a carefully curated moment or an impulsive expression of love, you can’t unleash that bell.
“Every aspect of the relationship can become feed for public consumption and scrutiny, putting the couple in the spotlight and pressure them to be considered healthy matches,” author Jeff Genter, licensed professional counselor and author, told USA Today previously. “You’re also open to the growing criticism.”
“Hard launch” and story control
Dating is tricky, no matter who you are, especially early on before you decide to start talking to people. Along with celebrities, they not only open themselves to scrutiny from family and friends, but often the whole world.
In the first stage, it may seem too good. And screaming your love from the rooftop can feel like it’s jinxing. Last summer, when Sabrina Carpenter featured the then-error Bo, Irish actor Barry Keogan in the music video for “Please, please, please,” the song asked him to “not be embarrassed.”
While we can’t guess how Carpenter will feel after the carpenter, her latest single, “Manchild,” may give listeners a clue.
“When we introduce someone as our partner, there is an expectation that we examined this person,” Kimberly previously told USA Today, Shashua, a licensed clinical social worker. “It’s embarrassing to have to go back to friends, family, Instagram and break up and update them.” Think about all couples, celebrities or anything else. Often, it’s a matter of self-preservation.
That said, it’s easy to see why celebrities want to scream about their relationship anyway. They are the same as others. It feels good to fall in love.
“When we are confident in our partners, it can feel great to show off them,” Shashore said. “It’s much easier to be honest with friends and family than creeping up. If you’re active on social media, hiding a big part of your life can feel strange.”
Sabrina Carpenter, Hook-Up Culture And why is the way we talk about sex changing?
Risk and reliability benefits
When publishing private relationships, people must weigh the benefits of reliability against risk. These “depend on what celebrities are coming out of, their impact on their personal and professional lives, and whether their choices are in line with their personality and core values,” Cecil Arlens, a licensed clinical social worker, previously told USA Today.
No matter who you are, you give up on your own fragments during hard launch. Ahrens adds that they may receive “unnecessary attention” or face “constant boundary violations.” After the obvious farewell from Phoebe Bridgers, rumors swirled over her relationship with Mezcal, so ask Abrams, who faces criticism. But as time goes by, Abrams’ “hard launch” has been supported.
“Hard launch” is even a business strategy. “Being open about their relationships will likely lead celebrities to connect more deeply with their fans, boost parasocial relationships, and lead to more sales and followers,” Guenther said.
It is a decision that requires care and conversation. But at the end of the day, at least the decision belongs to them.
Robinhood began offering iconic stocks in private companies, causing a backlash from Openai as one of its target companies.
At an event in Cannes on Monday, Robin Hood co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev showed what he described as “stock tokens” for Openai and SpaceX. This move forms part of the European expansion of Robinhood. This includes offering EU users more than 200 tokenized US stocks.
TENEV told participants that European users downloading the Robinhood app have the opportunity to own tokenized stocks in Openai and Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Venture SpaceX.
The trading platform explains on its website: “Robin Hoodstock tokens follow the prices of publicly available stocks and ETFs. These are derivatives tracked on the blockchain and exposed to the US market. When you buy a stock token, you are not buying any actual stocks.
This distinction means that token holders do not enjoy traditional shareholder rights, such as voting privileges, despite financial exposure to the company.
Openai refuses to offer Robinhood’s tokenized shares
This announcement sparked a sharp responsibilities from Openai. The well-known AI company led by Sam Altman has firmly denied its involvement in Robinhood’s initiative.
“These ‘Openai tokens’ are not Openai equity,” the company said in a post on X.
Industry observers note that Robinhood’s approach appears to be designed to provide price exposure to the underlying stock rather than actual ownership, and may be constructed in this way to navigate complex regulatory requirements.
This mechanism is similar to products from other financial technology companies. For example, Cryptocurrency Platform Kraken offers a product called Xstocks. This does not represent direct share ownership, but is instead supported by the underlying stock.
The introduction of tokenized stocks like Openai represents Robinhood’s latest efforts to expand its footprint in Europe while expanding cryptocurrency and blockchain-based products. During the same announcement, the company has facilitated the launch of tokenized US stocks in Europe, along with permanent trading and staking capabilities for American users.
Impact on private market investments
Robinhood’s initiative, if successful despite the pushback, can usually democratize access to the required private companies to make stocks available to institutional investors, venture capitalists and accredited individual investors.
However, the debate highlights the challenge of bringing innovation to regulated financial markets, particularly when dealing with private companies that strictly control their equity.
Financial experts should note that potential investors need to understand the distinction between these tokenized derivatives and actual stock ownership. Value propositions and risks differ significantly from traditional equity ownership, even when exposed to previously inaccessible investment opportunities.
Robinhood’s broader European expansion continues Apace, and the company is keen to capitalize on growing interest among European traders in both American stocks and cryptocurrency investments. It remains to be seen whether the issue of tokenized stocks and subsequent rebound from companies like Openai will help or disrupt these ambitions.
reference: Floods interested in European AI GigaFactories Plans
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These are some of the places throughout America where people proudly wear patriotism all year round.
Drones show replacing firework displays in some cities
Drones are used in or in place of fireworks in some cities, providing viewers something new and addressing environmental concerns.
Audubon, NJ – Every July 4th, this small town has a marching band, a fire truck, a baby stroller spun with stars, and a child riding a red and blue blue bike.
Homeowners compete for the best decorated home. The fire station has an open house with complimentary hot dogs. The fourth is usually concluded with a high school fireworks show, just like everyone else in America.
But waving the flag is not an hour’s deal here. The district, which has about 8,700 people, was built on a pillar of patriotism. Audubon is home to three Medal of Honor recipients who have been awarded the highest military honors and was awarded to those who have shown extraordinary courage in the battle.
The memorial to the three Medal of Honor recipients is a reminder of the sacrifices at Audubon High School. Samuel M. Sampler from World War I, Edward C. Benfold and Nelson V.
Mayor Rob Jackbowski says Audubon is “always green and gold,” referring to the school’s signature colours. “But we are always red, white, and blue.”
“Audubon loves the country and shows the sacrifices these men have made on July 4th each year,” he told USA Today.
There are other small towns that have been passionate about their love for America since July 4th.
In Bedford, Virginia, the cost of freedom may be understood a little more deeply than in other small towns.
The town is home to the Bedford Boys, a member of Company A of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Regiment. The company sent 38 men to the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach, accounting for the casualties of a per capita, vital battle more than any other town in the United States.
Bedford remembers 20 home town men who lost their lives in the battle. I remember the aftermath that followed through observations, memorials and the National D-Day Memorial.
“It’s a very close community,” said Noel Woodcock of the Bedford Museum and Genealogy Library. The company A man came mostly from a poor rural background and didn’t think he was called for combat duties, but signed the National Guard services for a good paying job, she said. Yet men served with courage, and many made the ultimate sacrifice.
Bristol, Rhode Island: Celebrating since 1785
The Revolutionary War Veterans of Bristol began their first known observance in 1785 of the “Patriotic Movement,” an event honoring military veterans. The Rev. Henry Wight of the first congregation church began in the early 19th century when the town’s website and the day of Bristol’s independence began.
The town of about 23,000 people sees about 200,000 people at its annual July 4th event. This actually starts on the flag day of June 14th and includes a concert series, an orange crate derby, a parade and fireworks. Preparations began a year ago, with Residents and Planning Committee member Kamille Teisheyla talking to USA Today, with over 150 committee members and volunteers working to organize and carry out the activities.
“You take such pride to honor all these people,” she said, calling it a “big and glorious celebration.”
“I stand there and cry through the national anthem. It’s a great experience.”
Cooperstown, New York: A story of (some) origins in baseball
What are Americans more than baseball?
Even if the American Baseball Research Association uncovers the myth that the inventing national entertainment in Hamlet, New York by Abner Doubleday, Cooperstown is still leaning towards myths (accepting that “baseball history is actually much more complicated than that”).
Ryan Geraty, director of marketing and communications at Cooperstown, says that a small village of 1,600 welcomes “hundreds of thousands” of people every summer, many of whom are baseball players, coaches and fans, but many are also drawn to other attractions.
Double Dayfield and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum may be stars of the Cooperstown lineup, but the birthplace of “Last of the Moheecan” author James Fenimo Cooper is home to the Fennimore Museum (a rich collection of Native American art) on Main Street, featuring shops, restaurants and Lake Otzego with its scenic Lake.
“July is our time to shine,” Gerati said. It’s not just baseball diamonds. “We are the most perfect village in America. There are fireworks in the lake (July 4th),” says the Springfield Center near New York, which will host its 111th Independence Day Parade.
Gallup, New Mexico: Home of Code Talker in Navajo
Gallup’s location in American history dates back long before America It was Matt Robinson, the tourism and marketing managers for the town of New Mexico, told USA Today. Known in the Dine language of Navajo na’nizhoozhior “bridge”, Gallup was a Native American trade center for centuries before its official establishment in 1881.
“We bring people together,” said Robinson, including all types of Indigenous communities, veterans and Americans, attracted by Gallup’s natural beauty and rich native history.
But he said Gallup “is disproportionate in a good way – and there are also Native Americans who served the military.
Named “America’s most patriotic small town” by Land McNally in 2013 and 2014, Gallup welcomes its annual ride from California to Washington, DC and motorcycle walls to honor veterans along Route 66 through the town.
“We try to embody patriotism in our daily lives,” Robinson said. “Our town is full of history from thousands of years ago and we praise our local Indigenous communities to keep those traditions alive.”
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: “A pivotal moment in American history”
Other towns in the United States have given no name to both the decisive battle in the war to continue to unite our nation, and the historic president’s speech intended to heal the wounds of a torn nation.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is the bloody Civil War battle, a three-day trial with 50,000 casualties and estimated to be “home to some of the most pivotal moments in American history,” said Mary Grace Kaufman, media relations manager at destination Gettysburg.
A few days after the battle that helped change the tides of the Union forces, President Abraham Lincoln came to the battlefield to give a speech by Gettysburg, one of the most famous speeches in American history.
The battle took place between July 1st and 3rd, 1863, and July 4th is of course Independence Day. The National Park Service will host Ranger Talk, with tours and reenactments in Gettysburg.
“It’s really important to remember history, sacrifice and where we came as a nation,” Kaufman said. “This is the closest thing you can see in person.”
Want to share slices of Americana with USA Today? Please email phaedra trethan at ptrethan@usatoday.com. Please email us via x (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra, bluesky @byphaedra, or thread @by_phaedra.
Global air traffic has been disrupted following Israel’s strikes on Iran Friday, with several major airlines suspending flights to and from locations in the Middle East and rerouting their planes to avoid much of the region’s airspace.
The airspace above Iran and Israel as well as Jordan, Syria and Iraq emptied of commercial flights on Friday, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.
Israel, Iran and Jordan all closed their airspace in the wake of the attack, while Iran suspended all domestic and international flights, the country’s state-affiliated Fars news agency reported on Friday, citing the civil aviation authority.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport all closed on Friday. Mehrabad will remain closed until 2 p.m. on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday afternoon, while Ben Gurion is shut until further notice, the Israel Airports Authority said early Friday morning. Queen Alia International Airport didn’t say when it would reopen, advising passengers to contact their airlines.
As the strikes on Iran unfolded overnight, several flights were diverted or returned to their origin. Air India said on X that more than a dozen of its flights had been affected “due to the emerging situation in Iran,” including routes from New York, London, Vancouver and Washington.
One Delta Air Lines flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Tel Aviv flew for eight hours only to end up back at JFK, according to Flightradar24.
Meanwhile, Israeli carriers El Al, Israir and Arkia evacuated their planes out of Israel as the country braced for retaliation from Iran, Reuters reported. Data on Flightradar24 shows several planes leaving Tel Aviv airport on Friday morning, several of them headed to nearby Cyprus.
Hermes, Cyprus’ airports operator, said 32 flights from the Middle East had been diverted to Larnaca and Paphos airports as of Friday morning, Reuters reported.
Throughout Friday, airline after airline announced it was suspending its flights to and from various cities in the region. About 650 flights to and from Europe were canceled as of Friday, according to Reuters, which cited Eurocontrol, an inter-governmental organization which helps manage Europe’s airspace. The organization said around 1,800 flights across the continent had been affected in total.
German carrier Lufthansa said flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv had been suspended until July 31, and its flights to Amman, Beirut and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan until June 20.
Emirates, one of the United Arab Emirates’ flagship carriers, said it had canceled its flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran until Sunday.
Air France told CNN in a statement that it had suspended flights to Tel Aviv until further notice, while its sister company Dutch carrier KLM said on its website that it will not fly to Tel Aviv until at least July 1.
Delta Air Lines initially warned that travel to, from or through Tel Aviv might be affected until June 30 but on Friday the airline said it was pausing flights between JFK and Tel Aviv until August 31.
Qatar Airways has “temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq,” the airline said in a statement. Three major airports in Iran, including in the capital Tehran, and five airports in Iraq, including its capital Baghdad, have been affected, the airline said.
Dana Santas,Mobility Makeris a certified strength and conditioning expert in professional sports, mental and physical coach, and is the author of the book “Practical Solutions for Relieving Back Pain.”
If you are dealing with persistent tension, poor posture, or persistent pain, it is worth checking your breathing. The way you breathe not only reflects the quality of your movement, but also retains the power to change it for the better.
Most people understand the role of breathing as a life support function with stress-relieving properties. (Think – deep inhalation, deep breath.) But the way you breathe can reveal how efficiently and effectively you move. And improving breathing will help your body escape from cycles of tension, imbalance and poor strain.
Shallow and rapid breathing can not only affect oxygen exchange, but also disrupt the basics of how the body works. So much of my job in professional sports focuses on teaching the basics of breathing in biomechanics. We first saw that insufficient breathing patterns directly lead to limited mobility, postural issues, chronic pain and increased risk of injury.
In today’s high stress, screen-focused world, these same dysfunctional breathing patterns are common across all walks.
However, by better aware of your patterns and practicing the appropriate techniques for a few minutes each day, you can deal with false breaths. Here’s how to unlock a Super Power:
How stress and screen time can change breath
Breathing is one of the most basic patterns of movement in the body, and occurs on average over 23,000 times a day. The contraction of the diaphragm plays an important role. However, under stress, your body will naturally transition into sympathetic or combat modes of the nervous system, driving faster, shallower breaths from the top of the chest. Over time, this becomes the default breathing pattern, especially in chronic stress. Your breathing is more vertical on the chest and neck, rather than expanding the lungs and thoracic cage horizontally.
This upper pattern bypasses the diaphragm, forces the neck and shoulder muscles, and takes over the task of pulling each breath. If the diaphragm is not functioning properly, true core engagement requires this large muscle to work in harmony with the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, which cannot serve as a secondary role as a postural stabilizer.
The diaphragm adheres to both the thorax and the spine, resulting in poor engagement and instability of the core, causing shifting thoracic position. When the ribs step out of alignment, the spine and head continue, and the scapula glide over the ribs, affecting the position and function of the shoulders as well.
As the neck is extended, the rib cage is lifted and the flare is extended, anterior head posture occurs. Additionally, rib mobility decreases and limits intermediate rotation and expansion, which are essential for healthy exercise patterns. Overall, motility is reduced and the risk of injury increases as you respond to increased core instability by creating protective tension and muscle compensation.
This creates a vicious cycle. Your breath affects your posture, your posture affects your breath, both affecting the way you feel and move.
People often try to deal with these problems with just stretching and strength tasks, but they remain stuck in a dysfunctional pattern without changing the respiratory mechanics.
One of the easiest ways to assess breathing is to lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Place the underlying rib on either side of the area where the rib is divided under the sternum.
Take a deep breath and spend some time, realizing where the movement is occurring. If the neck, upper chest, or shoulders are tight or moving, or if the ribs are barely moving, they are signs of breathing shallow and not using the diaphragm effectively.
Rather than focusing on the so-called “abdominal breathing,” it focuses on the mobility and diaphragmatic function of the rib, rather than the term often used to promote relaxation but often biomechanically misleading. The slight distension of the abdomen is the result of an increase in intraabdominal pressure and is not exposed to air. Too much emphasis on abdominal movement can inhibit proper thoracic expansion and diaphragmatic mechanics over time.
Try taking a few more breaths and directing your breath into the lung space below the rib bone. With each inhalation, it feels like the rib bone expands laterally under the hand. With each exhale, the rib moves downwards and the lower rib moves, promoting natural core engagement to support movement.
If you have identified a potential problem with your breathing pattern, the next step is to learn to retrain it. While many people focus on deep inhalation to improve breathing, the real key to breaking the pattern of dysfunction is how you exhale. Exhausting plays a crucial role in regulating the nervous system, restoring diaphragmatic function, and improving stress resistance.
Exhale completely slowly and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is a branch that calms the body and promotes recovery. Also, a long, full breath helps reset the diaphragm position, allowing it to contract more effectively on the next breath.
Oxygen tends to attract most attention, but this process is closely linked to carbon dioxide resistance. Co₂ causes the urge to breathe. However, chronically breeding your body takes up more oxygen than it can use will reduce CO2 levels faster. This can make chemoreceptors, specialized sensors in the brain stems, and arteries that monitor joint levels in the blood become overly sensitive, and even with proper oxygen levels, can cause feelings of shortness of breath.
By exhaling slowly and long, training yourself to slightly increase your carbon dioxide levels can improve breathing efficiency and increase stress resilience.
Sit comfortably with your hands on the rib below to monitor and guide movement.
Inhale your nose for four counts.
For the count of eight people, exhale slowly through your nose or mouth (whatever is best for you).
A quick pause about two people’s counts when they finish exhale.
Repeat this pattern with 10-12 breaths to relax your face, chin, neck and shoulders.
As you practice this every day and build tolerance, it gradually increases to a 5:10 or 6:12 ratio. This breathing work helps restore diaphragmatic function and rib mobility to readjust the nervous system and apply pressure to keep it gentle.
The recognition and proficiency developed through regular breathing work practices become even stronger when applied to physical activity. Integrating improved respiratory mechanics into daily life will make movements feel more fluid, connected and efficient.
Here’s how to apply better breathing during training:
• Warm up with conscious breathing To create posture alignment, activate the core and increase focus.
• Exhale into exercise: In strength training, exhale in the effort stage to engage with the core and stabilize the spine.
• Breathing leads to mobility: During a rotating or flexible drill, use the inhaler to create space, exhale and deepen movement.
• Breathe in your nose During light to moderate aerobic exercise to improve oxygen utilization and maintain breathing patterns.
• Tension breath to recover: After workout, practice a 2:1 inhalation ratio to downregulate the nervous system.
Remember, your breathing is not just a background function. By restoring proper breathing, it supports better posture, deeper core strength, smoother movement and a more resilient nervous system.
So, the next time you feel your neck feels tight or your shoulder hurts, don’t try to stretch it out immediately. Check your breath first. It may be telling you exactly what you need to know.
Sign up CNN’s Fitness, But Better Newsletter Series. Our seven-part guide will help you facilitate a healthy routine that is supported by experts.
Two female tourists from Zambia were killed by elephants on Thursday and killed on a safari walking in the national park, police said.
Eastern State Police Commissioner Robertson Mwemba said the victims — Easton Janet Taylor, 68, of England and Allison Jean Taylor, 67, of New Zealand — were attacked by female calf elephants.
A safari guide who was with the group tried to stop the elephant from firing a shot at it and prosecuting the woman, police said. The elephant was hit by gunshots and injured. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant attack, and both women were killed at the scene, police said.
It took place in South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the capital Lusaka.
Female elephants are extremely protective of calves and can respond proactively to what they perceive as a threat.
Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants from various parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were elderly women and were in safari cars when they were attacked.
Dozens of beaches across the United States were closed before July 4th as staff warned of dangerous infections and illnesses.
Friday is July 4th, and is the day to celebrate the birth of American independence from the UK.
Many national retailers, grocery stores and restaurant chains will be open on July 4th, but banks, post offices and stock markets will be closed.
If you want to stop somewhere to have a quick meal on a Friday, this year McDonald’s should be the option for you. Times vary depending on the location, but most locations must be open on July 4th. Customers can check their local store’s time using the McDonald’s app.
Here’s what you need to know about which restaurants will open and close on July 4th, 2025:
July 4th: July 4th Food and Drink Deals: How to Get Freebies, Discounts
Is the restaurant open on July 4th?
The following restaurants are available open On July 4th, the times of the companies that provided them are listed.
Starbucks
Dunkin’
Chickfill A
Chipotle; Restaurant will close at 3pm local time
Hippo
Zaxbys
Cracker Barrel
Wendy’s
Golden Coral
Olive Garden
Longhorn Steakhouse
Applebee’s
ihop
KFC
subway
Taco Bell
Bonefish Grill
Firehouse Subs
Cheesecake Factory
Panera bread
Krispy Cream
Whataburger
Longhorn Steakhouse
First clock
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him with X @geuna Alternatively, email him at gdhauari@gannett.com.
The president recently announced plans to hold a UFC match at the White House. However, his relationship with the Octagon is nothing new. This is the latest round of long-standing charm.
President Trump celebrates spending and passing tax bills in Iowa
“There’s no better birthday present in America,” President Donald Trump celebrates spending and passing tax bills during an event in Iowa.
President Donald Trump likes to be on the cage side for the fight. And fans have given him a loud cheer when they see him there, adding to the constituency base that Trump has built up among fighting sports fanatics.
Trump’s announcement on Thursday, July 3rd that he will be holding the ultimate fighting championship event at the White House next year may come as a shock to some. But Trump’s love for the Octagon and his support for its fans and stars is nothing new.
His public relations team says it is part of his appeal to the public who are not known to read mainstream news media.
“Audiences can see him through a filter that is not contaminated by news media and political bias,” Trump’s White House communications director Stephen Chan told the Associated Press in 2023.
Cheung himself is familiar with UFC’s Cage Fighting World. He was an organizational spokesman before he handpicked him to become his communications director.
It’s not just about voting and public imagery. Trump’s appeal for mixed martial arts dates back several years, further back to his 1988 days of hosting Wrestle Mania in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Trump said this week that the UFC event, celebrating the White House’s 250th birthday, will be part of a package of the broader event. But he highlighted it as a highlight.
“We’re going to host some great events, some professional events, and amateur events. But the UFC fight is also a big deal,” Trump told the crowd on July 3 at the Iowa fairground.
He said he expects the Fighting Card to host nearly 25,000 spectators at the White House.
Playing cards and the octagon
Dana White, CEO of the UFC, is a friend of the president. White introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in 2024.
“I know that President Trump is a fighter,” White said, introducing him to the crowd. “I’m in the business of a tough guy. This guy is the toughest and most resilient person I’ve ever met.”
White and Trump have been friends for 25 years, the CEO said at the convention.
The first UFC battle held under the ownership of White and his partners took place in 2001 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
Trump frequently played UFC matches with famous aides over the years since his first fight under White.
His first public announcement after his 2024 conviction for hash money fees came at a famous UFC event in Newark, New Jersey
Videos from the event show Trump, a newly convicted felon on all 34 counts, enters the stadium through a fighter tunnel and delivers a loud applause.
Trump attended another UFC event with White, Elon Musk and Kidlock shortly after the presidential election last November.
Again, Trump received a warm welcome from the crowd before the start of the main card action.
One of the top men in the corner of a playing card
Former UFC Communications Director Cheung became the quick response director for the Trump campaign, with his focus being “keeping the latest campaign in breaking news and resuming false or unbalanced reports.”
According to Sports Joe, Cheung had a reputation for revoking media qualifications for reporters he disliked. At least four reporters have revoked their qualifications for Cheung, according to the Sports News Outlet.
According to Jung’s Mother Jones profile, former high school football player Chang became a martial arts fan and dabbled in Taekwondo and Muay Thai boxing. “Chang’s past political activities and perhaps even his role in the UFC gave him ideal employment to the Trump campaign, which struggled to attract veteran experts,” the publication wrote.
Political analysts have for years expressed that Trump has been skillfully using combat sports venues such as the UFC to reach out cheaply and effectively to voters who don’t follow mainstream news media or campaigns. It is also given to UFC Latino and black fans as well as being visually appealing as UFC fans. Trump’s high-profile visibility at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event has attracted praise from past sports champions, including Colby Covington, who has openly praised Trump in UFC crowds and elsewhere.
Dozens of beaches across the United States were closed before July 4th as staff warned of dangerous infections and illnesses.
Friday is July 4th, and is the day to celebrate the birth of American independence from the UK.
Many national retailers, grocery stores and restaurant chains will be open on July 4th, but banks, post offices and stock markets will be closed.
If you want to stop somewhere for a quick cup coffee on Friday, this year’s Starbucks should be the option for you. Times vary depending on the location, but most locations must be open on July 4th. Customers can check their local store’s time using the Starbucks app.
Here’s what you need to know about which restaurants will open and close on July 4th, 2025:
July 4th: July 4th Food and Drink Deals: How to Get Freebies, Discounts
Is the restaurant open on July 4th?
The following restaurants are available open On July 4th, the times of the companies that provided them are listed.
McDonald’s
Dunkin’
Chickfill A
Chipotle; Restaurant will close at 3pm local time
Hippo
Zaxbys
Cracker Barrel
Wendy’s
Golden Coral
Olive Garden
Longhorn Steakhouse
Applebee’s
ihop
KFC
subway
Taco Bell
Bonefish Grill
Firehouse Subs
Cheesecake Factory
Panera bread
Krispy Cream
Whataburger
Longhorn Steakhouse
First clock
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him with X @geuna Alternatively, email him at gdhauari@gannett.com.
Congress will pass President Trump’s sweeping tax policy bill, which will have great consequences for both parties in the 2026 midterm elections.
This is what the Senate removed from the “big beautiful bill” in the Senate
Here’s the rest of Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” after the Senate cuts due to the “Bird Rules.”
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, who passed away from Congress on July 3, will soon sign the law. Next for Congressional Republicans: Survive the Midterm.
Many Republicans argue that voters feel the economic benefits of their bill and reward them by sending them back to Washington. Democrats say the bill is deeply unpopular and will use it to run through the GOP in the November 2026 election.
History, in this case, support the Democratic debate. Partys that do not hold the White House usually win the House in midterm elections as voters express their dissatisfaction with the new president’s policies. This trend applies regardless of the party of modern history, with a few exceptions.
And the public vote on the Republican bill already shows that voters aren’t excited about it. A Fox News poll published in mid-June found that 38% of respondents supported the law and 59% opposed it. The Quinnipiac, The Washington Post, KFF and Pew’s polls reflect similar sentiments.
“This will cost Republicans the House,” said Rep. Suzan Delbene of D-Washington, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who is responsible for helping Democrats maintain their home seats and win.
Democrats have a “script” in 2026
The bill’s Medicaid cuts are expected to leave 118 million Americans uninsured over the next decade. This is the result of deep “damage” increases medical costs for families. Democrats likened the bill to an attempt by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, and then Republicans lost 40 seats in the House.
“People want representatives who will stand up for them,” she insisted.
Republicans “written the script” in 2026, said Rep. Jamie Raskin of D-Maryland.
“I’m certainly going to talk about it all the time,” he told USA Today. “So we couldn’t better grasp the way the Republicans serve Donald Trump and our monarchs and oligarchs.”
Democrats aren’t the only ones who have identified Medicaid cuts as a potential political threat.
In a meeting with House Republicans on July 2, Trump said that when GOP leadership wants to scramble to find votes for the package and win Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, it should not touch on three things, Trump said.
One member reportedly responded, “But this bill touches on Medicaid.”
Post-Medicaid Reduction Campaign
R-Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon represents the swing district and recently announced plans to retire from Congress. He was the opponent of the bill’s Medicaid cut voice, but he said before the vote he would approve the measure to save $141 in taxes per month and pour billions into the defense budget.
Bacon said he believes the Senate version, which implemented deeper cuts in Medicaid, would make it easier for Democrats to paint the package in a negative light during the midterm elections.
“I might have defended the House bill every day. That was easy,” he said. “But in the end, do I want to raise taxes on the middle class? No. I want to fix the defense? Yes.”
Some Republicans are confident they can explain their reasoning to voters, including those who have expressed concern about Medicaid cuts.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-New Jersey, before the vote, claimed that his concerns would be eased by the bill’s provisions and allowed hospitals in his district to continue to lower adequate federal funds.
“We’ve been saying that we have to do this in an intellectual way. I think we were trying to figure out how to do it. We started a few months ago and people were going to wipe out Medicaid. We’re farther away from it.”
GOP’s confident tax cuts carry them
House majority leader Steve Scullies, R-Louisiana, said he believes the bill will support Republicans in the 2026 medium-term elections.
“All Democrats () The House and Senate voted no,” Scullyse said on July 3.
“The Democrats still don’t know why they lost in November. They’ll remind them of that next year when they lose again,” he added.
The bill permanently puts the 2017 income tax cuts implemented during Trump’s first term, and will pour $170 billion in border security funds.
In a memo on the bill, the National Republican Congressional Committee stated plans to argue that Republicans would block “the biggest tax hike of a generation” and would result in an increase in historic funding for border security.
“This vote involved the image of House Democrats being elitist, detached, stinky, and more than anything, not touching on the issues facing Americans in their daily lives,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement.
“Hospital Republicans are unapologetic at making this vote a critical issue for 2026, and will use all the tools to show voters that Republicans were standing with them.
Crash crash of a small skydiving plane at Cross Keys Airport
Fifteen people were on the plane. This included pilots as the plane descended into a large wooded area of Gloucester County.
Fox – Fox 29
The skydiving plane that exited the runway and crashed into a forest near a small New Jersey airport experienced “mechanical issues” just minutes after taking off, the skydiving company said in a statement on July 3.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine Cessna 208B left the runway at around 5:30pm on July 2nd, leaving Crosskeys Airport in southern New Jersey. The aircraft carried 15 people, including pilots.
Skydive Cross Keys, which has been operating at Cross Keys Airport since 1994, said the aircraft developed a “mechanical problem” about 3,000 feet after takeoff, according to Cherry Hill Courier-Post, part of the USA Today Network. The pilot, known as “experienced,” returned for an emergency landing, but the plane left the runway and struck a wooded area, the company said.
The company noted that the plane was the latest in all scheduled maintenance and had been undergoing FAA inspections on a regular basis recently. It added that it is working with the FAA and local governments “to determine the root cause of the incident.”
The company said the outcome “may have been much worse,” and expressed relief that no one has crashed and died. Authorities said 14 people were hospitalized after the incident, including three people who remained in danger at New Jersey Hospital as of July 3.
The casualty’s injuries ranged from minors to minors, but “it is not considered life-threatening,” the company said. It added that several victims who were taken to the hospital were subsequently discharged.
“We are extremely grateful for the pilot’s skills and calmness, and their actions help keep everyone alive,” the company said. “We are also deeply grateful to the emergency responders who arrived very quickly and took care of everyone on board.”
Cross Keys Airport is a known location for skydiving outings. The airport is located in Gloucester County, about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
Aircraft Safety: Are the planes really falling from the sky or are they just paying more attention?
Local police chief explains the chaos scene after the plane crashes
In its first report, posted on July 3, the FAA said the aircraft experienced engine problems after its departure and “fallen a crash while returning to the airport after a runway excursion to the tree.” Officials said the plane was owned and operated by Arne Aviation in Virginia and was leased to Skydive Cross Keys.
Andrew Halter said the pilot reported “engine troubles” before the crash, along with Gloucester County emergency management. The plane tried to return to land, but according to Halter, the attempt failed.
At a July 3rd press conference, Monroe Township Police Chief John McBride explained that the scene was confusing as paramedics responded quickly and provided assistance. The police chief said the plane had been damaged “very extensively” and debris had spread throughout the area.
“The plane was completely broken and it had exceeded repairs,” McBride said at a press conference. “It just looked like a big pile of metal, and people were just raw it.”
According to McBride, the aircraft was promoted among several trees and stuck between several trees.
McBride added that the victim was covered in jet fuel, and some heard screaming in pain as they tried to sail between the fallen trees and debris. He said the victim, who suffered minor injuries, helped those with more severe injuries.
Officials said the official cause of the crash fall remains under investigation, led by the Monro Township Police Department, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating crashes and will provide additional information if available.
Flying feels risky. Here’s what experts say about the numerous accidents:
14 passengers recovering from a crash
At a press conference on July 3, Holter said one passenger refused treatment on the scene and 14 people were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to Halter, 11 people were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden by medical helicopters. The other three were taken by ambulance to Inspira Medical Center in Mullica Hill.
As of late at night on July 3, Halter said three people were listed in dangerous conditions and eight were being treated at Cooper University Hospital. He added that many of the victims suffered various limb injuries, including upper and lower limbs.
McBride told the passenger who refused treatment that he had facial injuries and care needed, but in response the man said, “It’s so cool to tell the woman later.”
The police chief noted that the man remained at the crash site to ensure that other passengers were safe.