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Do I need to buy it? Things to know as the job market weakens.

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You were offered shopping. Your employer wants to pay you to quit. It’s a huge chunk of change.

But leaving your job now means looking for new jobs in the weakening of the job market.

Should you accept the offer?

Companies offer shopping to thin the rank and spend the money in the short term to save money in the long term.

Employers often use shopping to avoid layoffs in a volatile economy. And that idea is that only you should give you a pause.

The Trump administration is aiming to offer takeovers to all federal workers this year, reducing it by up to 10%. Approximately 75,000 workers accepted.

The private sector has been offering acquisitions to US workers this year, including Google, Unitedhealthcare and Nissan.

Shopping may sound attractive. A five-digit retirement package may be the most money a worker has ever seen on a single salary. But it is also the final salary your employer gives you.

“It’s like a lottery winner. Some people think the money will last longer than that,” said Donna Walton, wealth strategist at TD Wealth.

If you are contemplating your shopping, some considerations are universal: how big is the retirement package? Am I close to retirement? Did you want to quit that job anyway?

However, the current economic environment presents its own challenges.

The US lost 33,000 private sector jobs in June, according to a closely watched monthly employment report released on July 2 by payroll provider ADP. This is the first month of private sector job losses for more than two years, and the latest indication that the job market will be slower.

Approximately 2 million Americans have not been working for more than six months, the Labor Bureau reported in May that it was the largest in more than two years. Companies are reducing employment due to uncertainty over President Trump’s tariffs. Artificial intelligence is swiping jobs from new graduates. A recession fears looms.

“It’s a very soft job market,” said Michele Evermore, a senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Security and a former Biden administration labor official. “It’s a very time of economic uncertainty. I think people depend on their work.”

Below are five tips for employees considering buying out in 2025.

Seek for an acquisition

Start with a proactive step. Maybe your employer doesn’t offer acquisitions. But you’re restless to make a difference and you’ve heard that your company wants to cut costs.

Consider approaching your manager and seeking an acquisition. Often there’s nothing to stop your employer from creating a voluntary retirement package just for you.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Michael Scarpati, CEO of Retireus, the Financial Wellness platform. “It’s kind of a win-win for both parties.”

If you are looking for shopping first, you may get a better retirement package than your employer ultimately offers to everyone else.

But if you’re not ready to take it, don’t ask for shopping.

“If they provide it to you, you have to be willing to leave,” Walton said. “That’s not what you want to bluff.”

Negotiate terms of purchase

A typical acquisition could offer a 4-week payment. Furthermore, this is one week of my annual work at the company. Additional health insurance coverage may be available. It also helps you find a new job.

About half of the workers have accepted offers to buy without negotiating, AARP reports. But it is not harmful to demand better conditions.

“Think about going for a job interview,” Scarpati said.

You can seek a year’s retirement benefit rather than a few months. Perhaps your employer will cover health insurance costs while you are searching for a new job.

David John, senior strategic policy advisor at AARP Public Policy Institute, said some workers will hire lawyers to negotiate the acquisition.

That may sound extreme, but remember: an acquisition is a business proposal. Contracts can be complicated and sometimes include private contracts and non-competitive clauses.

Even if you haven’t taken your lawyer to buy-out negotiations, Walton said, “You should meet at least one person.”

Test the job market

Experts say you need to measure your likelihood of finding another job before you leave your current job.

If you’re working in a shrinking field, or in an area that is struggling financially, you may already know that.

“If you’re working for ThinkTank, it’s quite different to getting an acquisition in DC or if you’re working for an oil rig in South Dakota,” Evermore says.

Evermore said to find out how many people in your area are applying for unemployment insurance and how many people will last for the benefit role.

Better yet, apply for some jobs. Check if there is a bite. If not, it may be a good sign that is not for you.

In the best case scenario, you can line up new jobs before you make an acquisition.

Measure the risk of layoffs

Many employers offer shopping to avoid layoffs, or at least delay them.

If you have an acquisition offer, weigh the possibility of relying on layoffs once the acquisition is over.

“Responsible businesses will deal with those concerns right away and say yes or no,” said John of AARP.

If there is a possibility of layoffs, consider whether you could reach the layoff list. Ask your manager if you are vulnerable.

If your company has endured layoffs in the past, look at the retirement packages that those workers have received.

In some cases, Walton said the acquisition package might be “the same as what the company offers if we offer you six months from now.”

please take it easy

Many federal workers who have received shopping from the Trump administration only had a few weeks to make a decision.

Experts say it’s not that long.

“If you ask someone to make major life decisions that could involve relocating the whole family, you should get it for at least a few months,” Evermore said.

Ideally, Scarpati said six weeks would be the “minimum” time frame for the acquisition offer. 90 days is more reasonable.

Use that time to “think where you are in your career,” Evermore said. Tell your friends, colleagues, and loved ones about your options. Test the job market. Ask yourself if you are ready to uproot your family and move around the country.

Run the numbers. If you’re a medium career, are you sure you have enough emergency savings to survive a period of unemployment? How do you cover your health insurance? How generous is your state’s unemployment allowance?

If you’re nearing retirement: When did you plan to get Social Security? How will you cover your health insurance until Medicare begins? Do you have enough retirement savings?

Consider meeting with a financial planner.

“Ideally, I completed this financial plan before this happened.”

Smithsonian will lose shuttle to Texas with GOP expenditures and tax bills

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Space Shuttle moves from the Smithsonian Museum to Texas under GOP Expenditure and Tax Bill

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The GOP Expenses and Tax Bill will move from its current home at the annex of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Udber Hazy Center in Virginia to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The move was discovered by Sen, a Republican Texas. It was the legal goal brought to you earlier this year by Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. He said in April that Houston’s long-standing relationship with the space program should have been recognized by the space shuttle when the four retired to NASA in 2010.

Space Center Houston, where the shuttle will be on display, is the official visitor center of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. There is already a replica of the space shuttle independent, formerly known as Explorer.

The bill under consideration in the House this week sets $85 million to relocate and build the facility to accommodate and display space vehicles that meet three criteria. Selected by the organization chosen by the NASA administrator.

There are only four space vehicles that meet the first two criteria. Enterprises belonging to the Brave Museum of New York. Efforts to be a part of the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Discoveries at Atlantis and the Smithsonian on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Floor.

Only Atlantis and the Discoveries are still owned by the US government. NASA owns Atlantis. The discovery was presented to the Smithsonian Facility, a semi-governmental agency in 2012.

It is very rare for a nationally important item to be removed from the Smithsonian. Discovery was the third operating orbiter to fly in space. It began service in 1984 and retired from SpaceFlight in 2011 as the oldest and most used orbiter. Hubble Space Telescope has been released.

The Smithsonian estimate to Congress was that it would cost between $300 million and $400 million in taxpayer dollars to move the discoveries nationwide.

At an event at Space Center Houston last week, Cornyn said Houston’s role in the space program deserves discovery, and although the space shuttle was not manufactured in Houston, it was not released by Houston, the space shuttle should “go home.” The Johnson Space Center served as mission control for the Space Shuttle program.

Nissan recalls more than 440,000 vehicles than engine failure issues

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Nissan recalled more than 440,000 vehicles due to defects that could lead to engine failure.

The 25V437 recall includes the 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55. The vehicle has a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter or 4-cylinder 2.0-liter variable compression turbo engine.

“Engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure,” Nissan announced on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, adding that engine failure could lead to loss of motivational force and increase the risk of crashes.

Here’s what you need to know about the vehicle and what Nissan is doing about the issue:

Most of the vehicles that were recalled are 2021-2024 Nissan Rogues

Nissan said it has announced that 443,899 vehicles have been recalled, including:

  • 2021-2024 Nissan Rogue – 348,554 units
  • 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50 – 84,536 cars
  • 2019-2020 Nissan Altima – 5,685 units
  • 2022 Infiniti QX55 – 5,124 cars

How is Nissan fixing the issue?

The company said the dealer will inspect the engine oil pan for metal debris and repair or replace the engine for free if necessary.

For vehicles equipped with a three-cylinder 1.5L VC turbo engine, if debris is not found during inspection, the dealer will reprogram the oil pan gasket, engine oil and engine control module.

For vehicles equipped with a four-cylinder 2.0L VC turbo engine, if debris is not found, the dealer will change the engine oil.

If I have any of these vehicles, who should I call?

Nissan plans to notify dealers from July 15th and drivers from August 25th.

Drivers can contact Nissan’s Customer Service Line at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-662-6200. The number of NHTSA recalls is 25V437.

Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Email her to sdmartin@usatoday.com.

Why Penn signed a contract with Trump

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With the agreement, the Trump administration will lift the freeze on millions of federal funding for schools, said Madison Biederman, a spokesman for the Department of Education.

“Trump administrators will put their knees on their knees.”

It was Chalon on the screen of Fox News on July 1 as conservative host Laura Ingraham applauded for State Education Secretary Linda McMahon and anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines.

The trio was celebrating a controversial announcement made earlier in the day by the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school in Philadelphia. As part of the contract, the university sent an apology letter to a female swimmer who competed with former transgender student Leah Thomas, who won a national title while competing in 2022.

In 2022, trans rights advocates celebrated a historic moment. Many conservatives criticize Thomas’ victory and claim that he has an unfair competitive advantage.

Penn said this week that it would ban trans athletes from participating in women’s sports. However, the change was ineffective immediately as Penn had no trans female athletes. Following an order by President Donald Trump that such participation is illegal, the National Athletics Association colleges have not allowed student-athletes who are not assigned women at birth to compete in women’s sports.

In exchange for Penn’s concessions, the Trump administration has taken a step that has rarely been taken since the government began targeting elite universities. It unlocked a million-dollar chunks of Penn’s federal funds that had been frozen for months.

Some have condemned the agreement as another political attack on higher education. Others welcomed it as a victory for female athletes.

The Education Secretary appears to see it as a blueprint for the university that it has determined that working with the Trump administration is in their best interest.

“I hope that the agreement will be a template for other universities that will acknowledge that there is no room for men in women’s sports,” she said on Fox.

March: $175 million frozen

In March, the federal government suspends Penn’s nearly $175 million contract, claiming it violated Title IX, the main law governing sex discrimination in schools that allowed Thomas to compete.

It wasn’t long before the professor began taking orders for stopwork on a wide range of projects. Research into preventing infections in hospitals, drug screening for deadly viruses, and stopping from chemical warfare grounds has been suspended at the time, he said.

Penn’s president J. Larry Jameson said the effect quickly became harmful.

“Federal funding will be frozen, and cancellations will put life-saving and life-improvement research at risk. That loss will be felt by society and individuals well beyond our campus for the next few years,” he said in an official statement on March 25th.

The funds will start flowing again, according to Madison Biederman, a spokesman for the education department.

In a new statement on July 1, the university president called the issue “complicated” and said he was pleased to have reached a resolution with the government.

“Our commitment to ensuring an environment of respect and welcoming for all students is unwavering,” he said. “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.”

“Negotiation” or “Fear tor”?

Some higher education leaders criticized Penn’s agreement as unnecessary surrender. Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, called it “negotiations in the face of forced control.”

Penn sent a harmful message to trans students on campus, he said.

“At a meta level, universities cannot sell out trans people to meet the ideological demands of thugs,” he said.

Amanda Shanor, an associate professor at Wharton School, said students were split over whether Penn’s decision was correct. The day after the presentation, she felt a sense of “sadness and anger” among teachers like her.

“Would they leave their pens alone after this?” she said. “I don’t know.”

Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA Today. You can contact him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @Zachschermele and follow Bluesky at @Zachschermele.bsky.social.

What is America250? A massive celebration scheduled for July 4th, 2026

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  • America will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4th, 2026.
  • When Trump took office, he signed an executive order to create a US 250 task force to celebrate the country’s birthday for a year.
  • America250 will be held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3rd.

As Americans prepare for the July 4th, 2025 festival, some are already looking for 2026 to celebrate their 250th birthday.

President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect a lot of dignity and circumstances around Semikinkentennial, which starts this July 4th and starts in 2026, and Trump predicts that his celebration under his watch will reach “extraordinary” levels.

Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa on July 3 this year, marking his first visit to the GOP Caucus since celebrating America’s 250th birthday and returning to the White House.

Here’s what you need to know about America250:

When is America250?

The United States celebrates semi-kinkentennials throughout 2026 and will reach its peak on July 4th, 2026.

However, the kickoff for the US 250 will begin on CT at 5pm in 2025 at Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3rd. Trump will make a statement about the initiative from the fairgrounds at 7:30pm. This event is free and RSVP requires you to complete the online form required on the America250 website.

What events make up the US 250?

According to the America250 website, various events across the country make up the America250. Some have already begun, while others are still planned. So far, let’s take a look at what we can expect so far.

  • American innovation: A travel technology exposition that marks the country’s biggest innovation.
  • America’s Waves: An initiative to create an event where Americans can gather and wave the American flag.
  • Time capsule: A collaboration between all 50 states and the Columbia Special District to collect items from time capsules to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026.
  • American Field Trip: A contest for students from 3rd to 12th grade or a contest for submitting writing and artwork in response to the prompt “What does America mean to you?” (Available for the fall academic year 2025-2026).
  • Our American Stories: Walmart-funded oral and visual history efforts to gather stories from everyday Americans (submitting candidates to interview on the America250 website).
  • July 4, 2026 Activation: National celebration in Washington, DC

How does America250 celebrate in your state?

According to the America250 website, all states, US territories, and DC have “committees” that “plan, coordinate and support commemorative activities.” America250 will add links to each state’s plans if the website is available. As of July 2nd, links were available in all states except Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

How old is America?

The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago on July 4, 1776.

Who is behind the US 250?

In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250.

As outlined in the Order, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and carrying out the “Extraordinary Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of America’s Independence” on July 4, 2026. The task force through the nonprofit 250 will oversee the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, originally proposed by the president, which was set for 2020, in 2020.

The America250 website lists more than 12 corporate sponsors, including Amazon, Coca Cola, and Walmart.

Contribution: USA Today Staff

Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Please email her gcross@usatoday.com.

New research shows that there is no safe amount of processed meat to eat

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Nutrition experts say there is strong evidence that “safe amounts” of processed meat can be eaten to eat, in response to new research on the risks of major diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Researchers also found increased risks from sugar-subscribed drinks and trans fatty acid consumption.

Researchers analyzed data from over 60 previous studies on the relationship between processed meat, sugary drinks and trans fatty acids in human diets. The risk of type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and ischemic heart disease reduces blood supply to the heart and reduces oxygen and nutrients..

“The habitual intake of small amounts of processed meat, sweet drinks and trans fatty acids is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer,” said Demewoz Haile, Ph.D., a research scientist in Shetl’s health metrics and assessments.

Data showed that people who ate one hot dog per day had an 11% increase in their risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7% increase in their risk of colon cancer, compared to those who did not eat. Drinking about 12 ounces of soda per day was also associated with an 8% increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes and a 2% increase in the risk of ischemic heart disease.

“This current study shows that it is again consistent with previous studies. It has been shown that avoiding or minimizing habitual consumption of processed meat, sugar processed beverages (SSBs), and industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs), to achieve health benefits. She was not involved in the study.

As consumption increased, risk increased. The data also showed that there was no “safe amount” due to the consumption of processed meat, she added in the email.

At first glance, the increased risk may seem modest and less relevant, Dr. Min-Yang Song said he is an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan Shaw, Public Health. He was not involved in the research.

“If you look at the actual data, it’s very consistent, very strong, and even lower consumption can increase the risk of illness,” he said.

Researchers used proof burden to investigate dozens of previous findings about diet and illness. A new form of meta-analysis that not only attempts to quantify associations in multiple studies, but also explains the quality of each. “One warning is that there is a tendency to have very conservative outcomes,” he added.

It is also important to note that the studies included in the analysis are observational. This means that data can only show a link between dietary habits and illness. Dr. Gunter Koonl, professor of nutrition and food science at the UK’s Reading University, said they also rely on recalling the dietary patterns of people who remember their dietary patterns. He was not involved in the research.

“Utilizing even the most sophisticated techniques does not really solve the problem of a fairly limited dietary information. This is clearly a big problem in nutritional epidemiology in general,” he said.

Why are meat, drinks and fats linked to illness?

There are many reasons why such foods are associated with health problems. Processed and processed meats such as sausages, bacon, salami and burgers can increase inflammation, which plays a major role in a variety of chronic diseases, Song said.

Processed meat often hardens with nitrite and is converted to stomach carcinogenic nitrosamines, Kuhnle said.

The problem with sweet drinks is that it’s an easy way to consume large amounts of sugar, he added. Not only can it cause weight gain, it also affects metabolic pathways that affect the risk of heart disease and diabetes, Kuhnle said.

Trans fatty acids lower good cholesterol levels and increase bad ones. This is known to increase the risk of plaque accumulation in arteries and heart disease, he added.

Other potential connections to consider are that people who are more likely to eat processed meat, sugar-subscribed drinks, and transfers often have a higher risk of illness due to “not only lifestyle factors (smoking, lack of exercise), but also social factors such as education and income, chronic stress, and restrictions on access to health care.” “It’s very difficult to break them down.”

What to avoid and what to add

The data cannot be said that reducing consumption of these foods and drinks reduces the risk of illness, but it suggests that reductions are a good idea, Song said.

A wise approach is to follow a diverse and balanced diet that avoids excess, Kuhnle said.

That means people who drink lots of sweet drinks should cut back, he said. It may also be helpful to avoid excess processed meat and avoid hydrogenated fats whenever possible.

“The goal should be a healthy, sensible dietary pattern that allows for room for fun,” says Kuhnle.

A good diet isn’t just about what to avoid. It’s also important to get good nutrients, Forouhi said. “A wider study shows that overall dietary patterns, including increased consumption of fermented dairy products like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and yogurt, are suitable for health and longevity,” she said.

“My general advice: Don’t panic,” Kuhnle said in an email. “Food is not just (a) The source of nutrients – it plays a central role in culture, joy, home life, and social connections. Reducing it to just a list of health risks will overlook the big picture. ”

Sign up CNN’s Eat, but Better: Mediterranean Style. This eight-part guide introduces you to a delicious, expert-supported dietary lifestyle that will boost your health for life.

9 vehicles that ruled US roads in 2024

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There is a stream of ads promoting the bestselling cars in this country, but what about the bestsellers in each state?

It turns out that just nine vehicles account for the top 2024 sales in 50 states. We were also really surprised to see which vehicles are the most sold in which state. Continue, guess what your fellow Americans like to drive, then scroll down to see what they really buy.

Honda CR-V

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin

This is a surprise. Did you expect to see a Ford F-150 at the top of this list? The CR-V and F-150 are actually tied to bestsellers in the most states (13 each), but Honda has been hit hard in the more populous states. With all-wheel drive and hybrid powertrain available, it makes perfect sense for the Honda CR-V to be a big seller passing through snowy northeast and rust belts, including Indiana and Ohio, the plants that assemble the CR-V. However, the famous Honda is also a bestseller in the region surrounding DC (the district itself is being done for the Toyota RAV4), and is a retired Carolina.

Ford F-150

Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming

Ford promotes the F series as a bestselling track in the US, including all versions of the F up to the Super Duty and Commercial models. If you take the FS apart for each model, the F-150 will find the bestseller in 13 states, the same as the Honda CR-V. The F-150’s advantage cut right through the heart of the country, including wide open spaces such as Montana and Wyoming, Truck Robin Texas and south depths. It is also a Michigan bestseller, and the F-150 is built at Ford’s famous River Rouge factory.

Toyota RAV4

Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont

Despite being a statewide bestselling SUV, the RAV4 claims only the top spot in seven states. Looking at the bestsellers on the map, you can see that the Honda CR-V is adjacent to the best 13 states. The RAV4 has almost complete locks in New England, but also has pockets that are popular in Oregon, Idaho and Florida. Surprisingly, the RAV4 is Kentucky’s second bestseller and is one of several places Toyota is building it.

Tesla model y

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Utah, Washington

I expect Tesla’s innovative (if controversial) SUV to be a bestseller in early California adapters, high-tech heavy Washington and green-oriented Colorado, but seeing the wide stripes sweep through the west was a bit shocked. Again, with a range of up to 327 miles and an established supercharger network, the Model Y makes it the ideal electric SUV for states with high speed limits and large spaces, such as Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia

What happened to the Chevrolet and the Ford Pickup Battle? The F-150 is a bestseller in 13 states, but the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can only be charged four, including Rough and Tumble Alaska. However, it bothers that one of these four states is Kentucky, with Ford assembled the Heavy Doty F-250 and F-350 Super Duty Picks (and where Toyota builds the Cam and Love 4). Again, one of the three plants that will build the Silverado 1500 is in Indiana, and the truck is the third bestseller.

Nissan Rogue

Tennessee

We love the Nissan Rogue – it ranks number one among compact SUVs in our ultimate car rankings – but judging by its sales, it has been caused by the sale of the Honda CR-V, Tesla Model Y and Toyota RAV4, which is underrated by many of the countries. Well, not Tennessee, Rogue is helping out his competitors. It’s not surprising, as Tennessee is not only the location of Nissan’s US headquarters, but also the place where fraud is built. It’s good to see Tennessee standing on its own. How about Kentucky and Indiana?

Toyota Camry

Alabama

It was when the Toyota Camry was a bestselling vehicle in the US. Today, Americans prefer trucks and SUVs, but the medium-sized Camry sedan remains a bestseller car In the state, and only one bestselling vehicle. I thought Alabama would become a truck country, but I didn’t. It’s one state where Camry sales have beaten all other vehicles. we mountain We highly value the Camry as the number one pick among midsize sedans, and expect it to continue to work in Yellow Hammer State, using a fully updated model at the Toyota Showroom in 2025.

GMC Sierra 1500

Arkansa

Well, we, excuuuuuuse in Arkansas! The Ford F-150 could be enough for 13 states and four more states for Chevrolet Silverado, but Arkansan (ER, sorry, Arkansaweirs) looks particularly like going to the luxurious setting of the GMC Sierra 1500. We can’t say we blame them. Although we’ve struggled to justify the cost premium of the Sierra 1500 on the Chevrolet Brothers, we can’t say that GMC is not a nice truck. Arkansas is a serious truck country, by the way. The second and three bestselling cars are the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, respectively.

Toyota Tacoma

Hawaii

It was a fun time guessing what a bestselling car in Hawaii is. There are so many beautiful places to explore, so I thought it could be a Jeep Wrangler. But considering that 9-10 million tourists visit Hawaii each year, it’s more than six times the population of the state – it could be the Ford Mustang Convertible, or at least the Mitsubishi Mirage (or even the Wrangler). No: Hawaiians are practical, and the bestselling vehicle is the Toyota Tacoma, the king of medium-sized truck sales. Well, that makes sense. Tacoma is useful and practical, everything except that everything is inundated. I’m sure the state of Aloha will welcome a new version of Tacoma.

Illustrations by Ryan Lugo

Brian Coberger pleaded guilty to the murder of four University of Idaho students

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Brian Coberger pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty more than two years after the killing shocked the country and touched on the coast-to-coast manhunt.

Kohberger, 30, admitted to committing a horrifying murder and agreed to the terms of the plea bargain. There were no chances for four consecutive life sentences and appeals. Judge Stephen Hippler chose to accept the agreement on July 2nd., The victim’s family was split up.

The guilty plea guarantees that Coberger avoids the possibility of death penalty for future trials and the murder of Madison Morgen 21. Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; Ethan Chapin, 20.

All were found stabbed and found on November 13, 2022 at a rental house near the University of Idaho campus. The murder shocked the campus community and terrified residents of Moscow, a quiet university town in northern Idaho, who have not reported murders in five years.

A few weeks after the murder, Coberger was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his family lives. At the time of the murder, he was a doctoral student studying criminal justice at Washington State University, less than 10 miles from Moscow.

At the July 2nd hearing, Coberger sat still and seemed unemotional when the court read the names of the four students. He was asked if he had committed the murder intentionally and deliberately, and in a plan he replied “yes” on the flat.

Hippler set up a hearing for the sentence on July 23, saying it could last until the second day to issue a statement to give victims’ families plenty of time before the sentence is officially handed over.

Outside the court, Leander James, an attorney for Madison Morgen’s parents, said “we support the legal agreement 100%.”

“We’re embarking on a new path now,” he told reporters. “We embark on a path of hope and healing.”

Not all victims’ families support plea bargaining

The families of the four victims are divided into reactions to the legal agreement.

Along with Morgen’s family, Ethan Chapin’s family supports the deal, their spokesman Christina Tevez told The Associated Press.

However, the Goncalves family has denounced the social media agreement, calling it an “inhusband” of “taking our day in court.” The family said in a statement that the prosecutor was rushing the deal without any opinions from the victim’s family.

“More than two years later, this will end with a secret deal and a hurry to close the lawsuit without any opinions from the victim’s family about judicial details,” the family said.

Kohberger’s plea comes weeks before the murder trial

Kohberger’s trial was expected to begin with the selection of ju judges on August 4th and the opening of a statement on August 18th.

Prosecutors were set to present DNA evidence, cell phone records and surveillance footage to tie Kohberger to the stab wound. Authorities say the DNA in the sheath of the knife on the left near one of the victim’s bodies was a statistical match with Kohberger.

A police search warrant previously revealed that Coberger’s phone had been tracked near the student’s home at least 12 times six months before the attack.

Videos from nearby security cameras also helped police identify the car that Coberger said was owned. The car was seen at least four times in the early hours of the day of the murder, before slowing down, Kohberger’s defense previously claims he was driving alone and not at the victim’s home.

Contribution: Reuters

The first genome sequenced from ancient Egypt reveals an astonishing ancestor, scientists say

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First over the years, researchers arranged the entire genome of ancient Egyptians and revealed unprecedented insights into the male ancestry who lived while the first pyramids were built.

The man whose body was found buried in a sealed clay pot of Nuweyrat, a village south of Cairo, lived between 4,500 and 4,800 years ago, making his DNA the oldest ancient Egyptian sample ever extracted. Researchers concluded that 80% of his genetic material came from ancient peoples in North Africa, and 20% dated back to people in Western Asia and the Mesopotamian region.

Their findings were published in a natural magazine on Wednesday and provide new clues to suggest that ancient cultural ties were found in an ancient Egyptian cultural ties within a fertile crescent moon, and that there were ancient cultural ties to regions that include modern Iraq (formerly known as Mesopotamia), Iran and Jordan. Scientists doubt these connections, but to date the only evidence of them was archaeological rather than genetic.

Scientists also studied the male skeleton to determine more about his identity, finding extensive evidence of hard work while living a long life.

“By stitching together all the cues of this individual’s DNA, bones and teeth, we were able to build a comprehensive photograph,” Dr. Adeline Mores Jacobs, the lead research author, said in a statement on a visit to a researcher at John Moore University, England. “We hope that future DNA samples from ancient Egypt can be expanded when this movement from West Asia begins precisely.”

Pottery and other artifacts suggest that Egyptians may trade goods and knowledge across neighbouring areas, but the research authors say that genetic evidence of how closely different differences in ancient civilizations are mixed together, as conditions such as heat and humidity quickly degrade DNA. However, the man’s body was so well preserved in the burial container that scientists were able to extract DNA from one of the skeleton teeth.

Although the findings only capture one genetic background, experts said additional research would help answer lasting questions about the ancestors of the first Egyptians who lived at the beginning of the longest-lasting civilization.

The ceramic container containing the man's body was discovered in 1902.

Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2022 for his adherence to the first Neanderthal genome, made a pioneering attempt to extract and study DNA from ancient Egyptian ruins 40 years ago, but he was unable to arrange the genome. Insufficient DNA conservation has consistently resulted in impairment.

Since then, the genomes of the three ancient Egyptians have only been partially arranged by researchers. Use “target enrichment sequences” to focus on specific markers of interest in the DNA of the specimen. The bodies used in that work date back to recent times in Egyptian history, from 787 BC to AD 23.

It was the final improvements to technology over the past decade that paved the way for the authors of the new study to sequence the entire genome of ancient Egypt.

“The technique used in this study is commonly referred to as “shotgun sequences.” This means that we sequence all DNA molecules isolated from the teeth and provide coverage across the whole genome.” “Our approach means that future researchers have access to the whole genome that they have published to find additional information. This also means that there is no need to go back to this individual for additional sampling of bone and tooth material.”

The man who died during the transition between the early dynasty and the former kingdom periods of Egypt was not yet a standard practice and was not mummified prior to his burial.

“It could have been a lucky situation. Maybe they found a needle in the haystack,” Girdland-Flink said. “But I think additional genomes will be issued from ancient Egypt over the next few years, probably from individuals buried in ceramic pots.”

Although Egypt’s overall climate is hot, the area has relatively stable temperatures. This is a key factor in long-term genetic preservation, Girdland-Flink said. The climate, the clay pot used for the burial, and the rock grave it was placed on, served to prevent the man’s DNA from getting worse, he said.

The clay pot was found in a tomb cut into the rocks of a Nuway rat, south of Cairo.

For their analysis, the researchers took a small sample of the tip of one root of the man’s teeth. Girdland-Flink said that it was an excellent tool for DNA conservation, and that it analyzed cementum, a dental tissue that locks teeth into the jaw.

Of the seven DNA extracts taken from teeth, two were conserved sufficiently to sequence. Scientists then compared the ancient Egyptian genomes to those of over 3,000 modern people and 805 ancient individuals.

A chemical signal called male dental isotopes recorded information about the environment in which he grew up and the environment he consumed as a child as a child as his teeth grew. The results were consistent with childhood spending in the hot, arid climate of the Nile Valley, consuming wheat, barley, animal proteins and plants associated with Egypt.

However, 20% of male ancestors are most consistent with the old Mesopotamian genome, suggesting that at some point the movement of people to Egypt could be quite substantial flocks.

Dental anthropologist and research co-author Joel Eilish also took forensic measurements of male teeth and calaum, which best suited Western Asian individuals. Ireland is a professor in the Faculty of Bioenvironmental Sciences at John Moore University of Liverpool.

According to iOSIF Lazaridis, a researcher at the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, the study offers a glimpse into important times and places where there were no samples previously. Although Lazaridis was not involved in the new research, he is conducting research on ancient DNA samples from the Eastern Mediterranean region, including Mesopotamia and the Levant, modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian territory, Jordan and parts of Turkey.

The body is currently stored at the World Liverpool Museum.

Researchers have long questioned whether Egyptians were indigenous or Levanting in North Africa since the beginning of dynasty civilization, Lazaridis said.

“What this sample tells us is that at such an early age, Egypt was mostly ancestral North Africans, but there was a contribution from ancestors from Mesopotamia,” Lazaridis said. “This makes perfect sense geographically.”

Lazaridis hopes it will be the beginning of more research into Egypt, saying that while mummification has helped preserve the soft tissues of mummies, he acknowledged that the chemical treatments used in the mummy process are not ideal for ancient DNA preservation.

“I think it’s now shown that extracting DNA from people from the beginning of Egyptian civilization is feasible and that Egypt’s genetic history can begin to be written,” he said.

By studying the male skeletal structure, the team was able to determine that they were just over five feet tall, between 44 and 64 years old, and were probably close to the end of that range.

Genetic analysis suggests that he has brown eyes, hair and dark skin. And his bones told another story: how much he struggled in life.

Signs of arthritis and osteoporosis were evident in his bones, but the features within the back of his skull and vertebrae indicate that he is moving forward looking down at most of his life, Ireland said. Muscle markings indicate that he had been holding his arms in front of him for a long time, carrying heavy material. His pelvic bones were also incredibly bulging. This happens when someone is sitting on a hard surface for decades. He also had quite a few signs of arthritis on his right leg.

The Irish people saw images of ancient Egypt in various professions, including pottery making, masonry, soldering, agriculture, weaving, and grasped how men spent their time.

“These cues are circumstanced, but refer to pottery, including the use of ceramic wheels that have arrived in Egypt,” Ireland said. “That being said, his higher class of burials are not usually expected of ceramicists who do not receive such treatment. Perhaps he was very skilled or successful in advancing his social status.”

Before the pottery and writing systems were shared among cultures, there were spreads of fertile crescent moons and plants and animals raised in Egypt in the 6th millennium BC. Now, the research team wonders whether human migration is part of that shift. Additional ancient genomes from Egypt, Africa, and the fertile crescent moon can provide answers about who lived where.

“This is just one part of a puzzle that is a genetic variation in humans. Each person who has lived in the past and their genome represents a unique piece of the puzzle,” Girdland-Flink said in an email. “We can never sequence everyone’s genomes, but my hope is that we can gather enough diverse samples from around the world to accurately reconstruct the important events in human history that have shaped us today.”

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Almost 4% of the workforce has been reduced

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Almost three months after celebrating its 50th anniversary, Microsoft has settled around 4% of its workforce, the company said Wednesday.

According to Reuters, the tech giant intends to reduce its organizational tier by having fewer managers and streamlining its products, procedures and roles.

The layoffs affecting employees of various teams, geography and experience levels will come on the second day of Microsoft’s fiscal year 2026, CNBC reports, citing people who are familiar with the issue.

A Microsoft spokesperson said, according to CNBC, The Associated Press and Seattle Times, “We continue to implement the organizational changes necessary to position our company and teams to succeed in a dynamic market.”

According to the AP, Microsoft began sending layoff notifications to employees on Wednesday, July 2nd. CNBC and the Seattle Times report that the cuts will affect around 9,000 workers.

USA Today has contacted Microsoft.

What’s behind the layoff?

According to Reuters, the layoffs could be attributed to Microsoft’s desire to cut costs as they continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.

Microsoft has pledged to capital expenditures of $80 billion in 2025. However, the increase in AI infrastructure costs will affect margins, with cloud margins expected to shrink in the June quarter from last year.

Other large tech companies that invest heavily in artificial intelligence have also decided to fire workers. Facebook’s parent meta said it would fire around 5% of its “lowest performers” earlier this year, while Alphabet’s Google has also fired hundreds of employees in the past year.

Previous rounds of Microsoft layoffs

In May, Microsoft announced that it would fire around 3% of its total workforce. CNBC and Verge reported that the decision would affect approximately 6,000 employees. In January, Microsoft cut less than 1% of its employees based on performance, CNBC reported.

“At Microsoft, we focus on high-performance talent,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in January. “We’re always committed to helping people learn and grow. When people aren’t playing, we take the right action.”

Other notable layoffs from Microsoft came when the company cut 10,000 jobs in 2023, eliminating 18,000 jobs after the acquisition of Nokia’s device and services business in 2014.

According to the Microsoft website, as of June 2024, it employs approximately 228,000 workers worldwide, including 126,000 in the US.

Contributions: Melina Kahn, USA Today and Reuters

Jonathan Limehouse covers USA Today’s broken and trending news. Contact him at jlimehouse@gannett.com.

Trump’s record defense budget reaches $1 trillion despite the doge

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Defence budget demands are the biggest in US history.

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WASHINGTON – Before the very public feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk in February, the president boasted that his allies would find “hundred millions of dollars of fraud and abuse” at the Department of Defense’s Budget Office.

Less than five months later, the Pentagon officially announced its first domestic $1 trillion defense budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, covering the previous year’s total with more than $100 billion. What about the direct “Doge Collaboration” advertised in the Department of Defense budget deployment? Just $6 billion.

Congress must legislate and approve the full budget, but the first tranche of financing for fiscal year 2026 ($1.01 trillion, $119.3 billion) could arrive via Trump’s tax and spending package, called “Big Beauty Building.” The administration has put a key part of Trump’s megaville defense budget, including controversial and conservative policy priorities.

“We argued that a budget is needed to end our four-year chronic investment in our military,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said before the Senate’s Armed Worship Committee.

Former President Joe Biden called for an increase in levels of defense spending, but Republicans in Congress called for more. A DOD spokesman told USA Today that Hegseth continues to review cuts or further real contest programs.

Pentagon and NNSA spending contrasts with the substantial cuts in other programs that Congressional administration and Republican majority are seeking. The Settlement Megaville, which passed the Senate on July 1, must win the house approval again before going to Trump for his signature. (The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.)

Over the next decade, the settlement bill will cut $1 trillion from Medicaid, according to the Non-Participant Congressional Budget Office. $300 billion from food stamps. Over tens of billions of people from the Clean Energy Program.

Foreign aid and education programs are located in the major budget chopping blocks that Congress has not yet begun deliberation.

Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee of R-Alabama, said defense spending on the settlement bill is “necessary to restore American deterrence, revitalize defense industrial bases and modernize the military.”

Figures on both sides of the political spectrum, including Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon, have expressed dissatisfaction with the continued growth of the defense budget.

“Unless you’re going to go to the pentagon, you can’t talk about fraud, waste, or abuse in this town,” Bannon said on an April 24 podcast. “And do you know what happened since (Doge) went there? Cricket… the system we have is not sustainable.”

William Harton, a defense spending expert at the Quincy National Institute of Responsibility, told USA Today that the U.S. Department of Defense’s rushing budget deployment omitted key documents detailing the “nuts and bolts” of funding requests.

“It’s going to be very difficult to analyze…their priorities,” Harton said. “There’s a lot of stuff short if you’re a member of Congress trying to evaluate this.”

This could have led lawmakers and analysts to rush to fly blindly during the push of a settlement bill, and Trump ordered Congressional GOP leaders to be on their desks by July 4th.

Hartun argued that more spending on defense is not necessarily equivalent to getting better results, as Congress often spends money based on what Congressional districts or states receive jobs rather than how proposals match US strategy.

Former Rep. John Tierney, who now heads the council for a livable world and arms management and non-proliferation nonprofit organizations, said he believes the political climate will discourage both parties from questioning defence spending.

“There’s not much thought into what the strategy is,” Tierney added.

Nuclear modernization, missile defense will win billions

According to the Pentagon, the proposed defense budget of around $85 billion will be directed towards the US nuclear capabilities and Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Much of the funding will go to the American Triad of nuclear-armed bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear submarines, which are the center of a broader $1.7 trillion nuclear modernization effort.

Halton highlighted the poor track record of the Pentagon and NNSA to maintain such protections on time and on budget.

The government’s Accountability Office estimated in June that the entire cost of developing and deploying the Sentinel ICBM, which is set to replace the Minuteman III missiles that have been monitored since 1970, would rise to “approximately $170 billion” after the new missiles realized they could not use the Legacy Minuteman III silo.

“This project is completely out of control,” claimed Tierney.

The administration hopes the restructured Sentinel program will receive $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2026, according to budget documents. The new silo is not included in the diagram.

The NNSA, which designs, builds and maintains the country’s nuclear warhead, is lined up to increase funding for the arms activities sector by $55.6 billion (or nearly 30%) compared to the previous year.

The agency is struggling to meet its timeline and cost goals to reestablish mass production of nuclear warhead explosive cores known as plutonium pits.

In a May USA Today investigation, the NNSA detailed decades of struggle to ensure adequate federal employees with adequate technical backgrounds and oversees the agency’s complex and vast projects. Government Watchdog consistently highlights the issue of staffing as an agency Achilles heel.

The NNSA’s 2026 budget request does not include significant funding for additional federal employees despite testifying to Congress on May 20th.

“This is a recipe to waste money,” said Hartun, NNSA fundraising boost.

Davis Winkie’s role in covering nuclear threats and national security at USA Today is supported by partnership with Autorider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partner. Funders do not provide editor input.

Contributed by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today

Israel: Will the ceasefire finally be hit in Gaza? Here’s what you need to know

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Donald Trump was not shy about his desire to end the war in Gaza.

After a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran was concluded in a ceasefire, the US president has been pushing hard for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ready to visit the White House, he said he was “looking for that to happen next week.”

Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has “accepted the necessary conditions” to finalize the 60-day ceasefire. Israeli officials confirmed that the country has accepted the latest proposal. On Saturday, Netanyahu will convened his full cabinet to discuss it. Hamas, meanwhile, said he is considering the latest proposal, not indicating whether or not to accept it.

Both sides have long had conflicting demands that negotiators cannot bridge, but as the war enters 21 months, there is a new hope for a deal. Here’s what you need to know.

Since the ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24, mediators Qatar and Egypt, as well as the United States, have doubled their calls for a new Gaza ceasefire. A Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNN that the Israeli-Iran agreement created “momentum” for the latest talks between Israel and Hamas.

The Netanyahu government faces international criticism of the suffering that the Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to.

Israel imposed a comprehensive lockdown on humanitarian delivery in March. The lockdown was somewhat eased in May after a global expert chorus warned that hundreds of thousands were soon hungry.

Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza have been recently killed by an Israeli strike. And the distribution of aid has been undermined by violence, with hundreds being killed on their way to get food from the controversial US aid aid initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Pressure is also growing from within Israel on Netanyahu. Opposition leader Oia Rapid said Wednesday that she has joined the coalition government to enable hostage trade.

Trump predicted on Tuesday that Netanyahu would like to end the war. “He wants to. I can say he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump told reporters.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday that the country is “serious” to reach deals. “There are some positive signs. We don’t want to say anything more now, but our goal is to start proximity consultations as soon as possible,” he told reporters in Estonia.

Palestinian children will check out the tile ble at a home in Deir Elbara in the central Gaza Strip in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli strike on July 1, 2025.

The exact details of the new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal remain vague.

Qatar’s Prime Minister previously said that Qatar and Egypt were working to find a “center” to advance from the US conflict proposed several months ago. The proposal outlined the bodies of 10 living Israeli hostages that Hamas took during the attack on October 7, 2023, as well as 18 more hostages in a 60-day ceasefire.

According to the Israeli government, of the 50 hostages still in Gaza, at least 20 are believed to be alive.

The US and mediators are offering stronger assurances about reaching a settlement to end the war in Gaza, as part of their updated proposal, Israeli officials told CNN. Officials did not provide a specific language for the document, but said the language was stronger than previous guarantees.

Israel has agreed to allow a surge in humanitarian aid through traditional UN humanitarian channels, not through the controversial US-backed Humanitarian Foundation, Israel said.

According to sources familiar with negotiations, the stronger language of the proposal aims to maintain a ceasefire and to keep both sides at the negotiation table in the past for 60 days if the contract to end the war is not reached by then.

What is Israel’s demand?

In addition to his purpose of bringing hostages into the house, Netanyahu was not shaking from his greatest purpose: disarmament in Gaza and the destruction of Hamas’ military and governance capabilities.

“I’m telling you – there’s no Hamas. There’s no Hamastan. We’re not back to that,” Netanyahu said Wednesday. “We’ll take all the hostages back.”

But over the weekend, the Prime Minister brought about a rhetorical change in laying out Israeli goals. For the first time, we prioritized the return of hostages before what was called “the best objective” to defeat Hamas.

Netanyahu said “many opportunities have been opened” following Israeli military operations in Iran. “First, to save the hostages,” he said. “Of course we need to solve the Gaza problem and defeat Hamas, but I think we’ll complete both missions.”

This week, Israeli forces began to recommend pursuing a diplomatic path in Gaza after nearly two years of fighting and the removal of many of Hamas’ senior leaders.

On Tuesday, military officials told CNN that Israel has not fully achieved all war goals, but as Hamas’ troops have been reduced and become more difficult to effectively target the rest of the militant group. “It’s hard to achieve tactical goals now,” the official said.

Hamas has three main requirements: To ensure the end of the battle, the humanitarian assistance provided by the United Nations, and to retreat to the position held on March 2 this year, Israel renewed its attacks and occupied the northern part of the strip.

A Hamas official told CNN in late May that the group was “prepared to return hostages in one day. There’s a need for assurance that war will not come again afterwards.”

In response to a previous Trump administration-backed ceasefire proposal in May, Hamas asked us to assure us that permanent ceasefire negotiations would continue and that combat would not resume after a 60-day suspension.

According to Israeli sources, Hamas officials are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the latest proposals. Israeli sources added that if Hamas agreed, Israel and Hamas would soon enter into close consultations, with officials from both sides in the same building and messages would pass quickly to reach the final deal.

Sources say one important issue to resolve during close consultations is the timeline and location of Israeli forces’ withdrawal in Gaza during a 60-day ceasefire.

Whether a ceasefire is temporary or a path to a permanent ceasefire is the biggest sticking point between the parties fighting.

Hamas also shows no willingness to abandon political and military power in Gaza.

In the 21-month war between Israel and Hamas, the ceasefire is only in place for a total of nine weeks.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 57,000 children have been killed in Gaza during the battle.

Palestinian children line up to pick up their meals at Nusyrat's food distribution points on June 30, 2025.

The first ceasefire came into effect in November 2023, but lasted only a week. Meanwhile, 105 hostages were released from Gaza in exchange for the Palestinian prisoner scores.

The second ceasefire was not hit until January 2025 just before Trump returned to the White House. In the first “stage” of the ceasefire, more than eight weeks, Hamas released 33 hostages, and Israel released about 50 Palestinian prisoners for all that the Israelites were released.

In the second phase planned, Israel was to agree to a permanent ceasefire. However, Israel said it had resumed its attack on March 18, crushing the ceasefire, derailing consultations and putting pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Kristen Holmes, Kylie Atwood, Dana Karni, Michael Schwartz and Orenly Berman contributed to this report.

31% of shoppers are boycotted. Find out who participated and why

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As the boycott of consumers, launched earlier this year, continues and expands, new surveys show that almost a third of the consumers surveyed are taking part in such behavior.

Consumers boycott retailers and businesses for several reasons, including diversity, equity, inclusive efforts, and corporate rollbacks on what some organizers call corporate greed.

A new study by Lending Tree surveyed over 2,000 people and found that 31% boycott businesses, while 23% are targets of boycotting, particularly supporting businesses.

Does consumer boycott work?

Boycotts can have a variety of results. They have worked for political rights.

Conservative activists have been successful in recent years in forcing DEI efforts by staging boycotts on retailers and businesses to undermine sales.

Campaigns using hashtags and slogans such as “Go Woke Go Broke,” the boycott of conservative activists aims to become the country’s largest consumer name, including retail chain targets. Some have managed to cut sales and force policy changes.

Now, Target and other companies have found themselves under attack from the other side and are facing a boycott call from day supporters who are angry at the rollback.

Supporters point to targets citing decisions to end some diversity policies as contributors to a sharp pullback of retailer consumer spending that occurred in the first quarter.

Which businesses do consumers boycott?

The target was launched on February 1st and was the subject of several boycotts, including one led by Minnesota activist Nekimalevy Armstrong. Bryant’s group is now encouraging supporters to boycott their targets forever.

Target did not respond to the latest request for comment on its boycott efforts due to the USA Today publication deadline, but previously provided the following statement to USA Today:

In late May, Bryant also called for a digital protest from General Dollar, saying that retailers had left Day’s efforts and hadn’t invested in the black community. In an interview with USA Today, Bryant said protests continued and refused to meet him in a letter that Dollar General sent to the retailer.

Dollar General responded to inquiries from USA Today by providing a copy of the letter it sent to Bryant. In the letter, Dollar General Executive Bace Bild Bace Pristence and Geaner Counsel Rhonda M. Taylor said that Bryant’s claims about the company do not show the company that the meeting is productive.

Taylor included information about General Dollar to “fix some of the misconceptions of the company and our business.” Taylor included details of the retailer’s charitable contributions, including a donation of $500,000 to the National Museum of African Americans in Nashville.

The People’s Union USA also held several boycotts and economic power outages, starting with the economic power outages on the 1st February 28th. The group then held a weekly boycott of retailers and companies such as Target, Walmart, Amazon and McDonald’s.

Organizer John Schwartz has encouraged supporters in his Instagram post, boycotting July 4th festivities, including parades and fireworks, instead staying home with friends and supporting local businesses. The group said it will be expanding its retailer boycott to Home Depot, Starbucks and Amazon throughout July.

In an Instagram post, Schwarz criticized Amazon, saying workers were struggling, and the company’s sales helped Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pay for a gorgeous wedding in Venice.

Starbucks is opposed to the employee union, and Home Depot quietly erased DEI’s webpage, Schwarz said.

In a statement from USA Today, spokesmen from all three companies defended the company.

An Amazon spokesperson said the company remains committed to building a diverse and inclusive company. The company maintains many mechanisms to ensure employees are safe during high temperature events. The company also said that employees in regular full-time operations earn average hourly base wages of $22 or more per hour, and average compensation of $29 or more per hour when including benefits.

A Starbucks spokesman told USA Today that he will receive an average salary worth $30 per hour for people who work at least 20 hours.

“At Starbucks, our success starts and ends with our partners (employees). We respect the right to choose to be represented by or not represented by our unions through a fair and democratic process, and continue to work to make Starbucks the best job in retail,” the company said.

A spokesman for Home Depot shared a statement saying that eight core values ​​have driven business success over the past 45 years.

“We are proud to have a culture that welcomes everyone, and we believe it will help us achieve our business goals by supporting our peers, building relationships and fostering innovation. As we continue to improve our communication, we have been used for a long time to represent the welcoming culture we have built here.”

Almost a third of those surveyed boycotted business

In the Lending Tree survey, consumers who said they boycotted the company cited a variety of reasons, including discrimination (43%), political contributions or affiliation (41%), and religious messages or practices (29%). 45% of the consumers surveyed said they were looking at the value and stance of their business at least once before making a purchase. General Zers is the generation to do the most research, with 59% saying they do so.

Of the respondents, 23% said they are specifically supporting their business as they are targets for boycotts. Of these, 31% said they were Republicans and 20% said they were Democrats.

“So many people are boycotting the company for some reason,” Matt Schultz, chief consumer finance analyst at Lending Tree, told USA Today. “One of the things that I found most interesting about our data is that high-income earners are more likely to boycott them,” Schultz said 43% of six-figure earners boycotted their business.

“It’s important that people talk to the extent that they know the power they have,” Schultz said.

The boycott organizers were pleased with the findings.

“This report confirms what we already know,” Schwartz told USA Today. “People are awake and paying attention. Almost a third of Americans have already boycotted their businesses, and almost half are studying the value of their companies before using DIM.

Levy Armstrong said the loan tree findings confirmed what she and other organizers were looking on the ground.

“Consumers no longer tolerate corporate hypocrisy,” she told USA Today. “This is not a symbolic protest, it’s economic resistance.”

Bryant was happy with the findings, but believes the numbers could be even higher.

“It’s amazing how people get engaged and plugged in. Our community rarely, or rarely, so I think it’s probably higher than that,” Bryant told USA Today. “I see it all as a good indication and I think the bank receipts are even more eloquent than the number of votes.”

Target stock has been falling sharply since the beginning of this year. On January 31st, the shares closed at $137.91 before the first boycott began on February 1st. It reached a minimum of $88.76 on April 8th, down 35.6%. It has started to rise again, but it fell below the stock price earlier this year. On July 1st, the stock closed at $103.88, down 24.6% from January.

Target also cut its annual forecast in its final revenue report on May 21, reporting a sharp decline in the same store sales quarterly as customers pulled back purchases due to inflation and economic concerns. Target also acknowledged that its performance was affected by a boycott of consumers.

In-person pedestrians at targets are also affected, according to Placer.ai. Placer.ai uses panels of tens of millions of devices and employs machine learning to estimate in-store visits. Traffic fell by 8.10% in the week of February 17th, waning and flowing, and sometimes increasing. According to the latest available information, traffic remains negative as in-store visits for the week of June 16th fell 2.9%.

According to Placer.ai, in-store traffic at other retailers and large food chains changed over that period. Costco rose 2.0%, Walmart rose 0.1%, Best Buy fell 1.4%, McDonald’s fell 0.3%, and Starbucks rose 0.4%.

Some Boycotters are back in business

Of those surveyed, 48% of boycotters said they ended up boycotting and then returned to business. That number rises to 70% of people with children under the age of 18.

Schulz of Lending Tree said 53% of men have returned to businesses they’ve boycotted earlier, while 41% of women say it’s not.

“Women may be less likely to boycott, but once they do it, it shows that they are much more likely to never return,” he said.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA Today. Contact her at blinfisher @usatoday.com or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @Blinfisher, @Blinfisher.bsky.social.. Sign up for our free daily money newsletter. This includes Friday’s Consumer News.

There are lots of surprises in the Senate tax bill.

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From gun silencers to child tax credits, there are several secluded provisions lurking in the Senate version of the Republican tax bill.

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WASHINGTON – The Republican massive tax and spending policy bill extends income tax cuts, removes millions of Americans from Medicaid and food stamps, and leads surge funds to Trump’s deportation campaign.

The roughly 900-page bill the House is due to vote on July 2 includes a lesser-known stipulational rash that directly affects American lives, ranging from an increase in child tax credits to punishment for new solar energy facilities.

Some House Republicans are not satisfied with the changes the Senate has made to the bill, so amendments are possible, but the House must engulf the Senate version without revisions, as Trump hopes, to pass the measure by July 4th.

The White House has declared it a must-see bill. This means that it’s the place where pet projects land to secure votes for nervous senators and representatives.

Below are some provisions of the bill that have not been paid much attention to so far.

Benefits for the rich

Wealthy Americans benefit far more than lower income measures, according to an analysis by the Senate Bill’s Center for Tax Policy. The bill holds the current top personal income tax rate of 37%, set by the Tax Cuts and Employment Act. – – End of the year.

All households see taxes falling, but about 60% of the benefits go to those earning more than $217,000 (the top 20% of incomes). In 2026, analysis found that those people received an average tax cut of $12,500, or 3.4% of their after-tax income.

In contrast, the lowest-income households earning less than $35,000 will receive an average tax cut of $150, which is less than 1% of their after-tax income. On average, middle-income households will see taxes dropping by around $1,800, or 2.3% in their after-tax income.

Other provisions in the bill that involve direct benefits to the wealthiest Americans include reducing property taxes imposed on large inheritance assets and passing business income.

Child Tax Credit

The law will forever increase the child tax credit from the current $2,000 to $2,200 per person.

Single parents who earn up to $200,000 and earn up to $400,000 will qualify. Credits for people with high incomes will be phased out.

Cheap gun silencer

Republicans added clauses to the bill that eliminated taxes from almost ten centuries ago to buy or manufacture silencers, short barrel rifles and shotguns and other weapons. They also removed the requirement for gun owners to register silencers.

Move the Space Shuttle to Houston

The bill will move the discovery of the space shuttle from its current home at the Udval Hazy Center in Virginia to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This is Sen, a Texas Republican. It is the legal goal brought to you earlier this year by Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

The bill set aside $85 million to relocate to the Johnson Space Center to a space vehicle that meets three criteria. It jumps into space and carries astronauts. Selected by the organization chosen by the NASA administrator.

There are only four space vehicles that meet the first two criteria. Enterprises belonging to the Brave Museum of New York. Efforts to be a part of the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It was discovered at the Smithsonian, Atlantis, on display at the Kennedy Space Center. Only Atlantis and the Discoveries are still owned by the US government.

Smithsonian estimates that moving the discoveries across the country will cost between $300 million and $400 million in taxpayer dollars.

At an event at Space Center Houston last week, Cornyn said Houston’s role in the space program deserves discovery, and although the space shuttle was not manufactured in Houston, it was not released by Houston, the space shuttle should “go home.” The Johnson Space Center served as mission control for the Space Shuttle program.

Mars mission

The bill set aside $999.5 billion for the Artemis Moon Mission and exploration of Mars.

Tax credits for whaling captains

The Senate has increased the deduction that whaling ship captains can charge whaling costs related to whale hunting from $50,000 to the current $10,000.

The addition appears to be a move to get votes from Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkovsky.

It was first added to the tax law in 2004, allowing people to deduct the cost of maintaining boats and weapons as a charity contribution. According to the IRS, the recipient must be recognized as a whaling captain by the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and engaged in a licensed, self-sufficient hunt for bowhead whales.

“Trump Account” for Kids

The bill will create a new savings account called the “Trump Account,” which allows babies born between January 2025 and January 2029 to benefit from a single $1,000 payment from the federal government placed in their account.

Parents can then donate up to $5,000 a year. Savings are invested in equity funds that grow along with the stock market.

Once a child reaches 18 years old to education, training, or to buy a first home, they may have access to some of their money. They can use the full balance at age 30.

Student loan changes

The bill places a new cap on how much a student can borrow from federal student loans for graduate school and how many parents can borrow to pay their students’ tuition fees.

There will be fewer opportunities for postponement and tolerance, and new restrictions on loans for part-time students.

The bill also includes a much more limited repayment option, including the end of the long-standing loan forgiveness program and a Biden-era program tailored to the person’s income. It will be replaced by a new fixed-rate program that will be at a disadvantage for low-income families.

Green Energy Program

The bill dramatically rolls back tax credits from the Biden era, designed to boost clean energy projects fueled renewable sources such as energy and wind.

Democrats say it will destroy the growth of the wind and solar industry, trigger a surge in Utility Bills for Americans, and put hundreds of renewable energy projects that will boost the country’s electricity grid.

Additionally, for those who purchase new or used electric vehicles, the tax cuts will end on September 30th, not the end of 2032.

The GOP bill will also increase oil and gas leases on public land and revive coal leases in several states.

Charging foreign workers

Immigrants often move to other countries and send money home to their families and communities. The United States is the world’s largest source of these relocations known as remittances.

The Republican bill would implement a 3.5% tax on these transfers, which must be paid by the person sending the money. This includes exemptions for American citizens.

Prisons, prisons, lawsuits, what comes next

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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial ended with a mixed verdict after the ju judge acquitted the music mogul on top of the charges.

But while the two-month trial of the once-celebrated rap icon revealed surprising and widespread allegations of physical, sexual and psychological abuse, this chapter of combs’ troubles does not end.

While some companies and institutions have broken ties, much of the hip-hop world has yet to tackle the incident completely. Whether or not a previous collaborator has admitted the allegation, its suspicion, or lack thereof, reflects a broader calculation of genres with power, abuse, and accountability.

After the verdict, the hip-hop figures fought were taken into custody, awaiting his possible release and decision on the verdict. And with nearly 80 civil lawsuits for physical and sexual assaults still pending and new accusers continue to appear, the fallout from the allegations could continue to unfold in court and publicly publicly for the coming years.

That’s what you need to know about what’s coming next.

Did Didi win his trial?

Yes, no. After appearing in court for two months every day in his New York City hometown, Combs faced a split verdict on July 2, convicted of two modes of transportation engaged in prostitution and two counts of sex trafficking and assault.

How long does Didi go to prison?

The founder of Bad Boy Records is engaged in prostitution charges, sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison for every transport. With two convictions, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

On the charges that he was acquitted, the assault was the biggest prison life sentence. Sex trafficking had 15 years of mandatory minimum prison and maximum life in the largest prison.

When did Didi go to prison? Will Diddy be released?

Combs has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest on September 16th. Combs’ lawyers are fighting to release him, and prosecutors are retreating. The judge asked both sides to submit a letter outlined the argument in court on July 2nd.

Diddy still faces nearly 80 civil lawsuits

There is still a mountain of civil lawsuits waiting for the comb.

To date, around 80 cases have been filed against combs, many of which have been filed by Texas-based attorney Tony Busby. The alleged victims, represented by Buzbee, accounts for roughly half of the lawsuits filed so far.

The lawsuit includes both named and anonymous accusers with various sexual assault and physical violence claims dating back to 1991 until 2024.

The music mogul denied all allegations.

Contributions: Kimmi Robinson and Anna Kaufman

Rubio is at the end of USAID, with research saying exclusion could contribute to 14 million deaths over the next five years

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CNN
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the end of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday. A new analysis shows that its demolition could contribute to 14 million deaths over the next five years.

“This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency is officially over. Under the Trump administration, we will ultimately carry out foreign funding missions in the United States, where our national interests are prioritized.”

“As of July 1, USAID will formally cease to implement foreign aid. Foreign aid programs that advance management policies and American interests will be administered by the State Department where they will be provided with more accountability, strategy and efficiency,” he said.

The rapid destruction of USAID led by the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) supported by Elon-Musk has cut thousands of foreign aid programs, including many people focused on life-saving work.

A study released Monday in the Lancet estimated that cuts in USAID funding could result in more than 14 million deaths by 2030. It is estimated that one-third of these deaths (more than 4.5 million children under the age of five).

The authors of the study stated that the impact of funding cuts is “similar to a global pandemic or major armed conflict.”

“However, unlike these events, this crisis is attributable to conscious and avoidable policy choices. The burden can fall disproportionately on children and young groups, and the consequences can echo over decades,” they write.

According to a Lancet study, USAID funding was most likely to reduce HIV/AIDS-related mortality rates, with malaria most likely to follow suit. We also found strong associations with tropical diseases, diarrheal diseases, nutritional deficiency, respiratory infections, maternal mortality and tuberculosis.

A senior State Department official disparaged the Lancet investigation and said on Tuesday:

“I think he’s very clear that much of the life-saving work we do is continue and become more efficient,” the official said.

But the aid group says that, coupled with the sudden cleaning of foreign aid in January, the sudden demolition of USAID, has already resulted in catastrophic results.

Officials have largely denied criticism of the administration’s moves.

“You can go back and relate all these little decisions. It’s not our focus. It’s not our secretary’s focus. We’re excited about what America’s first foreign aid agenda looks like and how much of an impact we can have in the future,” they said.

Rubio described the new approach as “prioritizing opportunities and investment in support over aid over dependence.”

“As we move forward, our support is targeted and time is limited. We support countries that have demonstrated both the ability and willingness to help ourselves, and target our resources to areas where they can have multiplier effects and catalyze the durable private sector, including American businesses and global investments,” he writes.

Officials said the administration is considering new indicators to assess the success of US aid work.

“We want to see a kind of bilateral engagement. We want to see investments, co-investments from partners. We want to work with trade contracts, compacts, contracts, cooperation, and work with things,” they said. “These are great indicators of success for us.”

“What we want to do with this is Build Bridges, in a broader alignment with the president’s kind of mission and diplomatic agenda,” they said.

The USAID closure took thousands of jobs and had a ripple effect across the broader humanitarian world. A senior State Department official said he did not anticipate an operational “gap” with the USAID closure, saying “several staff from USAID and elsewhere were employed by the State Department.” A source who spoke to CNN described the recruitment process as opaque and non-merit-based.

The senior official repeatedly raised the example of Pepfer, the US president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, saying their work will continue in a “more efficient” and “more influential” way. Bipartisan lawmakers have long supported the initiative launched by President George W. Bush.

According to the Lancet survey, in 2023, 60% of PEPFAR’s two-sided HIV support was mandated and implemented by USAID.

“Most of the PEPFAR programs are running today. 85-90% of direct treatment beneficiaries are receiving the medication,” they said. “We’re going to put out a really long-term comprehensive roadmap as to what we’re going to do with Pepfar in the coming weeks and months.”

US teenage influencer Ethan Guo was detained in Antarctica while attempting a solo flight to seven continents

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CNN
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The teenage pilot, who is about to fly solos for all seven continents, hit a patch of rough air this weekend when Chilean authorities changed his flight plan without his permission and detained him by landing in Antarctica.

Chilean prosecutors say American influencer Ethan Guo, 19, has broken “multiple domestic and international regulations” by changing his flight plan without prior notice and landing in parts of Antarctica, where the South American country maintains its territorial claims.

CNN requested comment from Guo, who said that lawyers on Sunday had experienced “complications” by the young pilot while flying.

Guo says he is trying to raise $1 million for cancer research by becoming “the first person to fly to solos on all seven continents.”

His last post on June 23rd records flights over the Philippines.

Chilean authorities say on Saturday Guo submitted a false flight plan and took off from Carlos Ibañez del Campo airport in the southern city of Punta Arenas as the only passenger and crew member aboard the Cessna 182Q aircraft registered as the N182WT. At one point during that flight, authorities say he turned off the course towards Antarctica.

Ethan Guo will take a photo in Geneva, Switzerland in August.

“The accused provided false information to the aviation agency. He submitted a flight plan that showed he would fly around the city of Punta Arenas,” said Christian Cristo Rifo, a regional prosecutor for Magalan and Chile’s Antarctica.

“However, he continued to head towards Antarctica without giving anyone permission and landed at Li’s airfield in Rodolfo Marsh, Chilean Antarctic Territory. This action put the accused seriously at risk of air traffic safety into Antarctica and Magalan areas.

Cristoso explained that as soon as Guo landed in Antarctica, he was detained and formally charged. “The defendant not only violated the aviation code, but also violated several national and international regulations regarding routes to Antarctica and access to the White Continent,” stressed Chrisst.

His lawyer told reporters Sunday at a press conference after the young pilot was accused of experiencing “complications” while flying. “While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,” Karina Ulloa said, adding that Guo “arguing that he is making exploratory flights to see if he can follow this route.”

CNN requested comment from Ulloa on Tuesday.

Magalan and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutors’ Office on Sunday determined that teens must remain in the Chilean division of the frozen continent until authorities grant permission to return to Punta Arenas city.

A Chilean court ordered a 90-day investigation period for the case. Meanwhile, the guo must remain in Chile.

Have egg prices been lowered?

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The Waffle House Index may be a more useful indicator than extreme weather.

The diner chain announced on July 1 that it would lower the egg charge four months ago, indicating a drop in egg prices from an all-time high seen earlier this year.

“Egg cell news… As of June 2nd, the extra egg charges have officially been off the menu,” Post said. “Thank you for understanding!”

USA Today has contacted Waffle House to confirm the changes.

Why did the waffle house charge extra for the eggs?

An extra 50 cent egg charge was implemented at about 2,100 locations in Waffle House in early February, offsetting a higher than normal price due to “continuous egg shortages due to HPAI (vine flu).”

Waffle House offers around 272 million eggs a year, according to its website, well outperforms nominal waffles, which sell just 124 million. The temporary rates are said to have been adopted to avoid price increases on other menu items.

Have egg prices been falling?

The price of eggs averaged around $6.22 in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rise phase was set when the current avian flu outbreak began in the US in 2022, killing highly pathogenic avian flu, the bird flu, that is, bird flu, and leaving chickens behind to maintain their supply.

By February 3, when Waffle House implemented an additional fee, the virus had infected around 150 million poultry in all 50 states since January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of its spread, infected birds are being selectively massacred throughout the United States, including millions of birds in a single location.

The consumer price index for May shows that egg prices have started to ease from their highs earlier this year, but overall prices last year are still 40% higher.

“Families are seeing relief at egg prices that promote food deflation,” Agriculture Secretary Brook L. Rollins said in a June 26 statement regarding the USDA’s response to avian flu. “We are proud to have over 900 biosecurity assessments conducted so far, but the resources remain available, urging poultry farmers of all sizes to do their ratings before the difficult and potential fall.”

Will Trump’s tax bill help or hurt you? It may depend on your income

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New analysis shows that higher earners will benefit most from the Senate tax bill in the short term, but future generations in all income bands could be “bad.”

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President Donald Trump’s tax bill could “deteriorate” future generations, regardless of income, according to a new report in Penn Wharton’s budget model.

Like other analyses, the latest findings from the nonpartisan research initiative suggest that most Americans see tax cuts. In the long run, however, a July 1 report from Penn Wharton Budget Lab predicts lifetime losses for all revenue brackets.

Kent Smetters, a professor at Penn Wharton’s budget model, said:

The analysis found that the version of the Senate tax bill, which was passed slightly on July 1, leads to a higher deficit and delayed economic growth compared to its counterparts from the House.

The bill heads to the House for final approval. Trump requested the final version on his desk, and is ready to sign by July 4th, but admitted that the deadline could be “very difficult” as some House Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with the changes in the Senate.

What’s the difference under the Senate version of the tax bill?

The law, dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” will provide tax cuts from Trump’s first term in 2017, increase child tax credits and introduce other tax cuts, including hints and no tax on overtime wages.

To help pay for the cuts, the government will cut spending on the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as Food Stamps, and cut Medicaid, a program that provides health insurance to more than 71 million low-income Americans.

The Senate version has some important differences from the House bill, including:

  • A permanent tax credit for companies that allows companies to immediately deduct all costs of qualification investments and research projects, not for years. Under the House bill, these tax cuts were effective from 2025 to 2029.
  • There was a temporary adjustment that permanently strengthened the standard deduction, adding $750 for single filers, $1,125 starting in 2025, $1,500 for married couples, $1,500 for one filer, $1,000 for heads of households, and $2,000 for couples between 2025 and 2028.
  • The child tax credit has been permanently increased to $2,200 compared to a temporary increase between 2026 and 2026-2028.

“The Senate makes things more permanent,” Smetters told USA Today. “On the other hand, we don’t have to revisit the same politics in four years. On the other hand, there is the financial costs associated with it. That means more debt and more burdens depending on future generations.”

Medicaid will also be reduced in the Senate version, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. By 2034 there is an estimated 11.8 million people who are not insured, compared to the 10.9 million estimate based on the House proposal.

Impact on future generations

Various analyses suggest that Trump’s tax bill rewards Americans with higher incomes than counterparts with lower incomes.

For example, a June analysis of the House bill by the Congressional Budget Office found that under the law, resources for the poorest people would be reduced by about $1,600 a year, primarily due to Medicaid and food aid reductions. On the other hand, the wealthiest people earn an average of around $12,000.

Another June report from Yale Budget Lab suggests that the fifth of the earners loses about $560 a year, while the top 20% wins $6,000.

However, according to Penn Wharton’s budget model, all future generations will experience lifetime losses, regardless of income. High-income households are expected to lose $5,700 under the Senate bill, while low-income households lose $22,000. The report points to a decline in social security network and a decline in wages as key drivers.

Under the House bill, Penn Wharton’s budget model projected lifetime losses from $500 for high-income households to $15,800 for low-income households.

“They’re going to get worse, in future generations. It doesn’t matter where they fall,” Smutters said. “In the end, someone has to pay (the tax bill) and essentially pass that on to the next generation.”

Slow economic growth

According to previous analysis of the budget model, the House version showed a 0.4% increase in GDP by the tenth year, while the Senate version brings a 0.3% loss. Thirty years later, GDP fell 4.6% in the Senate bill and 1.5% in the 1.5% House version.

Higher deficits

According to Penn Wharton’s budget model, the main deficit is projected to increase $3.1 trillion over the next decade under the Senate tax bill.

Other reports also found higher debt loads under the Senate bill. The Congressional Budget Office plans to add $3.3 trillion to citizen debt over the next decade, predicting it will be $800 billion more than the House bill. A July report from Yale Budget Lab says the Senate bill would add $3 trillion to its debt by 2034, compared to the estimated $2.4 trillion in the House bill.

How much do low-income Americans lose?

According to the latest Penn Wharton budget model analysis, the lowest-earning households will lose their after-tax income in both the short and long-term, while higher workers will benefit under the Senate bill.

  • Income under $18,000 will lose an average of $235 in 2027 and $1,380 by 2033.
  • Those who make between $18,000 and $52,999 will lose $75 in 2027 and $1,625 by 2033.
  • Those who earn between $53,000 and $95,999 will win $1,350 in 2027, but will lose $130 by 2033.
  • Those who earn between $96,000 and $178,999 will earn $3,880 in 2027 and $2,825 by 2033.
  • Those who earn between $179,000 and $271,999 will earn $6,615 in 2027 and $4,985 by 2033.
  • Those who make between $272,000 and $400,999 will earn $9,360 in 2027 and $7,670 by 2033.
  • Those who earn between $401,000 and $1,019,999 will earn $20,605 in 2027 and $18,645 by 2033.
  • Those who earn between $1,020,000 and $4,450,999 will earn $36,020 in 2027 and $29,430 by 2033.
  • Those who earn more than $4,451,000 will earn $290,485 in 2027 and $82,255 by 2033.

Smetters said the numbers could be slightly adjusted as more information becomes available for specific corrections.

US judges say Department of Health and Human Services layoffs are illegal and must be stopped

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CNN
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A federal judge ruled that the recent major layoffs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were likely to be illegal and ordered the Trump administration to halt plans to scale back and restructure the country’s health workforce.

US District Judge Melissa Dubose granted the interim injunction sought by the coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia attorney generals and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit filed in early May.

Dubose said the state has shown “irreparable harm” from the cuts and is likely to win the allegation that “HHS’ actions are arbitrary and whimsical and against the law.”

“An administrative agency has no authority to order, organize or implement wholesale changes to the structure and function of the agency created by Congress,” Dubose wrote in a 58-page order taken over Tuesday to the U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island.

Her orders block the Trump administration from issuing a final or further shooting of the layoffs announced in March. HHS has been instructed to submit a status report by July 11th.

This ruling applies to employees who have terminated in four departments of HHS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. Food and Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Center. Offices within the Administration will start under management for children, families and employees in the local office working on Head Start issues. Secretary Assistant Office for Planning and Evaluation.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. eliminated more than 10,000 employees in late March and merged 28 agencies into 15. Since then, agencies, including the CDC, have repeatedly cancelled layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, including branches monitoring HIV, hepatitis and other illnesses.

The Attorney General argued that the massive restructuring was arbitrary and out of the scope of the agency’s authority. The lawsuit says the lawsuit has destroyed key programs and promoted costs that would be burdened by the state.

“The intended effect was… the abolishment of wholesale of many HHS programs that are essential to public health and safety,” the lawsuit allegedly.

The reductions are part of the federal “Again American Health” directive to streamline expensive agencies and reduce redundancy. Kennedy told the Senator on May 14 that there was “so much confusion and confusion” in HHS.

However, the restructuring eliminated key teams regulating food safety and drugs, supporting a wide range of programs on tobacco, HIV prevention, and maternal and infant health. Kennedy has since said that 20% of those fired for mistakes could be revived.

The states that took part in the lawsuit include a Democratic governor, many of the same states, and a few other states, also appealed to the Trump administration for more than $11 billion in public health funding. In that case, a provisional injunction was granted in mid-May.