June 27, 2025.

Matthew Schaefer, drafted first by the New York Islanders, middle, stands between Michael Misa, drafted second by the San Jose Sharks, left, and Anton Frondell, drafted third by the Chicago Blackhawks, during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Islanders’ No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer pays tribute to late mother with a kiss and a promise

The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. The Islanders surprised nobody by using their first No. 1 selection since 2009 on the 17-year-old Schaefer, a 6-foot-2 blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, who spent the past two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters. He played only 17 games last season before breaking his collarbone in December, but Schaefer’s acumen on both ends of the ice still propelled him to the top of nearly all draft boards. Schaefer is just the fifth defenseman drafted No. 1 overall in the NHL draft since 2000.

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FILE - Fireworks burst above the National Mall and, from left, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building, during Independence Day celebrations in Washington on July 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

Fireworks will light up this Fourth of July. Next year could be different if tariff talks fizzle

Fireworks are as American as apple pie. The colorful displays are synonymous with celebrating the country’s independence. But nearly all of those aerial shells, paper rockets and sparkly fountains are imported from China. While big city organizers and backyard revelers are set for this year’s festivities, the trade fight between China and the U.S. has lit a fuse of uncertainty as the price tag for future displays could skyrocket if an agreement isn’t reached. The American Pyrotechnics Association is among those urging officials to exempt fireworks from higher tariffs.

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Outside temperature is displayed in comparison to the inside temperature of a vehicle on Thursday June 26, 2025 in Belle Glade, Fla. during an event to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. (AP Photo/Cody Jackson)

Rising summer heat increases risk of child deaths in hot cars

Child safety advocates are warning about the dangers of heatstroke from leaving kids in hot cars. Experts say vehicle temperatures can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, even on mild days, putting children at serious risk. This year, nine children have died in hot cars across several U.S. states, including five in June. Since 1998, nearly every state has reported such tragedies. Experts emphasize that anyone can forget a child due to distractions. They recommend reminders, like leaving a personal item in the backseat. Authorities urge to call 911 right away if a child is spotted alone in a car.

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Baltimore Orioles' Coby Mayo, right, celebrates with interim third base/infield coach Buck Britton (46) after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Orioles make history by turning a 6-0 deficit into a 14-run win against Tampa Bay

No lead is safe this year when the Baltimore Orioles face the Tampa Bay Rays. Certainly not with seven innings still to play. On June 18, Tampa Bay beat Baltimore 12-8 after the Orioles had taken an 8-0 lead in the top of the second. Then on Friday night — nine days later — it was the Rays who opened the scoring with six runs in the second. Only for Baltimore to storm back and rout Tampa Bay 22-8. According to information released by the team from the Elias Sports Bureau, Baltimore became the first team in either the American or National League to win by at least 14 runs after trailing by six.

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Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Nick Martinez and Spencer Steer just miss making history in Reds’ 8-1 win over Padres

The Cincinnati Reds were on the verge of making history twice Friday night against the San Diego Padres. Nick Martinez was three outs away from becoming the 18th pitcher in Reds franchise history to toss a no-hitter, and first baseman Spencer Steer was one swing away from becoming the second Reds player to homer four times in a game. But, both Martinez and Steer fell short. It was still a memorable night at Great American Ball Park as Cincinnati beat San Diego 8-1 for their eighth win in 12 games.

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Baltimore Orioles' Ramon Laureano advances toward home plate to score on a throwing error by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

After falling behind by 6 in the 2nd inning, the Orioles storm back and rout Tampa Bay 22-8

Gary Sanchez homered and drove in four runs, Ramón Laureano scored four times and the Baltimore Orioles stormed back from an early six-run deficit to rout the Tampa Bay Rays 22-8. The Orioles were on the wrong end of a similar comeback against Tampa Bay just nine days earlier, when the Rays rallied from down 8-0 to beat Baltimore 12-8. Tampa Bay opened the scoring with six runs in the second. Jonathan Aranda, Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe all homered in that inning, but Sanchez, Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo went deep for the Orioles.

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President Donald Trump speaks to the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Ceneta)

Trump says he’s terminating trade talks with Canada over tax on tech firms

President Donald Trump says he’s suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms. Trump said Friday that Canada had informed the U.S. it was sticking to its plan to impose the tax set to take effect Monday. The Republican president calls it an “egregious Tax.” Canada’s digital services tax applies to businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The digital services tax will hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country will “continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians.”

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Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., winks during a House Committee on Armed Services Chair hearing on the Department of the Army's Fiscal Year 2026 posture, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won’t seek reelection

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican who represents Nebraska’s second district, will not seek reelection to a fifth term. That’s according to a person familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them. Bacon is known as an independent-minded Air Force veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. He represents the so-called “blue dot” that includes many progressive voters around Omaha. Bacon has been at the center of many debates in Congress. He has also been chairman of the conservative-centrist Republican Main Street Caucus in the House. First elected in 2016, he is expected to finish his term.

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Jury set to begin deliberating in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial. Here’s what to know

Jurors are set to begin deliberations in the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. A federal judge in New York City is expected to instruct jurors Monday morning before sending them off to decide the music mogul’s fate. During the seven-week trial, jurors heard from 34 witnesses. They included two of Combs’ former girlfriends, who said they felt coerced by Combs into participating in drug-fueled sex with paid male sex workers. The three-time Grammy winner has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to life in prison.

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FILE - A view of the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada, File)

California closes $12B deficit by cutting back immigrants’ access to health care

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a budget that pares back a number of progressive priorities to close a $12 billion deficit. The Legislature approved it Friday. It includes capping new enrollment to a state-funded health care program for low-income adult immigrants without legal status. Democratic leaders also rely on using state savings, borrowing from special funds and delaying payments to plug the budget hole. California also braces for potential cuts to health care and other benefits from the federal government. Republicans say Democrats haven’t done enough to prevent future budget shortfalls.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Justice Department abruptly fires 3 prosecutors involved in Jan. 6 criminal cases, AP sources say

The Justice Department has fired at least three prosecutors involved in U.S. Capitol riot criminal cases, according to two people familiar with the matter. It’s the latest move by the Trump administration targeting attorneys connected to the massive prosecution of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Those dismissed include two attorneys who worked as supervisors overseeing the Jan. 6 prosecutions in the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington as well as a line attorney who prosecuted cases stemming from the Capitol attack. That’s according to people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. Justice Department spokespeople did not not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Friday evening.

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Power pair of Cink and Harrington tied along with Hensby heading into weekend at US Senior Open

Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink endured the ups and downs of the U.S. Senior Open together for a second straight day and found themselves tied for the lead. The payoff — sharing the final tee time to kick off the weekend at the hilly, hard-to-read Broadmoor. Cink made up five shots over the final nine holes of his head-to-head pairing against Harrington, and the players headed into the weekend tied at 6-under 134, along with late-charging Mark Hensby.

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Meredith Gaudreau, widow of Johnny Gaudreau, speaks during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Emotional tribute to ‘Johnny Hockey’ as Meredith Gaudreau announces Blue Jackets’ 1st-round picks

Meredith Gaudreau announced the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round picks in the NHL draft 10 months after her husband, John, was killed along with his brother while riding bicycles on the eve of their sister’s wedding. Fans at the Peacock Theater chanted “Johnny! Johnny!” in honor of the late player nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” and cheered Meredith as she spoke. She thanked every team and fan base for their support this past season. Gaudreau said the Blue Jackets were taking Jackson Smith 14th, then returned to announce Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20.

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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Reds’ Martinez takes no-hit bid into 9th, Steer hits 3 homers in 8-1 win over Padres

Nick Martinez took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning before allowing pinch-hitter Elias Díaz’s double and Spencer Steer hit three home runs, leading the Cincinnati Reds over the San Diego Padres 8-1. Martinez walked his third batter, Jackson Merrill, on a low full-count sinker, then retired 22 consecutive hitters before walking rookie Trenton Brooks starting the ninth. Díaz then drove an 0-1 changeup off the base of the wall in left-center on Martinez’s 112th and final pitch, which tied his career high. A 34-year-old right-hander, Martinez struck out six as the Reds won for the fourth time in five games. He also threw 112 pitches for Texas against Boston on May 28, 2015.

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Amid the flowers and other mementos left in honor of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman outside the Minnesota House chamber at the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday, June 27, 2025, was a box of dog biscuits in honor of her dog, Gilbert, who was seriously injured and had to be put down after Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot June 14. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

A slain Minnesota lawmaker’s beloved dog, Gilbert, stays with her as she and her spouse lie in state

Minnesota is honoring the golden retriever named Gilbert belonging to a prominent state lawmaker and her husband who were shot to death in their home. The dog, who also was shot, will lie in state with them at the state Capitol. The legislator was Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman, and she became the first woman to lie in state there when she and her husband were honored together Friday. Authorities say they were gunned down June 14 in their home in Brooklyn Park by a man posing as a police officer. Gilbert was badly injured and later put down. In previous years, Hortman served as House speaker.

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Canelo Alvarez, left, and Terence Crawford face off during a news conference for their upcoming boxing match Friday, June 27, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford share compliments in final stop of media tour for Sept. 13 bout

No trash talk necessary. That was Friday’s message from Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, both complimentary of one another while downplaying a shoving incident in New York earlier this month during the media tour for their blockbuster match on Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium. The fight for the unified super middleweight championship is part of Alvarez’s reported $400 million, minimum four-fight deal with Riyadh Season.

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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Padres pinch-hitter Díaz doubles in 9th inning to spoil no-hit bid by Reds RHP Nick Martinez

San Diego Padres pinch-hitter Elias Díaz hit a double off the wall in left-center in the ninth inning to spoil a no-hit bid by Cincinnati Reds right-hander Nick Martinez. The 34-year-old Martinez walked two and struck out six and was lifted from the game after allowing the first hit. He matched his career high of 112 pitches thru eight-plus innings, 75 for strikes. Martinez’s previous season high for pitches was 102. He has never pitched a complete game in the major leagues. The Reds led the game 8-0. Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer has homered three times for the first time in his career.

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US, China announce a trade agreement — again. Here’s what it means

The U.S. and China have reached an agreement — again — to deescalate trade tensions. China is making it easier for U.S. companies crucial magnets and rare earths materials. But details are scarce, and the latest pact leaves major issues between the world’s two biggest economies unresolved. President Donald Trump said late Thursday that a deal with China had been signed “the other day.″ China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Friday that some type of arrangement had been reached but offered little clarity about it. Sudden shifts and a lack of definition have been hallmarks of Trump’s trade policy since he returned to the White House determined to overturn a global trading system that he says is unfair to the United States and its workers.

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Appeals court puts peace institute back in Trump administration hands with stay of lower court

A federal appeals court is staying a lower court ruling that blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with dismantling the U.S. Institute of Peace. The organization was taken over in March by the Department of Government Efficiency, then led by Elon Musk. The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell that allowed USIP to regain control of its headquarters and operation while the government appealed her ruling. Howell had denied a government request for a stay of her opinion. The appeals court said the government had shown it would be likely to succeed on the merits of its appeal.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, stands with Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, left, and Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, right, as they shake hands after signing a peace agreement at the State Department, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).

Congo and Rwanda sign a US-mediated peace deal aimed at ending decades of bloody conflict

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long fighting in eastern Congo. The deal was signed Friday by the foreign ministers of the two countries and witnessed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Donald Trump then greeted them at the White House for a congratulatory photo op. The deal will help the U.S. gain access to critical minerals needed for much of the world’s technology at a time when the United States and China are actively competing for influence in Africa. Analysts see it as a major turning point but don’t believe it will quickly end the fighting that has killed millions of people since the 1990s.

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FILE - University of Virginia president, James Ryan speaks during a press conference at the school, Dec 13, 2021, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

University of Virginia president, pressured over DEI, resigns rather than ‘fight federal government’

The president of the University of Virginia has announced he is resigning amid heavy pressure from conservative critics and the Trump administration over the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The departure of James Ryan represents a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to reshape higher education. Ryan had faced conservative criticism that he failed to heed federal orders to eliminate DEI policies, and his removal was pushed for by the Justice Department as it investigated the school, according to a person who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

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Crystina Page, right, hugs Beth Mosley, who both had retained the services of a Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decomposing bodies, after the owner was sentenced to 20 years prison on federal fraud charges, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies sentenced to 20 years in prison

A federal judge has sentenced a Colorado funeral home owner who stashed nearly 190 decomposing bodies to 20 years in prison on federal fraud charges. Jon Hallford stored the bodies in a room-temperature building between 2019 and 2023. Prosecutors say he cheated customers and defrauded the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic aid. Friday’s sentence was the maximum prison term for which Hallford was eligible in the case. He will be sentenced in August in a separate state case in which he pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse.

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President Donald Trump listens during a briefing with the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Judge rejects another Trump executive order targeting the legal community

A federal judge has struck down another of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ruled that the order against the firm of Susman Godfrey was unconstitutional and must be permanently blocked. The order was the latest ruling to reject Trump’s efforts to punish law firms for legal work he does not like and for employing attorneys he perceives as his adversaries. The Susman Godfrey firm suggested that it had drawn Trump’s ire at least in part because it represented Dominion Voting Systems in the voting machine company’s defamation lawsuit against Fox News over false claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The suit ended in a massive settlement.

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Andrew Putnam hits from the ninth tee during the first round of the Rocket Classic golf tournament at the Detroit Golf Club, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Knapp makes PGA Tour history at Rocket Classic, trails 2nd-round leaders Kirk, Knowles and Putnam

Jake Knapp has pulled off a feat no one else has in PGA Tour history. Knapp shot an 11-under 61 on Friday to break a Rocket Classic record that stood for less than a day, becoming the first on the tour to break 60 and shoot a 61 or lower in the same season. That still wasn’t enough to put him in the top six, entering the weekend at Detroit Golf Club. Chris Kirk, Philip Knowles and Andrew Putnam share the second-round lead at 14 under after consecutive rounds in the mid-60s.

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Joey Logano walks to his car before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodríguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

NASCAR’s Cup Series to debut In-Season Challenge as $1 million backdrop to points race for title

The debut of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge in Saturday night’s Cup Series race in Atlanta has generated differing opinions and expectations from drivers. After all, there’s a points race to attend to. Every team’s top priority is qualifying for the playoffs and trying to win the championship. Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed in the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament. Chase Briscoe, who held off Hamlin to win last week at Pocono Raceway, is the No. 2 seed. A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT.

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Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett holds up the Conn Smythe Trophy during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup championship celebration, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Playoff MVP Sam Bennett agrees on 8-year, $64 million contract to stay with Florida Panthers

Sam Bennett walked to the front of the stage at the Florida Panthers’ latest Stanley Cup championship parade, and before he could even speak the crowd began serenading him with their request. “Eight more years! Eight more years!” they chanted, over and over. They got their wish. Bennett — who led the NHL with 15 goals in this year’s playoffs and became the first Panthers player ever to score that many in a single postseason — is staying with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. He and Florida agreed Friday to a new eight-year contract worth $64 million, or $8 million per season.

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Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington looks on from the dugout during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Angels manager Ron Washington to miss rest of season with unspecified medical issue

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will miss the rest of the season because of an unspecified medical issue. Washington, the oldest manager in the major leagues at 73, has been sidelined for the past week. He experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series at the New York Yankees that ended on June 19. He flew back to Southern California, underwent a series of tests and was placed on medical leave. Bench coach Ray Montgomery, who had been filling in for Washington, was named interim manager, and infield coach Ryan Goins was promoted to bench coach.

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FILE - Mairelise Robinson, a U.S. citizen who is 6 months pregnant, attends a protest in support of birthright citizenship, outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

What’s next for birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court’s ruling

The legal battle over President Donald Trump’s move to end birthright citizenship is far from over despite the Republican administration’s major victory Friday limiting nationwide injunctions. Immigrant advocates are vowing to fight to ensure birthright citizenship remains the law as the Republican president tries to do away with more than a century of precedent. The high court’s ruling sends cases challenging the president’s birthright citizenship executive order back to the lower courts. But the ultimate fate of the president’s policy remains uncertain.

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President Donald Trump, from left, speaks to the media as Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blance listen, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

High court ruling on injunctions could imperil many court orders blocking the Trump administration

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision limiting federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions threatens to upend numerous lawsuits that have led to orders blocking Trump administration policies. Between the start of the new administration and mid-May, judges issued roughly 40 nationwide injunctions against the White House on topics including federal funding, elections rules and diversity and equity considerations. Attorneys involved in some of those cases said Friday they will keep fighting, noting the high court left open other legal paths that could have broad nationwide effect.

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The Supreme Court is seen, June 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Takeaways from the Supreme Court’s term: largely good news for Trump

The Supreme Court delivered significant victories for President Donald Trump in its term that ended Friday. In the past five months, the court supported his administration on key issues, including limiting federal judges’ authority to block his policies. This trend reflects the influence of the conservative majority, bolstered by three Trump-appointed justices. Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson have strongly dissented, warning of threats to democracy.

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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Big banks all pass the Federal Reserve’s stress tests, but the tests were less vigorous this year

The Federal Reserve said all major banks passed this year’s stress tests, showing they can withstand a hypothetical severe economic downturn. The tests, announced Friday, were less rigorous than in previous years, with milder assumptions about unemployment, real estate, and stock market declines. The Fed says the changes aim to reduce unintended volatility in results. However, the tests excluded risks like exposure to private credit, a growing $2 trillion market that has been repeatedly flagged by economists and financial market observers as potentially destabilizing. Passing the tests allows banks to issue dividends and buy back stock.

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FILE - Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump salutes at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump administration ends legal protections for half-million Haitians who now face deportations

The Department of Homeland Security says that it is terminating legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, setting them up for potential deportation. DHS says that conditions in Haiti have improved and Haitians no longer meet the conditions for the temporary legal protections. The termination applies to about 500,000 Haitians who are already in the United States, some of whom have lived here for more than a decade. The Department of State, nonetheless, has not changed its travel advisory and still recommends Americans “do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.”

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FILE - Actor Alec Baldwin approaches his wife Hilaria during his trial, July 11, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M. (Ramsay de Give/Pool Photo via AP, File)

‘Rust’ crew settles lawsuit against film producers and Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting

A settlement has been reached in the civil lawsuit alleging negligence in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “Rust”. The settlement was revealed in court document released on Friday. The lawsuit was brought by three “Rust” crew members seeking compensation for emotional distress from producers of “Rust,” including lead actor and co-producer Alec Baldwin. Terms of the settlement were not available and parties to the lawsuit had no immediate comment. A charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin was dismissed at trial last year on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.

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Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, speaks during an NBA basketball press conference at the team's practice facility, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Cooper Flagg looks comfortable in new home as No. 1 pick gets introduced in Dallas

Cooper Flagg looked right at home in his new home as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft was introduced in Dallas. Flagg offered a “hello” before general manager Nico Harrison could even start his opening remarks. The 18-year-old former Duke star only grew more comfortable from there. Flagg is joining a team with three NBA champions in Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. Expectations will be to win, and Flagg has no problem with that. He’s also just fine carrying on the All-Star lineage of European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic.

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President Donald Trump points to a reporter to take a question as he speaks to the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump tells Iran’s supreme leader: ‘You got beat to hell’

President Donald Trump is scoffing at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s heated warning to the U.S. not to launch future strikes on Iran and the Iranian supreme leader’s assertion that Tehran “won the war” with Israel. The U.S. president leader spoke out on Friday after Khamenei a day earlier insisted Tehran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar and warned against further attacks by the U.S. or Israel on Iran. Trump says the ayatollah’s comments defied reality after 12 days of Israeli strikes and the U.S. bombardment of three key nuclear sites inflicted severe damage on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said of Khamenei, “You got beat to hell.”

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FILE - A security officer works inside of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) building headquarters, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Senate Republicans move to slash consumer bureau funding by half, risking hundreds of job cuts

Senate Republicans have proposed cutting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding by nearly half. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and could lead to significant job cuts at the agency. The CFPB, created after the 2008 financial crisis, receives its funds from the Federal Reserve. However, the proposal would reduce its funding cap by nearly half. Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, argue this would weaken the agency’s ability to regulate bad financial practices. Senate Democrats are expected to challenge the proposal.

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FILE - The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Supreme Court preserves key part of Obamacare coverage requirements

The Supreme Court has preserved a key part of the Affordable Care Act’s preventive health care coverage requirements, rejecting a challenge from Christian employers to the provision that affects 150 million Americans. Friday’s ruling comes in a Texas case over how the government decides which health care medications and services must be fully covered by private insurance under President Barack Obama’s signature law. The plaintiffs said the process is unconstitutional because a volunteer board of medical experts tasked with recommending which services are covered isn’t Senate approved. President Donald Trump’s administration defended the mandate, though the president has criticized his Democratic predecessor’s law. The Justice Department said board members don’t need Senate approval.

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CORRECTS TO JOSEPH, NOT JOESPH - From left, the Rev. Joseph Connor, the Rev. Tim Banach, the Rev. John Meyerhofer, and the Rev. Mike Sampson, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades

The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new Catholic priests in a joyful Mass at its cathedral. It’s the second-largest class of new priests in the diocese’s 50-year history. The occasion offers hope for the U.S. Catholic Church, which has suffered from division, abuse and a shortage of incoming clergy. The 12 Virginia priests range in age from 28 to 56. They include former engineers, a tech company founder and two future military chaplains. They are entering the priesthood at an exciting time for the church as Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, begins his papacy.

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Chef Nobu serves his famous miso cod with a side of inspiration in a new documentary

World-famous chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has been tantalizing foodies for decades as he built his empire to include more than 50 upscale restaurants and several luxury hotels. The new documentary “Nobu” reveals the man behind the cuisine in an intimate look at how he found success. The film traces Matsuhisa’s journey to creating his unique fusion cuisine, blending Japanese traditional dishes with Peruvian ingredients. Now 76, Matsuhisa was driven to run his own restaurant but faced obstacles, including financial woes, doubters and a devastating fire at one of his first restaurants. “Nobu” releases widely July 2.

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FILE - Josh Waldron, co-founder and CEO of SilencerCo, holds a 9mm handgun with a suppressor embedded into the barrel, Jan. 17, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lisa Marie Pane, File)

Republicans hit major setback in their effort to ease regulations on gun silencers

Republican efforts to loosen regulations on gun silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns have been dealt a big setback. The Senate parliamentarian advised Friday that the proposal would need to clear a 60-vote threshold if included in President Donald Trump’s big tax and immigration bill. Lawmakers said the provision was deemed by the Senate parliamentarian to be in violation of the “Byrd Rule,” which stipulates that the budget changes sought in the legislation cannot be “merely incidental” to the policy changes. Gun-control groups celebrated the parliamentarian’s ruling, saying the items have been regulated for nearly 100 years because of the threat to first responders and communities.

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Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark reacts during the first half in a WNBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Caitlin Clark is out again with groin injury, will miss matchup with Paige Bueckers

Caitlin Clark’s first matchup against Paige Bueckers will have to wait. The Indiana Fever star was ruled out of a second consecutive game with a left groin injury. The Dallas Wings, who drafted Bueckers No. 1 overall this year, are playing the Fever at the home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Clark missed an 85-75 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. The groin problem is the second injury that has forced Clark to miss time this season.

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This image provided by the Boulder Police Dept. shows Mohamed Sabry Soliman. (Boulder Police Dept. via AP)

Man pleads not guilty to hate crimes in attack on Colorado demonstration for Israeli hostages

A man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at a group of people demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages has pleaded not guilty to hate crimes. Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered the plea through his attorney in federal court Friday. He has been indicted on 12 hate crime counts in the June 1 attack, accused of trying to kill eight people who were hurt by the Molotov cocktails and others who were nearby. The hate crime charges include three related to the explosives he’s accused of using and carrying.

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Residents express amazement after seeing fireball streak across the southern sky

More than 200 people across a half-dozen southern states have reported witnessing a fireball streak across the sky, and NASA has determined that it was a meteor. The sightings Thursday prompted wonder and amazement from many of the people who saw it. As of Friday afternoon, 215 reports from a half-dozen southern states had poured into the American Meteor Society. Most sightings of the streak of light and fireball came from Georgia and South Carolina around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

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This courtroom sketch depicts Kilmar Abrego Garcia sitting in court during his detention hearing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (Diego Fishburn via AP)

Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia ask judge to keep him in jail over deportation concerns

Prosecutors have agreed with a request by Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s lawyers to delay his Tennessee jail release. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers asked a judge for the delay Friday because of “contradictory statements” by President Donald Trump’s administration over whether he’ll be deported upon release. A judge in Nashville has been preparing to release Abrego Garcia to await trial on human smuggling charges. The judge has been holding off over concerns immigration officials would try to deport him. The Justice Department says it intends to try Abrego Garcia on the smuggling charges. A Justice Department attorney said earlier there were plans to deport him but didn’t say when. The Maryland construction worker previously was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

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Ukrainian servicemen carry a body repatriated from Russia, at the morgue in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

World Bank warns that 39 fragile states are falling further behind as conflicts grow, get deadlier

The world’s most desperate countries are falling further and further behind, their plight worsened by conflicts that are growing deadlier and more frequent. That is the sobering conclusion of the World Bank’s first comprehensive study of how 39 countries contending with “fragile and conflict-affected situations’’ have fared since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. Since 2020, the 39 countries, which range from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific to Mozambique in sub-Saharan Africa, have seen their economic output per person fall by an average 1.8% a year. In other developing countries, by contrast, it grew by an average 2.9% a year over the same period.

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David Koepp is Hollywood’s go-to scribe. He’s back with a fresh start for ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

In the 32 years since penning “Jurassic Park,” David Koepp has established himself as one of Hollywood’s top screenwriters not through the boundlessness of his imagination but by his expertise in limiting it. Koepp is the master of the “bottle” movie — films hemmed in by a single location or condensed timed frame. From David Fincher’s “Panic Room” to Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence,” he excels at corralling stories into uncluttered, headlong movie narratives. Koepp can write anything, as long as there are parameters. “Jurassic World Rebirth” is a fresh start for one of Hollywood’s biggest multi-billion-dollar franchises. But just as he did 32 years ago, Steven Spielberg turned to Koepp to write it.

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The office of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is seen at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republican plan for nationwide private school vouchers deemed in violation of Senate rules

A Republican plan to expand private school vouchers nationwide was dealt a major setback when the Senate parliamentarian said the proposal would run afoul of procedural rules. The plan had been years in the making. It would have created a federal tax credit supporting scholarships to help families send their children to private schools or other options beyond local public schools. The Senate parliamentarian advises against including the proposal in President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending bill. That adds to mounting problems for Republicans as key proposals are deemed ineligible for the filibuster-proof reconciliation package. The parliamentarian’s rulings are advisory but rarely ignored.

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Officer involved shooting in Sioux Falls

PIERRE, S.D.  – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), at the request of the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating an officer involved […]

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Rapid City, US
3:36 am, Jun 30, 2025
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