National

Journalist Don Lemon has sought the dismissal of an indictment stemming from his presence at a Minnesota church protest, asserting the charges violate First Amendment protections and represent a vindictive prosecution designed to chill disfavored journalism.

Fire crews in Washington are preparing for a new bout of flame-fueling winds and intense heat this weekend, which threatens to exacerbate wildfires that have already scorched over 10,000 acres.

The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping proposed changes to the Head Start program, a federal initiative providing early education and health services to low-income children. The proposal seeks to replace many federal regulations with state standards, a move officials contend would enhance provider flexibility, potentially create up to 236,000 new slots, and yield $2.2 billion in annual savings for reinvestment. Critics, however, caution that this shift could compromise the program's effectiveness, citing concerns that state early childhood education and health standards are often less stringent.

The White House has unveiled a new framework for the review of advanced artificial intelligence models, which will focus exclusively on 'closed' models, including those from OpenAI and Anthropic, while notably excluding 'open-weight' models from current oversight. This decision highlights a significant divide within the tech industry regarding AI safety and capability.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to repeal its 1973 ban on overland civil supersonic flight, establishing new noise standards by mid-2027. This initiative is supported by innovations such as Boom Supersonic's Mach cutoff technology and NASA's X-59 aircraft.

Capital One disclosed in a court filing that it closed more than 300 accounts linked to the Trump Organization in 2021, citing anti-money laundering concerns. The bank's statement denies the Trump Organization's assertion that the account closures were politically motivated.

An FBI agent, Patrick Steven Yaroch, has been arrested following allegations of stealing over $900,000 in cryptocurrency from accounts under agency surveillance. Court records indicate Yaroch's actions were reportedly driven by frustration over perceived government inaction regarding the misuse of crypto assets.

Senator Tim Kaine has informed the White House that a careful review of classified intelligence suggests the U.S. military's 'Operation Southern Spear' campaign has likely resulted in the illegal killing of individuals not involved in narcotrafficking, whom he termed 'murder victims,' urging an end to the 'illegal, costly and ineffective' operation.

Amid federal denials of climate change realities, Black mayors, led by African American Mayors Association (AAMA) president Brandon Scott, have united to protect communities of color disproportionately affected by environmental shifts. Their strategy involves proactive local legislation and strategic partnerships to build climate resilience.

The cause of death for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was discovered off the Mississippi coast after a Fourth of July boating trip, remains undetermined following an independent autopsy.