National & Local Headlines
The US faces more frequent extreme weather events, but attitudes and actions aren’t keeping up
(ABC News) After deadly flooding in central Texas in 1987, some thought they’d proven they could handle Mother Nature’s best punch. Then came this month’s horrific flash floods, when unfathomable amounts of rain fell in only hours and more than 100 people died.
Texas inspectors approved Camp Mystic’s disaster plan 2 days before deadly flood, records show
(Associated Press) Texas inspectors signed off on Camp Mystic’s emergency planning just two days before catastrophic flooding killed more than two dozen people at the all-girls Christian summer camp, most of them children.
The Department of State Health Services released records Tuesday showing the camp complied with a host of state regulations regarding “procedures to be implemented in case of a disaster.” Among them: instructing campers what to do if they need to evacuate and assigning specific duties to each staff member and counselor.
Supreme Court allows Trump admin to implement plans to significantly reduce the federal workforce
(SCOTUSBlog) The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement an executive order calling for mass reductions in the federal workforce. In a brief unsigned opinion, the justices temporarily paused an order by a federal judge in San Francisco that prohibited the government from carrying out the executive order while its appeals continue.
The majority explained that, in its view, the Trump administration is likely to prevail on its argument that the executive order and a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management intended to implement the executive order are legal – a key criterion in determining whether to grant temporary relief.
IRS says churches can now endorse political candidates
(NPR) In a break with decades of tradition, the Internal Revenue Service says it will allow houses of worship to endorse candidates for political office without losing their tax-exempt status.
The surprise announcement came in a court document filed on Monday.
Since 1954, a provision in the tax code called the Johnson Amendment says that churches and other nonprofit organizations could lose their tax-exempt status if they participate in, or intervene in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."
Democratic lawmakers denied entry to Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention site
(CBS News) A group of Florida Democratic state lawmakers was blocked from entering the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention facility in the Everglades Thursday, despite citing legal authority for an official legislative site visit.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried issued a statement following the incident, saying, "Lawmakers on the ground were just blocked from entering a state-funded detention site because of so-called 'safety concerns.' This is a taxpayer-funded facility, run by the State of Florida. Our elected officials have every legal right to walk through those gates."
Trump signs megabill that slashes taxes, Medicaid while boosting national debt
(USA Today) President Donald Trump capped the whirlwind opening stretch of his second term with a Fourth of July signing ceremony for his signature legislation, reveling in pushing the megabill through a fractious Congress and delivering on multiple campaign promises.
The measure cements into law much of Trump’s agenda and is being hailed by the president and his supporters as a major victory.
It includes tax cuts, increased spending on immigration enforcement and the military and deep spending reductions to Medicaid that Democrats and some Republicans have strongly criticized.
Gov. Mike DeWine signs state’s $60 billion budget in the final hour
Gov. Mike DeWine signs state’s $60 billion budget in the final hour
Gov. Mike DeWine signs state’s $60 billion budget in the final hour
(NBC 4) Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state’s $60 billion budget into law just 45 minutes before the midnight deadline.
The 2026-27 measure, which was approved in both state chambers last week, reportedly earmarks $600 million in taxpayer dollars for a new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park. The money will come from the state’s unclaimed funds trust. DeWine also signed the provision changing Ohio’s income tax to a flat tax rate into law.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office said that DeWine issued 67 vetoes, the most of his two terms as Governor.
In a statement, the Ohio Democratic Party slammed the budget as, “disastrous” writing in part, “Instead of supporting Ohio families, the Republican legislature passed a budget that only helps their billionaire friends and special interests.”