Spurs Select Tennessee Guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie At 42

 

San Antonio — The San Antonio Spurs selected Tennessee guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie with the No. 42 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, adding a 6-foot-1 perimeter shooter and playmaker who averaged 18.4 points and 5.4 assists while starting all 37 games for...

USDA publishes FY2025 SNAP error-rate state rankings

 

United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released fiscal year 2025 SNAP payment error-rate data this week, showing a national error rate of 10.62% and wide variation among states; South Dakota registered 2.47% while Alaska recorded the highest rate of 23.15%, with Maryland at 13.08% and Illinois at 14.7%. The report,...

Florida Everglades detention camp to close after year

 

OCHOPEE, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the Everglades detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" will close after nearly a year of operation; contractors have been ordered to begin full demobilization this week and detainees were relocated earlier as officials cited hurricane-season safety concerns. Federal authorities coordinated transfers and state...

Louisiana lawmakers approve fund diversion for teacher stipends

 

Baton Rouge. Louisiana lawmakers approved Gov. Jeff Landry's executive order this week to redirect $168 million from the state's K‑12 funding formula to provide one-year stipends of $2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for qualifying support staff; both chambers recorded supermajority votes on the measure on June 24. The vote follows voters...

Local festivals, traffic closures, and emergency service reports

 

Pleasanton hosted its 13th annual Fourth of July Bash on Saturday, June 27, featuring live performances, inflatable attractions, a rock wall and a barbecue competition starting at 6 p.m.; the event schedule listed children's activities, face painting, animal exhibits and multiple musical acts throughout the afternoon and evening. Elsewhere this week,...

Great American State Fair Opens on National Mall

 

Washington — The Great American State Fair opened on the National Mall on June 24–25, 2026, as a 16-day semiquincentennial celebration organized by Freedom 250. The event installed exhibits from all 50 states and U.S. territories, rides including a 110-foot Ferris wheel, and stages for patriotic performances and ceremonies. On opening...

Atlanta Falcons sign Kyle Pitts to record extension

 

Atlanta, United States – The Atlanta Falcons have signed tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. to a three-year, $54 million contract extension agreed on June 23, 2026, securing the fifth-year player under contract through the 2028 NFL season. The agreement, announced by his representatives at Athletes First in a social media...

Permits Point To Taylor Swift Wedding At MSG

 

New York. City permit filings and source accounts indicate that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce plan to hold wedding festivities at Madison Square Garden on July 3; a streets-closure permit covering July 2 to midday July 4 was filed in early June, and Winick Productions submitted an application with the...

Los Angeles court rejects emergency custody request

 

A Los Angeles family court has declined an emergency bid by James Heerdegen to alter custody arrangements with his ex-wife, actress Christina Ricci, following an alleged in-flight drinking incident involving their 11-year-old son, Freddie. Heerdegen sought modified custody and mandatory alcohol testing for Ricci after receiving June 16, 2026 text...

United States faces widespread flood watches amid deluge

 

A sprawling, persistent storm system is bringing dangerous flooding conditions to large parts of the Central and Southern United States, with flood watches and flash flood warnings in effect from Nebraska to the Florida Panhandle as of Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The National Weather Service reports that deep tropical moisture...