July infrastructure projects begin as DC readies fireworks

 

Washington, D.C. — The National Independence Day Parade began at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, and fireworks were scheduled about 11:30 p.m.; organizers expected more than a million attendees and planned roughly 850,000 fireworks for a roughly 40-minute display. On Monday, July 13, Bay City and Sioux City will...

States Expand Veterans Benefits, Tax Relief, Facility Upgrades

 

Stony Brook, New York. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday awarded more than $2 million to New York State to fund infrastructure upgrades at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University, a 350-bed facility serving veterans, spouses, widows and Gold Star parents. The grant will...

California designates Bruce Lee Day, a first statewide

 

San Francisco — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Tuesday designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day, making Bruce Lee the first Chinese American in California history to receive an annual namesake day. Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and returned to the city on May 17,...

Oregon Lands Four-Star Two-Way Athlete Tae Walden Jr.

 

Collierville, Tennessee — Four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. committed to the University of Oregon on Wednesday, announcing his decision during the Rivals Summer Signing Day show and confirming it to The Commercial Appeal on July 1. The 6-foot-2, 170–175-pound two-way player chose Oregon over Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss...

Texas Governor Backs Ban on Rural AI Centers

 

Bullard, Texas. Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday endorsed banning new artificial intelligence data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods during a campaign stop in Bullard, saying developers must bring their own money, power and water, and signaling he will push lawmakers to eliminate the industry's state sales tax exemption. In Austin, Abbott's...

Three Children Missing Across Georgia and South Carolina

 

Savannah, Georgia. Authorities this week reported three separate missing-child cases across the region: Aiken County deputies said 4-year-old Javeayah Harris was last seen Tuesday near Hillsboro Street and Ridgecrest Road in South Carolina; Chatham County police reported 16-year-old Miracle Jackson was last seen around 1 a.m. July 2 on Wax...

States report large FY2026 budget surpluses and changes

 

Charleston, West Virginia. State officials announced on July 1 that West Virginia closed Fiscal Year 2026 with a $370 million general revenue surplus, reporting total General Revenue Fund collections of $5.693 billion; officials cited a $159 million personal income tax surplus and $534 million in severance tax receipts that exceeded...

Louisiana arrests highlight Medicaid challenges across states

 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on Wednesday, July 1 that her office arrested 21 people in a statewide Medicaid fraud operation, including local providers accused of billing for services not rendered; the announcement also included elevating the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to a standalone division within the...

Brockton Imposes Curfew Ahead of Cape Verde Match

 

Brockton officials announced a temporary curfew Wednesday after repeated postgame disturbances tied to Cape Verde's World Cup run. Mayor Moises Rodrigues said the curfew will run from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, and that bars must seat patrons by 7 p.m. with last call at 9:30 p.m., ahead...

Texas Board Approves Mandatory Bible Readings for Students

 

Austin, Texas. On June 26, 2026 the Texas State Board of Education voted 9-5-1 to approve a required statewide reading list for public schools that includes selections from the Bible, producing a list of more than 200 readings to satisfy a 2023 state law requiring at least one mandatory text...