North Carolina signs $34.4B budget; Stein approves

 

Raleigh, N.C. Gov. Josh Stein signed a $34.4 billion state budget on Tuesday morning after the North Carolina General Assembly passed the measure on Thursday, July 2; legislators had proposed the plan on June 30, the last day of the fiscal year. The enacted plan directs more than $19 billion...

Municipal responses follow revaluation spikes and tax convictions

 

Stratford officials approved phased valuation changes and revised senior relief rules this week after a state-mandated revaluation last year increased many home values by up to 80 percent, while a federal jury last week convicted a St. Louis tax preparer and the D.C. Council ordered a study into a business...

London palace staff tightly manage Prince Harry meetings

 

London — Royal commentators say palace aides plan to tightly manage any meeting between King Charles III and Prince Harry during the duke’s latest visit to the United Kingdom, in order to protect both the monarch and the institution of the monarchy. British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News...

United States Democrats urge Maine Senate candidate withdrawal

 

In the United States on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, leading national and Maine Democratic officials called for immediate withdrawal of Senate nominee Graham Platner after sexual assault allegations surfaced. In an exclusive Politico interview, 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot alleged that Platner, a Marine veteran and progressive outsider, entered her...

FEMA Opens Aid After Midwest Floods, Gulf Storms

 

United States: FEMA has approved Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters in multiple Wisconsin counties and four Louisiana parishes after April flooding and Tropical Storm Arthur on June 17–18. Local outlets reported that affected areas include Brown and Marathon counties in Wisconsin and Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne...

Duterte asks court to halt Senate impeachment trial

 

Manila — Vice President Sara Duterte filed an urgent motion on July 6 asking the Supreme Court to stop her impeachment trial at the Senate, challenging Sen. Francis 'Chiz' Escudero’s authority to preside and contesting the validity of June 3 Senate amendments to impeachment rules, with allied lawyers led by...

Supreme Court Lets Texas Enforce App Store Age Rules

 

United States. The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to enforce the Texas App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420), permitting age verification and parental-consent requirements for app downloads while legal challenges continue. The one-line order declined an emergency request to pause enforcement; the law was reinstated by the Fifth Circuit...

Officials Mail Ballots, Test New Papers Ahead Elections

 

Pasco County, Florida. Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley said his office will send more than 35,000 Vote by Mail ballots on Thursday, July 9, 2026, for the August 18 primary, after an initial July 2 dispatch to uniformed and overseas voters; completed ballots must reach the elections office by...

Illinois Enacts Landmark Law Requiring Oversight of AI

 

Chicago. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed Senate Bill 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, into law, imposing transparency, reporting and safety obligations on large-scale AI developers and establishing thresholds and oversight mechanisms for the most advanced systems. The bill was approved by the Illinois legislature in May...

Maine Senate Nominee Accused of Assault; Campaign Pauses

 

Augusta, Maine. A Politico report published Monday states that Jenny Racicot, who previously dated Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, alleges he sexually assaulted her in late 2021; Platner denies the allegation and several public events were postponed on Sunday and Monday as his campaign cited health and scheduling concerns. The postponements...