National
Friday, July 17, 2026 · Contra Costa County
Falling Home Prices Signal Different Economic Conditions Across U.S. Markets
Housing prices are falling in Denver and other U.S. cities, creating opportunities for renters considering home purchases. Yet economists caution that declining prices do not uniformly indicate favorable market conditions.
Trump Vows 100% Tariffs on European Goods Over Digital Tax Plans
Donald Trump said he would impose 100% tariffs on all European imports if countries implement taxes on digital services. The threat targets nations considering or enacting levies on tech companies' online operations.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump to highlight economic record during Pennsylvania campaign stop
President Trump will travel to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley on Tuesday to discuss economic performance. The visit comes as his administration reached an initial accord with Iran.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Government Workers Settle Lawsuits After Losing Jobs Over Online Posts
Several government and public institution employees secured settlements after their employers fired them for online posts. The cases highlight tensions between workplace conduct policies and free speech protections for public employees.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Prepares Rulings on Election Laws as New Cases Wait in Queue
The Supreme Court will announce opinions on Tuesday and Thursday this week, with 17 more decisions expected by early July. Meanwhile, the justices face petitions to review election laws in Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Bolton Pleads Guilty to Retaining Classified Documents
John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Friday to illegally retaining classified information. The plea agreement may allow him to avoid prison time.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Federal agents visit woman over social media posts about immigration
In June, Department of Homeland Security agents visited Paigelynn Gonyea five months after she posted about immigration on social media. The agents said her posts had identified a federal agent and asked her to remove them. Gonyea has questioned the basis for the visit.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Pope Leo XIV calls for increased government funding to address global hunger
Pope Leo XIV has urged governments to allocate more resources toward combating hunger, citing reduced funding contributions from the United States and other countries. The pontiff's remarks highlighted the gap between humanitarian aid commitments and actual spending.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Experts struggle to verify death toll from U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran
Researchers and analysts face major obstacles in confirming how many people have died in U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran, as governments restrict information flow and internet access throughout the region.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Three Senate Republicans Departing Congress
Three Senate Republicans who have drawn criticism from President Trump are departing Congress. Their exits come as the lawmakers face no further electoral constraints.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Rules Gun Ban for Marijuana Users Unconstitutionally Vague
The Supreme Court sided with a marijuana user who faced prosecution under a federal law prohibiting gun ownership for drug users, ruling the statute violates the Second Amendment and lacks sufficient clarity.
Friday, July 17, 2026
FDA Panel Endorses Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
An FDA advisory panel voted to back Moderna's mFlusiva, an mRNA-based flu vaccine designed for older Americans. The approval marks the first time regulators have greenlit a flu shot using messenger RNA technology.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump Signs Iran War Agreement, Defers Broader Policy Disputes
President Donald Trump signed an agreement to end the war with Iran during a summit in Versailles, marking a shift in his administration's approach to the longtime adversary. The accord sidesteps several contentious issues that Trump's team plans to address later.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump, Iranian Leader Sign Preliminary Agreement to End War
President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday aimed at ending the war between their nations. Pakistan's prime minister also signed the preliminary agreement.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Ukraine launches large-scale drone attack on Moscow, hitting oil refinery
Ukraine conducted a wave of drone attacks on Moscow early Thursday, with multiple unmanned aircraft reaching an oil refinery on the city's outskirts, according to the mayor. The attack ranks among the largest aerial strikes on the capital since Russia's invasion began.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Justices Have Long Mixed Politics With the Bench
Supreme Court justices have campaigned for candidates, delivered partisan speeches, and criticized sitting presidents throughout American history. Scholars note that the custom of judicial restraint rests on practice rather than formal rule.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. Removes Port Restrictions on Iran as Negotiations Resume
The United States has lifted restrictions that prevented ships from entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal waters. The move marks the start of a two-month negotiating period between the two nations.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Pentagon Completes Investigation Into Iran School Strike
The Pentagon has finished its investigation into a military strike on a school in Iran. Members of Congress have raised questions about whether the Pentagon will release the investigation's results publicly.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Federal Student Loan Borrowers to Receive Interest Rate Discount for Auto-Pay Enrollment
The Trump administration is offering a 1 percentage point interest rate discount to federal student loan borrowers who enroll in automatic payments. The incentive takes effect July 1 as federal student loan debt reaches $2 trillion.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Ukrainian drones strike Moscow oil refinery in latest attack on Russian fuel infrastructure
Ukrainian drones attacked a Moscow refinery, setting it ablaze in the latest strike on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukraine has conducted repeated attacks on fuel facilities to reduce Moscow's revenue and strain the Russian economy.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Arizona prosecutors dismiss fake elector case, plan new grand jury presentation
Arizona prosecutors dismissed their fake elector case Thursday, marking the third state to drop such charges. The Democratic attorney general said she plans to present the case to a grand jury again.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Iranian forces attack cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, causing the vessel to halt operations. The incident has renewed concerns about shipping safety in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
Friday, July 17, 2026
UK Sets Record Heat for Second Consecutive Day in June
The United Kingdom recorded its hottest June day on record, then broke that mark again the following day. Meteorologists attributed the consecutive temperature records to atmospheric conditions affecting the region.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Departing lawmakers may challenge Trump without fear of political retaliation
Congressional members who have announced their departures face fewer political constraints than those seeking reelection, potentially freeing them to oppose Trump administration policies without concern for voter backlash.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Overturns Gun Ban for Marijuana User, Cites Constitutional Concerns
The Supreme Court ruled that a federal law prohibiting gun ownership for marijuana users violates the Second Amendment and is too vague to enforce. The decision overturns a lower court conviction and could reshape how courts apply firearms restrictions.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Two men convicted of espionage for Chinese intelligence in UK
British authorities convicted two men of spying for Chinese intelligence services. One held a position with Border Force and exploited his access to government databases to gather information on political dissidents.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Rules on Immigration Protections, Gun Regulations and Product Liability
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued rulings permitting the Trump administration to end deportation protections for certain groups, invalidating a Hawaii gun restriction, and shielding Monsanto from liability claims related to its Roundup herbicide.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump Proposes Using Iranian Funds for U.S. Farm Purchases
President Trump has proposed that Iran use recently unfrozen funds to purchase American agricultural products. The proposal reflects administration interest in the farm sector during current geopolitical tensions.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. Strikes Iran Following Attack on Commercial Vessel
The United States launched military strikes against Iran after an attack on a cargo ship in the region. Iran's government said its forces struck back at American military targets, accusing the U.S. of breaking terms of their nuclear deal.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court upholds Trump administration's termination of protected status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration may end Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Haiti and Syria. The decision splits the nine justices along ideological lines over the scope of executive power to terminate the program.
Friday, July 17, 2026