State News
Friday, July 17, 2026 · Fort Smith
Major retailers launch summer sales as consumers face inflation pressures
Major U.S. retailers are rolling out summer promotional events as inflation continues to squeeze household budgets. Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart are among chains offering weeklong discounts.
Senate Republicans Drop Iran War Powers Resolution After Trump Meeting
Senate Republicans abandoned a resolution that would have limited presidential war powers against Iran, reversing their earlier position after meeting with President Trump at the Capitol.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Inflation measure rises in May as oil prices surge
A key inflation gauge accelerated in May as oil prices climbed, pushing overall price growth higher. Consumer spending data suggests households have not significantly reduced purchases in response to rising costs.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Rules Against Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order
The Supreme Court struck down former President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. In a 6-3 decision, justices affirmed that the 14th Amendment confers citizenship on nearly all individuals born within U.S. borders. The ruling upholds lower court judgments regarding the executive order's conflict with constitutional provisions.
Friday, July 17, 2026
House Republican Agenda Stalls Amidst Internal Disagreements
Divisions within the House Republican conference led to the defeat of a procedural vote. This action halted debate on significant legislation, including an election-related bill and defense spending.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Abortion Pill Prescriptions Via Telehealth Rise Despite State Bans
In states that have banned abortion, telehealth providers are delivering medication abortion pills by mail to patients who receive prescriptions through remote consultations. The approach has roughly doubled abortion access in some restricted states, according to providers.
Friday, July 17, 2026
More Young Adults Move Back With Parents as Housing Costs Rise
Economic conditions have pushed growing numbers of young adults to return to their parents' homes. Experts outline strategies for reducing household conflict while residents work toward financial independence.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Decides Cases on Birthright Citizenship, Tariffs, Presidential Authority
The Supreme Court concluded its term with rulings impacting significant areas of federal policy. Decisions covered birthright citizenship, the imposition of tariffs, and the extent of presidential authority. These rulings stem from a court composed of nine justices.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Upholds State Laws on Transgender Athletes in Girls' and Women's Sports
The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed state laws preventing transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. The ruling impacts statutes across several states concerning athletic eligibility.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. and Iran pause direct negotiations in Switzerland
Direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in Switzerland have stalled, with Iran citing concerns over recent statements. Vice President JD Vance attended the opening of the talks.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Prepares for Final Opinions of Term, Addresses Key Cases
The Supreme Court has designated today as its final opinion announcement day for the current term, with four cases yet to be decided. These cases involve birthright citizenship, transgender athlete participation, and campaign finance regulations. The Court previously issued rulings on executive authority, mail-in ballot counting, and cellphone location data.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Medicaid Waivers Support Independent Living for Disabled Americans
For decades, U.S. policy has supported disabled Americans living outside of institutions. Federal and state discussions on Medicaid funding could impact these long-standing programs.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. Dispatches Team Amid Iran Diplomacy Discussions
A high-level U.S. team has traveled to the Middle East to engage in diplomatic discussions with Iran. These efforts follow a period of security incidents in the region. Both nations indicate a lack of immediate progress towards a formal resolution.
Friday, July 17, 2026
USPS Would Withhold Mail Ballots From States Without Voter Roll Data, Postmaster General Says
Postmaster General David Steiner testified before a Senate committee that the U.S. Postal Service would refuse to deliver mail ballots to states that do not provide federal officials with lists of voters who requested absentee ballots.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Expands Privacy Protections to Cellphone Location Data
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that constitutional privacy safeguards apply to cellphone location data. Meanwhile, San Francisco's Archdiocese agreed to pay $395 million to abuse survivors. Health officials reported over 1,300 heat-related deaths across Europe.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Prosecutors push to increase sentences for domestic homicides
Officials are considering legislation that would increase the mandatory minimum sentence for domestic killings to 25 years, aligning penalties with other murder convictions.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump Executive Order Addresses Homelessness Through Involuntary Treatment
President Trump signed an executive order directing involuntary treatment for homeless individuals. The Department of Veterans Affairs stated the order would not apply to homeless veterans, though details on implementation remain unclear.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Most Americans Face Daily Scam Attempts, Yet Few Report Losses
An AP-NORC poll shows most Americans encounter scam attempts regularly, and roughly 3 in 10 have suffered financial or information losses. However, most victims do not report their experiences to authorities.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Most Kidney Transplant Candidates Never Make It to Waiting List, Study Finds
A national study presented at the American Transplant Congress found that most people referred for kidney transplants fail to progress through the evaluation process and reach the transplant waiting list.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Social Media Ban Could Alter How Young People Learn and Everyone Accesses Information Online
A potential social media ban raises questions about how young people would access information and how broader internet use could shift. Advocates and critics offer competing views on the policy's reach.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Congress Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill; Both Parties Stake Claims to Victory
Congress has passed a housing package with backing from members of both parties, though lawmakers are already competing to characterize the measure as a win for their side. Some Republicans opposed the bill, while both Democrats and Republicans tout provisions that align with their policy goals.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Vance Departs for Switzerland Amid U.S.-Iran Talks as Middle East Tensions Escalate
Vice President JD Vance left Joint Base Andrews for Switzerland to participate in U.S.-Iran negotiations. The trip occurs as Israel conducts overnight strikes in southern Lebanon and Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed due to ceasefire violations.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Severe weather disrupts U.S. travel and events as storms, floods and heat sweep across regions
Severe storms, flash flooding and extreme heat are battering the Plains, Midwest and South this weekend, disrupting holiday travel and World Cup events across the United States.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Trump Conditions Housing Bill Signature on Separate SAVE Act Passage
President Trump said he will not sign a major housing bill unless Congress passes the SAVE Act first, a condition he announced as House Republican leaders promoted the housing measure at a press conference.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. proposes toll system for Strait of Hormuz; Iran cites Israeli strikes in Lebanon
The Trump administration proposed charging tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of negotiations with Iran, while Iranian officials attributed the waterway's closure to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Federal Judge Makes Permanent a Block on Citizenship Voting Requirement
A federal judge in Boston made permanent a temporary block she issued a year ago against efforts to require proof of citizenship for voting. The order prevents the Trump administration from implementing the citizenship requirement.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Justice Department memo reexamines rules on institutional care for disabled Americans
A Justice Department memo has reinterpreted federal civil rights law governing care for people with disabilities, prompting disability advocates to question whether the government may shift policy away from community-based support toward institutional settings.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Supreme Court Rules for Roundup Manufacturer in Cancer Case
The Supreme Court sided with the herbicide manufacturer in a case brought by a Missouri man who attributed his cancer to Roundup exposure. The ruling is expected to impact thousands of similar cases across the country.
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. and Iran to Hold Technical Talks in Switzerland Amid Regional Tensions
U.S. and Iranian delegations plan technical-level discussions in Switzerland on Sunday, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry. The talks come as Iran claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz and fighting continues in Lebanon.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Weight-Loss Drugs Show Potential in Cancer Prevention, Research Suggests
Researchers are examining whether popular weight-loss medications could help prevent or treat certain cancers. The findings add to a growing list of health benefits associated with GLP-1 drugs, now used by roughly one in eight American adults.
Friday, July 17, 2026