State News
Saturday, July 18, 2026 · Wakefield
Rising Night Temperatures Linked to Sleep Disruption
Scientists are investigating how increases in nighttime temperatures affect sleep patterns and overall health. The warming trend poses a challenge for people trying to maintain adequate rest.
DHS Plans to Share Facial Recognition Technology With Local Police
The Department of Homeland Security has outlined plans to provide local police departments with facial recognition software currently used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The move would grant state and municipal agencies access to the same technology federal immigration agents employ.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Vance holds talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland as regional tensions escalate
Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian officials in Switzerland on Sunday as diplomatic efforts continued despite escalating military actions in the Middle East. Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iranian warnings about shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have strained ongoing negotiations.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Artificial intelligence becomes flashpoint in midterm elections as industry factions spend millions
Tens of millions of dollars are flowing into midterm election races as different sectors of the artificial intelligence industry back opposing candidates and ballot measures. The spending reflects fundamental disagreements over how AI should be regulated and deployed.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
U.S. and Iran Agree on Framework for Nuclear Negotiations in Switzerland Talks
Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran met in Switzerland, where mediators reported the talks produced a roadmap for a final agreement. The discussions occurred as President Trump publicly threatened military action against Iran.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Supreme Court Ends Campaign Spending Limits for Political Parties
The Supreme Court on Tuesday removed limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with congressional and presidential candidates. This ruling strikes down a federal election law enacted over 50 years ago.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
U.S. Consumer Confidence Shows Slight Increase in June Amid Economic Concerns
U.S. consumer confidence edged up in June, according to data released by The Conference Board. The index increased by 0.6 points, reaching 91.2. This figure remains lower than the 95.2 reported a year prior.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Heat Warnings Issued for Midwest and East Ahead of Holiday Weekend
The National Weather Service has issued heat warnings and watches across the Midwest and East Coast for the upcoming holiday weekend. Temperatures in many areas could reach historic levels. People in affected regions should prepare for extreme heat.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Trump meets with Senate Republicans over Iran policy amid housing bill reversal
President Trump visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday to address Senate Republican concerns about his handling of Iran policy. The visit came after Trump abandoned plans to sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
FAA Investigates Incident Between Two Commercial Aircraft at Boston Logan
The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation Saturday after two commercial flights came within 300 feet of each other at Boston Logan International Airport, prompting one aircraft to abort its landing approach.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Federal Reserve's stress test finds large banks can absorb severe recession
The Federal Reserve completed its annual stress test on large banks and determined they hold enough capital to weather a severe recession while continuing to lend. The assessment examines how major financial institutions would respond to economic shocks.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Rubio Reassures Gulf States on Iran Deal, Says Security Guarantees Rest on Decades of Presence
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. commitment to Gulf state security stems from long-standing military relationships and troop deployments rather than new promises. Speaking in Kuwait, he defended the administration's negotiating approach with Iran while promising continued coordination with regional partners.
Saturday, July 18, 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.
Saturday, July 18, 2026