Washington, D.C.&nbsp;— For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. 

President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.

The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. 

The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.

In recent weeks, President Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning.&nbsp;President Trump has chosen McCrery Architects as lead architect, which is well-known for their classical architectural design and based in our nation’s capital. 

CEO Jim McCrery said: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”

The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.&nbsp;The project will begin in September 2025, and it is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.&nbsp;

President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications.&nbsp;

The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical. The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits. 

The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and has been renovated and changed many times, with a second story added in 1942.

&nbsp;The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the following: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.”&nbsp;

<p>Washington, D.C.&nbsp;— For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. </p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;We are proud to announce the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin...The White House state ballroom will be a much needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Zm548HUNMc">pic.twitter.com/Zm548HUNMc</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1950985304199901450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The White House will continue to provide the American public with updates on this project. <br><br>Check out the renderings below ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/NSILmJDkNi">pic.twitter.com/NSILmJDkNi</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1950988231945629824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.</p><p>The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. </p><p>The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.</p><p>In recent weeks, President Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning.&nbsp;President Trump has chosen McCrery Architects as lead architect, which is well-known for their classical architectural design and based in our nation’s capital. </p><p>CEO Jim McCrery said: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”</p><p>The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.&nbsp;The project will begin in September 2025, and it is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.&nbsp;</p><p>President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications.&nbsp;</p><p>The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical. The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits. </p><p>The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and has been renovated and changed many times, with a second story added in 1942.</p><p>&nbsp;The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the following: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.”&nbsp;</p>

See images of White House plans for new $200M ballroom

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the Trump Administration&#39;s new initiative to make electronic patient health records more accessible: &quot;This will allow patients to easily transmit information from one doctor to another, even if they&#39;re on different networks.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UwPJx3qjpE">pic.twitter.com/UwPJx3qjpE</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950661020181295361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Under the leadership of <a href="https://twitter.com/DrOzCMS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrOzCMS</a>, we&#39;re officially launching the CMS Digital Health Tech Ecosystem to give healthcare providers, insurers and software companies the tools they need to empower Americans with a 21st Century experience on health.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZtcQIvDInh">pic.twitter.com/ZtcQIvDInh</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950660471108878411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump Delivers Remarks on Making Health Technology Great Again <a href="https://t.co/B5yRoG5iyO">https://t.co/B5yRoG5iyO</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1950658293401043158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Trump admin. launches new private health tracking system 

&nbsp;Former Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;will not run for California governor next year. On social media she explained her decision.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903327321.png" alt="Former Vice President Kamala Harris image from a video appearance at the Free and Just Storyteller Summit  in June" />
                        <figcaption>Former Vice President Kamala Harris image from a video appearance at the Free and Just Storyteller Summit  in June</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;Former Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;will not run for California governor next year. On social media she explained her decision.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My statement on the California governor&#39;s race and the fight ahead. <a href="https://t.co/HYzK1BIlhD">pic.twitter.com/HYzK1BIlhD</a></p>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1950633431945379888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Former VP Kamala Harris explains why she won't run for Calif. governor 

Price drops in corn, soybeans and other row crops top contributors

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ebamer/">Erin Bamer</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska and Iowa tied for the states with the largest losses of Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2025, of 6.1%, according to a report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-1st-quarter-2025" target="_blank">U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis</a>.

Most remaining states also saw their GDP’s shrink, though by smaller amounts, while a handful saw modest increases. Overall, the real GDP nationwide decreased 0.5%.&nbsp;GDP represents the total market value of goods and services produced during a specific time period.

There are recent signs of a bounceback, however, as the BEA released a new report Wednesday sharing that the national GDP rose 3% during the second quarter. This primarily reflects a decrease in imports, and an increase in consumer spending, according to the report. State-level analysis has not been released yet.

The first-quarter analysis compared Nebraska’s GDP to what it was one year ago. The report revealed that declines in agriculture played the biggest role in Nebraska and Iowa’s rates.

This is a rare economic output decrease for the U.S. as a whole — the first decrease during the first quarter since 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/15/midwest-farm-economies-suffered-while-some-sun-belt-states-rolled-in-early-2025/">according to Stateline reporter Tim Henderson</a>.

However, Nebraska State Budget Administrator Neil Sullivan said the drop is not as severe as it might appear. He said the percentage is based on projections from the last quarter of 2024. He offered competing numbers claiming Nebraska’s actual GDP difference quarter-over-quarter was down about 1.5%.

John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said he believes the country is facing the worst farming financial crisis since the 1980s. He helps run a crisis hotline for farmers, and said he’s fielded high-stress calls from people struggling financially.

“There’s desperation in their voices,” Hansen said. “They’re up against the wall.”

Global clashes and trade wars hammered Midwestern states’ agricultural economies this year. Row-crop farmers took a hit, and that accounts for much of Nebraska’s agricultural output, including wheat, corn and soybeans.

Sullivan said prices for these products are the lowest in a decade. But on the flip side, he said the market is also stable, making it safer for farmers to produce. This is primarily because of protections added to the federal budget reconciliation bill, he said.

Ernie Goss, a regional economist and professor at Creighton University, said prices for these top Nebraska products have gone down, while prices of farming resources like fertilizer have not. This has ripple effects, namely that farmers are pushed to cut costs and aren’t spending as much on ag equipment, he said.

On the bright side, livestock prices have remained good, Goss said, which is a relief to Nebraska’s ranchers. He said many of these factors are impacting farmers across the U.S. — it’s just felt deeper in Nebraska because the state is a top ag producer.

“It’s like Michigan having a downturn in the automobile industry,” Goss said.

It’s not just agriculture contributing to Nebraska’s lower GDP, Goss noted. The state’s manufacturing industry has also taken a hit, primarily due to job losses that have been prevalent across the country over the last year.

Brad Lubben, associate professor of agricultural economics at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said he expected record farm income in Nebraska for 2025, largely because of emergency government assistance that rolled out at the start of the year. However, he noted that uncertainty with federal policies on farming, taxes and trade can detract from production.

“Farm programs and tax policy have since been largely resolved with the recent reconciliation bill, although the impacts start to accrue in 2026,” Lubben said in an email. “The trade outlook however remains quite uncertain and volatile, hurting prospects or at least sentiment looking forward.”

Goss agreed that global trade has slowed. China, a top pork buyer, has slowed its trade with the U.S. due to tariffs, he said as an example. Goss said President Donald Trump seems to think of trade as “a zero sum game,” though in reality he argued that both parties can benefit when it’s done well.

Gov. Jim Pillen sang a different tune in a social media post on Monday, praising Trump for his recent trade deal with the European Union. Among other things, the deal imposes a 15% tariff on European goods in exchange for EU companies buying $750 billion in American energy products over three years.

“POTUS makes trade a priority — and agriculture keeps winning,” Pillen wrote in the post on X.

A 6.1% GDP drop is cause for concern, Goss said. In a good year, he said Nebraska sees GDP growth of between 6-7%, adjusted for inflation. This level of decline could result in additional job losses and cuts to government services, he said.

Sullivan said he does not foresee the need for cuts in Nebraska’s budget due to the GDP drop.

However, Lubben noted that with the state being a top ag producer and the continued strength in the cattle market, he still expects Nebraska to outperform the U.S. ag sector as a whole.

Kenny Zoeller, director of policy research for Pillen’s office, said Nebraska is in a strong fiscal position. Though he acknowledged Trump’s tariffs contributed to the state’s GDP drop, he said he expects that to improve over time.

Hansen said it’s too early to say what the impacts of Trump’s tariffs will be. He was more confident in saying Nebraska consumers will pay higher prices because of them.

Zoeller said Nebraska is in a similar position to 2017, when the state faced a more than $1 billion budget deficit and uncertainty in global trade. He argued that Nebraska has solid financial flexibility and decent reserves that should carry the state through safely.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751242824436.png" alt="Post photo" />
                        <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>Price drops in corn, soybeans and other row crops top contributors</h2><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ebamer/">Erin Bamer</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN — Nebraska and Iowa tied for the states with the largest losses of Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2025, of 6.1%, according to a report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-1st-quarter-2025" target="_blank">U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis</a>.</p><p>Most remaining states also saw their GDP’s shrink, though by smaller amounts, while a handful saw modest increases. Overall, the real GDP nationwide decreased 0.5%.&nbsp;GDP represents the total market value of goods and services produced during a specific time period.</p><p>There are recent signs of a bounceback, however, as the BEA released a new report Wednesday sharing that the national GDP rose 3% during the second quarter. This primarily reflects a decrease in imports, and an increase in consumer spending, according to the report. State-level analysis has not been released yet.</p><p>The first-quarter analysis compared Nebraska’s GDP to what it was one year ago. The report revealed that declines in agriculture played the biggest role in Nebraska and Iowa’s rates.</p><p>This is a rare economic output decrease for the U.S. as a whole — the first decrease during the first quarter since 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/15/midwest-farm-economies-suffered-while-some-sun-belt-states-rolled-in-early-2025/">according to Stateline reporter Tim Henderson</a>.</p><p>However, Nebraska State Budget Administrator Neil Sullivan said the drop is not as severe as it might appear. He said the percentage is based on projections from the last quarter of 2024. He offered competing numbers claiming Nebraska’s actual GDP difference quarter-over-quarter was down about 1.5%.</p><p>John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said he believes the country is facing the worst farming financial crisis since the 1980s. He helps run a crisis hotline for farmers, and said he’s fielded high-stress calls from people struggling financially.</p><p>“There’s desperation in their voices,” Hansen said. “They’re up against the wall.”</p><p>Global clashes and trade wars hammered Midwestern states’ agricultural economies this year. Row-crop farmers took a hit, and that accounts for much of Nebraska’s agricultural output, including wheat, corn and soybeans.</p><p>Sullivan said prices for these products are the lowest in a decade. But on the flip side, he said the market is also stable, making it safer for farmers to produce. This is primarily because of protections added to the federal budget reconciliation bill, he said.</p><p>Ernie Goss, a regional economist and professor at Creighton University, said prices for these top Nebraska products have gone down, while prices of farming resources like fertilizer have not. This has ripple effects, namely that farmers are pushed to cut costs and aren’t spending as much on ag equipment, he said.</p><p>On the bright side, livestock prices have remained good, Goss said, which is a relief to Nebraska’s ranchers. He said many of these factors are impacting farmers across the U.S. — it’s just felt deeper in Nebraska because the state is a top ag producer.</p><p>“It’s like Michigan having a downturn in the automobile industry,” Goss said.</p><p>It’s not just agriculture contributing to Nebraska’s lower GDP, Goss noted. The state’s manufacturing industry has also taken a hit, primarily due to job losses that have been prevalent across the country over the last year.</p><p>Brad Lubben, associate professor of agricultural economics at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said he expected record farm income in Nebraska for 2025, largely because of emergency government assistance that rolled out at the start of the year. However, he noted that uncertainty with federal policies on farming, taxes and trade can detract from production.</p><p>“Farm programs and tax policy have since been largely resolved with the recent reconciliation bill, although the impacts start to accrue in 2026,” Lubben said in an email. “The trade outlook however remains quite uncertain and volatile, hurting prospects or at least sentiment looking forward.”</p><p>Goss agreed that global trade has slowed. China, a top pork buyer, has slowed its trade with the U.S. due to tariffs, he said as an example. Goss said President Donald Trump seems to think of trade as “a zero sum game,” though in reality he argued that both parties can benefit when it’s done well.</p><p>Gov. Jim Pillen sang a different tune in a social media post on Monday, praising Trump for his recent trade deal with the European Union. Among other things, the deal imposes a 15% tariff on European goods in exchange for EU companies buying $750 billion in American energy products over three years.</p><p>“POTUS makes trade a priority — and agriculture keeps winning,” Pillen wrote in the post on X.</p><p>A 6.1% GDP drop is cause for concern, Goss said. In a good year, he said Nebraska sees GDP growth of between 6-7%, adjusted for inflation. This level of decline could result in additional job losses and cuts to government services, he said.</p><p>Sullivan said he does not foresee the need for cuts in Nebraska’s budget due to the GDP drop.</p><p>However, Lubben noted that with the state being a top ag producer and the continued strength in the cattle market, he still expects Nebraska to outperform the U.S. ag sector as a whole.</p><p>Kenny Zoeller, director of policy research for Pillen’s office, said Nebraska is in a strong fiscal position. Though he acknowledged Trump’s tariffs contributed to the state’s GDP drop, he said he expects that to improve over time.</p><p>Hansen said it’s too early to say what the impacts of Trump’s tariffs will be. He was more confident in saying Nebraska consumers will pay higher prices because of them.</p><p>Zoeller said Nebraska is in a similar position to 2017, when the state faced a more than $1 billion budget deficit and uncertainty in global trade. He argued that Nebraska has solid financial flexibility and decent reserves that should carry the state through safely.</p>

Feds: Nebraska GDP shrunk more than 6% in early 2025, led by ag

Scotland&nbsp; — President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;opened&nbsp;a new golf course&nbsp;bearing his name in Scotland on Tuesday. The grand opening came at the end of a five-day trip.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753784968719.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
                        <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Scotland&nbsp; — President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;opened&nbsp;a new golf course&nbsp;bearing his name in Scotland on Tuesday. The grand opening came at the end of a five-day trip.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Walkup music for Pres. Trump arrival Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen in Scotland? Bagpipes! <a href="https://t.co/zPsERbxb3U">pic.twitter.com/zPsERbxb3U</a></p>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1950174181980618826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/oPbd1XFp38">pic.twitter.com/oPbd1XFp38</a></p>&mdash; Stephen Miller (@StephenM) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/1950182580479021403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> cuts the ribbon, officially opening the new course at Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen in Scotland: &quot;May God bless everyone.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QCNSUNNYBR">pic.twitter.com/QCNSUNNYBR</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950134112611656085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricTrump</a> introduces <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to kick off the Grand Opening of the new course at Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen: &quot;The President of the United States, ladies and gentlemen.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ab85ajCOKv">pic.twitter.com/ab85ajCOKv</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950132150319140922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Please welcome onto the tee, the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump!&quot; ⛳️ <a href="https://t.co/kyq5Y5Wijg">pic.twitter.com/kyq5Y5Wijg</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950137645461315919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Thank you, everybody — and thank you to the media. The media has been terrific, believe it or not. See? I didn&#39;t use the word &#39;Fake News&#39; one time!&quot; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/lZkIkdmlnu">pic.twitter.com/lZkIkdmlnu</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950138177231958441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> — joined by two of his grandchildren — board Air Force One to head home from Scotland ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/ESWDcHvPPs">pic.twitter.com/ESWDcHvPPs</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1950230780732723369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump ends his Scottish visit by opening a new golf course

By Paul Hamel<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Chief Standing Bear Prize for Courage.

Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a former U.S. congresswoman, served as Interior Secretary during the Biden Administration.She will be presented with the award during a ceremony Oct. 13 — Indigenous Peoples’ Day — at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.

The award is given annually by the Chief Standing Bear Project, a nonprofit group founded in 2022 to recognize those who embody the spirit of Ponca Chief Standing Bear. It was Standing Bear’s legal fight with the U.S. government that led to the recognition of Native Americans as “persons” under the law.

A Project official said that Haaland, a 35th generation New Mexican, is being recognized for overcoming financial hardship as a single mother to earn a law degree and become the first Native American woman to lead a state political party, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and becoming the first Cabinet Secretary,

“Former Secretary Haaland’s life and leadership reflect the many forms that courage can take — quiet resilience, determination in the face of hardship and the willingness to lead, even when the path is uncertain,” said Katie Brossy, board president of the Chief Standing Bear Project.

As Interior Secretary, Haaland addressed the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous people and helped the nation confront the painful legacy of federal boarding schools.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673616594464.png" alt="Deb Haaland -Image courtesy Dept. of Interior" />
                        <figcaption>Deb Haaland -Image courtesy Dept. of Interior</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By Paul Hamel<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN — Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Chief Standing Bear Prize for Courage.</p><p>Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a former U.S. congresswoman, served as Interior Secretary during the Biden Administration.She will be presented with the award during a ceremony Oct. 13 — Indigenous Peoples’ Day — at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.</p><p>The award is given annually by the Chief Standing Bear Project, a nonprofit group founded in 2022 to recognize those who embody the spirit of Ponca Chief Standing Bear. It was Standing Bear’s legal fight with the U.S. government that led to the recognition of Native Americans as “persons” under the law.</p><p>A Project official said that Haaland, a 35th generation New Mexican, is being recognized for overcoming financial hardship as a single mother to earn a law degree and become the first Native American woman to lead a state political party, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and becoming the first Cabinet Secretary,</p><p>“Former Secretary Haaland’s life and leadership reflect the many forms that courage can take — quiet resilience, determination in the face of hardship and the willingness to lead, even when the path is uncertain,” said Katie Brossy, board president of the Chief Standing Bear Project.</p><p>As Interior Secretary, Haaland addressed the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous people and helped the nation confront the painful legacy of federal boarding schools.</p>

Former Interior Secretary to be honored with Chief Standing Bear Prize

MAKING GLOBAL HISTORY: On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the European Union (EU), fundamentally rebalancing the economic relationship between the world’s two largest economies.

REACHING A HISTORIC TRADE DEAL: President Trump’s agreement with the European Union achieves historic structural reforms and strategic commitments that will benefit American industry, workers, and national security for generations:

Additional key terms of the U.S.-European Union Agreement will include:

President Trump’s America First economic agenda is restoring our industrial might, securing energy dominance, and making the United States the premier destination for advanced manufacturing and industrial investment.

LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged them for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.

<p>MAKING GLOBAL HISTORY: On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the European Union (EU), fundamentally rebalancing the economic relationship between the world’s two largest economies.</p><ul>
                        <li>The deal marks a generational modernization of the transatlantic alliance and will provide Americans with unprecedented levels of market access to the European Union.</li><li>The deal bolsters America’s economy and manufacturing capabilities. The EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and make new investments of $600 billion in the United States, all by 2028.</li><li>Through decisive leadership and an unyielding commitment to American workers, President Trump has delivered yet another agreement that positions the United States as the world’s preeminent destination for investment, innovation, and advanced manufacturing.</li>
                    </ul><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump&#39;s historic deal with the European Union reinforces our strategic partnership with a key while expanding unprecedented market access for American exporters.<br><br>This colossal deal secures $750 billion in energy purchases and $600 billion in investments, bolstering… <a href="https://t.co/fcF2jdMP1f">pic.twitter.com/fcF2jdMP1f</a></p>&mdash; United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) <a href="https://twitter.com/USTradeRep/status/1949892239746093080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>REACHING A HISTORIC TRADE DEAL: President Trump’s agreement with the European Union achieves historic structural reforms and strategic commitments that will benefit American industry, workers, and national security for generations:</p><ul>
                        <li>The United States and European Union reached a Cooperation Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade.</li><li>This colossal deal will enable U.S. farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and manufacturers to increase U.S. exports, expand business opportunities, and help reduce the goods trade deficit with the European Union.&nbsp; The EU will remove significant tariffs, including the elimination of all EU tariffs on U.S. industrial goods exported to the EU, creating enormous opportunities for American-made and American-grown goods to compete and win in Europe. This new market access will drive growth across the American economy—fueling exports, expanding production, and allowing American businesses of all sizes to reach millions of new customers across the Atlantic.</li><li>As part of President Trump’s strategy to establish balanced trade, the European Union will pay the United States a tariff rate of 15%, including on autos and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. However, the sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper will remain unchanged—the EU will continue to pay 50% and the parties will discuss securing supply chains for these products. This new tariff regime will generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue annually and help to close the longstanding trade imbalance between the United States and Europe by encouraging local sourcing, reshoring production, and ensuring that foreign producers contribute their fair share to the American economy.</li>
                    </ul><p>Additional key terms of the U.S.-European Union Agreement will include:</p><ul>
                        <li>Massive EU Investment in the United States: The EU will invest $600 billion in the United States over the course of President Trump’s term. This new investment is in addition to the over $100 billion EU companies already invest in the United States every year.</li><li>Unleashing American Energy: The EU will double down on America as the Energy Superpower by purchasing $750 billion of U.S. energy exports through 2028. This will strengthen the United States’ energy dominance, reduce European reliance on adversarial sources, and narrow our trade deficit with the EU.</li><li>Tariff Barriers:&nbsp; The European Union will work with the United States to eliminate tariffs in various sectors and will provide meaningful quotas for other products, which when combined will create commercially meaningful market access opportunities for a significant amount of U.S. goods exports to the European Union, supporting high-quality American jobs.</li><li>Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Industrial Exports: The European Union will work to address a range of U.S. concerns related to various EU requirements that are burdensome to U.S. exporters, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, including through efforts to eliminate the red tape that U.S. exporters face when doing business in the European Union.</li><li>Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Agriculture Exports: The United States and the European Union intend to work together to address non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products, including streamlining requirements for sanitary certificates for U.S. pork and dairy products.</li><li>No Free Riders: The United States and the European Union will establish strong rules of origin to ensure that the benefits of this agreement flow directly to the United States and the European Union, not to third countries.</li><li>Barriers for Digital Trade: The United States and the European Union intend to address unjustified digital trade barriers. In that respect, the European Union confirms that it will not adopt or maintain network usage fees. Furthermore, the United States and the European Union will maintain zero customs duties on electronic transmissions.</li><li>Economic Security: The United States and the European Union agree to strengthen economic security alignment to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation. The two sides will take complementary actions to address non-market policies of third parties, as well as cooperating on inbound and outbound investment reviews, export controls, and duty evasion.</li><li>Commercial Deals: The United States and European Union recognize a series of major commercial agreements across key sectors—including energy and semiconductors—that will further expand U.S. exports to the European market.</li><li>Military Equipment: The European Union agreed to purchase significant amounts of U.S. military equipment.</li>
                    </ul><p>President Trump’s America First economic agenda is restoring our industrial might, securing energy dominance, and making the United States the premier destination for advanced manufacturing and industrial investment.</p><ul>
                        <li>In just six short months, President Trump has reaffirmed the United States as the world’s most attractive destination for investment and the unrivaled leader in innovation, research, and advanced manufacturing.</li><li>Other American Presidents have tried and failed to reach a significant trade deal with the European Union. With this latest deal, President Trump has once again proven that bold leadership, economic strength, and unwavering resolve deliver results no other leader could achieve.</li>
                    </ul><p>LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged them for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.</p><ul>
                        <li>On April 2, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the large and persistent U.S. goods trade deficit caused by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption.</li><li>President Trump continues to advance the economic and national security interests of the American people by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers and expanding market access for American exporters.</li><li>Today’s announcement opens up historic market access to the second largest economy in the world, reestablishing the strong positive long-term relationship between the United States and its key ally the European Union.</li>
                    </ul>

New details on blockbuster US-EU trade deal

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump: &quot;I&#39;m disappointed in President Putin. I&#39;m very disappointed in him, and I&#39;m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer, what&#39;s going to happen.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fNUKsVSVei">pic.twitter.com/fNUKsVSVei</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1949829682360205650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on sanctions and tariffs against Russia: &quot;I&#39;m going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today. There&#39;s no reason in waiting.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QduI7RDJBq">pic.twitter.com/QduI7RDJBq</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1949834122425237745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump raises pressure on Putin with new truce deadline

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
                        <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein: &quot;That&#39;s such old history. It&#39;s very easy to explain, but I don&#39;t want to waste your time.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/bCQqlkK7gB">pic.twitter.com/bCQqlkK7gB</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1949835820619215027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 President Trump explains why he ended friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley announced Friday that he plans to introduce legislation that would “send a rebate check to every working person in America.”

Hawley’s comments follows&nbsp;remarks from President Trump, who said Friday that his administration is considering a new round of tax rebates for U.S. taxpayers that would presumably be funded by revenue generated from tariffs.

<p>WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley announced Friday that he plans to introduce legislation that would “send a rebate check to every working person in America.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I will introduce legislation in the Senate to send a rebate check to every working person in America <a href="https://t.co/3s3ijAAuEL">https://t.co/3s3ijAAuEL</a></p>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1948750654425407994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Hawley’s comments follows&nbsp;remarks from President Trump, who said Friday that his administration is considering a new round of tax rebates for U.S. taxpayers that would presumably be funded by revenue generated from tariffs.</p>

🎥A rebate check for every working person in America?

BOULDER, Colo.—University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders held a press conference Monday to discuss his bladder cancer diagnosis.&nbsp;

<p>BOULDER, Colo.—University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders held a press conference Monday to discuss his bladder cancer diagnosis.&nbsp;</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B2TXLKzLShQ?si=ObfFKbXI3vIOdBrt&amp;start=43" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you GOD</p>&mdash; Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShedeurSanders/status/1949640128730911117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Deion Sanders discusses cancer diagnosis; will coach this season

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753647424970.png" alt="President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland on Sunday-image White House" />
                        <figcaption>President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland on Sunday-image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good morning 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/OVTcZegUFu">pic.twitter.com/OVTcZegUFu</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1949787762523038066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">European Commission President Ursula <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vonderleyen</a>: &quot;I want to thank President Trump personally for his personal commitment and leadership to achieve this breakthrough. He is a tough negotiator, but he is also a dealmaker.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/orWfSHyqlu">pic.twitter.com/orWfSHyqlu</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949616988579324095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Together, the EU and the US are a market of 800 million people.<br> <br>And nearly 44 percent of global GDP.<br><br>It’s the biggest trade deal ever ↓ <a href="https://t.co/rG3cHebXEk">https://t.co/rG3cHebXEk</a></p>&mdash; Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1949540436659286179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/RxoihckPPB">pic.twitter.com/RxoihckPPB</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949629139431862734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;We were able to make a deal that&#39;s very satisfactory to both sides. It&#39;s a very powerful deal. It&#39;s a very big deal,&quot; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the landmark trade agreement with the EU.<br><br>&quot;It will be the biggest of all the deals.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/X54m8Lawy8">pic.twitter.com/X54m8Lawy8</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949530359605129274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump just unlocked one of the biggest economies in the world. The European Union is going to open its 20 Trillion dollar market and completely accept our auto and industrial standards for the first time ever. In addition, it will purchase $750 BILLION in energy from us…</p>&mdash; Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick/status/1949543113187365168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces a landmark trade deal with the European Union: &quot;I think it&#39;s the biggest deal ever made.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/HqVK2yCTti">pic.twitter.com/HqVK2yCTti</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949527667478319115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vonderleyen</a>: &quot;We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world — and it&#39;s a big deal. It&#39;s a huge deal.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vuDZdRjPPJ">pic.twitter.com/vuDZdRjPPJ</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949527995393216846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> says the American auto and agricultural industries will be big beneficiaries of the new trade deal with the European Union: &quot;I think they&#39;re going to make a lot of money with this — I think everybody is.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/d8XeYZWamN">pic.twitter.com/d8XeYZWamN</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949531486421737695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753654615025.png" alt="President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen-image from White House video" />
                        <figcaption>President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen-image from White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure>

🎥After golf, Trump secures landmark trade deal with European Union 

KANSAS CTY—One person died and several others were injured in a partial building collapse Sunday in Kansas City.

Just before 3p.m., Sunday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported building collapse in the 3700 block of&nbsp;of Broadway in Kansas City, according to Baattakion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders reported a partial collapse of the Family Dollar buildings parapet wall and façade. The collapse took the life of one individual and critically injured another. Two others were treated and released on the scene. The fatality was identified as a 68-year-old man and who was pronounced dead on the scene. One patient, a 50-year-old woman was transported in critical condition at a local hospital. Two others were evaluated on the scene but refused additional treatment and were released.

The Kansas City Police department will be conducting the investigation due to the fatality. Broadway was closed from 36th street to 38th street while Police conducted their investigation, and public works removed debris from the roadway. 

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753661655118.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CTY—One person died and several others were injured in a partial building collapse Sunday in Kansas City.</p><p>Just before 3p.m., Sunday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported building collapse in the 3700 block of&nbsp;of Broadway in Kansas City, according to Baattakion Chief Michael Hopkins.</p><p>First responders reported a partial collapse of the Family Dollar buildings parapet wall and façade. The collapse took the life of one individual and critically injured another. Two others were treated and released on the scene. The fatality was identified as a 68-year-old man and who was pronounced dead on the scene. One patient, a 50-year-old woman was transported in critical condition at a local hospital. Two others were evaluated on the scene but refused additional treatment and were released.</p><p>The Kansas City Police department will be conducting the investigation due to the fatality. Broadway was closed from 36th street to 38th street while Police conducted their investigation, and public works removed debris from the roadway. </p>

Man dies after Family Dollar roof collapse in Kansas City

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Friday it’ll soon release billions in Education Department funding that has been frozen for weeks, delaying disbursements to K-12 schools throughout the country.

The funding — which goes toward migrant education, English-language learning and other programs — was supposed to go out before July 1, but the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">informed schools</a>&nbsp;just one day before that it was instead holding onto $6.8 billion while staff conducted a review. Members of both parties in Congress objected to the move.

The Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/some-frozen-federal-funds-schools-released-states-trump-administration" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;$1.3 billion for before- and after-school programs as well as summer programs in mid-July, but the rest of the funding remained stalled.

Madi Biedermann, a Department of Education spokesperson, wrote in an email to States Newsroom that the White House budget office “has completed its review” of the remaining accounts and “has directed the Department to release all formula funds.”

The administration will begin sending that money to school districts next week, Biedermann wrote.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, wrote in a statement the “funds are essential to the operation of Maine’s public schools, supporting everything from classroom instruction to adult education.”

“I am pleased that following outreach from my colleagues and me, the Administration has agreed to release these highly-anticipated resources,” Collins wrote. “I will continue working to ensure that education funds are delivered without delay so that schools have adequate time to plan their finances for the upcoming school year, allowing students to arrive back to class this fall to properly-funded schools.”

Collins and nine other Republican senators&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-members-us-senate-protest-trump-freeze-68b-school-funding" target="_blank">wrote a letter</a>&nbsp;to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought earlier this month asking him to “faithfully implement” the spending law Congress approved in March.

“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President (Donald) Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” the GOP senators wrote. “This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families.

“Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.”

West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Education Department, wrote in a statement released Friday she was glad to see the funding unfrozen.

“The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children, which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies, and programs to support adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education,” Capito wrote. “That’s why it’s important we continue to protect and support these programs.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753487786830.png" alt=" The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, D.C., in a file photo from November 2024. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)" />
                        <figcaption> The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, D.C., in a file photo from November 2024. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Friday it’ll soon release billions in Education Department funding that has been frozen for weeks, delaying disbursements to K-12 schools throughout the country.</p><p>The funding — which goes toward migrant education, English-language learning and other programs — was supposed to go out before July 1, but the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">informed schools</a>&nbsp;just one day before that it was instead holding onto $6.8 billion while staff conducted a review. Members of both parties in Congress objected to the move.</p><p>The Education Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/some-frozen-federal-funds-schools-released-states-trump-administration" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;$1.3 billion for before- and after-school programs as well as summer programs in mid-July, but the rest of the funding remained stalled.</p><p>Madi Biedermann, a Department of Education spokesperson, wrote in an email to States Newsroom that the White House budget office “has completed its review” of the remaining accounts and “has directed the Department to release all formula funds.”</p><p>The administration will begin sending that money to school districts next week, Biedermann wrote.</p><h2>Appropriators cheer</h2><p>Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, wrote in a statement the “funds are essential to the operation of Maine’s public schools, supporting everything from classroom instruction to adult education.”</p><p>“I am pleased that following outreach from my colleagues and me, the Administration has agreed to release these highly-anticipated resources,” Collins wrote. “I will continue working to ensure that education funds are delivered without delay so that schools have adequate time to plan their finances for the upcoming school year, allowing students to arrive back to class this fall to properly-funded schools.”</p><p>Collins and nine other Republican senators&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-members-us-senate-protest-trump-freeze-68b-school-funding" target="_blank">wrote a letter</a>&nbsp;to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought earlier this month asking him to “faithfully implement” the spending law Congress approved in March.</p><p>“The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President (Donald) Trump’s goal of returning K-12 education to the states,” the GOP senators wrote. “This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families.</p><p>“Withholding this funding denies states and communities the opportunity to pursue localized initiatives to support students and their families.”</p><p>West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Education Department, wrote in a statement released Friday she was glad to see the funding unfrozen.</p><p>“The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support like after-school and summer programs that provide learning and enrichment opportunities for school aged children, which also enables their parents to work and contribute to local economies, and programs to support adult learners working to gain employment skills, earn workforce certifications, or transition into postsecondary education,” Capito wrote. “That’s why it’s important we continue to protect and support these programs.”</p>

US Education Department to unfreeze contested K-12 funds

Early Friday in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, U.S. Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government. Three women and three children were also on the target and were unharmed.

“We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S.  Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.

<p>Early Friday in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, U.S. Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.</p><p>These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government. Three women and three children were also on the target and were unharmed.</p><p>“We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S.  Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.</p>

U.S. forces kill senior ISIS leader in Syria

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753406454439.png" alt="Image courtesy White House video" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to Fed Chair Jerome Powell on the exorbitant cost overruns of their palace-like HQ renovation: &quot;It looks like it&#39;s about $3.1 billion. It went up a little bit — or a lot.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/5Hv8EUPm0m">pic.twitter.com/5Hv8EUPm0m</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948477094901809404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our Builder-in-Chief <a href="https://t.co/myzy9AAfZf">pic.twitter.com/myzy9AAfZf</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948518460591329516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/Z7ykUQe4EV">pic.twitter.com/Z7ykUQe4EV</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948494722571407744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> has arrived at the Federal Reserve <a href="https://t.co/bkyMQs1dmg">pic.twitter.com/bkyMQs1dmg</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948475823788371979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President, Fed Chair bicker in public over building renovation costs

Name of Product: HydroTech 5/8-inch Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses

Hazard: The recalled hoses can burst, posing an impact hazard and a risk of temporarily impaired hearing.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hoses. Consumers that purchased products from Ace Hardware, Do It Best, Home Depot or Walmart should bring their hoses to those stores to return them for a full refund.

Consumers who purchased products from other retailers should cut off the regulator-end of their hose and contact Winston Products for a full refund. To receive the refund, consumers should submit photos of the cut hose, showing the date code location with the consumer’s initials and the date written in permanent marker on the regulator, to Winston Product’s online form at&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall">https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall</a>.&nbsp;

The firm has received at least 222 reports of the hoses bursting, resulting in at least 29 injuries, including one bone bruise, two sprains and five reports of temporarily impaired hearing from the sound of the hose bursting.

Sold At:Ace Hardware, Amazon, Do It Best, Home Depot, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online from January 2021 through April 2025 for between $20 and $136.Importer(s):

This recall involves HydroTech 5/8-inch Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses manufactured on or before August 31, 2024. The hoses were sold in lengths of 25, 50, 60, 75, 100 and 200 feet in various colors. Date code markings are located on the end of the hose that attaches to the spigot, visible when the black rubber washer is removed. Hoses with no markings or a marking ending in -211, -212, -213, -214, -221, -222, -223, -224, -231, -232, -233, -234, -241, -242 or -243 are included in this recall. On some hose packages, the manufacture date is listed in the month-year format. For example, 0824 is August 2024 and is included in this recall.

Winston Products toll-free at 888-412-2396 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:HydrotechVoluntaryRecall@hydrotechproducts.com">HydrotechVoluntaryRecall@hydrotechproducts.com</a>, or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall">https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/">https://hydrotechproducts.com/</a>&nbsp;and click on "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL INFORMATION" at the top of the page for more information.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753380204342.png" alt="Photo CPSC" />
                        <figcaption>Photo CPSC</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Name of Product: HydroTech 5/8-inch Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses</p><p>Hazard: The recalled hoses can burst, posing an impact hazard and a risk of temporarily impaired hearing.</p><p>Remedy: RefundRecall Date: July 24, 2025</p><p>Units: About 3.6 million</p><p>emedy:</p><p>Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hoses. Consumers that purchased products from Ace Hardware, Do It Best, Home Depot or Walmart should bring their hoses to those stores to return them for a full refund.</p><p>Consumers who purchased products from other retailers should cut off the regulator-end of their hose and contact Winston Products for a full refund. To receive the refund, consumers should submit photos of the cut hose, showing the date code location with the consumer’s initials and the date written in permanent marker on the regulator, to Winston Product’s online form at&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall">https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Incidents/Injuries:</p><p>The firm has received at least 222 reports of the hoses bursting, resulting in at least 29 injuries, including one bone bruise, two sprains and five reports of temporarily impaired hearing from the sound of the hose bursting.</p><p>Sold At:Ace Hardware, Amazon, Do It Best, Home Depot, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online from January 2021 through April 2025 for between $20 and $136.Importer(s):</p><p>Winston Products, of Glenwillow, Ohio</p><p>This recall involves HydroTech 5/8-inch Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses manufactured on or before August 31, 2024. The hoses were sold in lengths of 25, 50, 60, 75, 100 and 200 feet in various colors. Date code markings are located on the end of the hose that attaches to the spigot, visible when the black rubber washer is removed. Hoses with no markings or a marking ending in -211, -212, -213, -214, -221, -222, -223, -224, -231, -232, -233, -234, -241, -242 or -243 are included in this recall. On some hose packages, the manufacture date is listed in the month-year format. For example, 0824 is August 2024 and is included in this recall.</p><p>Winston Products toll-free at 888-412-2396 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:HydrotechVoluntaryRecall@hydrotechproducts.com">HydrotechVoluntaryRecall@hydrotechproducts.com</a>, or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall">https://hydrotechproducts.com/recall</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://hydrotechproducts.com/">https://hydrotechproducts.com/</a>&nbsp;and click on "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL INFORMATION" at the top of the page for more information.</p>

HydroTech hoses recalled: Hundreds burst, 29 people injured

<b>WASHINGTON&nbsp;</b>– Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced over $18 million in funding for critical Nebraska water infrastructure projects.The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026&nbsp;<i>Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act</i>, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.<i>“Strong, reliable water infrastructure is an essential part of our daily lives. I’m proud to advance this funding for these critical projects, which will improve the lives of Nebraskans for years to come. I look forward to supporting this bill through to final passage and returning more taxpayer money back to our state,”&nbsp;</i><b>Fischer said.</b><i></i><b>Fischer advanced funding to support critical water infrastructure projects:</b>

<p><b>WASHINGTON&nbsp;</b>– Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced over $18 million in funding for critical Nebraska water infrastructure projects.The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026&nbsp;<i>Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act</i>, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.<i>“Strong, reliable water infrastructure is an essential part of our daily lives. I’m proud to advance this funding for these critical projects, which will improve the lives of Nebraskans for years to come. I look forward to supporting this bill through to final passage and returning more taxpayer money back to our state,”&nbsp;</i><b>Fischer said.</b><i></i><b>Fischer advanced funding to support critical water infrastructure projects:</b></p><ul>
                        <li><b>$8.25 million</b>&nbsp;to improve the Santee Sioux Tribe’s water source</li><li><b>$3.2 million&nbsp;</b>to repair and upgrade the water treatment plant in McCook</li><li><b>$2.3 million&nbsp;</b>to construct a retention lagoon, lift station, and sanitary sewer extensions in Greeley</li><li><b>$1.4 million</b>&nbsp;for watershed and stream improvements in the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District</li><li><b>$776,000&nbsp;</b>to reconstruction water and storm sewer facilities in Gothenburg</li><li><b>$696,000</b>&nbsp;to replace an aging well and renovate the sanitary water storage tank in Farwell</li><li><b>$620,000</b>&nbsp;to construct a new well and transmission line in Genoa</li><li><b>$600,000&nbsp;</b>to construct an additional lagoon cell in Shelby</li><li><b>$468,000&nbsp;</b>to line the sewer mains in Valparaiso</li><li><b>$100,000</b>&nbsp;to renovate an existing lagoon cell and install a depth mark in Ong</li>
                    </ul>

Fischer Advances Over $18 Million for Nebraska Water Infrastructure Projects

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753374239472.png" alt="Hulk Hogan spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention last July-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Hulk Hogan spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention last July-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. <br><br>One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.<br><br>WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.</p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1948414335153230023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FClearwaterPolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0272xskH6HPZZSAZefBwY23wP1UjQgC1dJjALZMEbkSHrLxhoG8dSZRnPG7YKFWhtml&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="469" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/HulkHogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HulkHogan</a>: &quot;As an entertainer I try to stay out of politics, but after everything that&#39;s happened to our country over the past four years and after everything that happened last weekend I can no longer stay silent...Donald Trump is a real American hero!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UxM0ZieYfM">pic.twitter.com/UxM0ZieYfM</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1814113807662567834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From 2024 RNC. Watch the full video here: <a href="https://t.co/10hAILirT9">https://t.co/10hAILirT9</a> <a href="https://t.co/lsr2lFymhn">https://t.co/lsr2lFymhn</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1948426827858354619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An American Legend. <a href="https://t.co/DVQuR2YIxJ">pic.twitter.com/DVQuR2YIxJ</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1948419594827235760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Hulk Hogan, pro westling superstar, dead at 71

Columbia University has finalized an&nbsp;<a href="https://president.columbia.edu/content/our-resolution-federal-government" target="_blank">agreement with the federal government</a>,&nbsp;ending a period of considerable institutional uncertainty, according to a statement from&nbsp;Claire Shipman Acting President.

This agreement resolves multiple federal agency investigations and protects Columbia’s academic mission, research enterprise, and independence. 

The resolution will allow the University to move forward with clarity and focus—returning our full attention to the work of teaching, discovery, and public service. It will also enable all of us to turn our attention to mending and rebuilding our community.With the agreement, our access to billions of dollars in federal research funding will resume. 

Terminated grants will be reinstated and our faculty will become eligible again for future grants, as well as continuations of existing grants. Not only will this resolution restore Columbia’s ability to fully participate in its longstanding federal research partnerships, but it also will ensure critical continuity for faculty, students, and staff across every discipline—many of whom have seen years, even decades, of progress toward medical and scientific discoveries placed at risk.

 I’ve received an outpouring of relief from our scientists in recent days as they started to learn that restored grant funding will allow their vital work to continue.Critically, Columbia retains control over its academic and operational decisions. 

As set forth in the agreement: “No provision of this agreement, individually or taken together, shall be construed as giving the United States authority to dictate faculty hiring, university hiring, admissions decisions, or the content of academic speech.” This was our north star, and we did not waver from it. Columbia’s governance remains in our control. The federal government will not dictate what we teach, who teaches, or which students we admit.

As part of the agreement, Columbia will pay a $200 million settlement to the federal government over three years, and $21 million to settle investigations involving the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I recognize these are substantial settlements. 

As Acting President, together with our Board of Trustees, we had to look at all the facts. We have seen not only $400 million in federal grants frozen, but also the majority of our $1.3 billion a year in federal funding placed on hold. 

The prospect of that continuing indefinitely, along with the potential loss of top scientists, would jeopardize our status as a world-leading research institution.Furthermore, as I have discussed on many occasions with our community, we carefully explored all options open to us. We might have achieved short-term litigation victories, but not without incurring deeper long-term damage—the likely loss of future federal funding, the possibility of losing accreditation, and the potential revocation of visa status of thousands of international students.

As part of the settlement, the University has not admitted wrongdoing and does not agree with the government’s conclusion that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. We are not, however, denying the very serious and painful challenges our institution has faced with antisemitism. For these reasons, we took several important corrective steps in March, many of which are in this agreement, including a new provision for a liaison to the Jewish community, situated in University Life.Our commitment to creating a safe, respectful community must extend well beyond any agreement with the government. 

I announced additional measures to combat antisemitism last week. We know there is still more to do. We will work on multiple fronts to combat all forms of hatred and intolerance at Columbia, and you will see more efforts to that end in the coming months.The success of the agreement requires that both parties honor it, and commit to the processes laid out in the event of disputes. To that end, we have agreed on a robust dispute resolution process that includes a mutually agreed upon independent monitor and arbitrator as neutral third parties, rather than ceding authority to the government or a court. 

The process requires that the government go through a very specific, prescribed set of steps if it believes we are not meeting the terms of the agreement. If the parties can’t agree, the matter goes to the arbitrator, and then, as needed, to court. The agreement allows us to hold the government to that process with respect to any concerns about compliance. This predictable structure is far preferable, in our view, to piecemeal scrutiny, and will allow us to focus on long-term progress for our institution.Certain terms of this settlement pertain to admissions and hiring and are wholly consistent with existing federal anti-discrimination laws, which our institution has always followed, and will always follow. That language was carefully drafted; we have agreed to provide data to which the government is entitled, and is currently requesting from scores of institutions, including ours.

 In several instances, the agreement codifies other practices or policies already in existence, or reviews already underway. We must always comply with government regulations regarding the international student visa program, for example.For months, Columbia’s discussions with the federal government have been set up as a test of principle—a binary fight between courage and capitulation. 

But like most things in life, the reality is far more complex. We established our non-negotiable academic and institutional boundaries clearly, and we chose to talk and to listen. We certainly did not always agree with the government’s proposals, nor they with ours. It is important for the community to know that a broad academic leadership team worked with me closely, as well as with our Board of Trustees, to achieve this resolution. 

I consulted widely outside of the institution as well. In the end, we have arrived at a carefully crafted agreement that protects our institution and our values, and that will allow us to move forward, with strength, resuming the vital work we do in service to the nation and to humanity.Countless faculty members and administrators have already been doing the nearly impossible, often invisible work, under enormous pressure, of safeguarding Columbia’s future. 

They’ve confronted the real hardship caused by the loss of federal funding to our research enterprise, borne witness to the painful divides that have opened in our community, and labored to find constructive solutions to all of it. For this wisdom and dedication, I am grateful. It is the best of Columbia on display.My hope is that the Columbia University community is ready to reset, to focus again on academic rigor and respectful debate, and to use this moment of challenge as a chance to imagine and build a stronger institution than ever.

 I am committed to that process.We understand that members of our community will hold different views about this decision. We made it with care, with seriousness, and with an unwavering commitment to the mission, values, and future of Columbia University.

<p>Columbia University has finalized an&nbsp;<a href="https://president.columbia.edu/content/our-resolution-federal-government" target="_blank">agreement with the federal government</a>,&nbsp;ending a period of considerable institutional uncertainty, according to a statement from&nbsp;Claire Shipman Acting President.</p><p>This agreement resolves multiple federal agency investigations and protects Columbia’s academic mission, research enterprise, and independence. </p><p>The resolution will allow the University to move forward with clarity and focus—returning our full attention to the work of teaching, discovery, and public service. It will also enable all of us to turn our attention to mending and rebuilding our community.With the agreement, our access to billions of dollars in federal research funding will resume. </p><p>Terminated grants will be reinstated and our faculty will become eligible again for future grants, as well as continuations of existing grants. Not only will this resolution restore Columbia’s ability to fully participate in its longstanding federal research partnerships, but it also will ensure critical continuity for faculty, students, and staff across every discipline—many of whom have seen years, even decades, of progress toward medical and scientific discoveries placed at risk.</p><p> I’ve received an outpouring of relief from our scientists in recent days as they started to learn that restored grant funding will allow their vital work to continue.Critically, Columbia retains control over its academic and operational decisions. </p><p>As set forth in the agreement: “No provision of this agreement, individually or taken together, shall be construed as giving the United States authority to dictate faculty hiring, university hiring, admissions decisions, or the content of academic speech.” This was our north star, and we did not waver from it. Columbia’s governance remains in our control. The federal government will not dictate what we teach, who teaches, or which students we admit.</p><p>As part of the agreement, Columbia will pay a $200 million settlement to the federal government over three years, and $21 million to settle investigations involving the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I recognize these are substantial settlements. </p><p>As Acting President, together with our Board of Trustees, we had to look at all the facts. We have seen not only $400 million in federal grants frozen, but also the majority of our $1.3 billion a year in federal funding placed on hold. </p><p>The prospect of that continuing indefinitely, along with the potential loss of top scientists, would jeopardize our status as a world-leading research institution.Furthermore, as I have discussed on many occasions with our community, we carefully explored all options open to us. We might have achieved short-term litigation victories, but not without incurring deeper long-term damage—the likely loss of future federal funding, the possibility of losing accreditation, and the potential revocation of visa status of thousands of international students.</p><p>As part of the settlement, the University has not admitted wrongdoing and does not agree with the government’s conclusion that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. We are not, however, denying the very serious and painful challenges our institution has faced with antisemitism. For these reasons, we took several important corrective steps in March, many of which are in this agreement, including a new provision for a liaison to the Jewish community, situated in University Life.Our commitment to creating a safe, respectful community must extend well beyond any agreement with the government. </p><p>I announced additional measures to combat antisemitism last week. We know there is still more to do. We will work on multiple fronts to combat all forms of hatred and intolerance at Columbia, and you will see more efforts to that end in the coming months.The success of the agreement requires that both parties honor it, and commit to the processes laid out in the event of disputes. To that end, we have agreed on a robust dispute resolution process that includes a mutually agreed upon independent monitor and arbitrator as neutral third parties, rather than ceding authority to the government or a court. </p><p>The process requires that the government go through a very specific, prescribed set of steps if it believes we are not meeting the terms of the agreement. If the parties can’t agree, the matter goes to the arbitrator, and then, as needed, to court. The agreement allows us to hold the government to that process with respect to any concerns about compliance. This predictable structure is far preferable, in our view, to piecemeal scrutiny, and will allow us to focus on long-term progress for our institution.Certain terms of this settlement pertain to admissions and hiring and are wholly consistent with existing federal anti-discrimination laws, which our institution has always followed, and will always follow. That language was carefully drafted; we have agreed to provide data to which the government is entitled, and is currently requesting from scores of institutions, including ours.</p><p> In several instances, the agreement codifies other practices or policies already in existence, or reviews already underway. We must always comply with government regulations regarding the international student visa program, for example.For months, Columbia’s discussions with the federal government have been set up as a test of principle—a binary fight between courage and capitulation. </p><p>But like most things in life, the reality is far more complex. We established our non-negotiable academic and institutional boundaries clearly, and we chose to talk and to listen. We certainly did not always agree with the government’s proposals, nor they with ours. It is important for the community to know that a broad academic leadership team worked with me closely, as well as with our Board of Trustees, to achieve this resolution. </p><p>I consulted widely outside of the institution as well. In the end, we have arrived at a carefully crafted agreement that protects our institution and our values, and that will allow us to move forward, with strength, resuming the vital work we do in service to the nation and to humanity.Countless faculty members and administrators have already been doing the nearly impossible, often invisible work, under enormous pressure, of safeguarding Columbia’s future. </p><p>They’ve confronted the real hardship caused by the loss of federal funding to our research enterprise, borne witness to the painful divides that have opened in our community, and labored to find constructive solutions to all of it. For this wisdom and dedication, I am grateful. It is the best of Columbia on display.My hope is that the Columbia University community is ready to reset, to focus again on academic rigor and respectful debate, and to use this moment of challenge as a chance to imagine and build a stronger institution than ever.</p><p> I am committed to that process.We understand that members of our community will hold different views about this decision. We made it with care, with seriousness, and with an unwavering commitment to the mission, values, and future of Columbia University.</p>

Columbia to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump to restore federal funding

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is sending SHOCKWAVES through DC and the Democrats KNOW IT! <br><br>This is perhaps one of the most crucial video segments of 2025. <a href="https://t.co/PMpxlbZwz6">pic.twitter.com/PMpxlbZwz6</a></p>&mdash; Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1948083367909405136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNIGabbard</a>: If Russia was trying to influence the election like Democrats said in order to boost Donald Trump, they&#39;d have released the most damning information on Hillary prior to the election. They specifically withheld it because they thought she&#39;d win. <a href="https://t.co/XQQgXzmUNE">https://t.co/XQQgXzmUNE</a> <a href="https://t.co/8oSTEf8EVb">pic.twitter.com/8oSTEf8EVb</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948090161100718176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;Tulsi Gabbard unveiled shocking new evidence that former President Barack Obama and top aides in the Obama administration conspired to subvert President Trump&#39;s 2016 election victory and undermined the democratic will of the American people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/pLo9jiutaH">pic.twitter.com/pLo9jiutaH</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1948083824442638462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧵 New evidence has emerged of the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history. Per President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>&#39;s directive, I have declassified a <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseIntel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseIntel</a> oversight majority staff report that exposes how the Obama Administration… <a href="https://t.co/0sS4Df8yoI">pic.twitter.com/0sS4Df8yoI</a></p>&mdash; DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard/status/1948007534960198036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LIE: Putin and the Russian Government helped Trump win the 2016 election<br><br>TRUTH: President Obama, former Director of the CIA John Brennan, and others fabricated the Russia Hoax, suppressed intelligence showing Putin was preparing for a Clinton victory, manufactured findings from… <a href="https://t.co/nkaLDMrUSv">pic.twitter.com/nkaLDMrUSv</a></p>&mdash; DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard/status/1948007538902904833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNIGabbard</a> on new Obama report: &quot;There is irrefutable evidence that detail how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/sCOivLlCDL">pic.twitter.com/sCOivLlCDL</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1948104168587010258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥DNI lashes out at Obama administration on Russia investigation

BASSETT, Neb. — Two Nebraska sale barns etched their names in the history books Wednesday with record-breaking feeder cattle prices that sent shockwaves through the national livestock market.

At Bassett Livestock Auction, the northern Nebraska barn posted the five highest 10-weight steer prices ever recorded in the United States, highlighted by 159 head at 1,038 pounds selling for $318.25 per hundredweight. The barn also shattered the all-time national record for 9-weight steers, selling 180 head at 936 pounds for $336.75/cwt.

The historic July 23 sale pushed all five top spots for 10-weight steers (1,000–1,099 lbs) onto Bassett’s ledger. Prices for those five lots ranged from $315.75 to $318.25 per hundredweight, a strong signal of continued demand for heavyweight feeder cattle amid tight supplies and elevated corn prices.

Meanwhile, Albion Livestock Market, located in east-central Nebraska, notched major milestones of its own Wednesday. The barn recorded the second- and third-highest 8-weight steer sales in U.S. history. A draft of 65 head at 828 pounds sold for $344.50/cwt, while 43 head at 864 pounds brought $343.50/cwt.

Albion also set its personal best for 7-weights, selling 12 head at 700 pounds for $355.00/cwt—one of the top prices nationally in that weight class so far this year.

Wednesday’s sales come at a time when feeder cattle prices are surging amid lower national herd numbers and strong feedlot interest. Analysts say the records reflect both market volatility and the premium paid for high-quality, reputation cattle.

“These kinds of sales don’t just happen,” said one market observer. “They’re a combination of excellent genetics, precise management, and a red-hot market willing to pay for performance.”

The back-to-back record days at Bassett and Albion are expected to influence pricing dynamics across the Midwest heading into late summer.

<p>BASSETT, Neb. — Two Nebraska sale barns etched their names in the history books Wednesday with record-breaking feeder cattle prices that sent shockwaves through the national livestock market.</p><p>At Bassett Livestock Auction, the northern Nebraska barn posted the five highest 10-weight steer prices ever recorded in the United States, highlighted by 159 head at 1,038 pounds selling for $318.25 per hundredweight. The barn also shattered the all-time national record for 9-weight steers, selling 180 head at 936 pounds for $336.75/cwt.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNationalBeefWireDVAuction%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0NsRRAhfxa2F5YiUwTGVTeGVavHpdbcRi84yMhM4NRarULTiCtoqcXAN97e8Qfpxwl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="532" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><p>The historic July 23 sale pushed all five top spots for 10-weight steers (1,000–1,099 lbs) onto Bassett’s ledger. Prices for those five lots ranged from $315.75 to $318.25 per hundredweight, a strong signal of continued demand for heavyweight feeder cattle amid tight supplies and elevated corn prices.</p><p>Meanwhile, Albion Livestock Market, located in east-central Nebraska, notched major milestones of its own Wednesday. The barn recorded the second- and third-highest 8-weight steer sales in U.S. history. A draft of 65 head at 828 pounds sold for $344.50/cwt, while 43 head at 864 pounds brought $343.50/cwt.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNationalBeefWireDVAuction%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0UyhWzA2rCeV8CfRjE4ZKUiErC4cQoWBwweKuoK1HryiHrNKXRSkfe4yMZcW2okPGl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="600" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><p>Albion also set its personal best for 7-weights, selling 12 head at 700 pounds for $355.00/cwt—one of the top prices nationally in that weight class so far this year.</p><p>Wednesday’s sales come at a time when feeder cattle prices are surging amid lower national herd numbers and strong feedlot interest. Analysts say the records reflect both market volatility and the premium paid for high-quality, reputation cattle.</p><p>“These kinds of sales don’t just happen,” said one market observer. “They’re a combination of excellent genetics, precise management, and a red-hot market willing to pay for performance.”</p><p>The back-to-back record days at Bassett and Albion are expected to influence pricing dynamics across the Midwest heading into late summer.</p>

Nebraska Sale Barns Set National Records with Sky-High Feeder Cattle Prices

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — A 59-year-old Iowa man has been convicted less than a week after fatally striking a 6-year-old boy with his pickup near the Nebraska City farmers market.

Vernon Christiansen of Percival, Iowa, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of motor vehicle homicide, possession of an open alcohol container, improper or bald tires, and a first offense for obstructed driver view. The charges include one misdemeanor and three infractions, carrying a possible sentence of up to one year in jail and/or fines totaling $1,300.

Christiansen’s conviction follows a tragic incident that occurred July 17 near 8th Street and First Corso, just behind the Veterans Memorial Building. Emergency responders were dispatched around an hour after the local farmers market opened and found that a 6-year-old boy had been fatally struck by a pickup truck. According to investigators, the truck, driven by Christiansen, was traveling east through an alley when the collision occurred.

Christiansen stayed at the scene and was later transported to a hospital for evaluation. Officers noted he smelled of alcohol and agreed to a hospital-administered blood draw. A urine test was also performed, and results from both are still pending.

During a search of his vehicle, police discovered an open container of alcohol, unopened beverages, a radar detector obstructing the driver’s view, and a rear tire with worn tread below legal safety limits. Christiansen initially faced an additional citation for third-offense DUI, and prosecutors have indicated that felony charges may be filed pending toxicology results.

<p>NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — A 59-year-old Iowa man has been convicted less than a week after fatally striking a 6-year-old boy with his pickup near the Nebraska City farmers market.</p><p>Vernon Christiansen of Percival, Iowa, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of motor vehicle homicide, possession of an open alcohol container, improper or bald tires, and a first offense for obstructed driver view. The charges include one misdemeanor and three infractions, carrying a possible sentence of up to one year in jail and/or fines totaling $1,300.</p><p>Christiansen’s conviction follows a tragic incident that occurred July 17 near 8th Street and First Corso, just behind the Veterans Memorial Building. Emergency responders were dispatched around an hour after the local farmers market opened and found that a 6-year-old boy had been fatally struck by a pickup truck. According to investigators, the truck, driven by Christiansen, was traveling east through an alley when the collision occurred.</p><p>Christiansen stayed at the scene and was later transported to a hospital for evaluation. Officers noted he smelled of alcohol and agreed to a hospital-administered blood draw. A urine test was also performed, and results from both are still pending.</p><p>During a search of his vehicle, police discovered an open container of alcohol, unopened beverages, a radar detector obstructing the driver’s view, and a rear tire with worn tread below legal safety limits. Christiansen initially faced an additional citation for third-offense DUI, and prosecutors have indicated that felony charges may be filed pending toxicology results.</p>

Man Convicted Days After Fatal Collision Involving 6-Year-Old at Nebraska City Farmers Market

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are headed home early for their August break after an uproar over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files all but halted any possibility of floor action.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he’s sending his members back to their districts until September to avoid “political games” relating to a bipartisan effort pressuring the release of government investigative documents on Epstein. The financier was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/01/us/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury" target="_blank">Florida sex offender</a>&nbsp;who died by suicide in 2019 in his New York City jail cell, according to authorities, where he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Epstein enjoyed a wide circle of wealthy, powerful friends, including President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=Searchresults_pos1&amp;page=1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that it reviewed a 2003 birthday greeting from Trump to Epstein featuring a cryptic message and hand-drawn naked woman, leading Trump to promptly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23g5xpggzmo" target="_blank">sue</a>&nbsp;the publication.

“We’re for maximum transparency. We’re engaging in that right now. We don’t need political games,” Johnson said at a weekly press conference where the Louisiana Republican was asked about an effort by his own members to compel the release of case material.

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has joined California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna in spearheading an effort to force a vote on releasing what are commonly referred to as the Epstein files. The procedural move, called a discharge petition, could be ready for the floor in September if Massie and Khanna can gather signatures from a majority of members.

“I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works,” Johnson continued.

He said the White House needs “space” to produce documents and is “in the process” of releasing materials related to the Epstein case.

“There’s no purpose for Congress to push the administration to do something it’s already doing,” he said.

On a separate track, the GOP-led House Rules Committee, the last stop for legislation before it reaches the floor, recessed Monday evening before Democrats on the panel could force their Republican counterparts to vote on amendments related to release of the Epstein information.

The bills stuck in that committee, largely to do with immigration, permitting and public lands, will no longer go to the floor this week.

Last floor votes are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. House members will not return until Sept. 2.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TheJusticeDept/status/1947670804122001581" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;on social media Tuesday that federal prosecutors are seeking an interview with Epstein’s one-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse" target="_blank">conspiring</a>&nbsp;with the financier to sexually abuse girls.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that the department’s attempt to interview Maxwell “sounds appropriate,” adding that he was uninformed about the matter and downplaying the relevance of the Epstein case.

“I don’t know about it, but I think it’s something that … sounds appropriate,” he said.

Blanche was Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney. Asked if Blanche’s involvement in the interview raised any concerns, Trump said no. Democrats have used Trump’s social relationship with Epstein to imply he may have been aware of Epstein’s illegal activities.

Trump urged reporters to drop the Epstein case and instead focus on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/politics/gabbard-threatens-obama-officials-2016-election" target="_blank">recent declaration</a>&nbsp;from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that former President Barack Obama improperly ordered an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that Trump eventually won. Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-intelligence.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1397" target="_blank">denounced</a>&nbsp;the report.

Trump has spent the last couple weeks dismissing loud concerns from Republicans and his voter base since a July 7 Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline" target="_blank">memo</a>&nbsp;denied the existence of an Epstein “client list” and concluded the department would not publish any of the files.

After receiving intense criticism, Trump ordered the department on July 17 to release grand jury testimony in the case.

The president called his supporters “weaklings” for expressing concern about the Epstein “hoax,” in a July 16 post on his online platform Truth Social. Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-asked-if-his-name-appears-in-epstein-files-trump-claims-comey-obama-and-biden-made-them-up" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters last week that the so-called Epstein files were “made up” by former presidents Obama and Joe Biden.

The president’s supporters, including members of his current administration, have fixated for years on unreleased details surrounding the financier’s involvement in sex trafficking, including possible names of clients and the circumstances around Epstein’s death.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1180481/dl" target="_blank">federal charging documents</a>, Epstein sexually abused dozens of teenage girls at his residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. The Justice Department has concluded that Epstein likely had more than 1,000&nbsp;<a href="http://victims.to/" target="_blank">victims</a>.

Jacob Fischler contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
                        <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — House Republicans are headed home early for their August break after an uproar over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files all but halted any possibility of floor action.</p><p>House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he’s sending his members back to their districts until September to avoid “political games” relating to a bipartisan effort pressuring the release of government investigative documents on Epstein. The financier was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/01/us/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury" target="_blank">Florida sex offender</a>&nbsp;who died by suicide in 2019 in his New York City jail cell, according to authorities, where he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.</p><p>Epstein enjoyed a wide circle of wealthy, powerful friends, including President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=Searchresults_pos1&amp;page=1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that it reviewed a 2003 birthday greeting from Trump to Epstein featuring a cryptic message and hand-drawn naked woman, leading Trump to promptly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23g5xpggzmo" target="_blank">sue</a>&nbsp;the publication.</p><p>“We’re for maximum transparency. We’re engaging in that right now. We don’t need political games,” Johnson said at a weekly press conference where the Louisiana Republican was asked about an effort by his own members to compel the release of case material.</p><p>GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has joined California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna in spearheading an effort to force a vote on releasing what are commonly referred to as the Epstein files. The procedural move, called a discharge petition, could be ready for the floor in September if Massie and Khanna can gather signatures from a majority of members.</p><p>“I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works,” Johnson continued.</p><p>He said the White House needs “space” to produce documents and is “in the process” of releasing materials related to the Epstein case.</p><p>“There’s no purpose for Congress to push the administration to do something it’s already doing,” he said.</p><p>On a separate track, the GOP-led House Rules Committee, the last stop for legislation before it reaches the floor, recessed Monday evening before Democrats on the panel could force their Republican counterparts to vote on amendments related to release of the Epstein information.</p><p>The bills stuck in that committee, largely to do with immigration, permitting and public lands, will no longer go to the floor this week.</p><p>Last floor votes are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. House members will not return until Sept. 2.</p><h2>Interview sought with Ghislaine Maxwell</h2><p>Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TheJusticeDept/status/1947670804122001581" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;on social media Tuesday that federal prosecutors are seeking an interview with Epstein’s one-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse" target="_blank">conspiring</a>&nbsp;with the financier to sexually abuse girls.</p><p>Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that the department’s attempt to interview Maxwell “sounds appropriate,” adding that he was uninformed about the matter and downplaying the relevance of the Epstein case.</p><p>“I don’t know about it, but I think it’s something that … sounds appropriate,” he said.</p><p>Blanche was Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney. Asked if Blanche’s involvement in the interview raised any concerns, Trump said no. Democrats have used Trump’s social relationship with Epstein to imply he may have been aware of Epstein’s illegal activities.</p><p>Trump urged reporters to drop the Epstein case and instead focus on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/politics/gabbard-threatens-obama-officials-2016-election" target="_blank">recent declaration</a>&nbsp;from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that former President Barack Obama improperly ordered an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that Trump eventually won. Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-intelligence.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1397" target="_blank">denounced</a>&nbsp;the report.</p><h2>Trump tries to dismiss Epstein uproar</h2><p>Trump has spent the last couple weeks dismissing loud concerns from Republicans and his voter base since a July 7 Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline" target="_blank">memo</a>&nbsp;denied the existence of an Epstein “client list” and concluded the department would not publish any of the files.</p><p>After receiving intense criticism, Trump ordered the department on July 17 to release grand jury testimony in the case.</p><p>The president called his supporters “weaklings” for expressing concern about the Epstein “hoax,” in a July 16 post on his online platform Truth Social. Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-asked-if-his-name-appears-in-epstein-files-trump-claims-comey-obama-and-biden-made-them-up" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters last week that the so-called Epstein files were “made up” by former presidents Obama and Joe Biden.</p><p>The president’s supporters, including members of his current administration, have fixated for years on unreleased details surrounding the financier’s involvement in sex trafficking, including possible names of clients and the circumstances around Epstein’s death.</p><p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1180481/dl" target="_blank">federal charging documents</a>, Epstein sexually abused dozens of teenage girls at his residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. The Justice Department has concluded that Epstein likely had more than 1,000&nbsp;<a href="http://victims.to/" target="_blank">victims</a>.</p><p>Jacob Fischler contributed to this report.</p>

US House GOP leaving for August break early to avoid pressure to release Epstein files

WASHINGTON — Republicans’ “big, beautiful” law will add $3.394 trillion to deficits during the next decade and lead 10 million people to lose access to health insurance, according to an analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The updated assessment of the sweeping tax and spending cuts law came weeks after nearly every GOP lawmaker voted to approve the legislation ahead of a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.&nbsp;The law made permanent the 2017 tax cuts from President Donald Trump’s first term and provided billions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-megabill-allows-trump-expand-mass-deportations-curb-immigrant-benefits" target="_blank">carry out his plans&nbsp;</a>of mass deportations, an immigration crackdown and increased defense spending.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, wrote in a statement that it is “still hard to believe that policymakers just added $4 trillion to” deficits after Republican lawmakers “have spent months or years appropriately fuming about our unsustainable fiscal situation.”

“This is a dangerous game we are playing,” MacGuineas wrote. “It has been going on for years, and it was brought to new levels with this bill. And it is time to stop.”&nbsp;

CBO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/taxonomy/term/1756/latest" target="_blank">released numerous reports</a>&nbsp;throughout the months-long process showing how various parts of the bill would affect federal spending and health care access, but the scorekeeper needed additional time to evaluate changes Republicans made during the last few days of debate.

The latest figures are similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-07/61537-hr1-Senate-passed-additional-info7-1-25.pdf" target="_blank">a preliminary report</a>&nbsp;CBO released earlier this month projecting the final version of the package, which underwent considerable changes in the Senate, would likely lead to a $3.4 trillion increase in deficits between 2025 and 2034.

That total was significantly higher than the $2.4 trillion increase in deficits&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-backed-giant-tax-and-spending-bill-bloats-deficit-24t-nonpartisan-cbo-says" target="_blank">CBO expected</a>&nbsp;the original House version of the bill would have had during the next decade.

Health spending to fall by more than $1 trillion

Republicans’ numerous changes to health programs, predominantly Medicaid, will reduce federal spending during the next decade by $1.058 trillion.

The law made more than a dozen changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal health program</a>&nbsp;for lower income individuals and certain people with disabilities, though some of those have larger budget impacts than others.

Language barring Medicaid spending from going to Planned Parenthood for one year would actually increase federal deficits during the 10-year window by $53 million.

The CBO score shows that policy change would decrease federal spending by $44 million this fiscal year and another $31 million during the next fiscal year, before increasing deficits by $91 million during fiscal year 2027 and continuing.

That section of the law is on hold for the moment after a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-quickly-rules-favor-planned-parenthood-suit-over-medicaid-funding" target="_blank">issued a temporary restraining order</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that required the Trump administration to continue paying Planned Parenthood for routine health care coverage for Medicaid enrollees.

Federal law for decades has barred the federal government from spending taxpayer dollars for abortion services with limited exceptions, so the one-year prohibition on Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood would have blocked patients enrolled in the program from going to their clinics for routine health appointments, like annual physicals and cancer screenings.

The CBO report didn’t include a state-by-state breakdown of the effects of the health care changes in the law, but the agency is expected to release more detailed analysis of the health impacts in the coming weeks.

Apart from Medicaid, two large projected deficit reductions in the law come in the agriculture title’s sections on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666035602.png" alt="President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4-image from White House video" />
                        <figcaption>President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4-image from White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — Republicans’ “big, beautiful” law will add $3.394 trillion to deficits during the next decade and lead 10 million people to lose access to health insurance, according to an analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.</p><p>The updated assessment of the sweeping tax and spending cuts law came weeks after nearly every GOP lawmaker voted to approve the legislation ahead of a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.&nbsp;The law made permanent the 2017 tax cuts from President Donald Trump’s first term and provided billions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-megabill-allows-trump-expand-mass-deportations-curb-immigrant-benefits" target="_blank">carry out his plans&nbsp;</a>of mass deportations, an immigration crackdown and increased defense spending.</p><p>Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, wrote in a statement that it is “still hard to believe that policymakers just added $4 trillion to” deficits after Republican lawmakers “have spent months or years appropriately fuming about our unsustainable fiscal situation.”</p><p>“This is a dangerous game we are playing,” MacGuineas wrote. “It has been going on for years, and it was brought to new levels with this bill. And it is time to stop.”&nbsp;</p><p>CBO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/taxonomy/term/1756/latest" target="_blank">released numerous reports</a>&nbsp;throughout the months-long process showing how various parts of the bill would affect federal spending and health care access, but the scorekeeper needed additional time to evaluate changes Republicans made during the last few days of debate.</p><p>The latest figures are similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-07/61537-hr1-Senate-passed-additional-info7-1-25.pdf" target="_blank">a preliminary report</a>&nbsp;CBO released earlier this month projecting the final version of the package, which underwent considerable changes in the Senate, would likely lead to a $3.4 trillion increase in deficits between 2025 and 2034.</p><p>That total was significantly higher than the $2.4 trillion increase in deficits&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-backed-giant-tax-and-spending-bill-bloats-deficit-24t-nonpartisan-cbo-says" target="_blank">CBO expected</a>&nbsp;the original House version of the bill would have had during the next decade.</p><h2>Health spending to fall by more than $1 trillion</h2><p>Republicans’ numerous changes to health programs, predominantly Medicaid, will reduce federal spending during the next decade by $1.058 trillion.</p><p>The law made more than a dozen changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal health program</a>&nbsp;for lower income individuals and certain people with disabilities, though some of those have larger budget impacts than others.</p><p>Language barring Medicaid spending from going to Planned Parenthood for one year would actually increase federal deficits during the 10-year window by $53 million.</p><p>The CBO score shows that policy change would decrease federal spending by $44 million this fiscal year and another $31 million during the next fiscal year, before increasing deficits by $91 million during fiscal year 2027 and continuing.</p><p>That section of the law is on hold for the moment after a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-quickly-rules-favor-planned-parenthood-suit-over-medicaid-funding" target="_blank">issued a temporary restraining order</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that required the Trump administration to continue paying Planned Parenthood for routine health care coverage for Medicaid enrollees.</p><p>Federal law for decades has barred the federal government from spending taxpayer dollars for abortion services with limited exceptions, so the one-year prohibition on Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood would have blocked patients enrolled in the program from going to their clinics for routine health appointments, like annual physicals and cancer screenings.</p><p>The CBO report didn’t include a state-by-state breakdown of the effects of the health care changes in the law, but the agency is expected to release more detailed analysis of the health impacts in the coming weeks.</p><h2>Nutrition assistance cuts</h2><p>Apart from Medicaid, two large projected deficit reductions in the law come in the agriculture title’s sections on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.</p><p>A provision requiring states to pay for some portion of SNAP benefits starting in fiscal 2028 would save the federal government between $5.7 billion and $6 billion per year, totalling just less than $41 billion for the first seven years it will be in effect.</p><p>And new work requirements for SNAP would result in $68.6 billion less in federal spending over the 10 years starting in fiscal 2026, the CBO projected.</p><h2>Federal student loan program</h2><p>Republicans’ streamlining of the federal student loan program is projected to reduce federal spending in the next decade by $270.5 billion.</p><p>As part of a sweeping overhaul of higher education, the law limits repayment options for borrowers with any loans made on or after July 1, 2026, to either a standard repayment plan or an income-based repayment plan.</p><h2>Extension and expansion of tax cuts</h2><p>The extension of Trump’s 2017 tax law, plus new tax breaks, will cost $4.472 trillion over the next decade, according to the latest CBO score.</p><p>The United States collects the majority of its revenue from individual taxpayers, and the continuation of lowered income tax brackets, plus an increased standard deduction, will comprise the bulk of lost revenue over 10 years, adding up to $3.497 trillion.</p><p>Trump also campaigned on several other tax cut promises, including no tax on tips and overtime, as well as no tax on car loan interest. The temporary provisions come with stipulations and will end in 2029. Together they will cost $151.868 billion.</p><p>The child tax credit increases under the new law to $2,200, up from $2,000, though lawmakers did not increase the amount lower income families can receive as a tax refund. The CBO estimates the bumped-up tax credit will cost $626.345 billion over the next decade.</p><p>Lawmakers offset some costs of the bill by repealing clean energy tax credits, including ending tax credits for personal and commercial electric vehicles, nixing energy efficiency improvement credits for homeowners, and terminating clean electricity production credits. In all, Republicans saved $487.909 billion from axing the measures meant to address the effects of climate change.</p><p>Jacob Fischler, Shauneen Miranda and Ashley Murray contributed to this report.</p>