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Texas flood infrastructure under strain as climate fuels more intense storms

As global temperatures continue to climb, scientists warn that extreme rainfall events—like the deadly July flooding in Texas—are becoming more frequent and intense. Warmer air holds more moisture, which leads to heavier downpours—a phenomenon climate scientists say is driving more intense storms globally. When these storms strike areas with outdated infrastructure or limited warning systems, the consequences can be catastrophic, according to experts cited by The New York Times. In Central Texas, floodwaters surged rapidly on July 5, with the Guadalupe River rising from three feet to

Sheriff's deputies uncover $1 million in alleged stolen goods operation

Turning pain into profit? Not in this city anymore.

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California bills aim to close loopholes in pet sales after puppy mill investigation

California lawmakers introduced three bills designed to shut down the state’s underground puppy mill pipeline by targeting dog brokers, strengthening online pet-sale oversight, and expanding consumer protections. The moves respond directly to a Los Angeles Times investigation, revealing widespread fraud and abuse involving brokers who imported truckloads of designer pups from large-scale breeders in other states. Senate Bill 312, authored by Sen. Tom Umberg (D‑Santa Ana), requires dog importers to electronically file certificates of veterinary inspection with the California Departmen

UCLA and UC Berkeley battle over who holds the real No 1 public university title

First the crisis, then the cuts: Who's left to help?

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California forced to rethink clean air strategy after federal setback

California officials are scrambling to develop alternative strategies to clean the nation's most polluted air after Congress revoked the state's authority to implement landmark emission standards for the first time in almost 60 years. Actions taken by President Donald Trump's administration forced California to abandon seven key environmental rules, including bans on new gas-powered cars by 2035 and phase-outs of diesel trucks. "This president, this Congress, will not kill the electric car," said Christopher Grundler, a deputy executive officer of the state Air Resources Boa

Kerr County tragedy sparks scrutiny over lack of sirens and flood alerts

The protest ended. The legal battles and the bills are just beginning.

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House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to release the Epstein information on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents. “There’s no purpose for the Congress to push

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Trump administration fights to keep ex-Trump lawyer Alina Habba as New Jersey federal prosecutor

The Justice Department fought to keep President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Alina Habba, in place as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey on Tuesday after a panel of judges refused to extend her tenure and appointed someone else to the job. Habba, who had been named the interim U.S. attorney for the state in March, appeared to lose the position earlier Tuesday, when judges in the district declined to keep her in the post while she awaits confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Acting under a law that generally limits the terms of interim U.S. attorneys to 120 days,

What to know about Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend

US Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from competing in Olympic women’s sports

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US Justice Dept. asks Epstein associate Maxwell to speak to prosecutors

The Justice Department has asked lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell if she would be willing to speak with U.S. prosecutors, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday he expected to meet with her in the coming days.The decision to request a meeting with Maxwell comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced mounting pressure from President Donald Trump's supporters to release additional materials related to Epstein, who killed himself in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Also on Tuesday, two Manhattan-based federal judges s

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Justice Department reaches out to Maxwell as calls for Epstein transparency grow louder on Capitol Hill

The Department of Justice said Tuesday it has reached out to Jeffrey Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell for a meeting amid backlash over the administration’s handling of files related to Epstein.“Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? At @AGPamBondi’s direction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an X post.Blanche added in a statement posted by Attorney Gen

A big problem for Tesla isn’t getting much attention

Despite risks, Texas Republicans launch Trump-backed effort to redraw congressional lines

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Hershey, Nestle, other cocoa companies defeat appeal of child slavery lawsuit

A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a proposed class action by eight Malian citizens who sought to hold Hershey, Nestle and five other companies liable for child labor on Ivory Coast cocoa farms.In a 3-0 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found no causal connection between the plaintiffs' forced labor and the defendants' alleged venture to obtain "cheap cocoa harvested by enslaved children."The plaintiffs said they were required to live in squalor and threatened with starvation if they did not work, after being approached by unfamiliar men who fals

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AFP journalists sound alarm about dire conditions faced by hungry colleagues in Gaza

A group of journalists at the Agence France-Presse news agency is sounding the alarm about conditions faced by colleagues working in Gaza, saying that “without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die.” In a war-torn territory where Israel generally forbids outside journalists to enter, international news organizations like AFP, The Associated Press and Reuters rely on local teams to get out the news. They've been hampered by safety concerns and hunger in Gaza, where an estimated 59,000 people have died in the 21-month conflict, according to

Trump accuses Obama of treason in escalating attacks over 2016 Russia probe

Columbia disciplines dozens of students for pro-Palestinian library protest

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‘How’s Imelda?’: Trump’s connection to Philippine leader may be through his mother

Like most foreign leaders coming to visit President Donald Trump, the Philippines’ Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will look to make a personal connection with his American counterpart on Tuesday as he seeks a new trade deal.For Marcos, the connection may be his mother.“How’s Imelda?” Trump asked the Philippine leader when they first spoke in November, according to an official familiar with the call, sending his regards to the onetime first lady of the Philippines and a fellow cultural figurehead of the 1980s and 90s.Trump has long placed a premium on family ties and genetics as a measure of peop

The Latest: Trump deflects questions about Epstein files and revives old grievances

President Donald Trump on Tuesday deflected questions over the Justice Department’s decision to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. Trump instead lashed out at old grievances following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election. Trump is under pressure from conspiracy-minded segments of his political