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Obama Presidential Center's Black-owned construction companies hope for lasting legacy

CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) -- Four Black-owned construction firms joined forces with a fifth company to create a model never seen before in the industry and oversee the construction of the newly opened Obama Presidential Center. Now they're hoping to leave behind a lasting legacy.The dream of what eventually became Lakeside Alliance started while President Barack Obama was still in office. A 2015 lunch meeting between construction competitors turned foes into family."We all became one big working family," said Kelly Powers Baria, executive vice president at Powers & Sons

Brazil´s President Lula maintains poll lead over right-wing Senator Bolsonaro

Italy's Meloni tells Trump to focus on his own popularity as row rumbles on

Europe|Political|World

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says he returned state decoration to Polish president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had returned a state decoration a day after Poland 's president said he had stripped him of the award in connection with a dispute over events in World War Two.Polish President Karol Karol Nawrocki said on Friday he had revoked the medal awarded to Zelenskiy in 2023 after the Ukrainian president renamed a military unit in honour of World War Two-era Ukrainian insurgents accused of massacring Poles.The row over the role of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) threatens to deepen a diplomatic rift between the close strategic partners as

US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open

Spanish judge orders prime minister's wife to face corruption trial and surrender her passport

Business|Economy|Education|Environment|Political

From New York to Seattle to DC, more cities are picking democratic socialist leaders

On the night of the Democratic primary to be the next mayor of Washington, DC, Janeese Lewis George pushed back on those who doubted the movement that had formed behind her.Despite speculation that she was primarily drawing support from wealthier, White residents and DC transplants, election results showed that Lewis George, who is Black, won wide support across the district.“Over the past year, we assembled the most diverse coalition in this city’s history,” Lewis George said, describing a base that included organizers, environmentalists, nurses, transit and federal workers and janitors

The Strait of Hormuz is closing again. Few ships were leaving the waterway in the first place

What men should know about the US government’s latest move on testosterone therapy

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Arts|Environment|Science|US

Algae, peeling blue material, conspiracy theories: Reflecting Pool takes national spotlight

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump described the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as “absolutely filthy,” vowing to clean up the iconic landmark and make it “look gorgeous, beautiful” so it again reflects the federal monuments around it.The $14 million renovation became a pet project for the president, symbolizing his efforts to beautify Washington, DC, with architectural changes that have also included building a White House ballroom and refurbishing run-down fountains in the nation’s capital ahead of the America 250 celebrations.But with July 4 fast approaching, the pool tha

Inside Trump’s mad dash to sign an agreement with Iran

President Donald Trump was about to sit down for dinner at Versailles on Wednesday when he surprised both his host, French President Emmanuel Macron, and some of his own aides with a demand: he wanted to sign his agreement with Iran then and there.Trump’s top diplomat had received word on the way to the palace that the document had been finalized. But there was already a signing ceremony scheduled for two days later at an ultra-exclusive mountainside retreat overlooking Lake Lucerne. Vice President JD Vance, the top American negotiator of the accord, was supposed to head to Switzerland to in

Trump claims Reflecting Pool was vandalized and says law enforcement is investigating

After recent losing endorsements, Donald Trump hedges his bet in South Carolina governor’s race

Arts|Business|Political|US

Kennedy Center facing financial straits, difficult choices – and a judge who wants it to stay open

President Donald Trump’s name has been removed from the facade of the Kennedy Center, but inside the renowned performing arts venue, a difficult financial picture is forcing tough choices.A federal judge is demanding the center continue to operate during renovations. But plummeting ticket sales, artist withdrawals, political controversies and a diminished staff have made restarting a full-scale programming schedule a challenge, multiple sources familiar with the operation told CNN.The historic arts center on Friday asked the judge for more time to comply with deadlines in an ongoing lawsuit

DOJ rebuffs judge’s request for Blanche to declare in court that anti-weaponization fund is dead

The Justice Department is rebuffing a judge’s request that it supply a court declaration from senior administration officials that would confirm that the so-called anti-weaponization fund is not moving forward.In a new court filing Friday, the Justice Department said that the declarations were “unnecessary” and that the judge’s order that the administration file them raises “serious separation of powers concerns.”The case — playing out on Alexandria, Virginia — is one of several legal challenges to the controversial $1.8 billion fund, which arose out of a settlement of a legall

US hopes to give fans reason to revel when it faces Australia in Seattle, even without Pulisic

Trump unveils a new presidential airplane

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MidEast|Political|World

US-Iran talks begin Sunday as Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting

Iran on Saturday said it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and warned that while negotiators were going to Switzerland for talks with the United States on their interim agreement, not much likely will happen if the fighting doesn’t stop. Key mediator Pakistan said technical-level talks will begin Sunday, with Qatari mediators also participating. Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed because of the U.S. “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end the war. The interim deal is meant to stop fighting

Economy|Political|World

Bolivia’s president declares state of emergency over blockade crisis

Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency Saturday, after weeks of anti-government protests over rising living costs and economic pressure that have since grown into an escalating political crisis.Protests, backed by workers unions, farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales, are demanding Paz resign. Road blockades have caused shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies in parts of the country and ground the economy to a halt over the past 50 days, with at least 14 killed between May 1 and June 15, according to Bolivia’s ombudsman’s office.“I have arra

The USA dares to dream the impossible World Cup dream

Andy Burnham: The charismatic mayor almost certain to challenge for Britain’s premiership

Environment|Health|Travel|World

3 hikers die of suspected heat-related illness during rising temperatures at Grand Canyon

Three hikers died from apparent heat-related illnesses in the Grand Canyon on two separate days in the past week in the inner canyon, where temperatures can exceed 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in the shade during midday hours, federal officials said Friday. A 72-year-old man became ill from the heat on June 12 while hiking the South Kaibab Trail and died before rescue crews could reach him. Four days later, a 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman also appeared to suffer from heat-related illnesses while hiking the North Kaibab Trail and died before help arrived,

Election|Political|World

Democratic states scramble to prevent potential Trump administration interference in their elections

Democratic-led states are racing to safeguard November’s midterm elections against potential interference from the Trump administration and its allies, passing new laws that restrict the presence of law enforcement at polling places or seek to thwart the federal government’s efforts to obtain sensitive election material.Five states – California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington state — have recently enacted legislation to shield their elections from federal actions, according to the Voting Rights Lab, which tracks election-related legislation, and CNN’s research.Sponsor

Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach found guilty of sexual assault, indecent assault

Soccer-How a warm World Cup welcome is endearing the US to fans

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Why is there fighting in Lebanon?

Political|Travel|World

Trump heads to Camp David as Iran talks falter

President Donald Trump will make a rare trip to Camp David this weekend, returning to the presidential retreat for only the second time since retaking

Economy|Political|World

Iran’s hardliners threaten to spoil the regime’s victory lap

Europe|Political|World

Meloni slams Trump's claim she 'begged' for a photo with him as Italy's top diplomat cancels US trip

Oil prices are falling and stocks are up. Traders worry they’ve gone too far

Inside Trump’s mad dash to sign an agreement with Iran

Business|Economy|Political|World

US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland called off, clouding prospects for lasting truce

Arts|Business|Political|US

Kennedy Center facing financial straits, difficult choices – and a judge who wants it to stay open

Business|Economy|Political|World

US push to get Iran talks started hits an early bump. Vance stays at home, for now

The American push for high-stakes talks with Iran has hit a snag

Health|Political

New Jersey congressman absent from Capitol Hill for months set to return June 30

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Local

From LA to Scottsdale: The Founder Behind AdDynamix Is Building the Bridge Between AI and Business Tools

An LA digital advertising veteran of 28 years has moved to Scottsdale and is building what he calls the missing piece between business software and the AI assistants people now use every day. SCOTTSDALE, AZ. When Benoit Pecqueur talks about his latest company, he sounds less like a founder pitching a product and more like an operator who got tired of watching the same problem repeat itself. “Most small business owners are watching the AI revolution from the sidelines,” he says. “Not because they don’t want it. Because their tools don’t talk to ChatGPT or Claude. Their accountant still pulls