2025-06-30 18:00:20.935

The Senate is engaged in a dramatic showdown over President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," a 940-page tax and spending package that has sparked intense controversy. The bill narrowly passed the House and Senate, but its passage is far from assured. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the bill will add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade and lead to significant cuts in Medicaid, potentially affecting 11.8 million Americans. Democrats and some Republicans strongly criticize the bill, arguing it favors the wealthy while cutting essential services. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to introduce amendments to mitigate the bill's negative impacts on working families. Adding to the tension, a heckler was arrested during the Senate debate, shouting "You people are awful." Despite opposition from figures like Elon Musk, who called the bill "utterly insane and destructive," Trump has urged his party to pass it, even threatening Republicans who oppose it. The Senate is currently holding a series of amendment votes, with the final outcome remaining uncertain.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.14

NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The NBA is cooperating with the investigation, but Beasley's attorney stated that no charges have been filed. This comes after similar investigations involving other NBA players, including Jontay Porter, who was banned from the league, and Terry Rozier, who has not faced charges or sanctions. The investigation could affect Beasley's free agency, as the Detroit Pistons were reportedly interested in re-signing him. Beasley had a successful season with the Pistons, setting a franchise record for 3-pointers and helping them reach the playoffs. He averaged 16.3 points per game last season.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.137

LeBron James is officially returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, exercising his $52.6 million option. This decision marks a historic moment, as it will make James the first NBA player to ever play 23 seasons. The news was initially reported by ESPN and The Athletic, and later confirmed by an anonymous source speaking to the Associated Press. James, who recently recovered from a knee injury, previously stated his intention to return for training camp in late September. His decision pushes his career on-court earnings to approximately $580 million. The upcoming season will be James's first full year playing alongside Luka Doncic, who was traded to the Lakers in February. Despite reaching the postseason as the Western Conference's No. 3 seed, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by Minnesota. At 41 years old, James continues to defy expectations, having been an All-NBA pick in 21 of his 22 seasons. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season. With 1,562 regular-season games played, James is just 49 games away from surpassing Robert Parish's all-time record of 1,611 games.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.133

MIAMI (AP) — A depression that was formerly Tropical Storm Barry dumped rain on eastern Mexico late Sunday as Tropical Storm Flossie brewed off its southwestern Pacific coast. The weakening and ill-defined depression came ashore south of Tampico and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). All tropical storm warnings and watches were lifted, but rainfall and a risk of flooding were expected through Monday. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Flossie maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). It was centered about 215 miles (345 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph). A tropical storm watch remained in effect for Mexico’s southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the area within two days. Flossie is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane late Monday or Tuesday, then skirt the coast for a few days. While its center is forecast to remain offshore, moderate rain was likely in parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco through early next week.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.129

The Senate is embroiled in a late-night debate over President Donald Trump's ambitious bill encompassing tax cuts and spending reductions, encountering significant resistance from Democrats and even some Republicans. The bill's fate remains uncertain, with overnight voting postponed until Monday. GOP leaders are racing against Trump's Fourth of July deadline, but securing enough support to overcome a procedural hurdle proved challenging, with several Republican senators initially opposing the bill. Trump and Vice President JD Vance intervened to maintain momentum. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his retirement from the Senate after facing pressure from Trump for his opposition to the bill's Medicaid cuts. A Congressional Budget Office analysis projects that the bill would lead to 11.8 million more uninsured Americans by 2034 and increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over a decade. Despite this, some Republicans and House conservatives advocate for deeper cuts, particularly in healthcare, prompting a cautionary message from Trump against excessive cuts. The Senate bill includes approximately $4 trillion in tax cuts, extending Trump's 2017 tax rates and adding new provisions such as eliminating taxes on tips. It also reverses billions in green energy tax credits and implements $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps through stricter work requirements and eligibility criteria.

2025-06-30 06:00:30.124

A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire and then ambushed firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, killing two and critically injuring a third. The suspect, whose name was not released, opened fire on first responders for several hours. A shelter-in-place order was lifted after a tactical team, using cell phone data, located the suspect’s body with a firearm nearby, as flames approached. Authorities believe the fire and shooting were intentional. Two firefighters died at the hospital, while the third is in stable condition after surgery. The sheriff stated that investigators believe the gunman acted alone.

2025-06-30 00:00:29.958

NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The NBA is cooperating with the investigation, while Beasley’s attorney states that no charges have been filed. This follows similar investigations into other NBA players, including Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier. The investigation could affect Beasley’s potential re-signing with the Detroit Pistons, where he had a successful season, setting a franchise record for 3-pointers and helping the team reach the playoffs.

2025-06-30 00:00:29.954

LeBron James is officially returning to the court for a 23rd season, making history as the first NBA player to reach this milestone. He exercised his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season. The decision was confirmed by a source speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. James, who recently recovered from a knee injury, previously stated his intention to be ready for training camp, hinting at his return. This upcoming season will mark his first full year playing alongside Luka Doncic. At 41, James continues to defy expectations, having been an All-NBA selection in 21 of his 22 seasons. His career earnings will surpass $580 million with this decision. He aims to break Robert Parish's record for most regular-season games played.

2025-06-30 00:00:29.95

British police are investigating videos of a band leading chants of "death to the IDF" (Israel Defense Forces) at the Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Bobby Vylan of the rap punk duo Bob Vylan led crowds in chants of "free, free Palestine" and "death, death to the IDF." Avon and Somerset Police are reviewing video evidence to determine if any offenses were committed. Irish-language rap group Kneecap, whose member faces a terror charge for allegedly supporting Hezbollah, also performed and led chants of "Free Palestine." The Israeli Embassy condemned the rhetoric as inflammatory and hateful. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called Bob Vylan's actions "appalling" but also urged Israel to address violence against Palestinians. The government spoke to the BBC about the incident, and the BBC issued an on-screen warning about the strong language. Glastonbury, Britain's biggest summer music festival, drew some 200,000 attendees.

2025-06-30 00:00:29.947

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding in Venice, Italy, drew a large celebrity guest list and sparked protests from activists under the banner "No Space for Bezos." The protests highlighted concerns about overtourism, high housing costs, and the threat of climate-induced flooding in Venice. The three-day celebration featured numerous A-list attendees, including Orlando Bloom, Usher, Tommy Hilfiger, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Oprah Winfrey, Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner, and others. Protesters used the event to draw attention to the rising inequality and the perceived disregard for the city's residents.