Weather Alerts and Impacts - Over 100 million people are under heat alerts across the country due to record-breaking high temperatures [2] - 170 million Americans are facing heat alerts, with some areas feeling as hot as 115 degrees Fahrenheit [4] - Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes are expected in some areas, with potential for hurricane-force winds up to 75 miles per hour [5][13] - Extreme heat warnings are in effect for cities like St Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Savannah, and Raleigh, with temperatures feeling like 109 degrees Fahrenheit in Little Rock and New Orleans [7][8][9] - A wind event (derecho) is possible in the northern plains, with potentially damaging and destructive straight-line winds [11] Trade Deal Between US and EU - A major trade deal between the US and the European Union sets tariffs at 15% across the board, a reduction from the previously threatened 30% [16] - The EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion in US energy and buy American military equipment [17] - The deal aims to open up trade between the US and EU countries with zero tariffs [18] - The pharmaceutical and auto sectors are expected to benefit from the trade deal [21][22] Legal and Political Matters - The Trump administration faces pressure to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein [27] - Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch met with Ghislaine Maxwell, raising questions about a potential pardon [27] - A bipartisan effort in Congress seeks to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files [39] Crime and Safety - A suspect is in custody after a stabbing spree inside a Walmart in Michigan, injuring 11 people [45][46] - An inmate in New Orleans was mistakenly released from jail due to a clerical error [56] Transportation Incident - Passengers were forced to evacuate an American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport due to a small fire in the brake system [51][52] - The flight, bound for Miami with 173 passengers and six crew members, experienced a combination of blown tires and deceleration, leading to the brake fire [52][53]

Politics and Government - The Trump administration faces ongoing pressure over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, leading to a spat with media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the removal of Wall Street Journal reporters from the president's trip to Scotland [1] - The White House released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, raising concerns from King's family about the historical context [1] - The tax cut and spending package signed into law is projected to add $34 trillion to the national debt over the next decade and is expected to cause more than 10 million people to lose their health insurance due to Medicaid cuts [1] International Relations and Trade - President Trump is scheduled to meet with the President of the Philippines to discuss tariffs and trade, with a potential 20% tariff rate being considered if an agreement is not reached by August 1st [1][2] Weather and Environment - Millions of people across the US are under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to soar into the triple digits and heat index values potentially reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in some areas [2] - Severe weather, including heavy rain and flash floods, is threatening the upper Midwest and portions of the South [2] Accidents and Investigations - The FAA and Air Force are investigating a close call over North Dakota involving a B-52 bomber and a Delta Airlines regional jet carrying 80 people, which occurred during a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair [2][3] - A fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladesh, resulting in at least 27 fatalities, including 25 children, prompting an investigation into the technical malfunction [3] Legal and Justice System - A federal appeals court overturned the 2017 conviction of Pedro Hernandez for the 1979 murder and kidnapping of six-year-old Eton Pates, potentially leading to a new trial or his release [3] - A former Louisville police officer, Brett Hankison, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for deprivation of rights under color of law in connection with the raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor [7][8]