U.S. mortgage rates reach a one-year high after five straight weekly increases
The average U.S. long-term mortgage rate rose for a fifth consecutive week by Aug. 7, reaching its highest level in just over a year as home prices remained elevated.
National
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Justice Department Requires CRH to Divest Two Tennessee Asphalt Plants
The Justice Department and Tennessee attorney general announced an agreement requiring CRH to divest two hot-mix asphalt plants after its acquisition of Standard Construction.
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Senate passes stopgap funding bill aimed at preventing a fall government shutdown
The Senate approved a short-term federal funding measure on Aug. 8, sending it to the House as lawmakers seek to avoid a shutdown during the 2026 campaign season.
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FTC Says Elite Events Will Pay $300,000 Over Alleged Ticket-Limit Evasion
The Federal Trade Commission says ticket broker Elite Events and its operators bypassed purchase limits while buying millions of dollars in tickets to high-demand events.
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NFL preseason opens as 32 teams move toward August roster deadline
The 2026 NFL preseason opened with the Hall of Fame Game, while all 32 clubs prepare for preseason games and an Aug. 30 deadline to set 53-player rosters.
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Heat Wave Sets August Record in Las Vegas as Wildfire Risk Rises Across the West
Las Vegas reached 116°F, an August record, as extreme heat and dry conditions increased wildfire danger across parts of the western United States.
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Senate advances stopgap spending bill as lawmakers leave Washington for August recess
The Senate voted 90-6 to advance a short-term funding bill that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11, but the House and president must still act.
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Senate passes stopgap funding bill through Dec. 11, sending shutdown decision to the House
The Senate voted 90-6 to fund federal agencies through Dec. 11, moving the next government-shutdown deadline beyond the 2026 midterm elections. The House must approve the measure before it can reach President Donald Trump.
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Federal court blocks Trump administration route for cutting state grants
A final federal court ruling blocks a major avenue the Trump administration used to terminate or withhold grants from states, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
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DOE Draft Says U.S. Grid Needs Major Transmission Expansion as Data-Center Demand Grows
A new Department of Energy draft study identifies rising electricity demand from data centers, manufacturing and large industrial loads as a pressing reason to expand the nation’s transmission system.
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Justice Department posts records tied to Garland-Milley meeting and prior attorney general statements
The Justice Department’s FOIA library lists records concerning a 2022 meeting between Merrick Garland and Gen. Mark Milley, along with records Garland relied on for public statements.
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Pew survey finds 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated as 61% say religion is losing public influence
A new Pew Research Center affiliation chart finds that 28% of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated, while a separate survey shows 61% believe religion is losing influence in American life.
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Federal data show rising credit stress among households struggling to get by
A Federal Reserve survey and updated CFPB credit dashboards show higher credit-card balances, payment difficulty and affordability pressures across U.S. households.
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BLS pages still show schedule for second-quarter productivity report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics scheduled its preliminary second-quarter 2026 Productivity and Costs report for Aug. 6, but its productivity pages continued to show the schedule and first-quarter results rather than second-quarter tables.
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DOT Finalizes One-Page Airline Passenger-Rights Disclosure Rule
The rule will require covered air carriers to submit a one-page summary of passenger rights and prominently post it on their websites after the federal paperwork process is complete.
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Trump administration sets 50% additional duty on certain Canadian vehicles starting Aug. 19
A presidential proclamation issued July 24 imposes an additional 50% duty on specified Canadian motor-vehicle products entering the United States beginning Aug. 19.
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Weak July Jobs Report Complicates the Federal Reserve’s Path on Interest Rates
U.S. employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, while earlier payroll gains were revised down by 103,000. The Federal Reserve is still awaiting July inflation data.
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Senate places college-sports regulation bill on September calendar after no August vote
The Senate did not vote on a bipartisan college-sports bill on Aug. 8, but placing it on the September calendar preserves a possible path forward.
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FCC Moves to Bar Marketing of Certain Communications Equipment Tied to Kaspersky
The FCC adopted an action addressing the continued importation and marketing of previously authorized communications equipment on the agency’s Covered List, including equipment with integrated Kaspersky cybersecurity or antivirus products.
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Federal Highway Funds Face August Redistribution as States Near FY 2026 Deadline
The Federal Highway Administration has set procedures for reallocating unused FY 2026 federal-aid highway obligation authority, with states facing an effective Sept. 25 deadline to commit the funding.
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CMS Begins Medicare GLP-1 Bridge With $50 Monthly Access for Eligible Beneficiaries
A new CMS demonstration began July 1, 2026, offering eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries certain GLP-1 medications for $50 per monthly supply through the end of 2027.
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USDA sets Aug. 12 release for crop-production and small-grains reports
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has scheduled its 2026 Crop Production report and Small Grains Summary for Aug. 12.