More than 121,000 Orb squeeze toys recalled over possible asbestos exposure
The CPSC recalled about 121,340 Orb Funkee squeeze toys sold nationwide after sand inside the toys was found to possibly contain fibrous tremolite asbestos.
National
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Marguerite Casey Foundation commits at least $500 million over the next decade as nonprofits face funding pressure
The Marguerite Casey Foundation plans to distribute at least $50 million annually as U.S. nonprofits confront financial and political uncertainty.
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CMS opens comment period on permanent Medicare drug-negotiation framework
CMS proposed long-term rules for negotiating and renegotiating prices for high-cost, single-source Medicare drugs beginning in 2029. Comments are due Aug. 17, 2026.
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Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert another shutdown before the midterms
The Senate voted 90-6 on Aug. 8 for a short-term funding measure intended to keep federal agencies operating beyond the midterm elections and into early December. The House must still approve it before it can reach President Donald Trump.
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DOJ Charges Three Russians and Two Companies in Cybercrime Case Alleging More Than $62 Million in Losses
The Justice Department announced indictments against three Russian nationals and two companies in an international cybercrime case involving more than $62 million in alleged victim losses.
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NWS warns of severe storms, flooding, dangerous heat and fire weather across U.S.
The National Weather Service is warning of simultaneous weather threats, including heavy rain, flash flooding, extreme heat, wildfire risk and smoke across multiple U.S. regions.
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Sprout Social to Cut About 260 Jobs as It Restructures Around AI Investments
Sprout Social said its board approved a plan to eliminate about 20% of the workforce, with employee notifications beginning July 15 and completion targeted for late September.
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U.S. finalizes new Endangered Species Act rules for threatened species and critical habitat
The Fish and Wildlife Service finalized two Endangered Species Act revisions that will change protections for future threatened-species listings and the process for excluding land from critical habitat.
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First Circuit Partly Pauses Injunction Against Trump Election-Order Provisions
The First Circuit partially stayed a lower-court injunction blocking parts of President Donald Trump’s election-related executive order as the states’ legal challenge continues.
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Labor Department launches nationwide effort to add AI skills to apprenticeships
The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking organizations to help integrate artificial-intelligence skills into Registered Apprenticeship programs across the country.
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USPTO to Require More Information for Patent Delay Petitions Starting Aug. 13
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will lower the delay threshold that triggers additional information and a fee for petitions based on unintentional delay.
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Interior Says Federal Lands Hold 356 Billion Tons of Potential Coal Resources
A new Interior Department and USGS assessment estimates 356 billion short tons of available coal resources in the lower 48 states, plus at least 140 billion in Alaska.
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Justice Department Publishes Government-Wide Fiscal 2025 FOIA Summary
The Justice Department released a government-wide summary of federal agencies’ fiscal 2025 Freedom of Information Act reports, creating a new baseline for public-records oversight.
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More U.S. Adults Are Living in Multigenerational Households as Families Balance Housing and Caregiving Needs
A Federal Reserve report finds that 2% of U.S. adults lived with both a parent and an adult child, while childcare access varied sharply by family income.
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National Poll Worker Recruitment Day set for Aug. 11, 2026
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has released a recruitment toolkit as election jurisdictions prepare for National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on Aug. 11, 2026.
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Justice Department sues Maryland over sanctuary policies in federal immigration fight
The Justice Department alleges Maryland policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and says the case is one of 20 lawsuits targeting state and local practices.
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Supreme Court expands president’s authority to remove most agency heads
The Supreme Court ruled June 29 that presidents generally may fire federal agency heads at will, limiting statutory protections that required cause for removal while preserving a distinct exception for the Federal Reserve.
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Hollywood studios move into mobile-first microdramas as the format gains U.S. attention
Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media is among the established Hollywood players entering microdramas, a short-form, vertical-phone format that Omdia projects will become a $14 billion global market by the end of 2026.
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July Jobs Report Shows Employers Cut 23,000 Jobs, Complicating Fed’s Inflation Fight
Employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, a weaker-than-expected result that eased expectations of near-term rate increases even as inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s target.
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U.S. Employers Cut 23,000 Jobs in July, Raising Pressure on the Federal Reserve
U.S. employers unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs in July, a sharp deterioration that weakened the labor-market outlook and increased expectations that the Federal Reserve could wait before raising interest rates further.
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Senate Fails to Vote on Protect College Sports Act but Places It on September Calendar
The Senate ended its pre-recess session without voting on the Protect College Sports Act, leaving the measure on the September calendar as negotiations continue over the future of college athletics.
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NSF announces $83 million investment in data systems for AI-driven science
The National Science Foundation says new awards will connect scientific data with computing, software and AI tools across a national research infrastructure.