Hollywood’s New SAG-AFTRA Contract Puts AI and Streaming Rules to the Test
SAG-AFTRA’s contract is now in force, raising minimums and adding AI, streaming, benefit and digital-replica rules for film and TV work.
National
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Todd Blanche sworn in after narrow Senate confirmation
Todd Blanche was sworn in as attorney general after a 50-49 Senate vote, putting Trump’s former lawyer atop DOJ as scrutiny of its independence intensifies.
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GAO says federal agencies still lack reliable ways to measure whether programs work
A new GAO assessment says agencies often track spending and participation without enough goals, outcome data or evaluations to show whether programs work.
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Indiana VA patients face temporary online service limits during EHR switch
Indiana VA patients face temporary pauses in online messaging, refills and appointment cancellations as three medical centers switch to a new record system.
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NCAA betting policy puts treatment and sports integrity in tension
A new Division III pathway offers limited treatment-based relief, while Brendan Sorsby’s case shows why betting on one’s own team remains the NCAA’s red line.
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Federal agencies commit more than $5 billion to AI-for-science effort
The Genesis Mission links federal data, supercomputers and laboratories, but 278 project selections still require negotiations before funding is final.
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Healthcare software breach may expose data of 3.8 million people
Patients are receiving notices after a healthcare software vendor said an October 2025 intrusion may have exposed sensitive information nationwide.
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FBI says U.S. homicides fell 18.1% in 2025 to historic low
Preliminary FBI data show U.S. homicides fell 18.1% in 2025, but voluntary reporting, undercounting and later revisions limit what the historic figure proves.
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Toyota recalls more than 508,000 U.S. Camry hybrids over display failure
A software defect may leave key safety indicators blank at startup in certain 2025-2026 Camry hybrids. Owners can check their VIN before notices arrive.
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Heat wave puts schools, sports and workers across U.S. on alert
About 97 million people face heat advisories as dangerous heat spreads from the central Plains to the Southeast, with schools, sports and workers adjusting.
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July Inflation and Weaker Real Pay Put Fresh Pressure on U.S. Employers
July prices rose modestly, but inflation-adjusted hourly pay fell, creating a difficult balance for U.S. employers, workers and consumer demand.
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Social Security August 2026 Payments: Who Gets Paid Aug. 19 and Aug. 26
Most Social Security beneficiaries have two August 2026 payment dates remaining. Learn the birth-date groups, exceptions and steps for missing payments.
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Federal agencies seek comments on wilderness climbing policies
Climbers have until August 14 to comment on proposed federal guidance covering anchors, historic routes and wilderness management across three agencies.
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Judge declines to halt Tohono O’odham border-wall project
A federal judge denied the Tohono O’odham Nation’s request to pause the Tucson 5 border-wall project, but the broader sovereignty lawsuit continues.
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Twenty-six jurisdictions challenge FY2026 FEMA grant conditions
Twenty-five states and Washington, D.C., are asking a Rhode Island judge to block FEMA and DHS from tying emergency grants to election and immigration terms.
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DOE Opens $147 Million Phase II Funding Round for Small Businesses
DOE opened about $147 million in FY25 Phase II SBIR/STTR opportunities, while foreign-risk and cybersecurity reviews raise the stakes for applicants.
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USDA’s Farm Safety-Net Deadline Is Aug. 31: What to Review
Eligible landowners have until Aug. 31, 2026, to review possible base-acre increases that could affect future ARC and PLC eligibility.
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Lidl recalls one lot of wok spice mix over Salmonella risk
Lidl recalled one lot of Vitasia Chinese Style Asian Style Wok Spice Mix sold in 10 states and Washington, D.C., after testing found potential Salmonella contamination.
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GAO Questions DOGE’s Reported $110 Billion in Savings
A GAO audit found major gaps in DOGE’s $110 billion Wall of Receipts, including a $1.7 billion contract claim where no reduction occurred.
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Lake Powell cool-water release withheld over hydropower concerns
Reclamation will skip a 2026 cool-water release from Lake Powell, protecting hydropower while warm river temperatures raise risks for native fish.
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GAO finds process failures in federal watchdog oversight panel
A GAO audit found missed deadlines, incomplete records and weak oversight in the federal panel that reviews allegations against inspectors general.
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Supreme Court case could test religious schools’ access to public preschool funds
A pending Supreme Court case over Colorado’s preschool program could clarify when states may require religious providers to follow public-funding rules.