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NationalThousands of Soup Cans Recalled Due to Product Defect
A popular organic food brand has recalled over 184,000 cans of soup sold in Illinois and other U.S. states due to a defect that posed a risk of product deterioration, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Amy’s Kitchen, Inc., a California-based company specializing in organic foods, initiated the recall of its Organic Lentil Soup – Light in Sodium on June 22 due to a 'potential deterioration,' as stated in the recall notice.
NationalAre You Waiting for Your Child's Trump Account Deposit? Here's What We Know
U.S. President Donald Trump claims that Trump Accounts could lift children out of poverty and give more Americans the chance to benefit from stock market investments. Some parents say they are still waiting for the money. The president plans to speak this Wednesday at a high school in Georgia to promote the investment accounts, which offer $1,000 in seed capital to every child born during his second term. The accounts were activated on July 4, two days before Trump rang the opening bells of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq from the Oval Office. The tax-advantaged accounts, created last year through Trump's signature tax cut and spending bill, can be opened for any child under 18. The Treasury Department estimates there are 6.5 million registrations for Trump Accounts, of which 1.5 million are eligible for the $1,000 seed capital for babies born between 2025 and 2028. Most of those families receive their $1,000 within one or two days, the Treasury Department indicated. Program advocates argue that it is an opportunity for more Americans to participate in the stock market. They hope this will curb the rising popularity of democratic socialists, who seek to raise taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals to alleviate costs for low-income and middle-class Americans. Once Trump Accounts are set up, parents, relatives, friends, and employers can contribute to them. Some billionaires have also pledged philanthropic contributions. The money is given to private firms that invest it in index funds, a type of mutual fund that tracks stock market performance. The money cannot be accessed until the child turns 18, and only for specific purposes, such as going to school, starting a business, or buying a home. Some parents were told the deposit could take four weeks. For babies born since Trump took office last year, $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury is supposed to kickstart the accounts. While some parents report having received the money, others have said in interviews and on social media that they are still waiting for the accounts to receive the $1,000. Masaki and Kristina McLellan, first-time parents from Bergen County, New Jersey, said in an interview that they hesitated to enroll in the accounts because they feared it was a promotional stunt by the president. But the $1,000 incentive convinced the couple, whose daughter Maya was born in late March, to open an account anyway. Masaki McLellan noted that he applied for the account on July 6. Initially, the application was rejected, but the account was activated after he called the Trump Accounts help line. He was told he would see the money in the account in 10 days. Now, he claims he has been told it could take up to four weeks. Kristina McLellan expressed disappointment that it was taking so long to fund their daughter's account. However, the baby already has other investments being capitalized for her. Maya's parents have already started a 529 college savings plan and a custodial brokerage account for her. The Trump Account is the third investment account in the child's name. 'We definitely want to give her options for her future and ensure she can choose what she wants to do,' said McLellan, a news station study director, who will return from maternity leave next week. The Treasury Department emphasized that the McLellan case is unusual and stated that only a small fraction of applicants need customer support. The Treasury says most parents wait only one or two days. The Treasury Department indicated that the time between opening an account and receiving the seed capital constitutes a 'standard processing time, like receiving a tax refund,' and that the overwhelming majority of parents wait only one to two days. However, the department likes to give parents a conservative estimate of how long the money transfer might take, such as the estimate of up to four weeks given to the McLellans. 'Trump Accounts level the playing field by allowing every parent to invest in their children's future, not just wealthy families with trust funds,' the department noted. The government also announced last month an initiative allowing child welfare agencies to open accounts on behalf of youth in foster care. 'With nearly 1 million registrations per month before launch, Trump Accounts have become the most popular and successful government-backed savings product in U.S. history,' the Treasury Department stated. Trump faces pressure over his handling of the economy. Trump's stop in Georgia comes as he and other Republicans face pressure in the midterm elections over his economic management. Only 33% of adults in the U.S. approve of the president's economic leadership, which is among the lowest ratings of his second term, according to a June poll by the AP and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Trump promised to lower costs, but his tariffs and the war in Iran have instead contributed to rising prices. Trump Accounts are similar to 'baby bonds,' promoted by cities and states governed by Democrats aimed at reducing the wealth gap between low- and high-income children. However, unlike most baby bonds, which generally focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds, Trump Accounts are available to families at all income levels. The program has faced criticism from those who say it does nothing to help families in the early years of a child's life, when children are most likely to experience poverty, homelessness, and hunger. And the Republican bill that created the program also cut funding for programs disproportionately used by children, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This story was translated from Spanish by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An editor from Telemundo Digital reviewed the translation.
NationalCongress Delivers Major Federal Housing Reform with Passage of ROAD to Housing Act
In a significant bipartisan move, both the U.S. House and Senate have passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, marking a major reform in federal housing policy. This legislation aims to address the national housing shortage of approximately 5.5 million units by removing regulatory barriers and streamlining the development process. It allows for the use of pre-approved home designs and modernizes HUD programs to facilitate faster homebuilding. Additionally, it limits large institutional investors from acquiring more single-family homes, promoting a healthier housing market. The Act is expected to gradually improve housing affordability across the country.
NationalCornyn and Cruz Request Disaster Relief for 33 Texas Counties Hit by Storms
U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have expressed their support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's request for a major disaster declaration to President Trump. This declaration aims to provide essential resources for recovery in 33 Texas counties affected by severe rainfall and flash flooding that began on July 12, 2026. The flooding has necessitated extensive water rescue operations, particularly in Uvalde and Kerr counties. Preliminary estimates suggest recovery costs could reach approximately $489.7 million. The senators are urging the approval of federal assistance and activation of various programs to aid the affected communities.
NationalTrump Receives Remains of Four Soldiers Killed in War with Iran
President Donald Trump traveled to Delaware on Wednesday to receive the remains of four service members who died in the ongoing conflict with Iran, a task he described as one of the most difficult duties of being commander in chief. Trump will be at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware when the remains of the fallen soldiers are returned to their families, the White House reported. This ritual is one of the most solemn responsibilities of a commander in chief and will be the third such event Trump has attended since the war in Iran began in February. Speaking to reporters en route to Dover, Trump called it 'one of the hardest things to do as president.' His message to the grieving families, he indicated, will simply be: 'We love you, we love your son.' 'There are no games, there’s nothing: that’s your son,' Trump stated. 'And the only thing you can do is give your heart.'
NationalMexican Man Who Died After Being Struck by Truck While Fleeing ICE in Florida Was on Vacation, Authorities Say
A Mexican man who was killed after being hit by a truck in Florida while fleeing from federal immigration agents was on vacation in the United States and held a tourist visa, according to a Mexican government official and a group assisting his wife. Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, 28, died on July 14 after reportedly running across a busy highway in St. Augustine and into the path of a truck. His death was the third linked to encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in about a week, following deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. Coronilla Durán traveled from his hometown of San Luis de la Paz in central Mexico's Guanajuato state to Atlanta to visit family and friends, according to Isaret Jeffers, founder of Colectivo Arbol, a farmworker advocacy group. Jeffers noted on Tuesday that he had stayed in Georgia for three weeks before heading to Florida's east coast to enjoy the beaches.
NationalAll Set for Maduro's Hearing in New York: What to Expect?
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores, are set to appear in a Manhattan federal court for a status hearing on Wednesday. Originally scheduled for June 30, the hearing was moved up at the request of prosecutors. This hearing will not determine guilt but will address key documents and evidence exchange. Maduro faces charges of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and possession of weapons after being extradited from Venezuela. His defense may argue for dismissal based on diplomatic immunity and jurisdiction issues. Both Maduro and Flores remain in custody in Brooklyn since their capture on January 3, 2026.
NationalThe New Life of the Pilot Who Escaped Cuba in a Crop-Dusting Plane in 2022
Almost four years have passed since Rubén Martínez Machado fled Cuba in a Russian crop-dusting plane and landed at an airport near the Everglades in Florida. With political asylum granted and a rebuilt life away from the Cuban exile community in Lansing, Michigan, Rubén recalls that October 21, 2022, when he made a solo escape from Sancti Spíritus and landed before noon in Florida. 'I remember it as being filled with fear, I don’t know... Fear, fear of what could happen, but in the end, everything turned out well.' Upon arriving in the U.S., Rubén describes the moment: 'As I was landing, the controller asked who I was and what I was doing, and I told him: I’m from Cuba running from communism. I heard him say ‘oooh’ and he told me to stay in the plane. Then someone came, knocked on the door, I opened it, and he started asking what I was doing. I explained the same: ‘I’m from Cuba running from communism,’ and he said: ‘Welcome to the USA.’ The pilot, who was 29 at the time and worked for the Cuban Air Services Company, was detained for four months after landing in Florida. When asked if his escape was planned or spontaneous, he explained: 'I had been thinking about it for a long time. The problem was finding the courage to do it and seeing when the right moment was, although in the end, nothing goes as planned. If I could turn back time, I would have done it much earlier and in different ways. The problem is that communism doesn’t work, it will never work. How long has it been since I came? 4 or 5 years? And that hasn’t changed; it’s much worse now,' he says. Rubén showed us his new home: an unfurnished house featuring a large American flag. He lives alone with his pet Caramelo and proudly shares photos of his new job as an operator at a recycling company. When asked if he has received threats from the regime, he noted: 'At first, yes, but… this is complicated (...) in the end, I have remained silent.' He explains that this is partly why he did not stay in Florida like most of the Cuban exile community, but there is another reason: 'To be honest, I always expected a bit more support from the Cuban-American community, and I did receive some, but then influencers kind of twisted the story and made it seem like getting views was much more important than fighting for the freedom of Cuba. So I said: well, I see that what’s here is a rat trap, so it’s better not to get involved in this,' he states. Rubén has been accused on social media of being a spy for the Cuban regime, which he vehemently denies. Today, he hopes to start a family and perhaps continue his career as a pilot once his residency is approved.
National28-Year-Old Identified as New York Sergeant Believed to Have Died in Iran Attack in Jordan
The U.S. military has identified Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28, from New York, as one of three American soldiers presumed dead following an Iranian attack on the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan on July 17, 2026. The Pentagon announced that Rampersad's status has changed from missing to presumed dead. She was serving with the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, stationed in Ansbach, Germany. New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed condolences, marking the loss of Rampersad as deeply felt. This incident raises the total number of U.S. military fatalities in the conflict to 18, with ongoing military actions against Iranian targets.
NationalTrump Announces Escalated Plan to Impose Tariffs of Up to 200% on Generic Drugs
President Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to impose tariffs of up to 200% on essential generic medications by 2029, aimed at boosting pharmaceutical production in the U.S. The phased approach includes a 100% tariff starting in August 2028, increasing to 200% the following year. For the next two years, generic medications will remain tariff-free. Trump stated that the goal is to 'relocalize' production, penalizing companies that do not establish manufacturing within the set timeframe. While the plan targets generics, the existing tariff structure for patented drugs remains unchanged, with some exceptions for companies that relocate production to the U.S.
NationalTrump Announces Plan to Impose Tariffs of Up to 200% on Generic Medications
President Donald Trump has announced a plan to impose tariffs of up to 200% on essential generic medications by 2029, aimed at boosting pharmaceutical production in the U.S. According to Trump, tariffs will start at 100% in August 2028, increasing to 200% the following year. For the next two years, generic medications will be imported without tariffs. Trump emphasized that the goal is to 'relocalize' production within the country, penalizing companies that do not establish manufacturing plants. The plan also maintains existing tariffs on patented medications, with exceptions for companies that negotiate prices with the government.
NationalUS Prosecutors Seek to Start Trial Against Maduro in June 2027
The Southern District of New York proposed on Tuesday that the trial against former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are facing drug trafficking charges, begin in June 2027, according to a document filed in federal court. The prosecution's proposal comes ahead of a hearing scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the timeline for the proceedings against Maduro, while the defense plans to present its initial arguments in September, and the government expects to submit most of the classified evidence in November. According to the court document reviewed by EFE, the prosecution anticipates that both parties will complete the evidence exchange phase before the trial begins, although the process still includes several preliminary stages, including the filing of motions by the defense and the review of classified material related to the case. The document also notes that the U.S. government expects to advance in the delivery of classified information over the coming months, while the defense will have until early 2027 to present new motions before the court sets the final trial schedule.
NationalThey Served the U.S., Then Were Deported to Mexico: An Activist Supports These Veterans
From the border city of Tijuana, Robert Vivar has been dedicated to supporting U.S. Army veterans who, for various reasons, have been expelled to Mexico, with their stories reflecting the human impact of U.S. immigration policies. Through the Unified U.S. Deported Veterans Resource Center, Vivar provides a safe space offering comprehensive legal assistance, basic medical services, and crucial emotional support for those who feel abandoned by the country they served before being deported to Mexico. The organization helps veterans reintegrate into their communities in exile and seeks pathways for their possible return to the United States through programs such as document management, immigration assistance, and job searching. The initiative aims to launch a civil and criminal legal offensive against the U.S. Department of Justice and the companies that operate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. The goal is to go beyond traditional diplomatic notes following the recent death of Mexican Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7.
NationalNumber of Immigrant Arrests by ICE Agents Rises
Currently, more than 65,000 people are in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), representing a 9% increase since April, according to new data released by the agency on Monday. The rise in the number of individuals in ICE custody reflects the recent increase in arrests made by the agency, according to NBC News. In June, ICE arrested a record number of 39,563 immigrants and placed them in its detention centers, according to NBC News.
NationalWaiting for a visa based on family ties or employment? Here are the delays for August
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for August, providing updates on dates for beneficiaries of family-based or employment-based visas. The bulletin includes two charts: 'Final Action Dates' and 'Dates for Filing Applications,' which show eligibility based on visa category and the beneficiary's country of origin. Family-based visas: First: (F1) Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens: 23,400, plus any number not required for the fourth preference. Second: Spouses and children, and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused number from the first preference: A. (F2A) Spouses and children of permanent residents: 77% of the global limit of the second preference, of which 75% are exempt from the country limit; B. (F2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of permanent residents: 23% of the global limit of the second preference.
NationalMaduro Returns to Court This Wednesday
Nicolás Maduro will return to a federal court on Wednesday for a hearing regarding the status of his case, at a crucial moment in his criminal proceedings. His lawyers may raise a question that could reshape the entire case: whether U.S. courts even have jurisdiction to try him. The defense could argue that a century-old extradition treaty between the United States and Venezuela requires that the dispute be resolved through international arbitration before any criminal proceedings can advance; an argument that, if accepted, could stall the case and potentially lead to Maduro's release. If they choose to pursue this line of defense, prosecutors are expected to vigorously oppose it. On Tuesday, during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office with the President of Lebanon, President Trump was asked about Maduro and stated, 'We eliminated a man who was very evil. What he did was very evil, in many, many different ways. We eliminated him, but you know, Venezuela… They said the same thing. When I acted regarding Venezuela, everyone said… because look at the drugs. Look at what they did. Where they took all their prisoners. They opened their jails and let all the inmates in through Biden's open border policy, which is absolute madness; and we did that in one day.' In March, District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that the trial would continue after Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, requested to dismiss the case, claiming the U.S. government was blocking funds for the defense team. This issue is likely to be addressed again in Wednesday's hearing. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces during a nighttime raid in Caracas on January 3 and flown to New York, where they were charged with four counts, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons-related offenses.
NationalRemains of Plane That Crashed Over 70 Years Ago After Taking Off from Puerto Rico Found
In an incredible discovery, an aerial search team found the remains of a plane that crashed shortly after taking off from San Juan, Puerto Rico, over 70 years ago. This was revealed by Discovery Channel exclusively for TODAY, confirming the discovery of the Pan Am aircraft known as Clipper Endeavor, which went down in the Atlantic on Good Friday, April 11, 1952. Of the 69 people on board, only 17 survived. The other 52 died after the plane suffered a failure in its engines just minutes after taking off for New York. What caused the tragedy? The official investigation report from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) concluded that both engines on the right side of the plane failed. The pilot managed to perform an emergency water landing in the Atlantic, and although it was successful, the sea was rough, and the rear of the fuselage detached. The plane sank in less than three minutes, leaving very little time for evacuation. Now, more than seven decades later, the search team used autonomous underwater drones to find the Pan Am logo, the landing gear, and the engine of the aircraft, bringing an end to years of searching. The episode of 'Expedition Unknown' about the Clipper Endeavor is scheduled to air in the fall.
NationalWhat’s Behind the Stations Trump Promotes for Their Cheap Gas?
President Donald Trump and his administration have enthusiastically promoted a network of gas stations called 'Freedom Fuel,' promising to sell gas at $3.47 per gallon. The initiative is already a reality in Philadelphia, but uncovering exactly who is behind it has proven difficult. According to an AP investigation, Freedom Fuel currently has a network of 25 gas stations located in the northeastern United States, primarily in the Philadelphia area. Records indicate that the chain, launched last month, is run by a diverse group of entrepreneurs, including an NFL coach, a Republican fundraiser, and a New Jersey businessman who was ordered this year, along with his brother, to pay civil damages for illegally siphoning off more than 200,000 gallons of fuel.
NationalTrump Revives Trade War with Canada with 50% Tariffs: When Will They Take Effect?
President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian products, citing unfair discrimination against U.S. automobiles, alcohol, and dairy. This move could escalate economic chaos and inflation, straining U.S.-Canada relations. The tariffs will take effect in 30 days, allowing for potential negotiations. Excluded from the tariffs are energy products, potash, fish, and crucial minerals. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed readiness to negotiate, emphasizing the importance of free trade. However, Ontario's Premier Doug Ford warned of potential retaliatory tariffs. The situation raises concerns over a broader trade war and its implications for the global economy.