National

FIFA Investigates Possible Racist Incident Between Fan and YouTuber During Argentina vs. Cape Verde

FIFA announced that it is investigating an incident that occurred on Tuesday involving streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed and a fan in the stands during Friday's 2026 World Cup match in Miami between Argentina and Cape Verde. IShowSpeed was live-streaming the game and was heard asking a fan wearing an Argentina jersey what they were saying. The fan, speaking in Spanish, appeared to tell IShowSpeed, who is Black, to 'go cry at the zoo.' 'FIFA strongly condemns racism, hatred, and discrimination in all its forms,' stated the governing body of world football in a press release.

25 Years Later, the Promise of U.S. Soccer Remains Unfulfilled

Despite the growth of soccer in the United States over the last quarter-century, the men's national team remains stagnant. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie fared no better in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups than Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore did in 2010 and 2014. 'We want to be able to go out and compete with some of the best in the world, and we still need to take that next step,' admitted Christian Pulisic after the 4-1 defeat to Belgium, filled with errors, on Monday night in the Round of 16. Despite billions of dollars invested to elevate the national team to the global elite, Americans remain underdogs in soccer.

Increasing Costs: USPS to Implement New Rate Hikes on Various Postal Services

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will implement new postal rates starting Sunday, July 12, following approval from federal regulators. The price of sending a letter will increase, with the cost of a standard stamp rising from 78 cents to 82 cents. This marks a nearly 50% increase in stamp prices over the past five years. USPS states that the price hikes are necessary to offset rising operational costs and maintain financial self-sufficiency. Other rate changes include increases for postcards and international mail. The Forever stamp will also see incremental price increases in the coming years.

Trump Arrives at NATO Summit as Alliance Announces Billion-Dollar Military Deals

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit, where the alliance announced military agreements worth billions to appease him. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted a series of military projects, including a deal for up to 10 new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft from Saab. The summit aims to strengthen European defense capabilities as the U.S. shifts focus to China. Amidst discussions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged against selling F-35 jets to Turkey, citing security concerns. Protests were restricted in Ankara, with some demonstrators detained. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy called for his country to join NATO, emphasizing its military resilience.

Employees of Los Angeles Coroner's Office Investigated for Leaks in D4vd Case

More than a dozen employees from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department, including investigators and administrative staff, have been summoned to testify about whether they accessed police investigation files without specific authorization. This follows reports detailing the graphic death of Celeste Rivas Hernández, the teenager allegedly murdered by pop singer D4vd, before the autopsy report was officially released. The Rivas case may have prompted an investigation by the Los Angeles County Human Resources Department, which has recently begun notifying employees to appear for recorded interviews, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to NBC4 Investigates. The Coroner's Department, commonly referred to as the coroner's office, stated on Monday that it does not comment on ongoing investigations. The discovery of Rivas's remains last September inside an abandoned Tesla sedan registered to D4vd garnered significant public attention, leading detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) Robbery-Homicide Division to request that coroner records be kept confidential until the investigation concluded. The coroner initially denied the LAPD's request, citing a 'lack of jurisdiction' to keep the case information secret until the LAPD obtained a court order in November to restrict access to the file. The union representing coroner investigators, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association (PPOA), stated it could not comment on ongoing personnel investigations but confirmed that some employees had received county notifications regarding the inquiry. 'We expect the county to conduct any investigation in a professional, fair, and unbiased manner,' the PPOA wrote in an email on Monday. 'We urge everyone to allow the process to run its course before drawing conclusions.' SEIU 721, the union representing other administrative employees of the Coroner's Department, also indicated it could not comment on the nature of the investigation. 'However, we can unequivocally state that our union is firmly committed to protecting the privacy of all victims. Patient privacy is a matter we take very seriously, especially since many of our members work in healthcare and have direct or indirect contact with patients,' the union noted in a statement. D4vd, whose legal name is David A. Burke, was arrested in April on suspicion of murdering Rivas, allegedly in April 2025, at the home he rented in Hollywood Hills, according to court documents. He was charged with murder with aggravating circumstances of stalking, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness. The prosecution also claims he personally used a knife to commit the homicide. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys stated earlier this year that they will vigorously defend his innocence. The Los Angeles County Human Resources Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, an official indicated that county personnel investigations are typically kept confidential until they are concluded.

"El Mayo" Zambada, historic Mexican drug lord, accepts life sentence in the U.S.

Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada has accepted a life sentence in the United States, as confirmed by his defense in a federal court filing in New York. Zambada, 76, pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking and organized crime charges in August 2025. His lawyers requested that he not be sent to a maximum-security prison and that his health needs be met during his sentence. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, where Judge Brian M. Cogan will determine the final sentence and prison recommendations. The Mexican government claims it is unaware of any agreement between Zambada and U.S. authorities.

Petro Insists on Electoral Fraud and Rejects Legitimacy of De la Espriella's Government

Colombian President Gustavo Petro intensified his rejection of the results from the second round of the presidential elections held on June 21, insisting that Abelardo de la Espriella 'did not win' and that he does not recognize the legitimacy of the government set to take office on August 7. In a lengthy message posted on his X account, Petro reiterated his claims of alleged electoral fraud through algorithm manipulation during the counting process, asserting without evidence that the vote was altered to favor De la Espriella, who won the election with 12.9 million votes. Petro stated, 'I do not recognize the legitimacy of the incoming government' and maintained that 'Abelardo did not win the elections,' as 'the president of Colombia... according to the decision of the Colombians is the philosopher Iván Cepeda,' who received 12.7 million votes. Following the electoral day on June 21, the outgoing president had claimed he would respect the counting results, but since then, his allegations of fraud have escalated despite electoral observation missions congratulating the National Registry and the National Electoral Council for organizing the elections. Petro also called on citizens to mobilize on July 20, Independence Day and the installation of the new Congress, to 'raise the cry of national independence in all public squares,' a call he had already made on Sunday to defend the social reforms promoted during his government. The transition process between the outgoing executive and the team of the elected president, who will take power on August 7, began last week with meetings between elected Vice President José Manuel Restrepo and outgoing Finance Minister Germán Ávila, who led the process while Petro met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Petro and De la Espriella have ruled out meeting personally during the transition, so it is taking place solely through the teams designated by both administrations, an unprecedented occurrence in the country's recent politics.

Did Walmart Lower Prices Because Trump Asked Them To? Here's What the Chain Said

U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to claim credit on Monday for Walmart's recent price cuts, but a statement from the company made no mention of government involvement in its decision. The president has faced public criticism due to rising inflation during his administration, following an initial price increase after his decision to implement strict tariff policies and later, with the onset of the war against Iran in late February. Trump called a recent bipartisan measure to reduce housing costs a 'yawn' and attempted to blame Democrats for the ongoing inflation. With the upcoming November elections where control of Congress is at stake, Trump has sought to label Democrats as communists who would interfere with private businesses. However, in his Monday social media post about Walmart, he claimed that the company had lowered its prices at the request of his government. 'I have just been informed that one of the best, largest, and smartest retailers in the United States, Walmart, will significantly lower prices at the request of my government to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great country,' Trump stated. 'Walmart, in particular, will reduce the price of a pound of ground beef by nearly 15%, among many other products.' Walmart has largely benefited from rising inflation during Trump's tenure, as consumers have turned to its stores and website for lower prices, according to its most recent quarterly results from May. The company noted in a statement released after the president's post that its discounts at Walmart and Sam’s Club 'aim to help customers and partners make the most of' the summer season. No interaction with the government was mentioned, and the company did not publicly comment on the president's statements. The statement highlighted price reductions on products such as ground beef, corn, red cherries, ice cream, chips, and Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. Consumer price inflation has risen 4.2% over the past 12 months, a much higher level than the 3% rate Trump inherited, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some inflationary pressures may ease after a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran has led to a drop in oil prices, as more oil tankers have been able to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has famously used Walmart as a barometer of the American consumer, and in May 2025, he told the company it needed to 'swallow' the cost of the tariffs he had unilaterally imposed. 'Walmart must stop trying to blame tariffs as the reason for raising its prices across the board,' Trump posted just over a year ago. 'Walmart made billions of dollars last year, much more than expected. Between Walmart and China, they should, as they say, 'swallow the tariffs,' and not charge anything to their valuable customers. I will be watching, and so will their customers!' This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. A Telemundo Digital editor reviewed the translation.

Obamacare Enrollment Plummeted in Many States, According to Federal Data

States across the United States saw significant drops in the number of people covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) over the past year, according to new federal data that provides the first comprehensive breakdown of enrollment declines across all 50 states following the expiration of expanded subsidies in January. The data, released in late June by the Trump administration and first reported by The Associated Press, reveals that around 2.6 million fewer Americans had Obamacare policies in February compared to the same period last year. Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of the ACA program at the health research organization KFF, noted that the dataset not only tracks how many people enrolled or were automatically re-enrolled in plans in 2026 but also how many paid their first monthly premium to maintain coverage. Cox indicated that it also includes individuals who were retroactively removed from coverage after a grace period ended due to non-payment. 'This is the first time we are seeing state-level data showing how much enrollment in the ACA market really fell,' Cox stated. 'It aligns with our expectations, but it does show a very pronounced drop in the number of people with ACA coverage.' Healthcare affordability is a central issue for voters. Health analysts have closely monitored changes in ACA enrollment since the expiration of the so-called expanded premium tax credits caused monthly health insurance costs for many Americans to double or triple, forcing some to drop coverage altogether. The subsidies had been at the center of a bitter dispute in Congress last year, where Democrats and some Republicans called for their renewal. Insurance costs have been rising in the ACA and other insurance programs at a time when voters, looking ahead to the November elections, say affordability is among their top concerns. In a report released last week, the Department of Health and Human Services suggested that the significant drop in enrollment this year could be attributed to a federal crackdown on fraudulent or 'ghost' enrollments. However, analysts have pointed out that it is more likely related to the expiration of federal subsidies on January 1, along with other changes, including stricter requirements on which immigrants could access subsidized plans. Ohio, Oklahoma, and Arizona recorded the most significant declines. An AP analysis of the data found that Ohio and Oklahoma each saw a decrease of more than 32% in ACA market insurance enrollments over the past year, losing higher proportions of their covered populations than any other state. Close behind, with losses of more than a quarter of their enrollees, were Arizona, South Carolina, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Missouri. Florida, a state that heavily relies on ACA insurance partly because it did not expand Medicaid and has many gig economy workers and entrepreneurs, still has more residents in the market than any other state, with nearly 4 million. However, it also recorded the highest number of enrollees who dropped coverage this year: around 443,000. The data does not indicate whether those who left ACA health insurance this year found coverage elsewhere, and it is likely that some became insured through employer plans or other options. But Cox noted that most who exited the market likely remained uninsured, as it is generally a 'last resort' for obtaining health coverage for those who are not eligible elsewhere. Some of the states that saw the largest enrollment declines were the same ones that had experienced the biggest increases in enrollment after the federal government introduced expanded subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cox commented that this is not surprising, as those states likely had large numbers of people who enrolled only because the expanded subsidies made coverage much more affordable. Only one state recorded an increase in its covered population. New Mexico added about 14% more enrollees in its government health insurance program compared to the same period last year. It was the only state in the country that fully replaced the lost federal subsidies using its own funds. States with federal markets saw the largest enrollment declines. Approximately three out of five states use the federal Healthcare.gov market, while the rest operate their own state-based ACA insurance markets. The new data shows that, collectively, states using the federal market lost larger proportions of enrollees than states with state-based markets. One reason for this could be that many states with their own markets took steps to offset costs for their residents when the expanded subsidies expired in January. New Mexico is the most extreme example of this. In a special session last year, state legislators approved a plan to use state funds to cover the missing subsidies until mid-2026. In March, the state's governor signed a law to continue covering the gap until mid-2027.

ICE Sent Agents to a Man's Home Over an Email. Now He is Suing the Agency

A resident of northern New York has sued the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for sending federal agents to his home with a warning related to an email he sent to the then-head of the agency. David Streever, a U.S. citizen, was traveling in Finland when two agents showed up at his home in Rochester in June and handed his wife a warning stating that the email he had sent months earlier was deemed a threat, according to his lawyers. Streever sent the email in January to Todd Lyons, then acting director of ICE, after an immigration agent shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Good during a protest against ICE. In the email, Streever referred to Lyons as 'a monstrous human being' who 'will never know peace.' He claims the agency violated his First Amendment rights in a lawsuit filed on Monday in Washington D.C.

Exhibition of the Plane that Transported 'El Mayo' at US Museum Sparks Controversy in Mexico

The donation of the plane that transported Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a notorious Sinaloa Cartel leader, to a U.S. museum has sparked controversy in Mexico. The FBI donated the aircraft to the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, after Zambada's arrest in El Paso in 2024. This event has reignited debates about U.S. involvement in his capture, as Zambada claimed he was deceived and kidnapped. U.S. officials, including Ambassador Ken Salazar, denied any American resources were used. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for transparency regarding the circumstances of Zambada's arrest, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the truth for bilateral relations.

Can Congress Revoke Birthright Citizenship Through Legislation? Experts Weigh In

Following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold birthright citizenship, President Trump urged Congress to repeal it through legislation, claiming a constitutional amendment is unnecessary. However, constitutional experts argue that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., indicating that only a constitutional amendment could change this. Trump's previous executive order aimed to deny citizenship to children of undocumented or temporarily present parents but was blocked by lower courts. Experts assert that any legislation attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship would likely be deemed unconstitutional. The debate continues among lawmakers regarding the issue of 'birth tourism.'

A New ICE Facility Could Speed Up Deportations of Families and Children

The U.S. government plans to open a 528-bed detention center for migrant families and unaccompanied minors near Alexandria, Louisiana, aiming to expedite deportations. This facility will address logistical challenges faced when transporting children from shelters nationwide. Previously, incidents highlighted the difficulties of accommodating children close to airports. ICE refers to the Alexandria center as a 'preparation area,' claiming individuals will stay for a maximum of a few days. However, advocates worry that children may remain there for extended periods. The facility will be operated by LaSalle Corrections, which manages several detention centers across the country.

KRGV (NBC 5) · Jul 6, 2026

150 people from 50 countries become US citizens at Mount Vernon on America 250th birthday

On July 4, 2026, a naturalization ceremony at Mount Vernon celebrated America's 250th birthday, welcoming 150 new citizens from 50 countries. Attendees gathered on the lawn of George Washington's estate, where U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare from Guinea was among those taking the oath of allegiance. The event included the national anthem, speeches about American history, and a call for each new citizen to stand as their country was announced. Historian Douglas Bradburn emphasized that their stories are now part of American history. The ceremony concluded with heartfelt congratulations and a warm welcome from a re-enactor portraying George Washington.

Trump Posts Altered Photo of the Obamas and Air Force One with Graffiti on the Plane

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump shared a manipulated image of Barack and Michelle Obama waving before boarding a graffiti-covered Air Force One. This post follows a previous racist image depicting the Obamas as primates, which was removed after bipartisan backlash. The latest image features graffiti with phrases like 'Yes We Can' and 'BLM,' along with Arabic script. Trump has a history of personal attacks against the Obamas and incendiary rhetoric. Last week, he took his first flight on a newly refurbished Air Force One valued at $400 million. The White House and the Obamas have not commented on the recent post.

ValleyCentral (KGBT) · Jul 5, 2026

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: Continuing Coverage, deep dive and more

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — If you missed this week's top headlines, Rudy Mireles has curated a list of ValleyCentral's trending stories and a closer look at some of the moments shaping the Rio Grande Valley. Starting with continuing coverage as we learn more about a nun who was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The White House Labels Smithsonian Leaders as Radical Activists in New Report

A recent White House report labels the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution, particularly the National Museum of American History, as radical activists untrustworthy in their portrayal of U.S. history. This report, released by the White House Domestic Policy Council, suggests President Trump may be preparing to install his own team. The document criticizes the museum's current leadership for allegedly promoting divisive narratives and extreme political activism. Trump has been pushing for changes in cultural institutions he views as too liberal. Critics, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, warn that this could lead to a sanitized version of history that minimizes past injustices.

FIFA Lifts Suspension of Balogun for World Cup After Trump's Call to Infantino

FIFA has lifted the suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in the World Cup after intervention from President Donald Trump. Balogun, who scored three goals for the U.S., received a red card for a foul during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The suspension was met with praise from Trump and outrage from the Belgian team, which expressed disbelief at FIFA's decision. Balogun's availability was confirmed to the U.S. team on Sunday, and he expressed that a yellow card would have been more appropriate. FIFA's ruling includes a one-year probation period for any future infractions.

Trump to Meet with Zelenskyy and Syrian President at NATO Summit

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the NATO summit in Turkey. The White House confirmed these discussions, highlighting Ukraine's efforts to draw attention to its conflict with Russia as it enters its fifth year. Trump will also meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hold a press conference before returning to the U.S. The meetings come amid ongoing tensions, with Zelenskyy expressing optimism about ending the war. Details regarding Trump's objectives with al-Sharaa remain unclear, especially as Trump has made controversial comments about Syria's role in regional conflicts.