Record-setting heat wave headed to central, Midwest and eastern U.S.

CHICAGO — Legendary Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in over 20 years before a game against the Seattle Mariners, where he was greeted by owner Tom Ricketts. Now 56 and set for induction into the Cubs' Hall of Fame, Sosa, a seven-time All-Star with 545 home runs, acknowledged past mistakes regarding performance-enhancing drugs during his career. Need More Context? 🔎

A juror from the recent trial of Karen Read, acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges, cited a "sloppy police investigation" and insufficient evidence to support the prosecution's case, stating she believed a collision did not occur. The juror and others noted doubts about the prosecution's narrative, particularly regarding the victim, John O'Keefe, and emphasized the importance of thorough investigative work in such cases. Need More Context? 🔎

House and Senate Republicans are advancing differing tax cut proposals, particularly on state and local tax deductions and child tax credits, as they work to finalize a significant tax and spending bill. Key differences include the House’s temporary increase of the child tax credit to $2,500 and a higher SALT deduction cap of $40,000, while the Senate opts for a permanent $2,200 credit and retains the $10,000 SALT cap, with negotiations expected in the coming...

Rapper Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, is facing a $20 million federal lawsuit from his former hype man, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, who alleges sexual coercion, underpayment, and denial of songwriting credits from 2005 to 2022. Dixon claims he was forced into thousands of sexual acts under threat, while Fat Joe's attorney has dismissed the allegations as fabrications and part of a retaliatory extortion scheme. Need More Context? 🔎

Walmart has agreed to pay $10 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit accusing it of overlooking fraud involving its money transfer services, which scammers exploited to steal from consumers. The settlement, pending approval from U.S. District Judge Manish Shah, requires Walmart to halt processing suspected fraudulent transfers and comes after the FTC highlighted various scam schemes targeting victims. Need More Context? 🔎

Diddy's trial faced interruptions this week due to a juror's illness and the Juneteenth holiday, but resumed with testimony from former assistant Brendan Paul, who detailed demanding work conditions and contradictions in sexual encounter claims. Text messages from Cassie Ventura highlighted allegations of abuse, while the defense aimed to frame encounters as consensual, setting the stage for closing arguments next week. Need More Context? 🔎