Varsity Gray: A Times investigation into what really happened in the college admissions scandal

United States kindergarten vaccination rates declined during the 2024-2025 school year, with 92.1% receiving the DTaP vaccine and 92.5% for MMR and polio, while exemptions reached an all-time high of 3.6%. Experts warn that these trends contribute to increased risks of outbreaks, such as the recent measles surge, particularly among unvaccinated children. Want More Context? 🔎

The US-Canada trade war has intensified as President Trump raised tariffs on Canadian imports from 25% to 35%, affecting key products like appliances, cars, and groceries, leading to rising prices for Canadians. Canada has implemented counter-tariffs on American goods, causing costs for certain items, including clothing and housing materials, to increase, impacting everyday consumers. Want More Context? 🔎

Paola Clouatre, a 25-year-old Marine Corps veteran's wife and mother of two, was released from ICE custody after being detained during a routine immigration visit in May. She now wears an ankle monitor and must check in with ICE regularly as her family seeks to dismiss a deportation order issued due to her mother's past immigration issues. Want More Context? 🔎

Employers in the U.S. added 73,000 jobs in July, falling short of the expected 115,000, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%. Analysts suggest that the slowdown in job growth may be linked to increased tariffs impacting the economy, indicating a potential economic downturn ahead. Want More Context? 🔎

Two major wildfires are raging in the western U.S., with the Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon being 9% contained and causing the destruction of the Grand Canyon Lodge, while another fire in Monroe, Utah, is 11% contained. Both fires are generating dangerous pyrocumulus clouds that create erratic weather, complicating firefighting efforts and leading to evacuations in affected areas. Want More Context? 🔎

A significant rainfall of 1 to 4 inches along the I-95 corridor prompted flash flood warnings, with Burlington County, NJ, receiving nearly 6 inches. As flooding risks shift to the Carolinas and Dallas-Fort Worth, wildfire smoke from over 650 Canadian fires is impacting air quality in the Midwest, with extreme heat advisories in effect across six states from Louisiana to South Carolina. Want More Context? 🔎