Charles Strouse, Broadway composer of ‘Annie’ and ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ dies at 96

A teenager was struck by lightning in Central Park, New York City, amid severe thunderstorms affecting the Northeast, with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for major cities along the I-95 corridor. The storms have caused widespread power outages, impacting over 500,000 customers, and led to nearly 600 flight cancellations, particularly at LaGuardia Airport. Need More Context? 🔎

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, running for New York mayor, faced backlash from Jewish organizations for defending the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which he claims reflects a desire for Palestinian rights. Critics, including the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Rep. Dan Goldman, condemned the phrase as antisemitic, while Mamdani acknowledged rising antisemitism and expressed his personal stance against it amidst a crowded primary race. Need More Context? 🔎

Hundreds gathered at Minnesota's Capitol for a vigil honoring former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed at their home. The event featured music, emotional tributes, and a memorial with flowers and photos, while the suspected shooter, Vance Boelter, faces charges for their deaths and an attack on another lawmaker and his wife. Need More Context? 🔎

A Missouri judge has ordered St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company to pay over $43 million to Ryan Ferguson, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for nearly a decade. Ferguson's conviction was vacated in 2013, and after a prolonged legal battle, a jury sided with him, with part of the award also benefiting the involved police officers. Need More Context? 🔎

In a significant shift, the Justice Department's recent legal opinion allows for the potential revocation or downsizing of National Monuments, including those commemorating civil rights history like the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. With proposed budget cuts threatening over 300 park sites, advocates warn that this could erase critical historical narratives and hinder efforts to learn from past injustices. Need More Context? 🔎

US President Donald Trump is expected to decide within two weeks whether to involve the US in the Iran-Israel conflict, emphasizing the priority of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran's deputy foreign minister warned that US involvement would exacerbate the situation, while diplomatic efforts continue amid ongoing military actions in the region. Need More Context? 🔎