Declaring Their Party ‘Spineless,’ Democrats Try an Economic Populist Pitch

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, 67, was arrested on federal extortion charges for allegedly pressuring a cannabis company executive into a $50,000 investment deal under threat of harming their business. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, as prosecutors highlight the case as a commitment to combat public corruption. Want More Context? 🔎

Ancient dinosaur footprints, dating back 110-115 million years, were uncovered in Northwest Travis County, Texas, following recent flooding that exposed them. Confirmed by UT paleontologists, the tracks include those of carnivorous dinosaurs similar to Acrocanthosaurus and possibly the herbivorous Paluxysaurus, Texas's state dinosaur. Want More Context? 🔎

Nagasaki, Japan, is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, which killed around 70,000 people on August 9, 1945. Survivors, now aging and dwindling in number, advocate for nuclear disarmament while expressing concerns over rising global nuclear threats and Japan's reluctance to sign disarmament treaties. Want More Context? 🔎

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — As rising electric bills strain households and businesses, states are grappling with how to manage the costs linked to energy-intensive data centers operated by major tech companies. While efforts to ensure that these centers contribute fairly to local transmission costs are underway, evidence suggests that many consumers may be inadvertently subsidizing the energy needs of Big Tech. Want More Context? 🔎

Louisiana authorities have agreed to pay $9 million to Clifton “Scotty” Dilley, who was partially paralyzed after a trooper shot him during a 2018 traffic stop, misreporting it as a Taser incident. The settlement, one of the largest in the state for police violence, follows a U.S. Justice Department report criticizing excessive force by state police, which led to the trooper's termination and criminal charges. Want More Context? 🔎

A weeklong walkout by Texas House Democrats is obstructing redrawn congressional maps sought by Trump, leading to a broader nationwide redistricting fight. As Texas Republicans escalate pressure with civil arrest warrants and fines, Democrats remain in blue states, asserting that the mid-cycle redistricting is a partisan power grab aimed at securing additional GOP seats for the 2026 elections. Want More Context? 🔎