These are the top stories for July 15th.
Headlines
House Passes Bill to Eliminate Day Light Saving Time
The House voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, advancing a years-long push to end the twice-yearly clock change. The bill now heads to the Senate, which passed similar legislation in 2022. Read More
U.S. forces struck Iranian targets again as CENTCOM reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while President Trump reversed course on a proposed 20% toll on Gulf shipping in favor of investment deals. Read More
U.S. citizens traveling from the Democratic Republic of Congo must now spend 21 days in another country before entering the U.S., as health officials monitor an Ebola outbreak in the region. Source
Politics
Senate Democrats defeated a motion to advance the annual defense authorization act 50-46, citing frustration over the resumed Iran war and the administration’s failure to seek congressional authorization. Source
President Trump reversed his stated plan to charge a 20% fee on cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying Gulf states will instead make direct investments in the U.S. Source.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is evenly split following Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death, making his path to confirmation uncertain. Source
U.S. News
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order imposing a one-year moratorium on permits for large data centers as the state studies their environmental impact. Source
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster for nearly 60 counties as slow-moving storms brought renewed flash-flood danger to the Hill Country, a year after flooding there killed more than 130 people. Source
A UH-1N helicopter from Joint Base Andrews made an emergency landing in northwest Washington after pilots heard ” strange mechanical sounds” during a training mission. No one was injured. Read More
Business
Dow futures traded near flat while S& P 500 and Nasdaq futures gained early Wednesday, building on Tuesday’s rally after June’s inflation reading came in cooler than expected. Find out More
IBM shares fell as much as 26% after CEO Arvind Krishna said the company had “faltered” in adapting to a shift in corporate tech spending toward AI infrastructure. Source
Consumer prices fell 0.4% in June as energy costs dropped 5.7%, though annual inflation still rose 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. See Details
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
| Dow Jones | DJIA | $52,637.01 | -0.29% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $7,543.59 | 0.38% |
| Nasdaq Composite | IXIC | $29,825.11 | 1.69% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $357.33 | 1.90% |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | $396.18 | 0.36% |
| Apple Inc. | AAPL | $314.86 | -0.77% |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | $384.93 | -1.55% |
World News
The two nations exchanged strikes overnight as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed hits on U.S. assets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, while Trump renewed threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure. See Details
The State Department announced a “whole-of-government” effort to curb the ICC’s ability to operate, calling it a threat to American sovereignty after the court’s Gaza-related investigations. Source
The White House formally told lawmakers that U.S. military action against Iran restarted on July 7, triggering a new 60-day window under the War Powers Act without seeking congressional authorization. Find out More
Entertainment
Tom Cruise is among the celebrities who will take part in a World Cup closing ceremony ahead of this Sunday’s final, which is being held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Source
Production has officially started on the Andy Serkis-directed film, with Warner Bros. releasing the first behind-the-scenes footage of Serkis back in character as Gollum. Source
Industry-wide Broadway grosses rose 12% last week, led by ” Hamilton” at $2.1 million and ” Death of a Salesman,” which posted its highest gross yet at $2.09 million. Source
Sports
Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty and Pedro Porro’s second-half strike lifted Spain to a 2-0 win over France, sending La Roja to their first World Cup final since winning the title in 2010. Source
Yankees slugger Cody Bellinger delivered a bases-loaded two-run single to spark the American League’s 4-0 win, its first All-Star shutout since 2013, seven years after his last All-Star nod. Find out More
Utah Jazz guard Trey Alexander was carted off on a stretcher after a collision during Monday’s NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls; his status remains unclear. Source
Off the Wall
Health officials are investigating a possible link between Taco Bell and a nationwide cyclospora outbreak that has sickened more than 2,600 people in Michigan alone, with leafy lettuce a leading suspect. Find out More
