These are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Cyclosporiasis cases surge past 11,500
The CDC reported more than 11,500 cyclosporiasis cases across 41 states, including a spike of over 600 new cases in Michigan. Read More
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter Wednesday asking the Justice Department to criminally investigate former special counsel Jack Smith, alleging he made false statements during a deposition. Read More
Security footage released Wednesday shows passersby largely unfazed as a man set off fireworks and started a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Andrew Arrabaca, 43, a former U.S. Army soldier, has been jailed without bail after confessing to the attack. Find out More
Politics
The House advanced its annual defense policy bill, with Iran war spending a central issue as tensions with Tehran continue to escalate. Source
Democrats are pushing back after the DCCC spent over $500,000 backing a losing candidate in Arizona, the third failed primary intervention this cycle, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling for the party to ration its resources. Source
Rep. Andy Biggs won the GOP gubernatorial nomination with 73% of the vote in a four-way field, as Trump-endorsed candidates dominated Arizona primaries. Source
U.S. News
Tropical Storm Bertha crawls along the Gulf Coast; coastal flood warnings are issued. Bertha continued moving west along the northern Gulf Coast Wednesday, with coastal flood warnings in effect for Mississippi and Louisiana as forecasters warn of up to 4 feet of storm-surge inundation. Find out More
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties after flash flooding dumped up to 7 inches of rain in 12 hours, damaging homes and roads across the state. Find out More
A private autopsy for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who went missing on a Mississippi boat trip and was later found dead, returned an “undetermined pending investigation” finding, attorney Ben Crump announced. Read More
Business
Wall Street dips as investors brace for Big Tech earnings amid Mideast tensions. The Nasdaq led Wall Street lower Wednesday as investors awaited earnings from major tech firms while monitoring the latest Middle East hostilities, which pushed oil futures to a six-week high. Source
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.558% Wednesday, up nearly 16 basis points from the prior day, according to Zillow lender data. Source
Midwest Poultry Services recalled 1.6 million dozen hite shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs that were produced in Texas after the FDA warned they could be contaminated with salmonella. Source
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
| Dow Jones | DJIA | $44,296.51 | 0.97% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $4,619.06 | -0.23% |
| Nasdaq Composite | IXIC | $19,003.65 | 0.16% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $341.91 | -1.24% |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | $374.01 | -1.30% |
| Apple Inc. | AAPL | $325.89 | -0.56% |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | $390.34 | -1.86% |
World News
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea Thursday, following a naval blockade announcement, as Trump threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz. Read More
Activists clashed with police in New Delhi and Hyderabad as the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party intensified protests demanding the education minister’s resignation over alleged exam irregularities. Source
Yakir Levi, an Israeli-American reality television personality, fell to his death from the 28th floor of a luxury Sunny Isles Beach resort; investigators do not suspect foul play. Source
Entertainment
Elon Musk vows Grok AI will remake “The Odyssey” as “historically accurate.” Musk announced that his Grok Imagine AI model will produce a full-length film of Homer’s “The Odyssey” by year’s end, in an apparent jab at Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation. Source
Tom Cruise, Jonathan Levine in talks for “Days of Thunder” sequel. Paramount is moving forward on a sequel to its 1990 racing classic, with director Jonathan Levine in talks to steer Tom Cruise back behind the wheel for the global franchise follow-up. Source
Zendaya confirmed her marriage to her ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Spider-Man’ co-star Tom Holland during an unexpected fan conversation, following her co-star’s own confirmation of the secret wedding in a June interview. Find out More
Sports
Three weeks after free agency opened, LeBron James still hasn’t made his “Decision 4.0,” with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers reported as the remaining contenders. See Details
The Kansas City Chiefs unveiled renderings of the team’s proposed $3 billion domed stadium. The facility would replace Arrowhead Stadium. Missouri and Kansas are locked in a battle over the stadium’s site. See Details
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-1 to snap Boston’s winning streak at 15 games, one short of the franchise record. Read More
Off the Wall
Yellowstone bison-toss victim speaks out: “They move faster than you’d think.” Carl McDaniel, thrown into the air by a Yellowstone bison, is recovering from multiple fractures and shared his account of the encounter. Source
