President Trump warned Russia of heavy tariffs if a ceasefire deal with Ukraine isn’t reached by September. He also promised that NATO countries will acquire billions in U.S.-made weapons, including Patriot air defense systems, to provide to Ukraine. This marks a significant shift in Trump’s stance towards Putin, from seeking peace negotiations to openly criticizing his approach to the conflict. (Story URL)

The Supreme Court lifted an injunction against the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the Department Of Education’s workforce. This decision enables the administration to move forward with mass firings that eliminated nearly half of the agency’s employees in March. The three liberal justices dissented from the Supreme Court’s decision, expressing concerns about the potential harm to students and schools. (Story URL)

Nine people lost their lives and one individual sustained critical injuries in a tragic fire at Gabriel House, an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts. The fire, labeled an “unfathomable tragedy” by Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, broke out Sunday evening. Approximately 30 residents were hospitalized, while five firefighters sustained minor injuries. (Story URL)

The CDC has identified a rise in COVID-19 cases across 25 states, particularly in the South, Southeast, and West Coast regions. While national COVID-19 activity remains at a low level based on CDC wastewater data, it has escalated from the previous week. Notably, emergency room visits for COVID-19 have surged in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast, reaching the highest levels since February and March. (Story URL)

An Oklahoma farmer was fatally attacked by his own water buffalo. Police were initially unable to reach the victim, Bradley McMichael, due to an aggressive buffalo, which they had to kill. A second buffalo also had to be dispatched when it became a threat. Evidence showed McMichael, who had recently acquired the animals, became trapped in their enclosure and suffered fatal injuries. (UPI)