Stories from July 4, 2025

At least 6 dead and more missing in Texas Hill Country after severe flash flooding
At least six people are dead and 20 more unaccounted for in Texas after months worth of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight. Kerr County endured severe flash flooding of the Guadalupe River after as much as 10 inches poured down.
Trump signs his tax and spending cut bill at the White House July 4 picnic
President Donald Trump has signed his signature bill of tax and spending cuts at the White House Fourth of July picnic. He's taking a victory lap after muscling his main legislative priority through the Republican-controlled Congress.
Judge blocks immigrants' deportation to South Sudan one day after Supreme Court clears the way
A federal judge in Washington is temporarily blocking the deportation of eight immigrants to war-torn South Sudan the day after the Supreme Court permitted it to go forward.
Minneapolis Police are investigating an overnight shooting that left one man dead in north Minneapolis. Police say their initial investigation indicates that two men were riding electric scooters when they heard gunfire. One of the men collapsed and the other man called 911.
New interstellar comet will keep a safe distance from Earth, NASA says
NASA has discovered an interstellar comet that's wandered into our backyard. The space agency spotted the object with the Atlas telescope in Chile earlier this week, and has confirmed it was a comet from another star system.
'Antagonized for being Hispanic': Growing claims of racial profiling in LA raids
Immigration agents are raiding known hubs for Latino workers: day laborer gathering spots, street vendor corners and car washes. Legal advocacy groups say their tactics are unconstitutional.
Russia launches largest missile and drone barrage on Kyiv since war in Ukraine began
Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight in the largest aerial assault since the war began. The capital Kyiv was the primary target. Authorities said one person was killed and at least 26 people, including a child, were injured. 
The shadow fighters of the Civil War
Historian Patrick O’Donnell spotted an intriguing roadside marker and then spent six years researching a part of the Civil War long forgotten. His 2024 book, “The Unvanquished,” tells the story of shape-shifting spies, fearless guerilla fighters and military leaders straight out of a movie.
Napheesa Collier scores 28 and the Lynx dominate the third quarter in a 92-75 win over Mystics
Napheesa Collier scored 28 points, Courtney Williams had 10 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Washington Mystics 92-75 for their third straight regular-season victory.
Prosecutors are moving forward with their case against the man accused of killing former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. And a Minnesota Department of Education employee no longer works there after a conservative news site reported on a prior conviction of criminal sexual conduct.
Stars, stripes and sweat: A hot and humid 4th of July
Hot and humid conditions are set to take over this Fourth of July, making for a sweltering holiday. But the heat isn’t the only concern — a cold front pushing in from the Dakotas could trigger strong to severe storms across parts of the state, with some potentially arriving right around fireworks time.
St. Paul food truck festival to bring Native American foods to Harriet Island Regional Park
The Native American Food Truck Festival will have cultural foods, vendors and live entertainment. More than 70 vendors will be at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul on Saturday.
St. Paul residents raise money to support local LGBTQ+ community after flag vandalism
Residents in the Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland neighborhoods of St. Paul are raising money for LGBTQ+ pride flags and yard signs after dozens of flags were ripped off homes and destroyed.
Immigrants with no criminal convictions represent sharpest growth in ICE detention population
The number of people in ICE detention without criminal convictions nearly doubled in the last month — a significant increase compared to detainees who have been convicted of crimes.
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