U.S.
State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide, Citing Consular Training on Public-Charge Screening
A State Department official confirmed the global pause on August 25, four days after a federal judge in Manhattan vacated the department's separate immigrant visa suspension covering 75 countries.
ICE Made 49,571 Arrests in July, Data Analysis Shows; DHS Puts the Figure Near 51,000
Two counts of the same month differ by about 1,400 arrests, and the two sides disagree over how many of those arrested had criminal records.
Darline Graham Nordone Wins South Carolina Republican Senate Runoff, About 52% to 48%, Over Ralph Norman
The appointed senator, sister of the late Lindsey Graham, won a Trump-backed special primary runoff on Aug. 25 and will face Democrat Annie Andrews on Nov. 3.
USDA Reopens Douglas, Arizona Crossing to Mexican Cattle; Trump Announces 90-Day Tariff Waiver on 300,000 Metric Tons of Ground Beef
The two actions were announced separately — a phased screwworm reopening set on July 24 and a price-focused import waiver posted August 21 — and cattle groups and Republicans from ranching states object to the second.
Timber Fire in Monterey County Passes 12,000 Acres at 25% Containment as of Aug. 24; Evacuation Orders Expanded
Cal Fire says the fire in the Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest grew over the weekend of Aug. 22-24, reversing an earlier partial reopening of Big Sur and closing about 10 miles of Highway 1.
ICE Says It Arrested 1,328 People in Virginia and Maryland During a Two-Week Operation in Early August
The Department of Homeland Security announced on Aug. 24 that "Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C." ran from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14 and that almost 400 of those arrested had been convicted of or charged with a crime in the United States.
Average ACA Premium Payments for Subsidized Enrollees Rose 114% in 2026 After Enhanced Tax Credits Expired
Enhanced federal subsidies lapsed on December 31, 2025; federal data show marketplace enrollment was down about 12% by February 2026, and insurers have proposed a median premium increase of about 15% for 2027.
Missouri Judge Rules Congressional Map Cannot Be Put to a Referendum; State Supreme Court Takes the Appeal
Cole County Judge Daniel Green upheld Secretary of State Denny Hoskins's refusal to certify a petition against the state's new Republican-drawn map, and the Missouri Supreme Court agreed two days later to hear the appeal.
Hawk Fire Northwest of Reno Reaches 15,051 Acres With 0% Containment; 42,000 Ordered to Evacuate
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency in Washoe County and activated the National Guard after the fire, which investigators have preliminarily called human-caused, spread across the Peavine Mountain area starting Saturday.
Education Department Confirms It Reduced PSLF Qualifying-Payment Counts for Some Borrowers, Citing Code Errors From May 2024
The department says it is correcting counter errors introduced under the Biden administration; borrower advocates say legitimately earned credit is being taken back, and the department has not said how many accounts changed.
2nd Circuit Rules 2-1 That John Sarcone Was Not Lawfully Serving as U.S. Attorney, Leaving Subpoenas to Letitia James's Office Blocked
The Justice Department says it will ask the Supreme Court to review the August 21 ruling, which turned on how the Federal Vacancies Reform Act applies to temporary prosecutor appointments.
Hawaii County Declares Emergency as Moke Passes South of the Big Island; Flood Watch Runs to 6 p.m. Monday
Moke weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression on Sunday night, but forecasters kept a Big Island flood watch in place, warning that ground soaked by Hurricane Lala a week earlier could slide.