Social media order:Â A federal judge in Louisiana appointed by Donald Trump has ruled in favor of the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana and ordered the Biden Administration not to contact social media companies about content they’re carrying. Judge Terry Doughty said government officials cannot ask social media companies to remove or modify content that the government believes is false because doing so would violate free speech rights. The government argued it should be allowed to make efforts to correct misinformation. Judge Doughty did make an exception for matters that affect national security.
Cocaine at White House:Â The Associated Press reported this morning that two law enforcement officials say the white powder found at the White House on Sunday, while President Biden was at Camp David for the weekend, was cocaine. The powder was in a plastic bag and was found in a public area rather than in an office. Tour groups usually are taken through the area where the cocaine was found.
The hottest day:Â Scientists from the University of Maine who study the climate say that this past Monday was the hottest day in recorded history. They report that the average temperature for the entire planet for the entire day on July 3 was 62.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is responsible for deciding which climate data does and does not constitute a record said it will take the data from the University of Maine scientists into consideration.
Holiday weekend shootings: Kimbrady Carriker, the suspect in Monday’s mass shooting in Philadelphia that left five dead and two injured was ordered held without bail during an appearance in a Philadelphia court this morning. The suspect was armed with an AR-style automatic rifle and a handgun and also had a police radio scanner. At least three people were killed in a shooting in Fort Worth, Texas, over the holiday weekend and two people were killed and 28 injured in a shooting at a block party in Baltimore on Sunday.
Nuclear power plant: Russia and Ukraine accused each other today of planning to attack the Zaporizhzia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian troops. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that the Russians appear to have attached objects that could be explosives to various parts of the power plant.
Middle East fighting:Â Israel conducted air strikes against Palestinian targets in Gaza today following rockets being fired into Israeli territory. The renewed military action came as funerals were underway for the 12 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier killed in a two-day Israeli military action that had been declared by Israeli military leaders to be over.
