One year after President Trump sent the National Guard into Washington, D.C., thousands of armed troops remain on patrol under an extended mission now set to run through early 2029. The deployment has divided residents, drawn lawsuits and raised questions about crime, cost and civilian policing.
News Mash
Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, a step that would make it the first Middle Eastern country to formally end capital punishment. The measure replaces death sentences with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour, though enforcement details remain unclear.
Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old California climber known for speed records on Yosemite’s El Capitan, died after a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness. Friends remembered him as much more than a climber and called his death an “unimaginable loss.”
Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been detained since 2022 and was reported to be in severe medical distress. Advocates said he is headed for medical and psychological care in the United States.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12 and 13, with the best views expected between midnight and dawn under a new moon. NASA says the shower can produce about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, while the BBC reports that especially lucky viewers could see more than 100.
Minnesota voters are deciding competitive primaries for open U.S. Senate and governor’s races. Immigration policy, state fraud scandals and Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell are shaping the contests.
Tyler Boebert, the 21-year-old son of Rep. Lauren Boebert, was arrested in Colorado on child exploitation and delinquency charges. Authorities said he was released on $10,000 bond and the case remains under investigation.
Rep. Ilhan Omar is demanding answers after she said a Homeland Security Investigations agent was parked outside her Richfield, Minnesota, town hall in a vehicle with mismatched plates. Omar said local police had not been told of any undercover operation and questioned the purpose of the agent’s presence.