Going out for Fourth of July festivities? Bring the bug spray, says the CDC
Whether you’re going outside to grill, see fireworks, or cheer at a parade this Fourth of July, remember to watch out for mosquitoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week said it’s seeing the earliest start to the West Nile virus season in the United States — along with the highest number of human […]
Pope Leo urges US to renew commitment to freedom, dignity on 250th anniversary
Pope Leo XIV congratulated Americans on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, using a letter to urge renewed commitment to religious freedom, human dignity, care for immigrants and the common good. In the message for the nation’s semiquincentennial, the pope said July 4, 1776, gave “enduring voice” to the ideals […]
Signers of the Declaration of Independence: Pennsylvania
From a self-taught surveyor to a pioneering physician, learn how Pennsylvania signers John Morton, George Ross and Dr. Benjamin Rush helped shape American independence.
Dangerous heat shuts down the Great American State Fair
On the day the federal government observed the Independence Day holiday, organizers of the capital’s main attraction, the Great American State Fair, were forced to shut down the festivities over the heat in Washington, D.C. The Freedom 250 social media page announced around 1 p.m. local time that the event is postponed until 5 p.m. […]
Political insiders are targeting the two-party system’s grip on America
It’s no revelation that America has a two-party political system. But as more Americans continue to believe neither party truly represents them, cracks are beginning to emerge inside American politics. In the same week, prominent voices on opposite sides of the political spectrum have discussed moving away from America’s political duopoly. On the right, former […]
With Trump accounts, the new retirement bet starts at birth
More than 1.4 million American newborns are signed up to receive a $1,000 federally funded seed investment in their future when Trump accounts open for contributions on July 4. The investment accounts track the stock market performance of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put it, the […]
More pets go missing on July 4 than any other day. AI might be able to help
When Kamala walked into her Philadelphia home, she noticed something was wrong. Her 4-year-old dog, Max, wasn’t greeting her and after taking a closer look, she noticed he wasn’t home at all. According to Petco, one of Kamala’s landscapers had left the backyard gate unlatched, and Max had run off. She drove to the animal […]
Social Security was supposed to be a safety net. To young Americans, it’s a broken promise
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. Nearly a century ago, in the darkest hours of the Great Depression, America made a promise to its citizens. Social Security, one of the […]
Iran preps for supreme leader’s funeral; Olympian charged with Reflecting Pool vandalism
Technical talks between the U.S. and Iran have been put on hold as the country prepares to hold a multi-day funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Events officially begin on Saturday, making a statement as it’s the same day America will celebrate 250 years of independence. Plus, a former Olympian is now facing […]
