Saturday, July 5, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1994, Amazon was incorporated. The company was originally set up in Washington State as an online bookstore, but it would soon grow into one of the world’s most influential technology giants. See the original website here.

Our hearts are with the victims of the devastating floods in Texas. We’re praying for the families of the 13 lives lost and the 23 still missing, especially the young girls and staff impacted at Camp Mystic. Read more below.

As our team spends the holiday with their families, today’s edition is abbreviated. We’ll be back to the full lineup on Monday.

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Floods Leave 13 Dead, 23 Missing in Texas

At least 13 people have died in Kerr County, Texas, after a sudden flash flood struck the Hill Country early Friday morning.

The Guadalupe River surged more than 20 feet in under an hour, sweeping away homes, RVs, and cabins.

Among the hardest-hit areas was Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls aged 7 to 17 located along the river in Hunt. Overnight, 6 to 10 inches of rain inundated the camp, forcing an emergency evacuation. Some cabins were reportedly washed away, and as of Friday afternoon, 23 campers remained unaccounted for.

Emergency crews—including helicopters, drones, and over 400 responders—are conducting search and rescue operations across the region. Governor Greg Abbott has mobilized state resources, including the National Guard, to assist in the ongoing response. See drone footage here.

Fireworks Blaze Kills 1, Injures 5 in LA

A 30-year-old man died and five others were injured Thursday night after fireworks exploded inside a Pacoima, Los Angeles, garage, setting off a fire that spread to four homes.

The fire erupted around 9 p.m. when fireworks stored in a garage ignited, spreading quickly amid ongoing detonations.

It took more than 130 firefighters nearly an hour to knock down the blaze, which also caused a gas leak, downed power lines, and injured several animals.

Officials are investigating and warning residents to leave fireworks to the professionals.

Trump to Host UFC Fight at White House in 2026

President Trump has announced plans to host a UFC championship bout on the White House lawn in 2026 as part of America250, a yearlong celebration marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime Trump ally, will organize the fight, which could draw up to 25,000 spectators. Irish fighter Conor McGregor already said he’s “all in.”

The America250 initiative will blend patriotic tradition with high-profile entertainment. The semiquincentennial celebration will include events at national parks, battlefields, and historic sites; a Great American State Fair tour across all 50 states; and the launch of a National Garden of American Heroes.

Trump also announced a nationally televised high school sports competition to be led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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➤ President Trump signed his One Big, Beautiful Bill into law Friday during a Fourth of July picnic for military families at the White House. (More)

➤ The Trump administration released its annual salary report showing White House staff earning between $59,070 and $225,700, with eight employees declining pay entirely. (See Salaries)

➤ Over the July 4th weekend, gas prices hit a four-year low at $3.14 a gallon nationwide, offering relief to a record 72.2 million holiday travelers. (More)

➤ Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo each won $10,000 after claiming the men’s and women’s titles at the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. (More)

➤ Social media are reviving the “frazzled English woman” look, a carefree style inspired by rom-com heroines like Bridget Jones and Keira Knightley’s Juliet. (See Look)

➤ An Italian builder spent a year transforming a 1993 Fiat Panda into a 20-inch-wide electric car that looks normal from the side but comically narrow head-on, possibly the world’s slimmest vehicle. (See Car)

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