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New laws go into effect in Virginia, Maryland and DC on July 1 07/01/2026 03:21pm • Some of the laws that hit the books July 1, 2026, will affect law enforcement in Virginia, racehorses in Maryland and minimum wage workers in D.C. The laws range from measures around speeding drivers in Virginia to regulations many Maryland schools have already implemented. Here’s a loo A giraffe named Gracie escaped in Texas. No one can seem to find her 07/01/2026 03:19pm • A giraffe named Gracie is missing in Texas, and the search for her has become a tall order. Gracie, who is about 3 years old, has been missing for nearly two weeks after escaping her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in the Texas Hill Country, said Vick Jones, who owns the remote property about 100 mi US, Canada and Mexico begin bumpy negotiations to renew North American trade pact 07/01/2026 03:18pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — Tourists from Chattanooga check into beach resorts in Cancun. Canadian auto parts feed factories in the American Midwest — and vice versa. Happy hour revelers raise glasses of Mexican tequila and mezcal at bars in Seattle. It adds up. The United States trades $1.9 trillion a ye Federal Reserve Chair Warsh emphasizes political independence, signals focus on inflation 07/01/2026 03:16pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said Wednesday that the central bank would remain independent and seek to bring down inflation, likely foreclosing the rate cuts President Donald Trump has sought. In remarks at a central bank conference in Sintra, Portugal, Warsh said that Driver in deadly Stafford County bus crash pleads not guilty 07/01/2026 03:15pm • The charter bus driver behind the wheel during a chain-reaction crash that killed five people and injured more than 40 on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, has entered a plea of not guilty to multiple charges. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Sept. 28 with the trial set to begin Oct. 6 Kroger buying regional grocer Giant Eagle in a deal valued at $1.65 billion 07/01/2026 03:11pm • Kroger said Wednesday it plans to buy regional grocer and pharmacy retailer Giant Eagle in a deal valued at $1.65 billion. Giant Eagle, which is privately held, has 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. They wo New Jersey Devils re-sign captain Nico Hischier for $58.5 million over 5 years 07/01/2026 03:04pm • With just three playoff appearances and one series victory to show for his first nine seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, Nico Hischier had some questions this spring about the direction of the organization. “There were just a lot of talks, and obviously I was curious what the plan is,â The Pac-12 basketball tournament is returning to Las Vegas as 7 new members join 07/01/2026 02:57pm • The Pac-12 men's and women's basketball tournaments are returning to Las Vegas. The Pac-12 announced the return to MGM Grand Garden Arena on Wednesday, the official relaunch of the conference with seven new members. “Bringing the next era of the Pac-12 and our basketball tournaments back to Las Ve Spotless uniforms, stalled cranes: Inside Venezuela’s faltering quake rescue effort 07/01/2026 02:56pm • LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Angélica Mundrain wants the bodies of her son, niece and nephew to be pulled from the rubble of her flattened beachfront apartment. She has spent every minute of the past six days waiting for the heavy machinery needed to remove the slabs of concrete and twisted metal Mexico's legendary rescue brigade heads to Venezuela as earthquakes death toll tops 2,200 07/01/2026 02:52pm • MEXICO CITY (AP) — A man dressed head-to-toe in bright orange carefully stacks a dozen cardboard boxes on a luggage cart at Mexico City’s international airport. He is not an ordinary traveler. And these are not ordinary boxes. They contain body bags. The man is Germán Bello, a 39-year-old volun Kalshi Promo Code WTOP15: Claim $15 Bonus for Belgium-Senegal, World Cup, MLB 07/01/2026 02:49pm • This article contains references to products from our advertisers and/or partners, and we may receive compensation when you click on links to products and services Today, new customers can take advantage of an incredible welcome offer right before the Belgium vs Senegal Round of 32 clash kicks off. Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá has a thigh injury ahead of match against Norway at the World Cup 07/01/2026 02:39pm • Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who limped off the field at halftime during his team's last World Cup match, has a thigh injury. Paquetá was replaced for the start of the second half in Monday's 2-1 win over Japan. Brazil advanced to a round of 16 match against Norway on Sunday at East Rutherford Americans step out for their nation's 250th in a proud moment sown with division and doubt 07/01/2026 02:27pm • WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the stars of the American firmament once advised citizens of all stripes how to express their love of country. Mark Twain's long-ago words capture how Americans are stepping out this week to wish their nation a happy milestone birthday. “Our patriotism is medieval, outwo Fire rips through an Ohio motel, killing 3 who were trapped in a room 07/01/2026 02:27pm • WOOSTER, Ohio (AP) — A fire at a motel in Ohio trapped residents in a room, killing three people inside, a fire official said. Flames were shooting through the motel's roof when firefighters arrived at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, said Wooster Township Fire Chief Dallas Terrell. A motel employee 1 person dead, 4 others hurt after firebombs hurled at homes of Greece's governing party members 07/01/2026 02:24pm • THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — One person died and three others were injured in three pre-dawn firebomb attacks that struck the homes of members of Greece’s governing conservative New Democracy party, authorities said Wednesday. The attacks between 4 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. outside apartment buildings i