Month: July 2025

At least three people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting early Monday in South Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the shooting occurred on the 1500 block of South 27th Street just before 1 a.m, adding that that a group of individuals fired randomly just before 1 a.m. EDT near the intersection of Etting Dickinson streets in South Philadelphia.

According to officials, nine victims were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and three others were taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. One additional victim walked into the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Pavilion Campus. Bethel said at least eight of the victims were taken by police; and added that among the injured shooting victims, two of them were juveniles and both are expected to survive.

Bethel said he had heard about 40 people may have been in the area when the shooting started, and said during a press conference: “You know, this is coward stuff. This is, you know, you see the size of this block. I mean, just individuals just shooting randomly into houses, into cars, children out here. I mean, this is coward, wanna-be thug stuff .. There was a large crowd out here. Clearly, there was something going on, on the block. You could see that. .. We believe there was probably an exchange of gunfire, but who was exchanging, we will be going through that process now.”

Police believe there may have been a switch, which makes a gun automatic, was involved in the shooting. Nearly 140 pieces of ballistic evidence were found at the scene, according to Commissioner Bethel.  One person with a weapon was taken into custody, their exact involvement is unknown at the time; police are working to apprehend others that may have been involved the incident.

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President Donald Trump announced on Monday that at least seven countries are set to face steep tariffs on their imports, to begin on Aug. 1st.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump shared screenshots of form letters dictating new tariff rates to the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar. Goods imported to the U.S. from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are now set to face 25% tariffs, while South African goods will be subject to a 30% U.S. tariff, and imports from Laos and Myanmar will face a 40% duty.

Trump had imposed a Wednesday deadline for nations to negotiate better trade deals; on April 2, he announced 10% across-the-board baseline tariffs on 90 trading partners and harsher ones for the worst offenders. However just one week later, he pushed the deadline back until July 9 for the reciprocal duties.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that 14 letters will be sent out Monday, and confirmed that Trump would sign an executive order to delay the Wednesday deadline until Aug. 1.

USA Today reported that in addition to Japan and South Korea, other nations are bracing for higher tariffs, including the 27 countries in the European Union – with as many as 100 letters potentially being sent out to nations.

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A catastrophic flash flood has claimed the lives of over 80 people in central Texas, as heavy rains battered the Hill Country region causing a sudden surge of of 20-26 feet of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, leading to widespread damage and road washouts – leaving to a wave of emergency rescues.

The death toll rose across six counties as of Sunday evening. In Kerr County, officials reported 68 deaths — those of 40 adults and 28 children. Officials said 10 children are still missing from Camp Mystic.

Governor Greg Abbott noted that some of those rescued had been clinging to tree branches to avoid being swept away. Abbott also revealed that he had signed an amended federal disaster declaration to include additional counties impacted by the severe weather.

Secretary Noem, present at the briefing, said President Trump had expressed his intention to support the updated declaration. Texas Senator Ted Cruz shared on social media: “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic. Today, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump. Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs. ”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly also spoke during the briefing, revealing that his own property had been ravaged by the floodwaters and that he narrowly made it home on Friday. Kelly shared that he had visited a local funeral home and witnessed the overwhelming toll firsthand. He later toured the devastation by helicopter alongside Senator John Cornyn and Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told reporters Friday that the Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour. He said there had been no rainfall in the area until shortly before the flash flood hit, and emergency alerts were sent out early Friday morning between 4 and 5 a.m.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday night, President Trump described the flooding as a “terrible thing.” On Saturday, he said his administration was actively working alongside Texas state and local officials to provide relief. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday. Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly. Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

President Donald Trump later announced he had signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County; which allows first responders to have access to the resources they need as they continue to work on search and recovery efforts. The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground in the region to provide assistance.

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