This Week in the News Part 2

In lottery news, Powerball is expanding internationally for the first time, allowing players in the United Kingdom to participate in the same U.S. jackpot beginning with tonight’s drawing. Source: The New York Post

In Oklahoma politics, the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association has officially endorsed Mike Mazzei for governor and Dr. James Taylor for state superintendent. Source: Muskogee Politics

In space news, a new NASA-commissioned survey found that nearly 70% of Americans support returning astronauts to the Moon. Source: ABAB News

In cultural news, a new survey found that 30% of Americans admit to shoplifting this year, up from 24% in 2024. Most respondents cited inflation and financial strain as the primary reasons. Source CBS News

In movie news, Days of Thunder 2 is officially in development, with Tom Cruise set to return and Jonathan Levine attached to direct. Source: Deadline

In food safety news, nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs produced by Texas farms have been recalled because of a potential Salmonella contamination risk. Source: WFAA

In South Carolina politics, former Governor Mark Sanford has officially announced his candidacy in the Republican primary special election for the U.S. Senate. Source: Politico

In global health news, the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the current Ebola outbreak could become the worst in world history if it is not contained. Source: Reuters

In restaurant news, Taco Bell has unveiled new $1 lettuce-free Enchiritos and Nacho Fries as it works to rebuild customer confidence following the Cyclospora outbreak. Source: Fox News

In weather news, France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths in June due to the ongoing heat wave. Source: NBC News

In movie news, director Brad Bird says he has no plans to age up the Parr family in Incredibles 3, saying the characters work best at their current ages. Source: The Direct

In legal news, a federal court has denied a preliminary injunction that sought to halt Tennessee’s newly drawn congressional maps. Source: Action News 5

In international legal news, a federal judge has scheduled the criminal trial of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to begin in June 2027. Source: CNN

In NASCAR news, Alex Bowman plans to retire from full-time competition following the 2027 season but will return next year to drive Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Chevrolet. Source: Fox News

In fiscal news, the U.S. national debt has reached a new record of $39.6 trillion. Source: Yahoo Finance 

In movie news, the first trailer for Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol starring Johnny Depp has been released. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 13, 2026. Source: YouTube

In restaurant news, Domino’s Pizza has unveiled its new S’mores Lava Cake dessert, which will be available nationwide beginning July 27. Source: AL.com

In prison news, Sean Combs has been placed in solitary confinement after becoming involved in a fight with another inmate at a federal prison in New Jersey. Source: TMZ

In NBA news, LeBron James has signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Source: ESPN

In defense news, the Selective Service System is developing a computer simulation to test scenarios for a potential national military mobilization. Source: The Military Times

In cybersecurity news, Chick-fil-A is urging customers to reset their passwords after hackers accessed certain Chick-fil-A One accounts using stolen login credentials. Source: Fox News

In broadcasting news, former NFL quarterback and CBS analyst Tony Romo was arrested overnight in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while under the influence. Source: ESPN

In Democratic Party news, the Democratic National Committee voted to make South Carolina the first early-voting state in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary calendar. Source: Politico

In congressional news, Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett has introduced legislation that would prohibit federal agencies from purchasing or funding Flock camera systems. Source: Yahoo

In technology policy news, Vietnam is planning to require social media platforms to prevent users under the age of 16 from posting content, commenting, or reacting to posts. Source: The Times of India

In business news, the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery has officially been placed on hold until June 1, 2027, or until the courts rule on the lawsuits challenging the deal. Source: Fox Business

In legal news, former President Joe Biden has officially withdrawn his lawsuit seeking to block the release of audio recordings related to the classified documents investigation. Source: PBS

In higher education news, Arizona State University is now offering a degree program focused on becoming a social media influencer. Students will be required to build an online following and demonstrate audience growth to graduate. Source: Forbes

In health news, investigators now believe parsley and cilantro may be linked to the Cyclospora outbreak in North Carolina. Source: CBS News

In agriculture news, the United States plans to resume cattle imports from Mexico following the Screwworm outbreak. Source: The Texas Tribune

In sports business news, WNBA star Sophie Cunningham sold out her player-exclusive Adidas shoe online in less than an hour after going viral earlier this week. Source: Fox News

In public health news, the Cyclospora outbreak has expanded into four additional states. Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania have now joined Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia in reporting cases. Source: The CDC

In women’s sports news, Sophie Cunningham reaffirmed her position that biological males should not compete in women’s sports, saying, “I said what I said. I think it’s common sense. I think it’s really important to protect young girls in locker rooms and in sports.” Source: The Los Angeles Times 

Finally, in Energy News, the Southwest Power Pool has issued an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3, placing portions of 14 states at risk of rolling blackouts as electricity demand continues to rise. Source: Reuters

Thank you, everyone, for reading this news brief. I hope you learned something and that you will look forward to reading it next week. God Bless.