State

Pritzker says he hopes masks, vaccines can help avoid more restrictions as COVID-19 metrics increase

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at an event in Chicago on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.  Courtesy of BlueRoomStream

• Public health officials say Illinois will follow latest CDC masking guidelines

• Survey shows majority of college students plan to wear masks this fall

• Some lawmakers say ethics bill falls short

• Pritzker signs 4 laws to help the LGBTQ+ community

  • Pritzker signs law repealing criminal penalties for HIV transmission

• Illinois housing wage is more than $20 an hour

Nation

Prominent US Democratic Party activist convicted in 'party and play' deaths

Ed Buck, 56, arrives for a campaign rally in Hollywood, California, September 22, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

• Actor Bob Odenkirk collapses on set of 'Better Call Saul' - sources

Government, Politics, Campaigns  & Elections

Biden to tout tougher "Buy American" rules in visit to Mack Trucks plant

President Joe Biden delivers remarks to members of "the intelligence community workforce and its leadership" as he visits the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in nearby McLean, Virginia outside Washington, U.S., July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

• White House wants broadband funding in infrastructure bill -sources

  • Schumer says he hopes U.S. Senate can vote on bipartisan infrastructure plan by week's end

• Biden considers requiring COVID-19 vaccines for federal workers

• Biden to tap ex-ambassador Gitenstein as EU envoy

Police recount mayhem and 'attempted coup' in U.S. Capitol riot

 A Congressional hearing into the January 6 Capitol riot heard its first witnesses as four police officers described battling a mob of Trump supporters intent on stopping Congress from certifying the 2020 election results. This report produced by Zachary Goelman.

• U.S. Justice Dept won't defend Republican lawmaker in Capitol riot lawsuit

• McConnell strives to counter 'bad advice' to boost U.S. Republican vaccination rate

• Analysis-U.S. Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' favored religion and Trump

• California expands state healthcare to undocumented residents 50 and up

• Trump-backed candidate projected to lose U.S. House race in Texas-media

International

Turkey detains 200 Afghan migrants en route to Italy - coastguard

Afghan refugees rest in an old abandoned beach house as they wait to board a dinghy sailing off for the Greek island of Chios, while they try to travel from the western Turkish coastal town of Cesme, in Izmir province, Turkey, March 6, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

• Turkey seeks up to 15 years in jail for licence holder of coup-related app

• U.S., Russia hold nuclear talks in Geneva after summit push

• Risking China's anger, Blinken meets representative of Dalai Lama in India

• China starts blocking paid after-school tutoring by public-school teachers

• Canada's Trudeau to gamble on vaccinations, economic rebound in likely September snap vote

• Amid pandemic, Argentine couples ask 'can I bring a child into this world?'

• A source of strength and hope, baby George turns one with Beirut blast

• Peasant roots to president: the unlikely rise of Peru's Pedro Castillo

ODD & Extraordinary

• UK PM Johnson worried about his dog's 'romantic urges' in Downing Street

Science, Medicine, Technology & Environment

Desalination advances in California despite opponents pushing for alternatives

The Bolsa Chica wetlands are shown in Huntington Beach, California, U.S., June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake