Recent reports reveal that New York City’s newly unveiled budget omits a proposed expansion for the police department’s workforce, which had been previously considered.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, stated, “I have been engaging with all agency heads to explore saving strategies, and through discussions with Commissioner Tisch, we have found ways to maintain the NYPD’s authorized staff count at 35,000. This achieves our crime-fighting objectives while rolling out the new initiatives announced earlier this year.”

The mayor’s office received inquiries from News Media on Wednesday.

In a statement to News Media on Wednesday, the NYPD commented, “The city’s financial difficulties are well-known, and the mayor has requested that every department leader look for efficiencies. Commissioner Tisch, who has successfully led three city agencies in her career, has a commendable record of improving efficiency, modernizing operations, and achieving results, even with tight budgets. Currently, the department operates effectively with our budgeted staffing, continuously reducing crime rates monthly. Our current headcount and hiring plan offer the necessary flexibility to maintain this progress throughout the next fiscal year.”

The New York City Democratic Socialists of America had spoken out against the prospect of an increase earlier this month.

Part of a statement posted on the left-wing group’s X profile, which appeared to also have been joined by several other groups, declared, “We are calling on Mayor Mamdani to reverse this proposed expansion of the NYPD and invest the money in community safety programs instead.”

The NYC-DSA reposted City Council member Tiffany Cabán’s statement hailing the news about the budget on Tuesday.

“I am proud too have worked closely with the Mayor and public safety advocates to ensure there was no increase to the NYPD’s headcount in this budget,” Cabán said. “Every dollar we spend on policing and incarceration means money we can’t spend on housing, mental health care, substance use treatment, and economic stability: the proven policies that actually keep our communities healthy and safe.”

“This budget is an important check on the failed policy of broken windows policing and will allow us to build a public safety infrastructure rooted in care, not punishment and incarceration. And we will keep building on it,” she added.

Exciting details about what might be the most open secret in the entertainment world are beginning to emerge, as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get ready to exchange vows.

Three officers stationed at Madison Square Garden in New York City have confirmed to the Daily Mail that this famous venue is set to host a rehearsal dinner Thursday evening, with the wedding taking place the next day.

According to a source, the rehearsal dinner invites specify ‘cocktail attire’ and will be an intimate affair for family and close friends at the cozier Infosys Theater within MSG.

The New York Police Department has given orders for officers to oversee the ‘Taylor Swift wedding rehearsal,’ beginning at 1 PM on Thursday.

Regarding Friday’s festivities in the main arena, the source mentioned that since ‘Travis is not religious and Taylor doesn’t appear to be either,’ a civil ceremony is expected.

Two separate deployments of cops scheduled to guard Friday’s revelries will report to MSG at 2.45pm ET, with a third deployment following 30 minutes later. 

That may suggest that 3.15pm is when the busiest or most crucial part of Friday’s ceremony will be taking place.

A total of 139 officers have been assigned to oversee the monster bash, including five lieutenants and 14 sergeants, our sources said. Over 1,000 guests are expected to attend Friday, with celebrations running late into the early hours.

Security posts around MSG have already been erected and special ‘cooling stations’ have been set up to allow cops periods of air-conditioned respite from the ferocious 100F heat that is set to bake Manhattan this holiday weekend.

Around fifteen National Guardsmen were seen outside a VIP entrance to MSG on Wednesday, with members of Swift’s own security team also present. 

Truckloads of equipment have been arriving at all hours in recent days. On Tuesday, ‘carpenters’ in t-shirts bearing the logo of Swift’s 2011 Speak Now world tour were photographed driving forklift trucks, sending fans into a frenzy.

Then on Wednesday, two enormous semis were carefully parked to block the view of one entrance to the Garden. Another loading dock has been covered by black tarp.

Meanwhile, boxes of lobster – from Maine – have been wheeled inside, suggesting Swift will generously splurge some of her $2billion fortune to feed her guests. A Krispy Kreme van was also seen in the area, though it should be noted that the donut chain has a store inside nearby Penn Station.

Trees and other shrubbery, as well a sewing machine, have also been hauled into MSG.

It has been suggested that a life-sized ‘castle’ is being built inside the arena, amid speculation Swift is recreating the fairytale setting of her 2008 Love Story music video, which saw the singer transformed as a medieval princess awaiting her suitor.

One workman told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s incredible inside.’

One female cop who spoke to the Daily Mail said, ‘it’s so not like her,’ of the ostentatious wedding.

Indeed, Swift’s exertion of her famous control-freakery over an extremely public venue that can hold 22,000 people – and all over the July 4 weekend – has raised eyebrows in some quarters.

In one particularly farcical moment, exclusive Daily Mail footage captured workers carefully rolling out a plush red carpet outside the venue Tuesday, only for a visibly flustered aide to rush over moments later and order it be removed. 

As for the happy couple, the singer’s private jet landed at Morristown Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, 30 miles from her $50million Tribeca townhouse.

It is unclear if Swift was on board, but a convoy of six cars arrived to meet the plane.

Kelce, meanwhile, was later filmed out on a solo run near her home. 

Public reaction on the streets of New York City has been mixed. ‘Swiftie’ Breanna Spencer, 26, traveled to MSG from her home in Queens at 6.30am on Wednesday to soak up the atmosphere.

‘I’m sure she’s going to turn it [MSG] into something really spectacular,’ Spencer said. ‘I’m still hoping part of this will involve fans as well.’ 

But some commuters used to battling the arena’s neighboring Penn Station were horrified at the chaos the wedding will no doubt unleash during rush hour the evening before the July 4 holiday weekend.

‘It’s a sh**show,’ one commuter trying to get home to New Jersey told the Daily Mail, adding that the influx of World Cup fans to the city was already bad enough.

‘And on top of this crap we have to deal with this Taylor Swift stuff.

‘I can’t imagine anything worse than being married in the heat in this city on the holiday weekend and amid the World Cup and everything else. What was she thinking?’ 

Business owners in the highly congested MSG area have also voiced concerns over a potential loss of revenue due to heighted security restrictions. A permit has been filed to close the streets surrounding MSG in Midtown Manhattan from Thursday through midday on Saturday.

An insider told NBC News that 1,100 guests have RSVP’d and are expected to attend Swift’s July 3 wedding.

Sources previously claimed to the Daily Mail that guests – including family and close friends – were required to sign an NDA before receiving any information about the wedding. 

For added protection, Swift and Kelce have also individually watermarked each invitation using guests’ first and last names repeatedly across the design, making any leaked invite instantly traceable, say TMZ.

Details of Swift’s wedding dress are, of course, being kept under lock and key. But one recent report had it that the pop star had commissioned at least five different custom gowns to wear over the course of the celebrations. 

Designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of the New York-based brand Monse are though to be included in the running. The duo were recently co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta until their exit in February.

In April, an insider told the Daily Mail that Swift’s wedding dress could be inspired by the gown Elizabeth Taylor wore for her 1950 wedding to Conrad Hilton.

Swift has a song titled Elizabeth Taylor on her most recent album, The Life of a Showgirl.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) announced Tuesday that an innovative strategy involving bait bikes led to the arrest of more than 34 individuals in Oregon. This initiative aims to combat theft by catching those targeting stolen property.

In mid-April 2026, the operation began by deploying bikes equipped with special tracking devices in various sites around Aloha, a community located just west of Portland. This proactive measure was designed to address the rise in theft cases in the area.

Authorities have hailed the approach as remarkably effective. In less than three months, the bait bikes were stolen multiple times, but deputies were able to swiftly recover them and make numerous arrests. The sheriff’s office confirmed in a statement that each theft of these specially equipped bikes led quickly to apprehensions.

“The bait bike has been repeatedly stolen and, shortly after, recovered by deputies, leading to arrests,” the sheriff’s department reported, highlighting the success of the operation in both preventing theft and bringing perpetrators to justice.

The program reportedly used traditional mountain bikes equipped with concealed GPS tracking devices and alarms, which were placed in high-traffic areas where thefts were more likely to occur. 

Graveyard deputies monitored the bikes during their overnight shifts, allowing them to quickly respond when the bait bikes were taken. 

“When the bike is taken, the alarm notifies the deputies monitoring the beacon, and they move in to recover the stolen bike,” the sheriff’s office said. 

AMERICAN DRIVERS WARNED ABOUT RED FLAGS TO AVOID ‘PREDATORY TOWING’ TARGETING MOTORISTS ACROSS US

Nearly three dozen people have been arrested through the operation, with several suspects allegedly found to have outstanding arrest warrants or in possession of controlled substances.

WCSO encouraged bicycle owners to secure their bikes in safe locations and keep records of their serial numbers to assist deputies investigating thefts.

“Sheriff’s Office deputies continue to look for ways to keep Washington County safe and embrace technology as a tool to improve public safety,” WCSO said. 

Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 when appropriate.

On Wednesday afternoon, President Trump caused a stir with a lighthearted comment about sharing a ‘threesome’ moment with his adult sons. His jest suggested they’d all merit the Congressional Medal of Honor together.

Reflecting on his sons seated nearby, Trump quipped that he might award himself and one of his sons the prestigious medal, humorously musing on which son might receive it. This was said as he noted technical issues with his teleprompters.

These comments occurred during the President’s visit to North Dakota, where he attended the opening ceremony of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Set to welcome visitors officially on Independence Day, the library was the backdrop for Trump’s address.

Amid his discussion on the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and the iconic duo of Arthur and Douglas MacArthur—both recipients of the nation’s top military honor—Trump shifted the spotlight to his family within the audience.

Trump’s remarks included a nod to genetics, as he praised the historical significance of the Roosevelt and MacArthur families. He then addressed his own sons with a playful, spontaneous narrative.

‘I’ll get one for taking on Russia, Russia, Russia or something. We’ll have a third pair. No, I’m only kidding… this is is dangerous to say because the fake news is up there. They’re all over the place. When I joke, I always, I learned earlier, don’t be sarcastic in politics.’

The remarks drew laughter from the crowd, though his unusual use of the word ‘threesome’ to describe a trio of family medal recipients immediately sparked chatter. 

During the ribbon-cutting festivities at the brand-new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Trump lavished praise on the 26th President, describing him as ‘a man who I have long admired,’ particularly for his monumental achievement in completing the Panama Canal.

The historical reflection quickly veered into a geopolitical warning, however, as Trump fired off an impromptu jab at Beijing.

‘Now China is trying to take over the Panama Canal, and we’re not going to let that happen. OK, and that was not part of the script, because I don’t really have a script,’ Trump told the crowd.

The 47th President also said that he had already discussed the iconic Central American waterway directly with Roosevelt himself – by conversing with the high-tech artificial intelligence hologram of the late leader featured inside the state-of-the-art facility.

Shifting gears to his upcoming Independence Day plans, Trump teased his highly anticipated July 4th address on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Brushing off the sweltering heat wave set to bake the capital, he promised an endurance test.

‘By the way, on July 4th it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go and I’m going to make a really long speech, just to show that I can do anything,’ Trump boasted.

He compared the upcoming summer scorcher to his 80th birthday celebrations just weeks earlier on June 14, noting that a UFC fight hosted on the White House South Lawn went ahead victoriously despite gloomy forecasts threatening rain in the hours leading up to the main event.

The North Dakota trip was already a highly anticipated and historic event for the administration, serving as the inaugural flight of the newly minted Air Force One jet.

The state-of-the-art aircraft, gifted to the United States by Qatar, was rolled out as part of the administration’s ongoing, grand celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

The new Roosevelt facility is expected to draw massive crowds when it formally throws open its doors on July 4th, perfectly timing the 26th President’s American legacy with the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative has announced that a critical trade agreement with Mexico and Canada will not be renewed.

The deadline was July 1 for the three nations to choose whether to prolong the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) through 2042. With the Trump administration opting not to extend, the USMCA will now remain active but under annual assessments until 2036, at which point it will expire unless a new extension agreement is made.

Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, stated, “The United States will continue discussions with Mexico and Canada to address the agreement’s weaknesses and our trade imbalances with these nations. However, the agreement will stay in effect until these concerns are resolved or until its eventual termination.”

Focus on the U.S. trade deficit

President Trump formally enacted the USMCA in 2020, superseding the former 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

The USMCA was designed to diminish trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the goal of generating American jobs and boosting the manufacturing sector. Among its provisions, the deal imposed stricter regulations on the automotive sector, mandating that 75% of vehicle components be manufactured within North America to bypass import duties.

At an event in Michigan in 2020, Mr. Trump described the pact as the “fairest, most balanced and beneficial trade agreement we have ever signed into law.” But he has since soured on the deal. Speaking to reporters in June, Mr. Trump said the U.S. would “do better as a country” without the agreement.

The USMCA has failed to ease the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico, a senior Trump administration official told reporters. “We believe that the USMCA does not operate to control the deficit like the president intended,” the person said.

According to the Trade Representative’s office, the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico was nearly $197 billion in 2025, while the trade gap with Canada was over $46 billion.

U.S. officials are scheduled to meet with Mexico represenatatives the week of July 20 for another round of bilateral negotiations. During those talks, the two countries will discuss rules of origin, intellectual property and concerns surrounding Mexico’s compliance with labor obligations, the senior administration official said.

The official did not discuss specific plans to meet with Canada, but said, “We will continue our discussions with our Canadian partners.”

Talks could take years

The Trump administration could decide to withdraw from the USMCA altogether before it expires in 10 years, though that decision will likely depend on how negotiations unfold. Those talks could drag on for years, according to trade experts.

The senior administration official expressed interest in resolving the major sticking points of the trade deal quickly, adding that Mr. Trump could reach an agreement with Mexico and Canada to alter their trade pact before his term expires in 2028.

“The president remains skeptical of this, but I think it’s in the interest of our country to keep negotiating,” the person added.

The impact of a U.S. withdrawal from the USMCA would depend on whether any bilateral trade agreements replaced the pact, according to trade experts. 

“Absent bilateral deals, growth would slow in both Canada and Mexico as the tariff exemption, which has kept both countries’ external sectors afloat over the past year, was removed,” economists with investment advisory firm Capital Economics said in a report.

“But given the average tariff rate would only rise to 10%, rather than the much higher rates previously threatened under IEEPA, recessions could be avoided,” they added, referring to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 

Edited by

Alain Sherter