In a decisive move on Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a temporary spending measure to stave off a looming government shutdown, ensuring stability in the weeks leading up to the pivotal midterm elections.

This provisional funding legislation is designed to keep federal operations running smoothly until December 4, effectively bypassing the September 30 funding cutoff and maintaining continuity beyond the November 3 electoral milestone.

Dubbed a continuing resolution, this legislative safeguard passed through the House with a narrow margin, recording a 220-205 vote count.

In a notable cross-party coalition, six Democrats—Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Don Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)—crossed the aisle to join forces with Republican colleagues in supporting the bill.

However, standing apart from the consensus, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) cast the sole Republican vote against the proposed measure.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is expected to put it up for a vote before senators take a month-long recess in August. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) blasted Democrats for voting against the short-term funding extension, arguing they view a potential government shutdown as politically favorable ahead of the crucial fall elections. 

“House Republicans today took the responsible step of passing a clean, short-term continuing resolution to fund our government through the November elections. Sadly, and predictably, 204 House Democrats voted against this measure,” Johnson wrote on X. 

 “Given that Democrats have already forced the two longest government shutdowns in American history this Congress, it’s clear they don’t care what kind of pain they inflict on the American people or the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who would be forced to work without pay,” he added. “While time remains until the end of the fiscal year, Republicans are under no illusions about the Democrat Party’s intentions heading into a consequential midterm election. 

“They apparently believe a painful government shutdown would help them politically. We hope they will come to their senses before the government shuts down, but if they don’t, then Democrats alone will own the chaos that results.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, noted that she opposed the continuing resolution because it would not carry over a provision agreed to during the last government funding battle that blocked funding for Border Patrol. 

The bill “does not continue that agreement,” DeLauro fumed, according to CBS News, “giving the Trump administration permission to use billions provided by this bill to fund Border Patrol without any substantial reforms to how that agency operates.”

“It’s a clear line in the sand that Democrats have drawn for months,” she added.

In Arizona’s 5th congressional district, Mark Lamb, who carries the endorsement of former President Trump, has emerged victorious in Tuesday’s primary election, overcoming claims of long-standing scandalous sexual conduct.

Lamb successfully turned back a challenge from Daniel Keenan, a homebuilder who ran a well-funded campaign, spending double the resources Lamb had at his disposal.

This political battle arose when the district’s current Republican representative, Andy Biggs, decided to pursue the governorship, leaving his seat up for grabs.

Amidst a backdrop of turbulence, Lamb, previously the Pinal County sheriff, faced a barrage of accusations, including claims of racially insensitive social media posts and allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of authority.

Lamb has consistently refuted all allegations against him.

Along with his wife Janel, he has been accused of being ‘open with a close circle of friends about their sexual activity and partners’ and allegedly shared nude and provocative photos with others, per a report by the Arizona Republic.

The pair had five children, and are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Lamb even authored a book on ‘traditional values in a modern world.’

Lamb’s attorneys have described the claims as ‘false’ and ‘baseless and harmful.’ A campaign spokesman also described the allegations to the New York Times as ‘lies’ and slanderous claims that come ‘from long-discredited individuals.’

Jillian Stannard, a longtime friend of the couple, alleged that Lamb facilitated an affair between his wife and Stannard’s husband, Matt Hilsabeck, one of Lamb’s closest friends and the chairman of his campaign committee. 

Stannard said the relationship led to the collapse of her marriage and claimed the couple involved them in a swinging circle.

Lamb has also been accused of exchanging flirtatious messages and explicit photos with several women, all of which he denies. 

One woman said he sent intimate photos urging her to ‘think about that being you.’ Another, a Colorado law enforcement officer, alleged the pair discussed meeting for sex after connecting through his campaign’s social media. 

She said Lamb told her: ‘I am totally okay with excessively flirty. Hahahah!! … You never have to worry about offending me.’

Former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould, now working on Lamb’s campaign, dismissed the claims earlier this year, saying the rumours had ‘circulated online for years’ and were ‘repeated without verification and often to only cause great reputational and political harm.’

During Lamb’s reelection campaign for sheriff, opponents circulated flyers labeling him a ‘sexual predator’ and ‘pervert’ over similar accusations.

The Arizona Republic’s report also revisited allegations involving Tammy Peacock, who claimed she had a years-long affair with Lamb before her death in a 2021 car crash. Peacock alleged Lamb threatened legal action after she publicly discussed their relationship, which he has denied.

According to reported messages, Lamb wrote, ‘Please just no more posting… I will call DPS,’ referencing the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and warned her that sharing intimate material could violate Arizona’s revenge porn law.

Lamb has repeatedly denied he and his wife are swingers, telling the Phoenix New Times earlier this year that he is with ‘one woman’—his wife. 

Lamb did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.

Lamb first gained national recognition during his time as Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, when his department was featured on A&E’s 60 Days In and Live PD.

In November, Lamb is expected to easily win the race and be elected to Congress. Arizona’s 5th congressional district is rated ‘solid Republican’ by the Cook Political Report with an R+10 partisan voter index.  

In a shocking turn of events in California’s tech hub, a Silicon Valley software developer and startup founder faces murder charges for a high-speed crash. Prosecutors allege that he drove his Tesla at over 140 mph, resulting in a deadly collision with stationary vehicles on a California highway. The catastrophic impact claimed the lives of a mother and her young daughter.

Zachary Chernicky, 31, finds himself at the center of a legal storm, arrested and charged with two counts of murder following the tragic incident on December 2, 2025, in San Jose, California.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has revealed critical data from the investigation. The information shows Chernicky’s Tesla was traveling at 142 mph just 15 seconds before the crash, decelerating to 126 mph five seconds prior and still hurtling at 102 mph when it collided with a stopped Lexus.

Facing these grave allegations, Chernicky was arraigned on Tuesday. The court has ordered him to be held without bail, and he is to make his next appearance on August 25.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the July 13 arrest followed a “comprehensive investigation” conducted in coordination with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, adding that it hopes the arrest “represents an important step toward the justice the victims’ family deserves as they continue to grieve.”

“The law says that it is murder when someone shoots into a crowd,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “When someone is driving 140 mph, then the driver is the shooter and their car is the bullet.”

The Lexus burst into flames after being struck, killing front-seat passenger Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her 1-year-old daughter, Lilliana. KTVU in San Francisco reported that Lilliana was strapped into a child safety seat behind Balistreri. Lilliana died just two weeks before her second birthday.

Authorities said Balistreri’s fiancé, who was driving the Lexus, survived the crash.

CHP said Chernicky’s Tesla also struck another Tesla and a Toyota. Three of the vehicles caught fire.

Prosecutors emphasized that the criminal case centers on Chernicky’s alleged speed — not the vehicle he was driving.

“I’ve seen some coverage of this incident that says things like, ‘Tesla crash kills a family,’ but that headline misses the point,” Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown said in remarks reported by KTVU. “The Tesla didn’t cause this crash. Chernicky did by driving over 140 miles per hour.”

A publicly available professional profile identifies Chernicky as the founder of CHURRDJ, a San Jose startup developing software for Pioneer DJ equipment. The profile states he previously worked in technical support roles at Apple, Gong, Glean and AI company Mistral AI.

News Media has reached out to Apple, Gong, Glean and Mistral AI to verify Chernicky’s employment history and request comment, and to the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s office.

CHP also used the case to warn motorists about the dangers of excessive speed.

“Do not speed. Speeding costs lives,” the agency said. “CHP will hold reckless drivers accountable.”

A heart-stopping event unfolded when a Ryanair passenger experienced the shock of being partially sucked from the aircraft after a window shattered shortly after takeoff. The flier, who found himself “half in and out of the plane,” has now shared his terrifying experience.

On July 10, Ljubisa Karović, aged 61, embarked on a Ryanair journey from Greece bound for Germany. The flight took an unexpected, frightful turn as Karović, seated at 11F, was almost pulled from the aircraft through the broken window at his window seat.

Reflecting on the dramatic incident, Karović, a Serbian businessman, confided in The Guardian. Although nearly 11 days have passed since this near-tragedy, it’s the tense seconds preceding the “chaos, the catastrophe” that haunt him during sleepless nights.

“What stays with me is the explosion,” Karović recounted. “It’s that startling noise before chaos erupts, the sound that echoes in my mind whenever I try to sleep.”

He continued, “I’ve been told I fainted twice and again inside the plane. My face briefly swelled and deformed due to the pressure and the ferocious rush of air.”

Although the father-of-two suffered serious burns and bruises on his right arm, which span from his armpit to chest, he is counting his lucky stars to be alive.

“I am lucky,” Karović told the publication. “I don’t remember much and my head and neck still hurt, but I am still alive.”

Doctors advised Karović that his recovery will be slow and he must be in a neck brace for the next six weeks, by which point they will determine if surgery is necessary.

“It could have been the seatbelt, the fact that I was still strapped in,” Karović said of his survival. “But maybe it is fate.”

“I believe in God and I thank him every day.”

But to Karović’s lawyer Vasilis Tsiaras, the 61-year-old, who was traveling to Germany for his brother’s birthday, is “alive by mistake.”

“Ljubisa dipped in and out of death,” Tsiaras said. “When the cabin lost pressure, he was hurled out of the window from his chest up and immediately lost consciousness.”

“At 15,000 feet he ended up with his head and right arm outside the aircraft as it moved at a speed of more than 600km/h [373 mph]. Imagine that!”

“He looked at death, that other world, and came back,” the Greek lawyer added.

Karović’s wife, Svetlana, was seated three rows behind him and rushed over to grab her husband, who was “half in and out of the plane” for around one-and-a-half to two minutes.

“None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers,” Svetlana said. 

“One man, I think he was an Albanian, was incredible. He did all he could to bring him in and then tried to block the window, first with a bag that was immediately sucked out and then with a suitcase, which worked.”

“We are eternally grateful to him,” she added.

While Ryanair has defended the performance of the on-board cabin crew, saying they did a “phenomenal job,” Tsiaras disputes this, according to The Guardian.

“We have no complaint with the pilot, who followed the safety protocols and dealt with the situation very well,” Tsiaras said, referring to the rapid descent pilots are forced to make in the event of a plane losing cabin pressure. 

“My client fainted two or three times, once outside the aircraft when he was partially sucked out of the window, and twice inside when, again, he lost consciousness. At no point did the cabin crew offer to help,” the lawyer alleged. 

Tsiaras argues that, citing witness testimony, “everyone agreed that the crew was in a state of shock, afraid that the plane was about to crash,” and that it was the passengers on board who “rallied” and provided assistance. 

However, in a statement to the outlet, Ryanair said that during the process of depressurization and rapid descent, all passengers and crew are required to stay seated and put on oxygen masks. 

“As soon as the aircraft descended to a safe altitude, our cabin crew attended to and assisted Mr Karović, moving him to alternate seats (beside his wife) and arranged for a doctor onboard to sit with them until the aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki,” and “arranged to have medical assistance standing by on landing in Thessaloniki.”

According to the outlet, Karović’s son, who made the ticket booking on behalf of his father, has been contacted by Ryanair, but neither Karović nor his wife have been contacted or received any support or assistance from the budget airline. 

“There are images that come back, the noise of the explosion, the chaos, but I want to recover,”  Karović said.

“And, yes, there should be compensation too. Not only emails that have focused on rebooking the flight.”

The US National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday that it will be taking over an investigation into the terrifying incident under Greece’s direction.

In a dramatic conclusion to a highly publicized feud that traversed different countries and lingered for years, Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has emerged victorious, being cleared of defamation claims made by her co-star via a series of social media posts.

Rebel Wilson, renowned for her role in the Pitch Perfect series, faced legal action from 28-year-old Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes. MacInnes took center stage in Wilson’s inaugural directorial effort, The Deb.

MacInnes alleged that Wilson’s social media commentary painted her in a misleading light, suggesting she was dishonest and compromised her integrity by retracting a sexual harassment complaint to boost her career prospects.

The controversial posts insinuated that MacInnes had confided in Wilson about feeling uneasy when the film’s co-producer, Amanda Ghost, proposed bathing together. It was later alleged she backtracked on these comments.

Firmly rebutting these claims, MacInnes maintained she never lodged nor withdrew a complaint, explaining that sharing a swimwear-clad bath with Ghost in September 2023 had been purely to assist Ghost during a medical incident, without any discomfort.

Two months after the conclusion of the hotly contested court fight in the Federal Court, Justice Elizabeth Raper found in favour of Wilson.

‘MacInnes has failed to establish that the publications have caused or were likely to cause serious harm,’ she said on Wednesday.

Justice Raper said MacInnes must pay Wilson’s legal costs following the decision. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Wilson – who did not attend court for the judgement – published a heartfelt statement to social media.

‘Thank you to everyone who has supported me,’ she said.  

‘I’m grateful this chapter has reached its conclusion and I’m looking forward to getting back to what I love most, my family and my work. 

‘Thank you to the Judge and the Australian legal system who I have the utmost respect for.’

Wilson said the legal disruption surrounding her directorial debut with The Deb has been ‘incredibly difficult’.

‘This process has taught me a lot. It has tested me, but it has also reinforced something I’ve always believed,’ she said, adding that she is proud to continue making films.

‘I want to live my life standing up for what I believe is right, while continuing to create work that brings people joy.’

MacInnes’ barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC accused Wilson of a ‘complete revision of history’ littered with dishonesty during her emphatic closing address in May.

‘She is a fantastical liar who has made up terrible, terrible allegations about multiple people and her own witnesses have discredited her,’ she said.

‘We say Ms Wilson cannot be believed on anything she has said.’

But Wilson repeatedly denied accusations she fabricated the complaint or raised it for leverage during disputes with her co-producers over the film’s budget and writing credit.

‘I am known as a truth-teller,’ she declared during the hearing.

That was what she had been doing when she posted the stories to her 11 million followers, the Bridesmaids star said.

‘I don’t classify it as an attack, I classify it as telling the truth,’ she told the court.

Her barrister David Sibtain SC said his client had ‘no motive to lie’ about something that would endanger her film by driving a wedge between her lead actor and a producer.

Instead, Mr Sibtain accused MacInnes of dishonestly withdrawing the complaint about Ms Ghost to ensure her relationship with the producer continued to be beneficial. 

He argued MacInnes had received a lead role in a stage production and a six-figure record deal that were linked to Ms Ghost, and wanted to ensure she continued to advance her career. 

‘Ms MacInnes is someone who gave false evidence under oath,’ he said.

‘(She) has suffered no harm, let alone serious harm.’

The young actor sought aggravated damages for the harm allegedly wrought by the posts, including anxiety, a period without work.

Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills is under investigation by the Justice Department, sources close to the matter have confirmed. This development marks another chapter in the series of challenges Mills has faced recently.

Insights from these sources suggest the inquiry is partly centered around Mills’ financial dealings. Repeated attempts for a statement from Mills’ office were met with silence, as they declined to comment to ABC News.

Initial reports of the investigation by MS NOW brought this issue to light.

As of now, the scope and specifics of the investigation remain shrouded in mystery, leaving officials and the public alike seeking answers.

Mills, who captured the Florida 7th District House seat in 2022 and secured his position in 2024, holds roles on both the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees. His tenure has been marked by both ambition and scrutiny.

Last November, the House Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to examine allegations that Mills violated campaign finance laws and engaged in sexual misconduct and dating violence.

Regarding allegations of sexual misconduct, Mills issued a statement last year, before the ethics committee probe was lauched, stating in part: “These claims are false and misrepresent the nature of my interactions,” and he accused a former Florida primary opponent of “weaponizing the legal system to launch a political attack against the man who beat him.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.