The nation is split between extreme weather extremes on July 24 — triple-digit heat and expanding wildfire complexes dominate the West and Upper Midwest, with Minnesota’s July Lightning Complex at over 70,000 acres and Oregon’s Akawa Butte Fire declared the nation’s top priority, while Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana and pushes flash flood risks across the Carolinas and Texas is recovering from deadly South Texas flooding. Politically, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee vote to start the 2028 primary in South Carolina again dominates headlines from Iowa to New Hampshire, and election integrity stories lead in Alaska, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Other major stories include a mass-fatality house fire investigation in Michigan, the Apalachee High School shooter guilty plea in Georgia, and a landmark LeBron James to Philadelphia signing announcement in Pennsylvania.
Top Real News by State — July 24, 2026:
- Alabama: 15 arrested in Shelby County human trafficking sting operation conducted July 23-24; Alabama football projected 6th in SEC preseason poll at SEC Media Days.
- Alaska: Division of Elections mails citizenship verification letters to 3,048 voters ahead of Aug 18 primaries — far above normal 200; voters moved to inactive but can cast provisional ballots.
- Arizona: Dangerous 110+ degree heat ridge returns July 24-26 after monsoon; SR 88 / Apache Trail segment reopens after monsoon damage.
- Arkansas: State legislative activity continues; most-covered statewide feature this week is Arkansas ranked #1 for religious freedom with 89.2% rating by First Liberty Institute.
- California: 1 dead, 4 injured in fiery head-on crash near Desert Hot Springs July 23; SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 17-51 scheduled to launch from Vandenberg SFB window 7-11 a.m. PT July 24.
- Colorado: Body found at retaining ponds at Harmony and Ziegler Roads in southeast Fort Collins early July 24; coroner investigation, no public threat.
- Connecticut: New “click to cancel” subscription law amendments took effect July 1 — requiring renewal reminders and easy cancellation — in enforcement spotlight July 24.
- Delaware: Protesters briefly shut down I-95 in Wilmington evening of July 24 after death of 19-year-old Kadir Skinner in police-involved shooting; Division of Small Business launches listening tours.
- Florida: Port St. Lucie opens $30 million, 54,000 sq ft police training facility July 24; Palm Beach cancels living shoreline project after DeSantis vetoed $262,500 grant.
- Georgia: Colt Gray, Apalachee High School shooter in 2024 Winder shooting that killed 4, pleads guilty to all 55 counts on July 24.
- Hawaii: Hurricane Fausto — Category 2, 100-105 mph — forecast track raising swell concerns for Hawaii next week, too early for direct impact call.
- Idaho: In-N-Out opens 4th Idaho location in Twin Falls July 24, seating 100+, 90 employees at $17.50/hr starting wage.
- Illinois: Two found shot dead inside vehicle on University of Chicago campus near 5900 block S. Ellis July 24; FDA salmonella egg recall includes Illinois among 17 states.
- Indiana: Gov. Mike Braun orders full review of Miami Correctional Facility after IndyStar investigation of medical backlogs and staffing shortages where ICE detainees housed; announcement July 24.
- Iowa: DNC Rules Committee votes July 24 to bypass Iowa for 2028, starting again in South Carolina; Iowa Democratic Chair calls it “slap in the face.”
- Kansas: Former Manhattan priest Fr. Ryan McCandless arrested July 22 by KBI on alleged child sex crimes; Topeka police fatal shooting of knife-wielding woman July 23.
- Kentucky: Federal judge dismisses DOJ suit seeking unredacted voter rolls; DOJ files appeal to 6th Circuit July 24. Cyclosporiasis cases rise to 468 statewide.
- Louisiana: Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in St. Bernard Parish with 45 mph winds, weakening, sparing New Orleans worst impacts.
- Maine: Democrats consolidate behind Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate race after delegate sweep ahead of July 25 convention; Bangor Daily News debate canceled.
- Maryland: Measles total rises to 11 with 2 new Southern Maryland cases tied to travel to outbreak area; major water main break in Pikesville July 24.
- Massachusetts: Gov. Maura Healey unveils new renderings for replacement Sagamore Bridge with bike/ped access, signs sexual assault survivor protections, deploys 10-person wildfire crew to Minnesota July 24.
- Michigan: 8 dead — 2 adults, 6 children — in suspicious Grand Haven Township house fire on Riverside Trail under investigation July 24; Gordie Howe International Bridge ceremony held, opens July 27.
- Minnesota: July Lightning wildfire complex burns 70,000+ acres in BWCA; officials plan partial reopening of entry points July 27-30; state of emergency remains.
- Mississippi: Death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells on Horn Island July 4 trip to go to grand jury; WJTV Jackson ends 71-year CBS affiliation moving to CW Aug 1 confirmed July 24.
- Missouri: Missouri Task Force 1 returning July 25 from Texas flood deployment; early voting surge ahead of Amendment 4 and 5 primaries.
- Montana: Montana State Fair opens July 24-Aug 1 in Great Falls at ExpoPark; Extreme Heat Watch issued through July 27.
- Nebraska: Gov. Pillen nominates 28 census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0; state faces dual budget deficits heading to January session; Tom Osborne voted into Nebraska Hall of Fame.
- Nevada: Statewide Daily Wildfire Report July 24 warns of elevated fire risk from drought and triple-digit heat; 3.6 magnitude quake near Yerington July 22.
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Democrats vow to hold first 2028 primary despite DNC panel advancing South Carolina; polling shows Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading NH 2028 primary field at 22%.
- New Jersey: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says software flaw allowed up to 6,600 non-citizens to register to vote in 2023-2024, fewer than 400 voted; contractor IDEMIA denies glitch July 23-24.
- New Mexico: Flash flood threats continue after recent flooding; state announces $9.9M in child tax credits and $83M in federal energy infrastructure grants July 23.
- New York: Upper West Side stabbing suspect faces hate crime and attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing Asian man and Jewish man while yelling “Allahu Akbar” — both stable.
- North Carolina: Level 3 of 4 flash flood risk from Bertha moisture along coast Wilmington to Charleston; Asheville breaks 1908 rainfall record after July 23 storms.
- North Dakota: Men file switched-at-birth lawsuit alleging they were swapped at Unity Medical Center Jan 26, 1988 — only two babies born that day.
- Ohio: CDC disease detectives heading to Ohio as cyclosporiasis outbreak hits 2,576 cases statewide, linked to contaminated lettuce.
- Oklahoma: State Rep. Danny Williams faces House Rules hearing and possible expulsion over alleged improper behavior toward House employee; notice sent July 23.
- Oregon: Sisters fire — Akawa Butte Fire at 27,000 acres, 5% containment — declared nation’s highest priority fire by Gov. Kotek July 24 briefing; 30 blazes burning statewide.
- Pennsylvania: LeBron James announces 2-year deal signing with Philadelphia 76ers after 8 seasons with Lakers; Gov. Shapiro declares July 24 LeBron James Day.
- Rhode Island: Gov. McKee declares state of emergency July 23 over 15% RI Energy rate hike proposal; Secretary of State proposes partial voter roll audit July 24 after NJ glitch.
- South Carolina: DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee votes 26-19 July 24 to make South Carolina first state in 2028 presidential primary calendar, highlighting Black voters’ role.
- South Dakota: Becomes 6th state to receive “Returning Education to the States” waiver July 24, allowing consolidation of $19M+ federal funds through 2029.
- Tennessee: Nashville secures 300 acres to expand Beaman Park to 2,370+ acres in $3.6M deal announced July 24 by Mayor Freddie O’Connell.
- Texas: Gov. Abbott surveys South Texas flooding July 24 — 3 deaths confirmed in 2026 floods, floodwaters moving downstream from Hill Country; SpaceX Starship Flight 13 set for Starbase no earlier than 6:51 p.m. July 24.
- Utah: Pioneer Day state holiday July 24 — Utah’s first museum dedicated to Utah art opens free at historic B’nai Israel Temple; U.S. District Court closed.
- Vermont: State identifies 25 communities for federal Opportunity Zone designation with public comment deadline July 24 including Barre, Burlington, Brattleboro.
- Virginia: Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives drought water conservation update at Smith Mountain Lake July 24 as Roanoke region recommended for emergency status; Data Center Alley briefly shed 3 gigawatts.
- Washington: Kenmore Air DHC-3 Otter seaplane with 11 aboard makes emergency landing and catches fire near Sucia Island July 23; Coast Guard confirms all 11 rescued July 24.
- West Virginia: Recovery mission underway after deadly July 21 flash flooding killed 2; 352 National Guard deployed, 276 tons debris removed in Upshur and Lewis counties as of July 24.
- Wisconsin: Protests and vigil in Madison July 23-24 after police fatally shoot homeless man Corey Ruiz during arrest attempt; video circulates, no body-cam footage.
- Wyoming: Cheyenne Frontier Days peak — World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo runs July 17-26 with rodeo July 24 and HARDY headlining Frontier Nights; gubernatorial poll shows Eric Barlow leading.
