CBS News

A Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter collided midair with a Cessna 150 near Carlisle Airport on Wednesday evening, with both aircraft crashing. Two people were aboard the helicopter while the number aboard the plane remains unknown. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Pentagon delivered notices of separation on Friday to Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and Middle East reporter Lara Korte. Slavin stated the action followed his CBS interview objecting to potential censorship and cited statutory requirements for editorial independence. Max Lederer had previously announced his retirement for the end of September.

Chief Justice John Roberts signed a temporary order on Friday permitting construction on a planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom to proceed after a lower court had ordered a halt. The lower court ruled that the project requires congressional approval, while the Trump administration cited national security needs. Roberts acted in his capacity overseeing appeals from Washington, D.C.

Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, New York, was arrested on Wednesday following an FBI investigation into alleged plans to attack the New York State Capitol. Multiple sources confirm she conducted surveillance of the building, expressed support for terrorism online, and intended to flee to Syria afterward. A charge of providing material support to ISIS is disputed by one outlet, and no independent verification exists for bomb-component purchases.

FBI agents executed search warrants at San Francisco International Airport and Eric Swalwell's Washington, D.C. residence, seizing electronic devices including at least one cell phone. The warrants relate to a criminal probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. Swalwell has denied an assault allegation while acknowledging mistakes in judgment.

The House Committee on Ethics is investigating claims that Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat, engaged in non-consensual sexual contact with a House staffer. Gomez has stated that the actions were consensual and constituted personal mistakes outside his marriage. Attorneys for the staffer assert the conduct was non-consensual and anticipate an adverse committee finding.

The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is providing a four-day pass to soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts by November 14 for commitments of two to six years. The incentive aligns with the November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto VI and originated from a career counselor within the unit. Lt. Col. Angel Tomko stated the program seeks to match existing soldier interests.

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on Thursday as the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises neared their scheduled end on Friday. U.S. President Trump had directed the Pentagon to shorten the drills from a planned 10 days to five days, citing his relationship with Kim Jong-un and describing the exercises as an inappropriate signal to Pyongyang. The exact number of missiles remains disputed across reports, and prior Trump-Kim summits ended without a denuclearization agreement.

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies canceled the Link spacecraft mission to capture and raise the orbit of the Swift telescope after the vehicle experienced persistent control problems following its early July launch. The Swift observatory, which has observed gamma-ray bursts for more than 20 years, is now expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year due to accelerated orbital decay from solar activity. NASA paid $30 million for the attempt.

President Trump announced on August 21, 2026, via Truth Social that the United States will permit up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports over 90 days without out-of-quota tariffs, with a stated commitment that the beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. Ground beef averaged $6.89 per pound as of July 2026. The announcement follows an earlier February executive order expanding Argentine beef imports by 80,000 metric tons.

Senate contests are confirmed in Alaska and Florida. Angie Nixon won the Florida Democratic primary and is identified as a democratic socialist. Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan advanced in Alaska, with DOJ subpoenas reported in a related probe.

Multiple outlets report the U.S. national debt crossed $40 trillion, with the Treasury Department confirming the milestone on a Wednesday and one source specifying $40.05 trillion on August 18. The debt had passed $39 trillion five months earlier, amid annual deficits exceeding $2 trillion and 26 consecutive years of shortfalls. Interest payments now exceed outlays for national defense and Medicare.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit issued a 2-1 decision finding that John Sarcone's 2025 appointment as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. The ruling upheld a block on subpoenas Sarcone issued to New York Attorney General Letitia James and prompted the Justice Department to announce plans for Supreme Court review. Sources agree on the procedural outcome but differ on its broader implications for federal investigations.

Meghan Markle, who moved to California in 2020 with Prince Harry after stepping back from royal duties, stated in a 2022 Variety interview that she was done with acting. Reports indicate she has been offered a role in an upcoming UK-based production, coinciding with her July return to Britain. The couple has not publicly commented on the reports or any potential relocation.

The USS Abraham Lincoln completed a 272-day deployment and is returning home after leaving the Middle East, with the USS George Washington arriving as its replacement. The carrier departed San Diego on November 21 with roughly 5,000 crew members. U.S. officials confirmed the departure and noted the mission's extension amid operations involving Iran.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ukraine's defense minister, with a successor taking office shortly afterward. An ex-official has publicly demanded a presidential election during the ongoing war, citing the need to protect democratic processes. Reports of associated protests remain limited to lower-quality sourcing.

Supported reports confirm that actress Hayden Panettiere died suddenly over the weekend and that the DEA has joined the investigation. Neutrogena issued a response after fans renewed boycott calls tied to her past association with the brand. Multiple details including age, personal relationships, and statements from involved parties remain unverified across available sources.

Florida state Representative Angie Nixon won the Democratic nomination for a state Senate seat after defeating Alex Vindman in Tuesday's primary. Nixon, identified as a democratic socialist candidate, stated her platform focuses on meeting people's needs rather than ideological labels. The outcome has prompted analysis of its implications for Democratic Party direction in Florida.

The Democratic National Committee has narrowed host cities for its 2028 convention to Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia after eliminating Atlanta and Chicago. The event is scheduled for August 7-10, 2028, following a process that began with requests for proposals in September 2025 and included site visits in April and May. DNC Chair Ken Martin stated that the three finalists presented strong bids.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on Tuesday limiting data center development. The action follows his role in securing a $20 billion Amazon investment last year and comes after he appeared on national television Wednesday. Sources confirm the order aims to prevent developers from overriding local interests.

Multiple claims assert that actress Hayden Panettiere was found dead in Greenville, South Carolina, prompting a Neutrogena statement four days later. These reports rely on a single primary source and include an internal age contradiction. No official confirmation of the death exists from authorities or family.

Alisa Goods, 63, was reported missing after leaving a friend's apartment on August 8 to take a bus to CVS. Her body was discovered near the Las Vegas airport nearly two weeks later, with family members receiving suspicious messages from her phone in the interim.

US 30-year bond yields hit 5.34 percent this week, the highest level since July 2007, while 10-year yields reached 4.74 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down more than 700 points on Thursday amid global bond market pressures tied to fiscal and inflation concerns. Mercury NZ reported standout results according to Forsyth Barr.

Lindsay Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the January 24, 2023 deaths of her children Cora, Dawson, and Callan at the family home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. She admits the killings but is pursuing an insanity defense based on testimony of auditory hallucinations. The defense is expected to conclude its case in Plymouth Superior Court before Judge William Sullivan.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared a state of emergency following reports of a possible tornado at Atlantic Beach on Long Island. Dozens of cabanas were damaged at the Sun and Surf Beach Club, while heavy rain caused flooding on a major New York freeway and power outages in Delaware's capital. The National Weather Service had warned of waterspouts but could not immediately confirm a tornado.

Tulsi Gabbard, former Director of National Intelligence, resigned effective June 30 after her husband Abraham Williams underwent surgery for sacral chordoma. Supported reports confirm the diagnosis followed back pain, an eight-hour tumor removal from the tailbone, complete excision of cancerous tissue, and subsequent physical therapy. Unverified details and political interpretations vary across sources.

An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella has sickened dozens of people across 15 states and has been linked to alfalfa sprouts distributed by Minneapolis-based Everything Sprouts. The company announced a voluntary recall of certain lots on August 21, 2026, covering products supplied since May 27 to distributors and stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Perspectives differ on the appropriate balance of federal oversight, private-sector response, and consumer responsibility.

Iran warned Gulf countries against assisting the U.S. military and stated it would accept only a full war-ending deal rather than a ceasefire. U.S. Central Command reported redirecting 65 vessels, disabling three, and boarding two since the blockade began after U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February. President Trump asserted complete U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz following reauthorization of the naval blockade.

Erin Patterson was convicted in 2025 of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after a nine-week trial concerning a July 2023 lunch in Leongatha, Australia. She appealed the convictions, with defense counsel citing a jury sequestration issue during the trial. Prosecutors have sought a life sentence without parole while disputing elements of the appeal record.

On August 21, 2026, President Trump held a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with Darline Graham ahead of the special primary runoff to fill the Senate seat vacated by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. Trump endorsed Graham, who is facing Rep. Ralph Norman, and urged voters to treat the contest as an extension of his own influence. Graham had failed to secure a majority in the initial primary and stumbled on a foreign policy question in a prior debate.

Archaeologists led by Gladys Paz uncovered the skeletal remains of an adult at the base of Huaca Pucllana, an ancient adobe pyramid in Lima, Peru. The find, dated to around A.D. 650 and located inside a stone-lined ceremonial canal, was announced by Peru's culture ministry with accompanying images. All reported details derive from a single primary source.

The FDA has classified the Publix recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries as Class I due to potential E. coli contamination. Twelve infections were reported in Florida and Georgia with no deaths. The products were distributed across eight southeastern states with expiration dates before February 9, 2028.

Russian drones struck a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on Friday, August 21, 2026, injuring 130 people including 23 children according to CBS News. Separate attacks in Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions brought the day's total deaths across Ukraine to 21. Death toll figures for the Kryvyi Rih strike are disputed between AP News and CBS News.

Two fishermen aged 53 and 32 were rescued on Wednesday after being located 150 miles off the coast of Chiapas aboard the vessel Camaronera. They had last communicated with their cooperative on August 14 and were found inside a cooler following a Mexican navy search using the Trinomio protocol. Multiple details including names, exact departure point, and medical condition remain unverified.

Supported reports confirm Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from royal roles more than six years ago and settled in California. Multiple outlets indicate the couple is moving back to the U.K., though details on timing, children, finances, and statements remain unverified. Analyses from progressive, conservative, and libertarian perspectives interpret the move through differing institutional and individual lenses.

Vice President JD Vance stated in a Newsmax interview that the administration's priority is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon through sustained economic measures. CBS News reported that President Trump has initiated economic operations against Tehran, with Vance describing a new phase of pressure. Multiple unverified claims from the interview remain attributed solely to Breitbart.

Supported reports confirm an outbreak of Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli tied to alfalfa sprouts, with at least 41 illnesses recorded across sources. Multiple details on the grower, brands, exact states affected, and hospitalizations remain unverified or disputed between NBC News, Breitbart, and CBS News. Investigations involve state and federal health agencies.

Archaeologists have reported the discovery of skeletal remains at the Huaca Pucllana site in Lima, Peru. The find is described as an adult individual buried inside a canal near the base of the structure. Sources identify the site as a former ceremonial center of the Lima culture.

A Cessna 150 pilot died after colliding with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter near the runway at Carlisle airport on Wednesday. Both troopers aboard the helicopter survived with minor injuries. The FAA and NTSB have classified the event as a mid-air collision, with investigations ongoing.

A California couple requested termination of a surrogacy pregnancy after a severe fetal heart defect diagnosis, but the Texas surrogate refused and delivered the child in Texas. The baby, named Rumi, underwent initial heart surgeries, after which a custody dispute arose involving the intended parents, the surrogate, and the Texas attorney general. The surrogate is fighting for parental rights in Dallas and states that the biological parents are suing her.

Kyle Spitze, 27, of Friendsville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 77 years in federal prison on Wednesday for producing and distributing child sexual exploitation and animal cruelty material as a member of the 764 network and its HarmNation subgroup. The sentence marks the longest federal term imposed on a nihilistic violent extremist. The FBI had investigated HarmNation for nearly three years prior to the sentencing.

The Treasury Department doubled its debt buybacks, after which long-term US bond yields declined and markets rose, according to NBC News reporting. JPMorgan analysts flagged potential credibility risks associated with the program, as noted in Bloomberg and NBC News. Coverage of the event derives exclusively from left-center sources, with no center or right-leaning outlets represented.

Arturo Béjar, identified as a former Meta engineer by NPR and CBS News, testified on August 19, 2026, in a trial at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California. The lawsuit, led by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, alleges that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to cause addiction in children and violated consumer and child data protection laws while misleading the public about risks. Meta has denied the allegations.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has directed annual reductions of 1.25 million acre-feet in Colorado River water deliveries to Arizona, California, and Nevada for the next two years after the seven basin states did not reach a full agreement. The cuts build on a May voluntary state agreement and coincide with the October expiration of current allocation rules amid a 26-year drought. Mexico has separately committed to a 250,000 acre-foot reduction.

Donald Trump directed reductions in joint military exercises with South Korea while pursuing renewed nuclear talks with Kim Jong Un. North Korea launched ten ballistic missiles the following day. Available reporting confirms the sequence of events but provides no verified causal connection between the exercise changes and the missile tests.

A U.S. flight carrying roughly 20 deportees landed in Liberia on Thursday as the first reported test of third-country removal agreements. Some passengers refused to deboard, leading U.S. officials to reroute five individuals to Equatorial Guinea. The Trump administration has reported deals with at least 35 countries for such removals.

CBS News reported that a suspect wearing a Chucky-style mask chased six individuals in Philadelphia within a half hour, with one victim kicking the man and causing him to flee. Police described the suspect as 16 to 25 years old. Multiple victims described encounters involving chases and statements such as "Are you ready to die?"

Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that Ed Martin is leaving his positions in the administration. Martin had served in interim roles including U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and head of the Weaponization Working Group. He did not receive permanent Senate confirmation.

CBS News and NPR confirm that primary elections took place on Tuesday in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming. CBS News lists Fin Gómez as political director and Nikole Killion as congressional correspondent. Available sourcing is limited to two left-center outlets and contains no candidate names, vote totals, or turnout data.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Thursday that the department would increase buybacks of longer-dated securities to at least $4 billion per operation. The announcement followed a Wednesday Treasury statement and coincided with a sharp drop in 30-year Treasury yields. US government debt exceeds $40 trillion.

CBS News reported a Russian drone attack on Kyiv overnight Wednesday into Thursday that killed at least 16 people and wounded 40. The Kyiv Independent reported Ukrainian drone strikes on multiple Russian oil refineries and terminals, including facilities in Bashkortostan, Tula oblast, and Nizhny Novgorod oblast. Both events occurred in the context of ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict with no independent verification cited beyond the two sources.

Mark Walter, identified as a billionaire, acquired the Los Angeles Lakers and moved to sell the franchise for a reported $12.5 billion, a record amount, 14 months later while facing a federal investigation. Supported claims derive from CBS News reporting; unverified details on Dodgers ownership and Spectrum SportsNet contract efforts come from a single additional source. Perspectives differ on the implications of rapid asset turnover, regulatory scrutiny, and market dynamics.

President Trump traveled to South Carolina on Friday and held a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach for Sen. Darline Graham, who is seeking a full term in the Senate seat previously held by her late brother Lindsey Graham. Supported reporting from two outlets confirms the travel and rally; multiple additional details remain unverified and sourced only to the New York Post. Coverage is limited to right-center sources, with no left or center outlets reporting on the events.