Washington, D.C., is preparing for a major July Fourth fireworks show on Saturday, July 4, 2026, as Freedom 250 marks America’s 250th birthday with a large Independence Day celebration on the National Mall. The Freedom 250 fireworks display is scheduled for about 10:30 p.m. ET at the Washington Monument Grounds, following an evening program that includes remarks by President Donald Trump at 9:45 p.m. ET. Organizers describe the fireworks show as a roughly 40-minute display tied to

Illinois universal lead testing for children began Wednesday, July 1, 2026, replacing the state’s previous ZIP code-based approach. Under the new standard, children across Illinois are to receive automatic blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Universal Lead Testing Replaces ZIP Code Limits IDPH announced the change on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Previously, automatic testing requirements foc

President Donald Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure shows more than $2.2 billion in reported revenue and income from cryptocurrency ventures, golf properties, licensing agreements, investments and legal settlements. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics released Trump’s certified annual financial disclosure on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The nearly 1,000-page filing provides an extensive but incomplete picture of his businesses, assets and incom

If an overseas absentee ballot has not arrived, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot can serve as an emergency backup for eligible U.S. voters abroad. The FWAB is intended for voters covered by UOCAVA who requested a regular ballot on time but may not receive it early enough to return it by their state’s deadline. Related overview: Read how Americans abroad ca

FPCA 2026 applications allow eligible Americans abroad to register and request an absentee ballot for the U.S. midterm elections. The federal general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Related overview: Read how Americans abroad can vote in the 2026 midterm elections

About 2.2 million Americans living abroad are eligible to vote absentee, but overseas participation remains far below the U.S. voting rate. For the 2026 midterm elections, citizens abroad should start early because registration and ballot deadlines vary by state. Overseas Voting in the 2026 Midterm Elections The federal general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. All 435 U.S. House seats and approximately one-third of Se