Democratic Primary, Hypoallergenic Dogs, & Trash Lottery

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Adam Rogers
August 06, 2026

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Severe drought has lowered the Danube River to near-record levels, exposing dozens of World War II German warships along the Serbia-Romania border that were deliberately sunk in 1944 as Nazi forces retreated from advancing Soviet troops. Some of the vessels are still believed to contain unexploded munitions.
The Danube, Europe's second-longest river, flows through 10 countries and serves as a major shipping route. The drought has disrupted river traffic and pushed some power plants toward shutdown, prompting governments across Central and Eastern Europe to conserve electricity as the region endures an intense summer heat wave.
The drought has also uncovered the remains of a woolly mammoth in Bulgaria, where museum officials say well-preserved bones found along the riverbank likely belonged to a young animal that lived during the Ice Age.

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in a closely watched contest that gives the party's progressive wing a major victory in a top battleground state. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for the open seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, campaign finance reform and ending U.S. military aid to Israel, earning endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Stevens, who was backed by much of Michigan's Democratic establishment, received tens of millions of dollars in outside support, including record spending by pro-Israel groups.
Attention now shifts to November, with Democrats hoping to quickly unite behind El-Sayed in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races. The open Michigan seat is widely viewed as pivotal to the party's hopes of reclaiming the Senate majority.

Scientists have used CRISPR gene-editing technology to create what they say is the first hypoallergenic dog by switching off the gene responsible for producing the primary allergy-causing protein found in dogs. The approach eliminated the protein in two beagles without apparent health problems.
Unlike so-called hypoallergenic breeds that still produce allergy-triggering proteins, the genetically edited dogs no longer produce the primary protein found in their saliva, fur, and dander. One scientist with severe dog allergies showed no reaction when exposed to samples from the edited dogs.
The breakthrough remains experimental. The team says the dogs will need long-term health monitoring, and the approach must also be tested in more people with dog allergies to determine whether it works beyond a single individual.

The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, giving the nation's top public health agency its first permanent leader in about a year. (More)

New Mexico sued the Justice Department, alleging federal officials blocked the state's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's alleged crimes at his New Mexico ranch. (More)

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a new policy group that will campaign for a federal education tax credit in states without the school choice program. (More)

Puerto Rico will begin water rationing for more than 180,000 customers as severe drought and record dry conditions strain supplies with no immediate relief forecast. (More)

German authorities launched a counterterrorism investigation after an explosive-laden drone was found at Leipzig Airport. (More)

A rare Antarctic cold snap brought snow to New Zealand's capital for the first time in 15 years while freezing temperatures disrupted travel nationwide. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P -0.17%, Nasdaq -0.83%, Dow +0.49%). The Dow notched a consecutive record high close. (More)

Google reorganized its AI leadership as longtime chief scientist Jeff Dean departed after 27 years and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis assumed Alphabet's chief scientist role. (More)

Federal officials said about $100 billion in tariffs collected under a law later rejected by the Supreme Court has been returned to importers, with more refunds pending. (More)

Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player in Cubs history with consecutive 25-homer, 25-steal seasons as Chicago swept the Dodgers with a 7-6 victory. (More)

Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a torn ACL during training camp practice. (More)

LIV Golf secured a lead investor to help fund the league beyond this season after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund ended its financial backing. (More)

Researchers restored some breathing function in rats with spinal cord injuries using stem cell-derived neurons, a finding that could advance future regenerative treatments in humans. (More)

Scientists unveiled a new humanoid robot and design strategy aimed at helping machines work more naturally with people by better anticipating human movements and intentions. (More)

A bioengineered chewing gum reduced microbes associated with head and neck cancer in patient oral samples, pointing to a potential new treatment approach. (More)

Ranking the world’s most livable cities in 2026.

Italian sanitation workers help €1M lottery winner reclaim thrashed ticket.

The world’s smallest buffalo weighs 15 pounds.

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