Michael Brennan

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' law banning semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reversing a lower court's ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional. The decision emphasized the law's alignment with firearm regulation traditions, while a dissent argued it violated Second Amendment rights. Illinois officials celebrated the ruling, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reversing a lower court ruling that found the law unconstitutional. Chief Judge Michael Brennan dissented, arguing the ban violates Second Amendment rights, while Illinois officials celebrated the decision as a public safety victory. The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld Illinois' assault rifle ban, citing historical tradition and the 2022 Supreme Court case Bruen. Judges Amy St. Eve and Frank Easterbrook formed the majority, while Judge Michael Brennan dissented. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul praised the ruling as a public safety victory.

A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a lower court's ruling that found the law unconstitutional. The decision, in a 2-1 ruling, affirmed the law's compliance with the Second Amendment and its role in addressing gun violence. The law, enacted after a 2022 Highland Park parade shooting, faces opposition from gun rights groups seeking Supreme Court review.

Tropical Storm Arthur's remnants caused heavy rain and flash flooding across Gulf states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, while the Midwest faced tornadoes and damage in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Tornado warnings and power outages were reported, with some areas receiving up to 3 inches of rain per hour.

Tropical Storm Arthur's remnants caused heavy rain and flash flooding in Gulf states, leading to tornado warnings and power outages. The Midwest experienced tornadoes and damage from storms, with over 130,000 homes and businesses without power.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first Atlantic storm of the season, threatens the Gulf Coast with dangerous flooding and heavy rainfall, prompting emergency preparations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and other states. Officials warn of life-threatening flash floods, storm surge, and potential tornadoes, with communities distributing sandbags and deploying emergency responders.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first Atlantic storm of the season, threatens the Gulf Coast with dangerous flash flooding. The storm, with maximum winds of 40 mph, is expected to dissipate by Wednesday night or Thursday. Heavy rainfall, storm surge, and potential tornadoes are causing flood warnings across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first Atlantic season storm, threatens the Gulf Coast with dangerous flash flooding and heavy rainfall. The storm, with 40 mph winds, is expected to dissipate by Thursday, but flooding risks persist through Friday across Texas, Louisiana, and surrounding states. A 15-year-old boy drowned in a retention pond near Houston, highlighting the storm's life-threatening impacts.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed near the Gulf Coast, bringing heavy rain and threats of dangerous flash floods to Texas, Louisiana, and other Gulf states. The storm, with 40 mph winds, is expected to weaken as it moves inland but will cause prolonged flooding and life-threatening surf conditions through Friday.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed near the Gulf Coast, bringing heavy rain and flood risks to Texas, Louisiana, and surrounding states. The storm, expected to weaken by Wednesday night, poses threats of life-threatening flash flooding, urban flooding, and dangerous surf conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed near the Gulf Coast, bringing heavy rain and threatening dangerous flash floods to Texas, Louisiana, and other Gulf Coast states. The storm, moving northeast with 40 mph winds, is expected to weaken and dissipate by Wednesday night or early Thursday, though flooding risks persist through Friday.

A storm system along the Gulf Coast could become the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, bringing heavy rainfall and flood risks to Texas and Louisiana. The system, with winds near 30 mph, is expected to strengthen but may not officially be named. Houston, under a flood warning, will host a World Cup match despite the threat.

A storm system along the Gulf Coast of Texas could strengthen into the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, threatening heavy rainfall and dangerous flooding in Texas, Louisiana, and surrounding areas. The system's maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph, just below the threshold for naming. A World Cup match in Houston remains scheduled despite a flood warning.

A storm system along the Gulf Coast of Texas may become the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, threatening heavy rainfall and dangerous flooding in Texas and Louisiana. The system, with winds near 30 mph, is expected to strengthen, though it has not yet reached the 39 mph threshold for naming. A flood warning is in effect for Houston, where a World Cup match remains scheduled despite the threat.

The Atlantic hurricane season has begun, with the National Hurricane Center forecasting a 'somewhat below normal' 2026 season. Despite lower activity, Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, warned the D.C. region to remain vigilant due to risks like heavy rainfall, flooding, and rip currents from distant storms. The 2025 season saw three Category 5 hurricanes, the most in decades.