2 dead in New Jersey after flood waters carry away vehicle during heavy rains

NEW YORK (AP) — Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in flood waters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield, where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. A third person was killed in North Plainfield during that previous storm. The names of the two latest victims were not immediately released Tuesday. Local officials said the vehicle they were riding in was swept into a brook during the height of the storm.

System over Florida has potential to develop into tropical depression, weather service says

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A weather system moving across Florida wasn’t even a tropical something but it has the potential to develop into a tropical depression as it moves across the Gulf later in the week. National Weather Service forecasters said Tuesday that the system would be called Dexter if it becomes a named storm. The weather services says the area of low pressure off Florida’s east coast is becoming better defined and moving across the Florida Peninsula. The system is drenching the peninsula with heavy rains, and the weather service is warning of the potential for flash flooding in parts of the state.

Republicans are considering changes to Trump’s request for $9.4B in spending cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are exploring changes to President Donald Trump’s request to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved spending targeted by DOGE. The negotiations signal potential difficulties ahead of an important test vote. Trump is looking to claw back $1.1 billion of funding authority from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and about $8.3 billion from foreign aid programs that aim to fight famine and disease and promote global stability. Congress has until Friday to get a bill to the president’s desk for his signature, or the spending stands. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says some GOP senators would like to see “modest changes” to the bill.

University of Michigan faces federal investigation after arrest of 2 Chinese scientists

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Michigan is under federal scrutiny after two Chinese scientists linked to the school were separately charged with smuggling biological materials into the United States. The Education Department on Tuesday opened an investigation into the university’s foreign funding, citing the pair of cases that were announced days apart in June. It said the “highly disturbing criminal charges” raise concerns about Michigan’s vulnerability to national security threats from China. The university said in June it condemned any actions that undermine national security and announced a review of protocols related to research security.