Justices rule states can bind presidential electors’ votes
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that states can require presidential electors to back their states’ popular vote winner in the Electoral College. Monday’s ruling, just under four months before the 2020 election, leaves in place laws in 32 states and the District of Columbia that bind electors to vote for the popular-vote winner. Electors almost always do so anyway. So-called faithless electors have not been critical to the outcome of a presidential election, but that could change in a race decided by just a few electoral votes. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

7-year-old among 13 killed in weekend shootings in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say a 7-year-old girl at a family party and a 14-year-old boy were among 13 people shot and killed in the city over the Fourth of July weekend. Police spokesman Tom Ahern says four males opened fire on a large gathering in the street in Englewood just before midnight Saturday, killing the teenage boy and three other males. Police say the 7-year-old girl was fatally shot in the head while standing on the sidewalk at her grandmother’s house in the Austin neighborhood during a Fourth of July party around 7 p.m. At least 59 people were shot and wounded over the weekend.

Trump lashes out at NASCAR, Bubba Wallace over flag, rope
By JILL COLVIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is criticizing NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag at its races and is going after its only Black driver. After a weekend spent stoking division, Trump wrongly accused Bubba Wallace of perpetrating “a hoax” after one of his crew members discovered a rope shaped like a noose in a garage stall. Federal authorities ruled last month that the rope had been hanging there since at least last October and was not a hate crime. Trump is asking whether Wallace has “apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid.”

Spaghetti Western movie composer Ennio Morricone dead at 91
By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press
ROME (AP) — Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and the soundtracks such as classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables,” has died. He was 91. During a career that spanned decades and earned him an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007, Morricone collaborated with some of the most renowned Italian and Hollywood directors, in movies including “The Untouchables” by Brian de Palma, “The Hateful Eight” by Quentin Tarantino and “The Battle of Algiers” by Gillo Pontecorvo. In total, he produced more than 400 original scores for feature films.

Mask-Wearing is Required and Critical to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today reminded Pennsylvanians that mask-wearing is required and critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“The order to make mask-wearing mandatory when leaving home was put in place to protect all Pennsylvanians from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “This simple practice, combined with social distancing, handwashing, and staying home if sick, is paramount to stopping this virus from infecting more people. I again urge Pennsylvanians to mask up for the protection of everyone.”

Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on Wednesday. It remains in effect

Sheriff: 2 dead, 8 hurt in South Carolina nightclub shooting
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s official says a shooting at a South Carolina nightclub left two people dead and eight wounded. No one was immediately taken into custody following the early Sunday shooting at Lavish Lounge, but a Greenville County sheriff’s spokesperson said they were looking for two suspects. Authorities had originally said 12 people were hurt, but later told the AP that two victims were likely counted twice initially. Of the eight wounded, some had non-life-threatening injuries and others were in critical condition. A Facebook post from the club said Foogiano was scheduled to perform Saturday night. A representative tells the AP that the trap rapper is safe.

Police: 2 women hit by car on Seattle highway amid protest
By MARTHA BELLISLE Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a 27-year-old man drove a car onto a closed freeway in Seattle and barreled through a panicked crowd of protesters, critically injuring two women. A Washington State Patrol report says Dawit Kelete of Seattle drove around several vehicles that were blocking Interstate 5 and sped into the crowd early Saturday. He was taken into custody and charged with two counts of vehicular assault. A hospital spokesperson says 24-year-old Summer Taylor, of Seattle, was in critical condition while 32-year-old Diaz Love, of Portland, Oregon, was upgraded to serious condition in the intensive care unit. Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.