promoearn: How much will Alex Jones pay?

Tuesday, July 26

In this file photo, Alex Jones speaks to reporters in Washington, Sept. 5, 2018. Infowars filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, April 17, 2022, in Texas as its founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones faces defamation lawsuits over his comments that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.

Trial begins after judge ruled he defamed Sandy Hook parents.

President Biden could leave isolation if he tests negative for COVID-19. Former President Donald Trump heads back to Washington, D.C. A trial will begin in Austin, Texas, after a judge ruled Alex Jones defamed the parents of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

It's Jane, with Tuesday's news.

⚖️ Up first: The vast majority of people find it almost impossible to lose substantial weight and keep it off. In recent years, faced with reams of scientific evidence, the medical community has begun to stop blaming patients for not losing excess pounds. In a six-part series, USA TODAY explores emerging science and evolving attitudes toward excess weight. Read more

More news to know now:

🐍 A Pennsylvania man who was strangled by a pet snake before police killed it last week has died, officials said.

😴 Frequent or even usual napping during the day was linked with an elevated risk of developing high blood pressure and having a stroke, according to a new study.

🔵 Ukraine struggles to identify suspected war criminals as fighting with Russia intensifies: Tuesday's live updates.

🌋 Falling ash, searing gas: Photos show the eruption of Sakurajima volcano in Japan.

This aerial photo shows Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, southern island of Kyushu, Japan, one day after its eruption on July 25, 2022. The volcano spewed ash and large rocks into the nighttime sky on Sunday.

👨‍💻 DHS is investing in AI to solve its most pressing problems. Read how the Department of Homeland Security is exploring new ways to detect and mitigate threats.

🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, environmental and health inequities reporter Nada Hassanein looks at widening racial disparities in overdose deaths. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.

Biden may be able to exit isolation if he tests negative for COVID-19

President Joe Biden said Monday that he's "feeling better every day" after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, and the White House planned a summit on Tuesday to discuss developing new vaccines that could more effectively guard against contagious variants. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, physician to the president, said in a letter Monday that Biden's symptoms have "almost completely resolved." Tuesday — Biden's fifth day of isolation in the White House — will be an important moment on his road to continued recovery. Dr. Ashish Jha , coordinator of the White House response to COVID-19, said Biden will be able to come out of isolation if he tests negative for the virus using a rapid antigen test, while continuing to wear a well-fitting mask for the next several days.

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🔴 The NRA helped make it hard to study gun violence for decades. Now the floodgates are open.

🏠 My sister-in-law treats our house as an extended stay hotel and I just can't do it anymore.

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Trump returns to Washington to give policy speech, with more expected

Former President Donald Trump will return to Washington Tuesday for the first time since leaving office on Jan. 20, 2021, to deliver a "policy speech" to the America First Policy Institute, which is developing a "policy agenda" for the next Republican president. Trump will address the organization's two-day America First Agenda Summit as some advisers urge him to spend more time talking about his vision for the future as he prepares to announce an expected 2024 White House campaign. Whether Trump sticks to policy remains to be seen. In rallies across the country, Trump has tended to spend most of his time attacking President Joe Biden, promoting his administration's record, and continuing to make unfounded claims of voter fraud in his 2020 loss to Biden.

Alex Jones trial begins after judge ruled he defamed Sandy Hook parents

Opening statements and the first witnesses are expected Tuesday for a trial that will determine how much money conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones must pay to the family of a child killed in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In multiple Infowars segments beginning shortly after the shooting and continuing after the first lawsuits were filed by Sandy Hook parents, Jones called the school shooting a hoax and a false flag operation staged by the government as part of a wider "gun grabbing" strategy. Jones also accused the victims' parents of complicity in the staged attack, calling them liars or actors taking part in a fraud on the nation.

Heat wave to persist in south-central U.S. and build in Northwest

Daily record highs are expected to be broken Tuesday from Northern California to the metro areas of Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The temperatures in Portland could top 100 degrees, making it likely the hottest day of a week-long heat wave for the Pacific Northwest region that rarely sees such scorching weather. Forecasters issued an excessive heat warning for parts of Oregon and Washington state. As the Northwest heats up, the Northeast appears ready to cool down. From Maine to Washington, D.C., severe storms were lined up over the busy urban corridor Monday. As the front pushes southeastward into Tuesday, the Northeast will finally be able to enjoy calm, seasonable weather, AccuWeather said.

Amir Brown, 15, tries to cool down while helping his mother set up a stand selling cold drinks near the National Mall on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Washington.

Nathan Howard, AP

Photos: Extreme temperatures scorch the U.S. under heat dome.

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

🔵 Russia expands goals, seeks to oust Zelenskyy; Americans killed fighting for Ukraine identified: Monday's updates.

🚒 "Moving very fast": California's largest wildfire grows near Yosemite National Park amid sweltering temperatures.

⛳️ LIV Golf has gotten one thing right, and the PGA Tour might have to copy it | Opinion.

🚨 "We don't know what led up to this": 9-year-old boy survives Iowa campground shooting that killed family.

🔵 Elon Musk denies affair with Sergey Brin's wife, Nicole Shanahan.

$810 million jackpot is third largest in Mega Millions lottery history

Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing has climbed to a seriously lofty level , even in these inflationary times: $810 million, with a cash option of $470.1 million. That's the third-highest Mega Millions jackpot ever, according to the Mega Millions website. However, the Associated Press also notes that federal taxes will slice 37% off that cash prize as well. So, that would leave less than $300 million, assuming there is just one winner. The top lottery jackpot of $1.586 billion came in a Powerball drawing on Jan. 13, 2016. That's followed by Mega Millions jackpots of $1.537 billion won Oct. 23, 2018, in South Carolina, and $1.050 billion won Jan. 22, 2021, in Michigan.

Contributing: The Associated Press