CNN – National

Cassie Spodak, Channon Hodge and Margaret Dawson, CNN These are the surprising and personal stories, lost and hidden in America’s past, hosted by CNN’s Abby Phillip, Suzanne Malveaux, Omar Jimenez, Athena Jones, Ryan Young, John Avlon and more. Knowing these stories might reshape your understanding of the disparities the country faces today. July 11, 1868

By Sara Smart, CNN Deer, raccoons, possums and fox once flocked the area of the Everglades National Park in south Florida. Nowadays, you’re lucky if you spot one mammal in the area, according to wildlife experts. Who’s to blame for this decline in wildlife? The invasive species known as Burmese pythons. To help combat this

By Rebekah Riess and Kelly Murray, CNN A jury in Aitkin County, Minnesota, on Friday found that a pharmacy did not discriminate against a woman by refusing to fill her emergency contraception prescription, court records show. However, the jury found the pharmacist did cause the woman emotional harm in the amount of $25,000. According to

By Dianne Gallagher, Wesley Bruer and Theresa Waldrop, CNN With another flood watch in place in eastern Kentucky, people here are hoping and praying for one more miracle. Some saw it as a miracle they survived the historic flooding more than a week ago. They might feel it could take another to survive the aftermath

By Zenebou Sylla and Samantha Beech, CNN New York City Police detectives shot and injured four men they say opened fire at a party in Queens, where around 75 to 100 people were gathered. Around 11.35 p.m. Friday, plainclothes police from the violent crime squad were keeping watch on the party, being held in a

By Toby Lyles, CNN Editorial Research The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted because of voter suppression by state governments, local governments and law enforcement. Over the 56-year period of its existence, it has helped Americans reinforce the citizens right to vote. It addresses the levels of disenfranchisement in existence after ratification of the

By Scottie Andrew, CNN It’s never too late to right a historical wrong — even if that restoration of justice comes nearly 330 years later. Elizabeth Johnson Jr., a woman convicted of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in the 1690s, was finally exonerated last week after years of petitioning by Massachusetts teacher Carrie LaPierre

By Melissa Alonso and Susannah Cullinane, CNN A toddler was killed Friday after a cement truck tumbled over an overpass in Houston and landed on top of the car in which he was traveling, officials said. The 22-month-old’s twin sister survived, along with the two adults who were in the vehicle, Harris County Sheriff’s Office

By Stephanie Elam and Jason Kravarik, CNN Residents on this state line have built their industry, economy and lives around the South Platte River. But as an intense and widespread drought digs into the High Plains, flows have decreased. Unwilling to leave things to chance, Nebraska has taken action by invoking the fine print of

By Susannah Cullinane and Cheri Mossburg, CNN California’s McKinney Fire has destroyed nearly 90 houses and is only 40% contained a week after breaking out in the Klamath National Forest, with hot and dry conditions expected to continue through the weekend. The blaze, the largest wildfire in California so far this year, erupted on July

By Faith Karimi, CNN Angela Welch still recalls every detail. The stocky gunman in a camo ​vest. The gunshots, one after another. The piercing screams, echoing through the building. The muffled sobs. Welch was a high school sophomore in Olivehurst, California, when a former student entered her school on a Friday afternoon with a 12-gauge

By Paradise Afshar and Susannah Cullinane, CNN One of the men found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery fears being killed in state prison and wants to remain in federal custody for his safety, according to a court document filed by his attorney. Travis McMichael, along with his father Greg, and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan,

By Kiely Westhoff and Amya Henry, CNN Four people were fatally shot Friday at multiple sites in a small Ohio town just north of Dayton, and police are searching for a man who is possibly connected to the shootings. Stephen Marlow, a “person of interest,” is likely armed and dangerous, Butler Township Police Chief John

By Hannah Sarisohn, CNN The parents of a third-grade transgender child in Tennessee filed a lawsuit in federal court this week, challenging a state law that prohibits transgender students, employees, and teachers from access to the bathroom, locker rooms and other sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity. The lawsuit was filed against the Williamson

By Amanda Musa, CNN Death Valley National Park announced its closure Friday due to substantial flooding within the park, according to a news release. “All roads into and out of the park are currently closed and will remain closed until park staff can assess the extensiveness of the situation,” the National Park Service said Friday.

By Alisha Ebrahimji and Amy Simonson, CNN Two men serving life sentences for murder in a Florida prison have been linked to two other murders with the help of newly discovered DNA samples, which led to the exoneration of another man who wrongfully served 37 years in prison for the rape and murder of Barbara