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Today's Big Stories

1. As mayors, governors scramble to care for more migrants, a look at what's behind the numbers

Eagle Pass, Texas, declared a state of emergency as tens of thousands of migrants came across the border. The Biden administration grants protection to nearly half a million Venezuelans in the country, giving them the ability to work. This comes after some Democratic mayors and governors warn that growing numbers of migrants in their care are busting their budgets.

The various scenarios playing out across the country paint a picture of a strained immigration system making an impact far from the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration late Wednesday announced measures intended to alleviate the problem.

The U.S. has had immigration surges before, so what's different now, and why?

2. 3-year-old drowns crossing Rio Grande near Eagle Pass

A 3-year-old boy is dead after his family attempted to cross the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass on Wednesday, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to Spectrum News 1 in an email.

According to the department, just after 3:30 p.m. the Tactical Marine Unit was informed that a child had been swept away by the strong current north of the marine barrier in Eagle Pass.

Troopers located the child and took him to shore. He was then taken to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico walk past large buoys being deployed as a border barrier on the river in Eagle Pass, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

3. Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to 22 financial crimes

Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh did something Thursday he hasn't done in the two years since his life of privilege and power started to unravel — plead guilty to a crime.

Murdaugh admitted in federal court to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering.

Murdaugh, 55, is serving life without parole in a South Carolina prison for shooting his wife, Maggie, and younger son Paul. He has denied any role in the killings since their deaths in June 2021 and insisted he was innocent in two days of testimony earlier this year before he was convicted of two counts of murder.

4. House Republicans, who touted 'tremendous progress' on spending talks, suffer setback on Pentagon funding bill

With 10 days to go until the government will shut down without a new funding agreement, House Republicans headed into Thursday expressing significantly more optimism about their chances of coalescing around a short-term spending plan – but quickly suffered a setback on longer-term progress when GOP hardliners sank a Pentagon funding bill for the second time in a week.

“We had a very productive meeting today, lasted two and a half hours. It was an intense family discussion, but it was productive and we walked out of the room, I think, with an agreement, at least the framework for an agreement, amongst ourselves on how to proceed,” Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., said in an interview with CNN Wednesday night, adding that he does not believe there will be a government shutdown. 

The rosier outlook was the result of a party meeting late Wednesday afternoon in which Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., presented House GOP members with a new stopgap funding proposal, known as a continuing resolution or CR, to temporarily keep the government funded. 

Your Notes for Tomorrow

In Case You Missed It 

Simone Biles competes on the beam during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Aug. 27, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Gymnastics star Simone Biles is heading back to Belgium for the 2023 world championships

Simone Biles is heading back to where her record-breaking reign atop gymnastics began.

The American star headlines the five-woman U.S. team that will compete at the 2023 world championships in Belgium during the first week of October. Biles' appearance will be her sixth at the event, the most ever by an American woman.

Biles will be joined by three members of the gold-medal-winning 2022 world championship team — Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely — as well as 17-year-old Joscelyn Roberson.