News To Know: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Grand Canyon Wildfire Continues Burning; Arizona Gov. Calls for Investigation

The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy. Fire behavior remains very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and strong wind gusts.
U.S. Department of the Interior on social media Monday concerning the Grand Canyon National Park wildfire that has destroyed at least 70 structures so far in the park’s North Rim. The fire began on July 4 due to a lightning strike, and the Park Service allowed it to continue burning to benefit the land. But on Friday, the fire grew by nearly eight times within a few hours and has grown since then. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called for an investigation, questioning why “the federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer.” Big picture? As wildfire season begins, about 2.5 million acres of land have burned in total this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

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A wildfire that destroyed historic Grand Canyon Lodge spread after being allowed to burn for days (The Associated Press)
Historic lodge on Grand Canyon North Rim destroyed by wildfire (Arizona Central)

Supreme Court Rules President Trump Can Continue Layoffs at Department of Education

The United States Supreme Court has handed a Major Victory to Parents and Students across the Country, by declaring the Trump Administration may proceed on returning the functions of the Department of Education BACK TO THE STATES.
President Donald Trump posting on Truth Social after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Monday to lift a lower court’s injunction that blocked the Trump administration from firing nearly 1,400 Department of Education employees. The Supreme Court’s order had no opinion and was unsigned, a normal practice for emergency applications like this, though Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined with Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a dissent, with Justice Sotomayor writing, “It hands the Executive the power to repeal statutes by firing all those necessary to carry them out.” The case will continue to make its way through the appeals process.

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Ice Cream Companies Commit to Eliminating Food Dyes

The American people have made it clear—they want real food, not chemicals.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., concerning the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) decision to voluntarily remove seven petroleum-based dyes from its ice creams by 2028. The IDFA represents about 90% of the U.S. supply of ice cream and frozen treats. University of Texas nutrition expert Deanna Hoelscher said, “Just taking out or changing the food dye source is not necessarily going to make it a healthy option. It still is a food that should be consumed in moderation.” The average American consumes around four gallons of ice cream each year, according to the IDFA.

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