News Wrap: Meta faces trial over arguments its platforms harm children

Geoff Bennett:

In the day's other headlines: A federal trial against social media giant Meta kicked off today with four states laying out their case that the company's platforms harm children.

In their opening statements, California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey accused Meta of intentionally hooking users to harvest their data. Meta denies any wrongdoing and says it has safeguards to protect young users.

But, outside the court, parents blamed the company for harming their children. One mother spoke about her daughter Coco, who started using Instagram when she was 12 and later died at 17 of an overdose with drugs she bought on the platform.

Julianna Arnold, Founding Member, Parents Rise!:

By her teens, she could not look away. Her scrolling became depression, then anxiety she could not escape.

Geoff Bennett:

The states are seeking a financial penalty as high as $1.4 trillion and changes to how Meta operates its platforms; 25 other states are also suing the company. Those trials will start at a later date.

In Hawaii, crews are working to clear roads and restore power to tens of thousands of people in the wake of Hurricane Lala. The storm uprooted trees and caused flash floods from Honolulu to the Big Island this past weekend. Officials have announced one fatality, a 90-year-old woman. The state's governor says the damage, as he put it, could have been a lot worse.

Meantime, parts of Indiana are still reeling from catastrophic flooding that submerged entire neighborhoods. In Indianapolis, floodwater has finally receded enough for some families to retrieve belongings from their homes. Others have nowhere to go.

Oliver Riggle, Indianapolis Resident:

Got this just a few months ago, and now it's not livable, at least right now. No one was going to take it from me, except for apparently Mother Nature.

Geoff Bennett:

Authorities say some infrastructure will take months to repair, with roads and bridges washed out entirely.

Also today, nearly 100 million Americans across much of the South and Southeast were under heat alerts with triple-digit highs from Texas to the Carolinas through the end of the week.

Turning now to the war in Iran, President Trump said today that there are no talks taking place between the U.S. and Iran, and none are scheduled. On his social media platform, the president added, the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is -- quote -- "in full force and effect, and the strait is open and operating."

But that contradicted remarks from Iran's top negotiator, who today said the strait will remain closed.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Chief Iranian Negotiator (through interpreter):

Let me be clear. Until the United States fulfills its commitments under the agreement, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military operations on all fronts, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen.

Geoff Bennett:

Meantime, officials in Qatar said an agreement between Iran and Oman over the waterway would -- quote -- "make it much easier" for Iran and the U.S. to resume talks. President Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it, in his words, gets in the way of efforts to reach a deal.

In Gaza, hospital officials say an Israeli strike on a fishing seaport killed at least six people, including a child, and wounded more than a dozen others. This footage from the "News Hour"'s producer on the ground shows blood-stained shoes, scattered chairs, and debris littering the cafe.

Israel's military says it targeted Hamas commanders and several other militants, but did not provide evidence. It comes a day after President Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner wrapped up a trip to the region with no major progress made after talks with Israeli and Hamas leaders.

Ukraine launched nearly 800 drones across Russia overnight in one of its largest such attacks since Moscow's invasion more than four years ago. Most of the drones targeted the Moscow region, where a local official posted this image of destruction at a local construction site.

Ukraine is increasingly using swarms of long-range drones to try to overwhelm Russian air defenses. Meantime, in Northeastern Ukraine, authorities say at least 10 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when a Russian missile strike destroyed homes and businesses.

A resident whose cafe was hit described a scene of chaos.

Yanna Chelomytsko, Cafe Owner (through interpreter):

There was dust, smoke, screams, and cars were burning. Some girls in my cafe managed to run into a basement. We called out to each other to find out who was alive, who was not. So many people died.

Geoff Bennett:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described that strike as a brutal attack on civilians.

On Wall Street today, struggling A.I. stocks weighed on the broader markets. By the close, the Dow Jones industrial average was down more than 100 points. The Nasdaq fell by 1.33 percent. The S&P 500 ended lower for a third strait session.

And ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen has died. A sports fan and former broadcaster himself, Rasmussen, along with his son, came up with the idea for a 24-hour cable sports channel in the late 1970s. Host Lee Leonard helped launch the channel on September 7, 1979.

Lee Leonard, ESPN:

From football to soccer to baseball to basketball to tennis to track to golf, we will be with you covering it on ESPN.

Geoff Bennett:

Rasmussen became known as the father of sports television and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025. He died today in his Florida home from the effects of Parkinson's disease. He was 93 years old.

Also today, Frank Beard, the only member of ZZ Top without that trademark facial hair, has died. For more than five decades, Beard provided the propelling beat on hits like "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Gimme All Your Lovin'." The Texas trio started out in the 1970s with a blend of Southern rock and blues and went on to sell more than 50 million records.

His publicist said Beard died today at his ranch in Texas. Frank Beard was 77 years old.