The 19th

What's a liberal city to do when the red state it's in bans the flying of the Pride flag? For a growing number, the answer is making it an official city flag. Bozeman, Montana, is the latest city to do so, joining fellow Montana college town Missoula plus Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah. These cities officially adopted the Pride flag in order to legally fly it over their city halls once more, after their states banned its use at public schools or government property. The move is one of several that blue-dot cities in red states are using to hit back as Republican lawmakers crack down on LGBTQ+ public expression. City commissioners and mayors say they want their residents to know they are welcome and accepted and that state lawmakers are the ones who pushed this decision onto them. Other officials in these cities have expressed concern that flying Pride flags may invite legal challenges or threaten federal grants. Bozeman first began flying the Pride flag over city hall in 2021, according to the Montana Free Press. But, after Montana passed a law this spring that banned flags regarding “race, sexual orientation, gender or political ideology" from being flown over state buildings, the city either had to comply or find a loophole. Bozeman’s resolution does not replace the current city flag; it simply declares the Pride flag as another official flag. In Salt Lake City, the Pride flag — as well banners celebrating transgender and Juneteenth pride — have been adopted as official municipal symbols to fly alongside the city’s main flag. More than a dozen state legislatures considered bills this year to ban the display of most flags in government buildings, including Pride flags. This push has been building for years and gained steam in 2021 as schools banned Pride flags as a political symbol. Now, as those bans extend to government buildings, some officials are drawing a line in the sand. “Everyone is welcome in Bozeman, and they are welcome under that flag,” Mayor Terry Cunningham said, following hours of public comment on Bozeman’s resolution to adopt the Pride flag. ✍️: Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter 📸: AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak

The state's Democratic primary, which will help shape the future direction of the party, is expected to draw national attention and outside spending.

Democrats are betting on rising stars — and viral moments — to hold a swing-state Senate seat in a year when control of the chamber is on the line.

The 2026 Maine Senate race is currently in a holding pattern awaiting decisions from Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who is term-limited and widely seen as Collins’ strongest challenger.

Simone Biles won two awards at the 2025 ESPY Awards, one of which she was the only woman nominated for. The ESPY Awards, put on by ESPN at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, recognizes top athletes and their performances. The Best Championship Performance award was given to Biles in honor of her showing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The other athletes nominated for the award were all men: NBA player Stephen Curry, MLB player Freddie Freeman, and professional golfer Rory McIlroy. “That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men," Biles said in her acceptance speech. Biles, who has the most ESPY awards of any woman athlete, also took home the award for Best Athlete in Women’s Sports at Wednesday’s ceremony. In Paris, Biles secured three gold medals and one silver medal, leading the U.S. gymnastics team to yet another gold. It was a big comeback for Biles, who withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to “the twisties,” a temporary loss of spatial awareness and direction in gymnasts that can lead to harmful accidents. “Having a strong support system that understands your dreams, who are willing to show up for you, not just when you're winning, but when you're struggling, too, is really important,” Biles said in her acceptance speech. “My sincere gratitude, appreciation and love to all of you who have stood with me on this magical journey, all the highs, lows, twists and turns along the way.” ✍️: Sabreen Dawud, reporting fellow 📸: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The bill designates $45 billion to build new immigration and family detention facilities. The legislation also states that families, including their children, may be detained indefinitely until courts reach a decision in their case.

The retirement of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin has set up a competitive primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois. And the field includes more than one woman of color, which is notable given that only four Black women have ever been elected to the Senate.

The LGBTQ-specific option on the 988 lifeline gave queer youth immediate access to trained counselors. Now, Trump is shutting it down, despite widespread support and need. This story was originally published in Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ-focused investigative news outlet.

Wells has seen this outbreak up close, and her experiences trying to stop measles in her county — which Texas removed recently from its list of active outbreaks — hold lessons for other communities.

For most of this year, trans and nonbinary Americans have been blocked from obtaining passports that match their gender identity. But now, at least for a limited time, trans people can obtain accurate passports again.