NPR is reporting that the U.S. Army has used most of its long-range attack missiles in the war with Iran. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that precision missiles such as PrSMs and ATCAMs are nearly depleted. These weapons provide crucial protection by allowing strikes from hundreds of miles away, reducing the need for American pilots to approach enemy targets closely. Despite these shortages, senior military officials told NPR's Kat Lonsdorf that the U.S. currently has enough offensive weapons for immediate needs. However, these precision missiles take years to replenish, which could leave the U.S. vulnerable in future conflicts. NPR also noted that the U.S. stockpile of Patriot interceptors, vital for shooting down drones and missiles in the Middle East, has shrunk by two-thirds since the war began. A Center for Strategic and International Studies report indicated these cost around $4 million each and also take significant time to replenish. The shrinking Patriot missile stockpile also leaves U.S. allies, including Ukraine, vulnerable in their defense against Russia.
In other news, NPR is reporting that Major League Soccer owners have selected Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles F.C., as the league's next commissioner. He is the first new MLS commissioner in 27 years.
NPR is also reporting that Michigan's closely watched Democratic Senate primary remains too close to call. Progressive Abdul El-Sayed holds a narrow lead over moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The winner will compete against Republican Rep. Mike Rogers for a vital Senate seat in a swing state crucial to Democrats' efforts to regain control of the chamber. NPR's Tamara Keith said the mood among Democratic voters has shifted since the 2018 midterm during President Trump's first term, with primary voters now blaming their own party for the president's win. She added that the party faces significant repair work, and some voters are unwilling to support the opposing candidate in November.
The Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether to approve Moderna's mFlusiva vaccine, the first flu vaccine to use mRNA technology, NPR said. The vaccine's approval has faced skepticism due to scrutiny over mRNA technology stemming from anger over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and misinformation. NPR's Rob Stein reported that a trial of over 40,000 participants showed mFlusiva is safe and offers stronger protection than traditional flu shots for adults 50 and older. Independent FDA advisers unanimously recommended its approval in June. Stein added that the mRNA vaccine can be reformulated and produced more quickly, allowing for faster adaptation to new flu strains or pandemics.
NPR is reporting that Central Appalachian veteran underground coal miners are experiencing incurable black lung disease at the highest rates recorded in nearly 50 years. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that miners with at least 25 years of underground work in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia suffer the worst rates of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The decline in cases since 1999, when strict limits on coal mine dust exposure were imposed, has reversed, with experts blaming toxic silica dust now more common in mines.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will undergo a restructuring of its funding model in October, NPR said. More than 4 million Americans, many of them children, have already lost access to food aid. The decline in participation began when the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included major changes to the program, became law. Eligibility has been tightened, requiring adults to work or volunteer 80 hours monthly, now applying to veterans, homeless individuals, young adults aging out of foster care, parents of 14- to 17-year-olds, and those aged 55 to 64. As of April, 37 million Americans used food stamps each month, an 11% decline since last July. Starting in October, states will cover 75% of operational expenses, with the federal government contributing 25%. Starsky Wilson from the Children's Defense Fund told NPR that such cuts could leave food banks and government programs unable to fill the gap.
NPR correspondent Cory Turner reported on a mock Senate debate where 100 students from every state drafted a national policy for the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 schools. Turner highlighted a moment where students debated how AI should respond to a student in crisis. A high-schooler from Iowa, Dylan Dornack, successfully argued that AI should not respond, and instead, a small group of trusted school officials should be alerted, an amendment that passed overwhelmingly.
Finally, NPR noted that in its first quarterly report since going public, SpaceX nearly doubled its previous year's revenue and narrowed losses, though it posted no profit. Maryland has also opened the country's largest center for human composting, a process that transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil in about a month.