President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to install a permanent helipad on the White House lawn, while emergency crews remain on alert after a high-rise building in Manhattan was evacuated over fears of a potential structural collapse.
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Meanwhile, former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized more than three weeks after an unexplained medical emergency, and Democratic leaders are urging Maine’s Senate nominee Graham Platner to withdraw from the race following a sexual assault allegation. And more than 4,400 nurses and home care clinicians in Boston are preparing for what could become the largest nursing strike in Massachusetts history.
Here are five stories worth following:
Quote Driving the News:
“The I-beams are bending like cigarettes in there, which is super dangerous,” Cliff Johnsen, a representative for Steamfitters Local 63 – which was working on the office tower at 235 E. 42nd Street – told reporters.
Pressure Mounts on Graham Platner to Exit Maine Senate Race
What we’re watching: Calls for Graham Platner to withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race are intensifying after a woman accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he has repeatedly denied. Senate Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have joined the Maine Democratic Party in urging Platner to step aside, while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has said it won’t support his campaign if he remains the nominee. Platner has said he is reflecting on the future of his campaign but hasn’t announced whether he will leave the race.
Why it matters: The pressure comes less than a week before Maine’s July 13 withdrawal deadline, the last day Platner can exit the race and allow Democrats to select a replacement for the November ballot. If he stays in the race beyond that deadline, Democrats could be forced to run a nominee many party leaders no longer support in one of the party’s top pickup opportunities against incumbent Susan Collins.
Trump Building Helipad on White House Lawn
What we’re watching: President Donald Trump says construction is underway on a permanent granite helipad on the White House South Lawn paid for by defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Trump said the $5 million to $6 million project will be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin that manufactures the new Marine One helicopters, arguing the aircraft’s more powerful engines have repeatedly scorched and torn up the lawn. The new helipad will feature the White House seal carved into the granite and is part of a broader series of changes Trump has made to the White House grounds.
Why it matters: The project is the latest example of Trump’s effort to reshape Washington landmarks. At the White House complex alone, Trump has torn up part of the Rose Garden, demolished the East Wing to construct a ballroom and constructed a UFC ring in the same spot on the South Lawn as the helipad. Controversy has swirled around the projects, many of which have been conducted with no-bid contracts and seen major cost overruns.
Read more Democrats Call for Platner to Withdraw From Senate Race
Manhattan High-Rise Evacuated After Structural Failure
What we’re watching: Emergency crews remain on scene in Manhattan after two structural support columns buckled inside a 37-story building under construction near Grand Central Terminal, prompting evacuations of nearby offices, hotels, restaurants and a school. The building – formerly the headquarters of Pfizer and now being converted into a 1,600-unit residential tower – continued shifting throughout the day, leading officials to warn that a localized collapse remains possible. No injuries have been reported, but surrounding streets remain closed as engineers work to stabilize the building before crews can safely enter.
Why it matters: The incident has disrupted one of Manhattan’s busiest business districts and raised new questions about safety oversight for large office-to-residential conversion projects, a key part of New York City’s strategy to address its housing shortage. Officials say the building will remain under close monitoring until engineers determine it’s safe, with the structural failure likely to prompt a broader review of similar redevelopment projects across the city.
Boston Nurses Prepare for Historic Strike
What we’re watching: More than 4,450 nurses and home care clinicians at Mass General Brigham are expected to walk off the job today in what the Massachusetts Nurses Association says would be the largest nursing and healthcare professionals strike in state history. More than 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and 450 home care clinicians plan to strike over wages, staffing and working conditions.
Why it matters: If negotiations fail, the strike could disrupt care for thousands of patients across the Boston region, forcing hospitals to delay procedures, divert patients and rely on temporary replacement workers. The labor dispute has also become a broader test of how hospitals and healthcare workers are responding to rising living costs, persistent staffing shortages and post-pandemic workforce pressures.
Questions Mount as McConnell Remains Hospitalized
What we’re watching: Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized more than three weeks after he was admitted on June 14, with his office providing few details beyond saying he is “continuing his recovery” and “receiving excellent care.” The 84-year-old Kentucky senator hasn’t voted since June 11, and aides have declined to provide details on his condition or what prompted his hospitalization.
Why it matters: McConnell’s prolonged absence comes as Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority and are preparing for major legislative fights later this month. Though his aides have not provided details, audio released by emergency services responding to his home just before 9 a.m. on June 14 made mention of an “unconscious” person in “cardiac arrest.”
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