Latest news with #July4th
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
July 4th travel to break records: The best and worst times to hit the road
The Fourth of July has always been a peak travel period in the United States, but 2025 is set to shatter all previous records. According to projections from the American Automobile Association (AAA), a staggering 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the extended Independence Day holiday week, which runs from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This marks an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and a remarkable 7 million more than in 2019. Key travel trends Road trips dominate: Of the 72.2 million travelers, 61.6 million are expected to travel by car—an all-time high and a 2.2% increase over 2024, adding 1.3 million more road travelers than last year. Air travel also surges: Air travel is also expected to set new records, with over 5.8 million people projected to fly, making up about 8% of all July 4th travelers. Other modes: Roughly 4.6 million Americans will use trains, buses, or cruise ships for their holiday journeys. Top destinations: Domestically, Orlando, Seattle, and New York are the most popular destinations. Internationally, Vancouver, Rome, and Paris lead the list, with cruises, beaches, and fireworks being top attractions. Best and worst times to travel by car With record numbers on the road, timing your departure is crucial to avoid the worst congestion. AAA, in partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence and INRIX, has released a detailed timetable for optimal travel windows: Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Saturday, June 28 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Sunday, June 29 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Monday, June 30 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Tuesday, July 1 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 2 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Thursday, July 3 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Friday, July 4 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Saturday, July 5 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Sunday, July 6 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 11:00 AM by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo General Guidance: Leave Early: The best way to avoid traffic is to hit the road before 11 a.m. (or before 10 a.m. on June 28). Morning hours are consistently less congested. Avoid Midday to Early Evening: The worst traffic is typically from noon to 7 p.m., especially on July 4 itself. Delaying your trip to the evening or leaving very early can help you avoid gridlock. Travel challenges and safety tips Roadside Assistance: Last year, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 roadside assistance calls during the holiday week. The most common issues were dead batteries, flat tires, running out of fuel, and lockouts. Preparation: AAA strongly recommends routine vehicle maintenance and packing an emergency kit before setting out. This is especially important given the increased volume and potential for delays. Fuel Prices: While gas prices are about 40 cents lower per gallon than last year, the Atlantic hurricane season could impact prices and availability, so travelers should plan accordingly.
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Trump says 'big, beautiful' bill 'must' meet deadline as some Republicans waver
House Republicans are growing increasingly wary of the self-imposed July 4 deadline to get President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" to the White House, as the president warns that the bill "must" be ready for his signature by then. "I think it's more important to get the bill correct than it is to get it fast," Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a former House Freedom Caucus chairman, told Fox News Digital. "I'm interested in a great deliverable product, and spending the time and the resources necessary to get that, whatever they may be." It's a thought shared by members outside of the conservative rebel group as well – Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., who represents part of New York City, said Fourth of July is a "realistic" goal, but not one she was married to. "I'm not set on getting this done by July 4th. I know that's a goal, it's a nice soundbite, doing this on Independence Day and celebrating America," Malliotakis said. "But at the end of the day, we've got to do it right. And I'd rather take a few more days, a few more weeks, to make sure we can deliver a good product for the American people." Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Friday that it was "possible" the deadline could slip, "but I don't want to even accept that as an option right now. We want to try to push this." The vast tax and immigration bill is currently in the Senate, where lawmakers are still working through several key issues on Medicaid and state and local tax (SALT) deductions among other details. An earlier version passed the House by just one vote in late May. Now, several House Republicans are balking at proposed changes in the Senate – though there's still no final product – and warning that the bill could lose their support when it returns to the House. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., who leads the Doctors Caucus, told Fox News Digital he had issues with the Senate version's comparably harsher cuts to federal Medicaid funding. "There is uniform agreement amongst many, many members in the House - if there's a change in the [federal Medicaid assistance percentage], we're not voting for it. It would remove the Medicaid expansion of North Carolina. I won't stand for that," he said. Asked about the feasibility of a July 4 deadline, Murphy said, "I've been a surgeon all my life … if I plan things, I'm used to having them given up in case a patient needs me for emergencies and things like that." Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., a moderate, said "there might be some prudence" in letting go of the July 4 deadline. Conservative Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, was more optimistic. "I think it's more worth it to get the bill right, but that's not to say we won't get it done by then," he said. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., suggested the timeline will rely heavily on Trump. The Senate is expected to work through the weekend to pass the bill. Johnson told House Republicans, meanwhile, to be flexible next week when they're expected to be home in their districts. Sources have told Fox News Digital that House GOP leaders have offered varying estimations of when lawmakers will have to be back in Washington, from Tuesday through Thursday. And the House is up against at least one real-world deadline – the U.S. is expected to run out of cash to pay its debts by the summer, according to multiple projections. Republicans have made raising the debt limit a priority in the bill. Trump, for his part, wrote on Truth Social Friday, "The House of Representatives must be ready to send it to my desk before July 4th – We can get it done." He said during a press conference earlier in the day, "We can go longer, but we'd like to get it done by that time, if possible."
CNET
9 hours ago
- CNET
Early July 4th Robot Vacuum Deals: Get Spotless Floors Starting at Just $115
Now that warm summer weather is here, the last thing you want to do on your off time is clean the house. So why not grab yourself a robot vacuum and shorten your chore list for good? There are tons of excellent options out there for every budget, and with the early Fourth of July deals already in full swing, you can get your hands on one for even less. To help you take advantage of these initial offers, our dedicated deals team has rounded up some top picks below. We'll continue to update this page throughout Independence Day (as well as Prime Day, which kicks off just a few days later), so be sure to check back often for the latest and greatest prices. Best early July 4th robot vacuum deals Anker Eufy 3-in-1 E20: $380 Get the best of all worlds with this versatile three-in-one Eufy robot vacuum. It can clean your floors automatically using advanced Lidar navigation and obstacle avoidance, and has a detachable handheld vacuum for those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Plus, the three-liter base station allows for up to 75 days of maintenance-free cleaning. Details Save $270 $380 at Amazon Close Anker Eufy 25C: $115 The Eufy 25C is already our favorite affordable robot vacuum of 2025, and this early Independence Day deal makes it a pretty unbeatable value. It lacks the more efficient high-tech laser navigation found on pricier models, but it performed well on hardwood floors and carpets in our tests. It boasts 1,500Pa of suction power, a 100-minute runtime and a 0.6-liter dustbin. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free voice control. If you're only after the basics, this is a pretty great bargain. Details Save $134 $115 at Walmart Close Roborock Qrevo Pro: $650 Get truly spotless floors with this advanced Roborock, which can vacuum and mop. It boasts 7,000Pa of suction power and a unique mop arm that allows it to clean all the way to the edge to help prevent blind spots. Plus, the included base station can empty and refill the water tank and wash and dry the mop pads. Details Save $350 $650 at Best Buy Close More robot vacuum deals: Should you shop July 4th robot vacuum deals or wait until Prime Day? Unfortunately, there's no guarantee of which event will offer better prices. In reality, it's most likely that the Fourth of July and Prime Day sales events will blur into one massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we'd recommend placing your order when you see a must-have deal. While there's a slight chance that we'll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there's a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fairly early. Which retailers offer the best July 4th robot vacuum deals? You'll find tons of incredible bargains at major tech and home retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. Plus, a number of brands will be offering some direct discounts of their own, including Roomba and Eufy. What else will be on sale for July 4th? There will be a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There will also be plenty of seasonal deals on grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what's out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best early Fourth of July deals already available. How we choose the best July 4th deals Our team of expert shoppers and deal hunters has spent years sorting through major sales and deals, helping readers understand which are legitimately good. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We've become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you only get the best available. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to include. We consider price history to ensure prices aren't inflated to make a discount seem more substantial. We choose products that we have tested or have top reviews because if an item breaks the first time you use it, the discount isn't worth it. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront, so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Senate is putting Trump's big bill back on track but hurdles remain
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans appeared Friday to push President Donald Trump's big bill back on track after a flurry of last-minute revisions, including deep cuts to food stamps, but there's still a long way to go ahead of expected weekend votes. Trump himself gave Congress some breathing room as senators race to meet his Fourth of July deadline. "It's not the end all,' Trump declared during a press conference at the White House. As the party in majority power, Republicans are grinding through a punch-list of still-unsettled issues as they try to push the package to passage over unified Democratic opposition. Republicans are relying on steep cuts to health care, food stamps and green energy investments to help pay for $3.8 trillion in tax breaks, their top priority. Any one of the roadblocks could doom the sprawling package. The proposed Medicaid cuts, in particular, have raised stark concerns among some GOP senators worried that millions in their states will lose access to the health care program. At the same time, a tentative deal between the White House and House GOP lawmakers from New York and other high-tax districts over the size of a state and local tax deduction, called SALT, needs broader agreement. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who sent his lawmakers home for the weekend with plans to be on call to return swiftly to Washington, said they are 'very close' to finishing up. 'We would still like to meet that July 4th, self-imposed deadline,' said Johnson, R-La. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have stayed close to the White House throughout the process of drafting the big package, which they stress is needed to avoid a massive tax hike at the end of the year when current tax rates expire. The GOP leadership is relying on Trump to pressure holdout lawmakers to push it to passage. The speaker made the walk across the Capitol to join Senate Republicans for lunch, where they were also expected to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the emerging SALT deal. 'Perfect cannot be the enemy of good,' Bessent said in remarks at the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington. 'Getting this passed is the single most important thing we can do this year.' The White House and House Republicans have narrowed on a plan to keep the SALT provision on the House-passed terms of a $40,000 cap on deductions — but for five years, instead of 10. The SALT deduction has been a key holdup as lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states negotiate. They want to quadruple what's now a $10,000 cap. Senate Republicans argued that it's too generous, costing hundreds of billions of dollars for the benefit of a few lawmakers' home regions. With their narrow majorities in the House and Senate, they need almost every lawmaker on board with the package to ensure passage. One GOP holdout, Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, says he can't support the compromise. But other provisions were being shored up after a series of setbacks when the Senate parliamentarian advised they would not pass the chamber's strict 'Byrd Rule' that largely bars policy matters from inclusion in budget bills, unless they can pass the 60-vote threshold that GOP leaders want to avoid. The Republican proposal to shift the costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, has been accepted by the Senate parliamentarian. Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said provisions to make certain immigrants ineligible for food aid were also accepted. 'This paves the way for important reforms that improve efficiency and management of SNAP,' he said. But the panel's top Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, said her party will 'keep fighting these proposals that raise grocery costs and take food away from millions of people, including seniors, children, and veterans.' The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said some 10.9 million more people will go without health care and at least 3 million fewer would qualify for food aid under the House-passed bill. CBO has not yet publicly assessed the Senate draft, which has proposed steeper reductions. The top income earners would see about a $12,000 tax cut under the House-passed bill, while the poorest Americans would see a $1,600 tax hike, the CBO said. The parliamentarian also accepted a revised proposal from the Senate Banking Committee to cut, rather than gut, the funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The entity was set up in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, but Trump has downsized the bureau and its staff. Still, a range of GOP provisions have been found to be out of compliance with Senate rules — including shielding gun silencers from taxes and creating a national school voucher program. __ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Fatima Hussein, Seung Min Kim and Chris Megerian contributed to this report. Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
The Senate is putting Trump's big bill back on track but hurdles remain
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans appeared Friday to push President Donald Trump's big bill back on track after a flurry of last-minute revisions, including deep cuts to food stamps, but there's still a long way to go ahead of expected weekend votes. Trump himself gave Congress some breathing room as senators race to meet his Fourth of July deadline. 'It's not the end all,' Trump declared during a press conference at the White House. As the party in majority power, Republicans are grinding through a punch-list of still-unsettled issues as they try to push the package to passage over unified Democratic opposition. Republicans are relying on steep cuts to health care, food stamps and green energy investments to help pay for $3.8 trillion in tax breaks, their top priority. Any one of the roadblocks could doom the sprawling package. The proposed Medicaid cuts, in particular, have raised stark concerns among some GOP senators worried that millions in their states will lose access to the health care program. At the same time, a tentative deal between the White House and House GOP lawmakers from New York and other high-tax districts over the size of a state and local tax deduction, called SALT, needs broader agreement. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who sent his lawmakers home for the weekend with plans to be on call to return swiftly to Washington, said they are 'very close' to finishing up. 'We would still like to meet that July 4th, self-imposed deadline,' said Johnson, R-La. Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have stayed close to the White House throughout the process of drafting the big package, which they stress is needed to avoid a massive tax hike at the end of the year when current tax rates expire. The GOP leadership is relying on Trump to pressure holdout lawmakers to push it to passage. The speaker made the walk across the Capitol to join Senate Republicans for lunch, where they were also expected to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the emerging SALT deal. 'Perfect cannot be the enemy of good,' Bessent said in remarks at the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington. 'Getting this passed is the single most important thing we can do this year.' The White House and House Republicans have narrowed on a plan to keep the SALT provision on the House-passed terms of a $40,000 cap on deductions — but for five years, instead of 10. The SALT deduction has been a key holdup as lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states negotiate. They want to quadruple what's now a $10,000 cap. Senate Republicans argued that it's too generous, costing hundreds of billions of dollars for the benefit of a few lawmakers' home regions. With their narrow majorities in the House and Senate, they need almost every lawmaker on board with the package to ensure passage. One GOP holdout, Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, says he can't support the compromise. But other provisions were being shored up after a series of setbacks when the Senate parliamentarian advised they would not pass the chamber's strict 'Byrd Rule' that largely bars policy matters from inclusion in budget bills, unless they can pass the 60-vote threshold that GOP leaders want to avoid. The Republican proposal to shift the costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, has been accepted by the Senate parliamentarian. Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said provisions to make certain immigrants ineligible for food aid were also accepted. 'This paves the way for important reforms that improve efficiency and management of SNAP,' he said. But the panel's top Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, said her party will 'keep fighting these proposals that raise grocery costs and take food away from millions of people, including seniors, children, and veterans.' The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said some 10.9 million more people will go without health care and at least 3 million fewer would qualify for food aid under the House-passed bill. CBO has not yet publicly assessed the Senate draft, which has proposed steeper reductions. The top income earners would see about a $12,000 tax cut under the House-passed bill, while the poorest Americans would see a $1,600 tax hike, the CBO said. The parliamentarian also accepted a revised proposal from the Senate Banking Committee to cut, rather than gut, the funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The entity was set up in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, but Trump has downsized the bureau and its staff. Still, a range of GOP provisions have been found to be out of compliance with Senate rules — including shielding gun silencers from taxes and creating a national school voucher program. __ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Joey Cappelletti, Fatima Hussein, Seung Min Kim and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
