NPR News: 07-22-2026 3PM EDT

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black man, was found dead on Mississippi’s Horn Island on July 6, two days after he disappeared during a boat trip with friends. On Tuesday, the preliminary results of an independent autopsy were announced: his cause of death remains undetermined, pending further investigation. The family has voiced deep frustration with the initial response. Christine Wells Wandsley criticized the local sheriff, saying, “It was not even an hour that his body had been removed and the sheriff came out and said, ‘This is, you know, accidental drowning. We don’t think there’s foul play.’” The independent autopsy directly challenges that early conclusion.

Threats and Trade Policy in the Strait of Hormuz

President Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran, posting on social media that the U.S. would destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran fires on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He specified that the targets could include infrastructure in or near Tehran. The statement came as Trump has repeatedly said he has no interest in meeting with Iranian negotiators. Support for Trump’s actions abroad and for the higher prices of goods that have accompanied them is dropping, even among his base, according to NPR’s Deepa Shivram.

Measles Cases Surge Past Last Year’s Total