Human Race: Lindsey Graham’s legacy

South Carolina Republicans are scrambling to find a replacement for Sen. Lindsey Graham, who served for nearly 24 years in the Senate before dying suddenly on July 11. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish out the remainder of her brother’s term. Voters will pick a new Republican candidate in a special primary on Aug. 11. Graham, who was seeking a fifth term, easily won his party’s nomination earlier this year and was expected to cruise to victory in November’s general election. He was an influential member of the GOP who served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and voiced strong support for America’s foreign policy objectives. He recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and a day before his death participated in a bipartisan announcement that Congress was prepared to move forward with additional sanctions on Russia. President Donald Trump, who frequently played golf with Graham, described him as “like a member of the family.” According to the medical examiner, Graham likely died from a tear in the inner wall of his aorta. He turned 71 two days before his death.

Pastor freed

Authorities freed Ezra Jin Mingri, pastor of one of China’s largest underground house-church networks, just weeks after President Donald Trump raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Detained for nine months, Jin reunited with his family in Los Angeles in early July. Jin founded Beijing-based Zion Church in 2007 and refused to register it under China’s state-controlled religious system. Authorities detained him and other Zion leaders in October 2025 as new laws barring online worship services, prayer networks, and other religious activity went into effect. —Kim Henderson

Clinging to life

Bill Gothard, the 91-year-old founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles ministry has been in a coma since June 24 after suffering a heart attack. As of July 3, he was still alive, and his family was pursuing every possible way to save his life, according to the most recent update from his media team. His kidneys regained some function, and at one point he was able to squeeze people’s hands at their request, they said. Gothard founded IBLP in 1961, promoting home education and holding seminars on biblical principles and child training. He resigned in 2014 amid over 60 sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, which he denied. The ministry’s internal investigation concluded that he repeatedly engaged in inappropriate, but not criminal, conduct. —Elizabeth Black

Faith on field

U.S. Men’s National Team defender Mark McKenzie made just one appearance during the World Cup, but he became a visible presence after several matches, kneeling in the field’s center circle and leading players in prayer. Bronx-born McKenzie, who plays club soccer in France, told reporters the postgame prayers helped keep the moment in perspective by focusing on gratitude. “We’re blessed to even be here,” he said. McKenzie also shared his testimony in videos released during the World Cup. In them, he spoke about his Christian upbringing and described his relationship with Christ as his only source of peace amid the turbulence of a professional soccer career. —Kim Henderson

Nurse exonerated

Britain’s Nursing and Midwifery Council closed its investigations into Christian nurse Jennifer Melle, years after a controversy over her use of pronouns, the Christian Legal Centre said on July 6. Melle in 2024 used male pronouns when referring to a male patient, a convicted pedophile who identified as a woman. Her employers reported her to the council over the pronoun incident and also accused her of breaching confidentiality by speaking to the media about her case. The council said Melle didn’t act maliciously, but used the patient’s pronouns as an expression of her faith. It noted that Melle spoke to reporters because she believed she had no internal options left. The council found her fit to continue practicing medicine. —Elizabeth Black

Epic journey

A Grand Canyon river rafting guide became the first American woman and fastest person to complete a solo rowing expedition across the mid-Pacific region, from California to Hawaii. Hundreds of fans greeted Kelsey Pfendler, 32, in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 3, after she completed the 2,400-mile journey. Pfendler set off from Monterey, Calif., on May 21 and rowed for 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes, a record-breaking speed for any man or woman. She documented her progress with video updates on social media and told ABC News reaching the finish line felt “very surreal.” —Mary Jackson

Costly protest

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Watson was arrested July 1 for protesting against President Donald Trump on the U.S. Capitol steps without a member of Congress present. During a news conference hosted by the Removal Coalition, Watson criticized the administration for wars against Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran; Elon Musk’s government review; strong-armed immigration enforcement; and foreign-aid cuts. Then he climbed the Capitol steps with a sign declaring, “Impeach, convict, remove.” Active-duty service members are prohibited from participating in political activities in uniform. Air Force officials said Watson was being reviewed for possible administrative and disciplinary actions. —Todd Vician

Legal fraud

Several lawsuits and legal ethics investigations accuse Washington state–based attorney Alexandra Lozano of filing thousands of fraudulent applications for humanitarian visas that relied on fake stories of trafficking and domestic violence, in some cases without her clients’ knowledge. Lozano promised immigrants desperate to remain in the United States swift legal solutions, all while leaving them vulnerable for deportation once immigration officers later discovered flaws in their cases. Her signature is on over 53,000 cases, according to the Washington bar. Lozano surrendered her license and closed her firm, though she denies wrongdoing. She is also accused of hiring foreign employees without proper legal credentials. —Addie Offereins