Daily Comet

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor is the first known Louisianan to summit the highest point in all 50 states. Dr. Linus Wilson completed the feat by climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska during a 29-day solo expedition. Only 396 people had previously accomplished climbing all 50 state high points as of early 2026. A Lafayette man has made Louisiana mountaineering history by becoming the first known resident of the state to stand atop the highest natural point in all 50 U.S. states.

The first wave of Social Security payments for July is scheduled to be distributed this week. Social Security benefits — paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired — are typically scheduled to go out on Wednesdays. Social Security faces a shortfall as soon as 2032. If Congress does nothing, research suggests, retirees will see a 28% cut in monthly benefits. That has caused several groups to propose their own ways to fix the program.

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at July 5, 2026, results for each game: Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 5 drawing 0-9-2 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 5 drawing 4-8-0-8 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 5 numbers from July 5 drawing 5-5-5-1-1 Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner?

Fried chicken is among Americans' favorite foods, and the dish is celebrated Monday, July 6, on National Fried Chicken Day. Like many made-up holidays, there's no origin for July 6 being designated as a day devoted to fried chicken, according to the National Day Calendar site.

High school students who took Advanced Placement (AP) tests during the 2025-2026 school year will soon be able to see their scores. Starting Monday, July 6, students' scores will be available on the College Board's website, according to the organization. AP exams are taken in May, towards the end of the school year, and can determine whether a student will receive college credit for the classes they took throughout the year.

Talk about living like a queen. Bibi, an 11-year-old Chihuahua in Tennessee, was treated to the room of her furry dreams after her owner, Honour Hernandez, transformed a small nook under the stairs into a luxury bedroom for her, complete with a raised bed, a portrait of her and a lamp, which the family switches on during the day and off at bedtime.

Warning: This story contains spoilers from Episodes 1-2 of "House of the Dragon" Season 3. The carnage continues in "House of the Dragon" as Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) takes the Iron Throne and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) flees town. Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), who created a stir with an incestuous kiss with his mom Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in the premiere episode, also fell, but not before he sticks his blade into the smooth-talking Harrenhal caretaker, Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale).

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at July 4, 2026, results for each game: Winning Powerball numbers from July 4 drawing 17-38-46-50-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2 Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600.

The Powerball jackpot rose to $396 million with a cash value of $180.2 million ahead of the Saturday, July 4, drawing. Since launching in 1992, Powerball jackpots have been hit more than 400 times. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rank among the states with the most jackpot-winning tickets. Though no one took home the top prize on Wednesday, one lucky player from California took home $1 million.

July 4, 2026, 2:23 p.m. CT President Donald Trump will help warm up the crowd ahead of a massive Fourth of July fireworks display in Washington. Admittedly, the crowd will probably be plenty warmed with temperatures in the Nation's capital expected to reach 101 on Saturday, July 4.