Spotlight Why this Fourth of July has fire officials and veterans bracing KARISSA WADDICK USA Today May 10, 2026 May 10, 2026 Updated Jul 10, 2026 1 of 2 Thousands of spectators celebrate the Fourth of July each year at Bethany Beach in Delaware. Gary Emeigh, Delaware News Journal A person rides a bike in front of Lake Dillon in Frisco, Colorado, on March 26, as the reservoir sits at a low level. Trevor Hughes, USA Today Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save KARISSA WADDICK USA Today America will mark its milestone birthday this summer with a bang — quite a few, actually. kAmp9625 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ’D ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ[ 7:C6H@C< C6E2:=6CD 2?5 AJC@E649?:4:2?D D2:5 E96JVC6 D66:?8 DFC8:?8 56>2?5] uC@> 4@2DE E@ 4@2DE[ 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 AC6A2C:?8 8:2?E D9@HD[ 2?5 72>:=:6D 2C6 =@@<:?8 E@ DA:46 FA E96:C 324<J2C5 32C364F6D] k^AmkAmx?56A6?56?46 s2J :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 QE96 8C2?56DE cE9 @7 yF=J E92E H6VG6 D66? :? d_ J62CD[Q D2:5 yF=:6 w64<>2?[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 p>6C:42? !JC@E649?:4 pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2 EC256 8C@FA] k^Am kAm!92?E@> u:C6H@C<D[ E96 =2C86DE 7:C6H@C< 492:? :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 92D 2=C625J D66? 2? FAE:4< :? EC277:4 2?5 :D 6IA64E:?8 :ED Q8C62E6DE D2=6D 6G6C[Q D2:5 G:46 AC6D:56?E y6DD:42 sC28@:F] QtG6CJ3@5JVD 862C:?8 FA 7@C :E]Qk^Am People are also reading… Wildfire smoke moves into southern Wisconsin, bringing 'hazardous' air quality to most of state Lake Geneva approves permit for proposed supper club Highway 50/MainStreet project update Epic Systems' founder Judy Faulkner on why the company buys so much art Family identifies third child who died in Geneva Lake storm; honors her with legacy fund Cleanup efforts continue in Lake Geneva after July 3 storm TruStage insurance provider shuts down network after cybersecurity incident Concerts in the Park event moved indoors for July 16 due to air quality TruStage insurance provider shuts down network after cybersecurity incident Three children die after boat capsizes on Geneva Lake; state of emergency declared Family honors children who drown after storm hit Geneva Lake with charity drive Lake Geneva conducting survey to help develop plan for parks and lakefront US Marshals arrest 'hypermasculine' social media stars Andrew and Tristan Tate, UK seeks extradition Should you run an air conditioner when there is smoke outside? 12U Softball teams raise $2,600 for Kate Schmidt legacy fund kAmqFE ?@E 6G6CJ@?6 :D 6I4:E65] k^AmkAmu:C6 @77:4:2=D :? 5C@F89E\DEC:4<6? H6DE6C? DE2E6D D2J E96 6IA64E65 FAE:4< :? 6IA=@D:@?D :D C2E496E:?8 FA E96:C 2?I:6EJ] k^AmkAmQ(6 2C6 567:?:E6=J 3C24:?8 7@C H92E 4@F=5 36 2? F?FDF2==J 3FDJ DF>>6C 2D A6@A=6 46=63C2E6[Q D2:5 r2=:7@C?:2 $E2E6 u:C6 |2CD92= s2?:6= q6C=2?E] k^Am kAmu:C6H@C<D DA2C< E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 H:=57:C6D 24C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 6249 J62C[ 42FD:?8 562E9D[ :?;FC:6D 2?5 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? AC@A6CEJ 52>286] x? >:5\pAC:=[ 2 3=2K6 E@C6 E9C@F89 >@C6 E92? `_ 24C6D :? {2<6 r:EJ[ u=@C:52[ :? E96 ?@CE96C? A2CE @7 E96 DE2E6[ 27E6C 6>36CD 7C@> 2 7:C6H@C< :8?:E65 5CJ G686E2E:@?] k^Am kAm~FE H6DE[ @77:4:2=D 2C6 @? 6DA64:2==J 9:89 2=6CE] {@H H:?E6C D?@H72== 2?5 9@EE6C\E92?\?@C>2= E6>A6C2EFC6D 92G6 D6E E96 DE286 7@C H92E’D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 2 52?86C@FD=J 5CJ DF>>6C] $@>6 2C62D 92G6 2=C625J 368F? C6DEC:4E:?8 H2E6C FD286] k^Am kAmp D:?8=6 6CC2?E 7:C6H@C< 6>36C 4@F=5 D>@=56C 24C6D @7 =2?5]k^AmkAmr9C:D qCF?6EE6[ 7:C6 2?5 =:76 D276EJ D64E:@? 49:67 7@C E96 r@=@C25@ s:G:D:@? @7 u:C6 !C6G6?E:@? 2?5 r@?EC@=[ D2:5 E96 DE2E6 :D QG6CJ 4@?46C?65 H:E9 E96 5CJ =2?5D42A6]Q (9:=6 96 24<?@H=65865 E9:D DF>>6C H:== 36 5C:6C E92? >@DE[ qCF?6EE6 D2:5[ r@=@C25@ :D FD65 E@ 2C:5 4@?5:E:@?D] k^Am kAmw:D E62> :D H2C?:?8 A6@A=6 23@FE H9:49 7:C6H@C<D 2C6 @77 =:>:ED 2?5 9@H E@ 5:DA@D6 @7 E96> AC@A6C=J] p?JE9:?8 E92E D9@@ED @77 E96 8C@F?5 @C 6IA=@56D[ =:<6 3@EE=6 C@4<6ED[ 496CCJ 3@>3D 2?5 >@CE2CD[ :D?VE 2==@H65 :? E96 DE2E6] k^Am kAmqFE qCF?6EE6 D2:5 96 :D?’E 3=:?5 E@ A6@A=6VD 56D:C6 E@ 46=63C2E6] k^AmkAm%92EVD H9J[ 92C<6?:?8 324< E@ E96 ?2E:@?’D 7@F?5:?8 6C2[ E96 DE2E6 :D AC@>@E:?8 Q3F4<6E 3C:8256DQ E@ =:>:E E96 52>286 @7 :==682= 7:C6H@C<D] k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmpE E96 E:>6 @7 E96 p>6C:42? #6G@=FE:@?[ E96 E6C> C676CC65 E@ E96 =:?6 @7 4@=@?:DED H9@ H@F=5 A2DD 5@H? 3F4<6ED @7 H2E6C E@ 96=A BF6?49 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 7:C6] r@=@C25@ :D FD:?8 E96 E6C> E@ 6?4@FC286 A6@A=6 E@ D@2< DA6?E 7:C6H@C<D :? 2 3F4<6E @FED:56 @G6C?:89E] k^Am kAm(9:=6 A6@A=6 :? r@=@C25@ 2C6 2== E@@ 2H2C6 @7 E96 H:=57:C6 E9C62ED[ qCF?6EE6 D2:5[ :E 42? 36 6?E:4:?8 7@C E96> E@ 5C:G6 E@ 2?@E96C DE2E6 2?5 3FJ :==682= 7:C6H@C<D]k^AmkAm|@DE 7:C6H@C<D 6?E6C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 7C@> A@CED :? $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2] q6C=2?E D2:5 96VD D66? 2? Q6IA=@D:G6 8C@HE9Q @7 :==682= 7:C6H@C<D A@FC:?8 :?E@ E96 4@F?ECJ :? C646?E J62CD] k^AmkAm“|@DE @7 E96 6IA=@D:@?D 2?5 6G6? :?;FC:6D 2C6 7C@> :==682= 7:C6H@C<D @C E96 F?D276 FD286 @7 7:C6H@C<D[” 96 D2:5] k^Am kAms62E9D 2?5 :?;FC:6D C6=2E65 E@ 7:C6H@C<D D<JC@4<6E65 =2DE J62C[ H:E9 7:C6H@C<\C6=2E65 :?;FC:6D C:D:?8 3J daT J62C @G6C J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r@?DF>6C !C@5F4E $276EJ r@>>:DD:@?] k^Am kAm(9:=6 DE2E6D 56E6C>:?6 H92E EJA6D @7 7:C6H@C<D E96J 2==@H[ E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E D6ED 32D6=:?6 D276EJ DE2?52C5D] x? a_ad[ q6C=2?E’D 286?4J 4@?7:D42E65 >:==:@?D @7 A@F?5D @7 AJC@E649?:4D E92E 5:5?’E >66E E9@D6 C6BF:C6>6?ED[ E9@F89 E92E H2D?’E 6?@F89]k^AmkAm$6G6? A6@A=6 H6C6 <:==65 :? 2 yF=J ` 6IA=@D:@? 2E 2? :==682= 7:C6H@C<D H2C69@FD6 :? }@CE96C? r2=:7@C?:2] x? 62C=J pAC:=[ 6:89E A6@A=6 H6C6 492C865 :? 4@??64E:@? H:E9 E96 :?4:56?E] k^Am kAm%9:D J62C[ q6C=2?E D2:5 7:C6 2?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C :? r2=:7@C?:2 E@ DE@A :==682= 5:DEC:3FE@CD]k^Am kAmQ(9:=6 65F42E:@? :D }@] `[ 6?7@C46>6?E @7 <66A:?8 E96 :==682= 7:C6H@C<D @77 @FC DEC66ED C62==J 92D 366? 2? :?4C62D65 DEC2E68J[Q qCF?6EE6 ?@E65] k^Am kAm|:=:E2CJ G6E6C2?D H:E9 A@DE\EC2F>2E:4 DEC6DD 5:D@C56C 42? 6IA6C:6?46 5:DEC6DD 7C@> E96 DF556?[ =@F5 32?8D 2?5 G:3C2E:@?D @7 7:C6H@C<D] p?5 H:E9 >@C6 7:C6H@C<D E92? 6G6C 6IA64E65 E@ 5@E E96 ?:89E D<J 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ E9:D J62C[ D@>6 H@CCJ E96C6 H:== 36 76H6C H2JD E@ 2G@:5 DF49 2?8F:D9] k^Am kAm!2DD286H2JD[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 96=AD G6E6C2?D :? z2?D2D[ :D 9@DE:?8 2 `a\9@FC A2CEJ 7@C 2 D>2== 8C@FA @7 G6E6C2?D 2E 2? F?56C8C@F?5 D2=E >:?6 >FD6F>] %96 6G6?E H:== 762EFC6 32C364F6 C:3D 2?5 3C:D<6E[ 82>6D[ 8:G62H2JD[ D=66A:?8 328D 2?5[ ?@E23=J[ ?@ 7:C6H@C<D]k^AmkAmx? E96 e__\766E\566A 42G6C?[ 2EE6?566D H:== ?@E 36 23=6 E@ 962C[ 766= @C D66 2?J @7 E96 7:C6H@C<D 23@G6] k^Am kAm!2DD286H2JD 4@\7@F?56C y6??:76C v2CC:D@? D2:5 D96 C646:G65 2 A9@?6 42== 7C@> 2 G6E6C2? H9@ 925 EC:65 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 62CA=F8D E@ ?@:D6\42?46=:?8 9625A9@?6D E@ 3=@4< @FE 7:C6H@C<D ?@:D6] p7E6C C68:DE6C:?8 7@C E96 6G6?E[ D96 D2:5[ 96 E@=5 96C[ Qx 5@?VE E9:?< x 92G6 E@ DF776C E9:D J62C]” k^Am kAmQxE 3C:?8D E@ 7C@?E @7 >:?5 2== E96 G6E6C2?D E92E 8@E FD E@ H96C6 H6 2C6 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 E96JVG6 366? E9C@F89 D@ E92E H6 42? 92G6 E96 7C665@>D H6 92G6[Q v2CC:D@? D2:5] k^Am kAmk6>m&$p %@52J C6A@CE6C %C6G@C wF896D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^6>mk^Am Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Desert Storm memorial taking shape in New York art studio A memorial for those who served in Operation Desert Storm will be unveiled this fall in Washington, D.C., as part of USA 250 celebrations. America 250 merch is out in full force as brands 'cash in' on nostalgia T-shirts, baseball caps, cutting boards and more: Companies leaned into the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a vari… Will Trump appear on $250 bill? Treasury appointees are pushing for it President Donald Trump could appear on a proposed new U.S. $250 bill, the first time a living person’s image would be added to U.S. currency i… Helpful tips for firework safety 50 fun facts you might not know about America For the Fourth of July, the Chicago Tribune and Tribune News Service offer these 50 fun facts that you might not know about America. Watch Now: Related Video WisEye Morning Minute: WEC Refers Complaints Against Elon Musk Top stories for July 21, 2026 Top stories for July 21, 2026 FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak Mandela Barnes knows 'exactly what I’m up against' Mandela Barnes knows 'exactly what I’m up against' Watch Now: Related Video WisEye Morning Minute: WEC Refers Complaints Against Elon Musk Top stories for July 21, 2026 Top stories for July 21, 2026 FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak Mandela Barnes knows 'exactly what I’m up against' Mandela Barnes knows 'exactly what I’m up against'
Desert Storm memorial taking shape in New York art studio A memorial for those who served in Operation Desert Storm will be unveiled this fall in Washington, D.C., as part of USA 250 celebrations.
America 250 merch is out in full force as brands 'cash in' on nostalgia T-shirts, baseball caps, cutting boards and more: Companies leaned into the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a vari…
Will Trump appear on $250 bill? Treasury appointees are pushing for it President Donald Trump could appear on a proposed new U.S. $250 bill, the first time a living person’s image would be added to U.S. currency i…
50 fun facts you might not know about America For the Fourth of July, the Chicago Tribune and Tribune News Service offer these 50 fun facts that you might not know about America.
