More than half a million Palestinians have been displaced in recent days by escalating Israeli military operations in southern and northern Gaza, the United Nations says.

Israelis celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday with barbecues in parks across the country, although the normally raucous parties were smaller and quieter this year because of the war in Gaza. Fireworks were cancelled across the country, ands many cities scaled down their street parties.

No food has entered the two main border crossings in southern Gaza for the past week. Some 1.1 million Palestinians face catastrophic levels of hunger — on the brink of starvation — according to the United Nations. A “full-blown famine” is taking place in the north.

Impassioned supporters and opponents of a far-reaching Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution flocked to the State Capitol ahead of crucial votes aimed at putting it on the 2026 ballot.

However, the state House adjourned without voting on the bill late Monday after debate on unrelated bills ran out the clock. It wasn’t immediately clear when the measure would be taken up on the floor.

The amendment would guarantee some of the nation’s broadest protections of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights if it is approved by both chambers this session and then by voters in two years. Anti-abortion activists and conservative religious groups are campaigning to defeat it, but Democrats hold enough seats to pass what has been a top party priority.

A vehicle collision occurred outside the Anderson Student Center turnaround on Cretin Avenue Thursday afternoon.

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Daniela Kopřivová can be reached at kopr1448@stthomas.edu.