GOP Leadership: Congress Prepared to Move on Russia Sanctions

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said they will be going ahead with new sanctions on Russia.

"[Russian President] Vladimir Putin has shown an unwillingness to be reasonable and to talk seriously about brokering a peace, and I think we have to send him a message — that's my view," Johnson said to reporters.

Thune said the Senate is working with the White House on legislation to help give President Donald Trump leverage to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Thune said he is expected to have the bill ready before the August recess.

The Senate bill would have bipartisan support, but Thune has been waiting for a clear signal from the Trump administration before moving forward, Politico said.

The move comes as Trump has ramped up his criticism of Putin and the Kremlin's unwillingness to negotiate a ceasefire.

Trump said Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports.

"We get a lot of bull***t thrown at us by Putin … He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting.

Overnight, Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones. The attack was the latest in a series of escalating air assaults in recent weeks that have involved hundreds of drones in addition to ballistic missiles straining Ukrainian air defenses at a perilous moment in the war, now in its fourth year.

GOP Leadership: Congress Prepared to Move on Russia Sanctions | Newsmax.com

Mobile considering changes to towing ordinance to make service more fair

The Mobile City Council is set to vote next week on a proposed overhaul to its towing ordinance aimed at eliminating abuses, improving response times, and making the process more transparent for both towing companies and drivers. Under the current rules passed in 2020, companies could operate from multiple satellite locations across the city, giving them more chances to be called for service. But police say some companies have gamed the system—“leapfrogging” the rotation list and claiming calls in crash-heavy areas without properly staffing all locations.

MPD Lt. John Angle says the changes would simplify things by requiring each company to designate a single base location that will be used to determine who gets dispatched based on proximity. “Pick that location and put the best foot forward,” Angle said. “Some may want to move around a little bit, but they’ll only be allowed one location.” He added that some companies, especially those based in Semmes or West Mobile, have shown reluctance to respond to downtown calls, leading to lengthy delays for officers.

The ordinance would also eliminate multiple tow lists—currently including impound, closest, and rotation lists—in favor of a single “closest list” approach. The goal is to make sure companies aren’t gaming the system and that vehicle owners and insurers can more easily locate where a car has been towed.

In addition, the city plans to raise the base tow fee from $150 to $200 to reflect current costs, with hopes that the regulated rate increase will reduce instances of overcharging. Angle noted that some drivers have reported being charged $100 over the allowed amount, a problem the new ordinance seeks to control through stricter monitoring. Ultimately, Angle said, the city wants to ensure a fair, consistent experience for both drivers and towing operators.

Mobile considering changes to towing ordinance to make service more fair