CNN 5 Things

An acclaimed pianist gathered thousands of people’s thoughts and reflections of what it means to be an American. Hundreds of items are being preserved in a capsule that captures America’s 250 years. A legendary locomotive and a grassroots running community are making coast-to-coast trips with a whistle and a flag you can’t miss. Plus, these towns from CNN’s annual list prove some of America’s best destinations are off the beaten path. 

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Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco 

Producer: Eryn Mathewson  

Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Andy Buck, Linda Gaudino, Deb Brunswick 
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Ahead of America’s 250th birthday, CNN tracked down multiple descendants of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence to ask: do you feel like we are living up to their vision? Their answers were as complicated as the country itself.

For more: Descendants in a divided America 

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Guest: Catherine Shoichet, CNN Senior Writer 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Photo: Tristen Rouse/CNN
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A record number of Americans hit the road amid a record heat wave. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donate $26M before their wedding. A mass funeral begins today, for Iran’s former Supreme Leader. Rescue crews pulled a survivor of the Venezuelan earthquake, out of the rubble, after he had been trapped for more than a week.  Plus, a group from Milwaukee, known as the “Dancing Grannies” are set to perform in the Washington DC July 4th parade.
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A dangerous heat wave is bringing record-breaking temperatures to parts of the US ahead of July 4th. We have details on the former Olympian who’s facing charges for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. We’ll explain the law enforcement challenges surrounding events celebrating America’s birthday at the nation’s capital. Funeral preparations are underway for a huge farewell to Iran’s former supreme leader. Plus, details on how authorities say two climbers breached security to scale the Empire State Building.
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A new jobs report was released today and hiring fell short of economists' expectations. A Financial Times report says an AI giant may give the Trump administration a stake in the company. Russia launched another deadly assault on Ukraine’s capital. Manhattan's district attorney explained why he chose not to retry disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Plus, a new CDC report suggests Americans are living longer.
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