Here’s a roundup of **USA TODAY’s top news highlights today**, featuring reader-voted awards, college football rankings, and big national headlines:
## 🏅 Del Taco Named America’s Favorite Fast Food Chain
In the latest **USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Awards**, **Del Taco** claimed the **top spot as the best fast food chain in the U.S.**, dethroning Chick-fil-A. It also won awards for **best fast-food fries** and runner-up in **best breakfast**. Jack in the Box and A\&W placed second and third respectively. (\[turn0news36])
---
## 🏈 Texas Tops USA TODAY Preseason College Football Coaches Poll
The University of Texas earned the **No. 1 ranking** in the latest **USA TODAY preseason coaches poll**, leading nine SEC schools. Defending national champion Ohio State is second, followed by Penn State at number three. (\[turn0news32])
## 🇺🇸 Nationwide Headlines: Politics, Crime & Economy
* The **U.S. Justice Department** states that much of the **grand jury testimony in Ghislaine Maxwell’s case** is already public.
* Federal regulators aim to **accelerate drone deployment approvals** to simplify airspace rules.
* The **NY Federal Reserve reports rising student loan defaults** in Q2, signaling financial strain.
* **Violent crime in the U.S. dropped 4.5% in 2024**, marking a second consecutive year of decline.
* **Trump pledges small tariffs on pharmaceutical imports**, while broader trade data shows the U.S. deficit shrank.
([Newsweek][1], [reuters.com][2])
---
## 🔍 Why These Stories Matter
* **Del Taco’s win** reflects shifting preferences toward more diverse and value-driven menus nationally.
* **Texas’s top preseason position** sets the tone for the upcoming college football season and reflects rising momentum in the SEC.
* National affairs on elections, crime, and economic data offer a pulse on where the U.S. is heading in policy, security, and recovery.
---
### 📌 In Summary
| Story | Key Takeaway |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Del Taco wins USA TODAY poll | Dethroned Chick-fil-A in major fast-food categories |
| Texas #1 in coaches poll | SEC dominance reflected in preseason rankings |
| U.S. top headlines | Legal proceedings, drone rules, crime dip and student debts |
---
### 🔖 SEO Tags for This Post:
```
USA TODAY top news, Del Taco readers choice, USA Today fast food awards, USA Today college football poll, Texas preseason coaches poll, national news headlines USA Today, US crime statistics 2024, student loans default rise, drone regulation news
```
0 Comments