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2015 in the United States#June

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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{incomplete list|date=July 2014}}

{{Year in the United States|2015}}

{{Year in U.S. states and territories|2015}}

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Incumbents

= Federal government =

::John Boehner (R-Ohio) (until October 29)

::Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) (starting October 29)

::Harry Reid (D-Nevada) (until January 3)

::Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) (starting January 3)

  • Congress: 113th (until January 3), 114th (starting January 3){{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/Class_III.htm|title=Class I|date=January 6, 2015|work=senate.gov|access-date=January 18, 2015}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none;width:55%"

! Governors and lieutenant governors

|-

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= Governors =

= Lieutenant governors =

|}

Events

= January =

  • January 1
  • New laws that go into effect on January 1:
  • Under Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services begins using the Medicare fee schedule to give larger payments to physicians who provide high-quality care compared with cost.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/index.html|title=About the ACA|first=Assistant Secretary for Public|last=Affairs (ASPA)|date=June 10, 2013|website=HHS.gov}}
  • California's affirmative consent law goes into effect.{{cite web |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |title=California Enacts 'Yes Means Yes' Law, Defining Sexual Consent |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/09/29/352482932/california-enacts-yes-means-yes-law-defining-sexual-consent |website=NPR |date=September 29, 2014}}
  • California bans revenge porn.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/revenge-porn-banned-in-california/|title="Revenge porn" banned in California|date=October 2, 2013|work=cbsnews.com|access-date=January 18, 2015}}
  • Louisiana's law allowing 16- and 17-year-old people to register to vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2015/01/01/louisiana-new-laws/21148059/|title=22 new laws go into effect in Louisiana today|author=Contributions The Advocate and State Legislative web site.|date=January 1, 2015|work=wwltv.com|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103205230/http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2015/01/01/louisiana-new-laws/21148059/|archive-date=January 3, 2015|url-status=dead}}
  • New York bans photography with big cats.{{cite web|url=http://6abc.com/pets/video-tiger-selfies-banned-in-new-york/136461/|title=VIDEO: Tiger selfies banned in New York|work=6abc Philadelphia|date=June 24, 2014|access-date=January 18, 2015}}
  • Nevada schools can now deny driver's licenses to students who skip classes.{{cite web|url=http://fox13now.com/2014/12/30/under-new-nevada-law-chronically-truant-students-will-lose-drivers-licenses/|title=Under new Nevada law, chronically truant students will lose driver's licenses - fox13now.com|work=fox13now.com|date=December 30, 2014|access-date=January 18, 2015}}
  • Illinois requires e-cigarettes to be sold behind-the-counter.{{cite web|url=http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/New-E-Cigarette-Rules-in-Illinois-288110881.html|title=New E-Cigarette Rules in Illinois|author=Amanda DeVoe|work=wifr.com|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=May 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501202527/http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/New-E-Cigarette-Rules-in-Illinois-288110881.html|url-status=dead}}
  • Several states raise their minimum wages; Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
  • Restaurant chain Chick-fil-A reveals that credit card information from up to 9,000 transactions in five states may have been stolen.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/02/chick-fil-data-breach-hack-investigation|title=Chick-fil-A investigates hack into credit card payment data|date=January 2, 2015|website=the Guardian}}
  • January 3 – The 114th Congress begins, and, as per the 2014 elections, the Republican Party holds majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/228400-this-week-new-congress-begins/ |work=The Hill |title=This week: New Congress begins |date=May 1, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015}}
  • January 5 – Groundbreaking and construction begin on the $68 billion California High-Speed Rail System, with the new transportation line planning to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2029, reaching speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h).{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Reid |title=California to break ground on $68 billion high-speed rail line |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/01/05/california-to-break-ground-on-68-billion-high-speed-rail-line/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 5, 2015}}
  • January 6
  • Federal judge James R. Spencer sentences former Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell to two years in prison on federal corruption charges.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/robert-f-mcdonnell-sentenced-to-two-years-in-prison-in-corruption-case/2015/01/06/e51520ca-9049-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html |title=Robert F. McDonnell sentenced to two years in prison |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 1, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015}}
  • A gunman fatally shoots a doctor at a VA hospital in El Paso, Texas, before committing suicide.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/us/texas-va-shooting/ |publisher=CNN |title=Gunman kills doctor, then himself, at VA hospital in El Paso, Texas |date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015}}
  • January 12
  • The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Oregon Ducks to win the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, by a score of 42–20.{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4f041c92058c4f49a0705e0664dbfadc/elliott-buckeyes-answer-early-oregon-score-14-7-lead|title=Buckeye Bash: Ohio State claims title in playoff's debut|work=The Big Story|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=January 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118053716/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4f041c92058c4f49a0705e0664dbfadc/elliott-buckeyes-answer-early-oregon-score-14-7-lead|url-status=dead}}
  • A federal judge rules that South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, and immediately stays the ruling.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/south-dakota-must-allow-gay-marriage-judge-n284881 |work=NBC News |title=South Dakota Must Allow Gay Marriage: Judge |date=December 1, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}
  • Bruce Rauner is sworn in as the 42nd governor of Illinois, replacing Pat Quinn.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/illinois-inauguration-288241861.html|title=Bruce Rauner Sworn in As Governor: "I Am Ready to Go to Work For You"|date=January 12, 2015|work=NBC Chicago|access-date=January 12, 2015}}
  • January 14
  • The FBI arrests an Ohioan man for threatening to stage an ISIS-inspired attack on the United States Capitol.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30824375 |publisher=BBC |title=FBI foils IS-inspired plot to attack US Capitol |date=January 14, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}
  • A collision between a train and a prison transport bus near Penwell, Texas leaves at least eight prisoners and two corrections officers dead.{{cite news |title=Ten dead as Texas prison bus collides with train |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30821835 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |work=BBC News |date=January 14, 2015}}
  • January 15 – The nominations for the 87th Academy Awards are announced at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. The nominees for Best Picture are American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.{{cite web|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees |publisher=Oscars |title=87th Oscars Nominees |date=January 15, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229222408/http://oscar.go.com/nominees |archive-date=December 29, 2012 }}
  • January 16 – The Supreme Court announces it will hear four appellate rulings whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Oral arguments will take place in April and a ruling may occur by June.{{cite news |last1=Mallonee |first1=Mary Kay |title=Supreme Court agrees to take on same-sex marriage issue |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/16/politics/court-gay-marriage/index.html |access-date=November 9, 2021 |work=CNN |date=January 16, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |title=Supreme Court to Decide Marriage Rights for Gay Couples Nationwide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/17/us/supreme-court-to-decide-whether-gays-nationwide-can-marry.html |access-date=November 9, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=January 16, 2015}}
  • January 18 – K.C. Undercover and Star vs. the Forces of Evil debuts on Disney Channel and Disney XD.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/12/11/new-series-k-c-undercover-starring-zendaya-to-premiere-sunday-january-18-on-disney-channel/338560/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219074415/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/12/11/new-series-k-c-undercover-starring-zendaya-to-premiere-sunday-january-18-on-disney-channel/338560/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 19, 2014|title=New Series 'K.C. Undercover' Starring Zendaya to Premiere Sunday, January 18 on Disney Channel|last=Bibel|first=Sara|date=December 11, 2014|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=December 12, 2014}}
  • January 20 – President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union Address to the United States Congress.http://bigstory.ap.org/article/59521b2ecebd4215b1f125ecaa42b364/state-union-obama-aims-influence-2016-debate {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124121001/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/59521b2ecebd4215b1f125ecaa42b364/state-union-obama-aims-influence-2016-debate |date=January 24, 2015 }} APhttp://bigstory.ap.org/article/a5cfd192b18b498e96675aa977478685/obama-state-union-america-turning-page {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124030447/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a5cfd192b18b498e96675aa977478685/obama-state-union-america-turning-page |date=January 24, 2015 }} AP{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1800bf6744eb4b3f91a75817d54a2a46/fact-check-obama-claims-credit-incomplete-recovery|title=FACT CHECK: Obama claims credit for an incomplete recovery|access-date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=January 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122081203/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/1800bf6744eb4b3f91a75817d54a2a46/fact-check-obama-claims-credit-incomplete-recovery|url-status=dead}}
  • January 23
  • The U.S. Southern District of Alabama strikes down the state ban on same-sex marriage in Alabama, saying it has violated equal protection and due process rights.{{Cite web|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/23/judge-strikes-down-gay-marriage-ban-in-ala/22251623/|title = Judge strikes down gay-marriage ban in Ala.|date = January 23, 2015|publisher = USA Today}}
  • The Supreme Court announces it will review the lethal injection protocol used by Oklahoma, which inmates suggest violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/23/politics/supreme-court-oklahoma-execution-review/ |publisher=CNN |title=Supreme Court to review Oklahoma lethal injection procedure |date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2015}}
  • January 26–27 – A blizzard hits the Northeast, shutting down major cities including New York City and Boston, with up to 60 million people affected.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30996010 |publisher=BBC |title=Winter Storm Juno: Snow shuts down New York and Boston |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015}}

= February =

  • February 1 – Amid accusations of cheating, the New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28–24 in Super Bowl XLIX at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/super-bowl-xlix-new-england-patriots-beat-seattle-seahawks-tom-brady-bill-belichick-020115 |work=Fox Sports |title=Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks to win fourth Super Bowl under Tom Brady, Bill Belichick |date=January 2, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2015}}
  • February 3
  • A collision between a commuter train and a passenger vehicle kills six in Valhalla, New York.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.msn.com}}http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/03/metro-north-train-hits-car-in-valhalla-service-snagged-on-harlem-line/ CBS Local
  • The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refuses to stay a judge's ruling overturning the banning of same-sex marriage in Alabama, but Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore states the next day that the state is not required to issue same-sex marriage licenses.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/03/alabama-gay-marriage-stay-denied/22797249/ |publisher=USA Today |title=Federal court won't stay Ala. same-sex marriage ruling |date=March 2, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabamas-top-judge-state-doesnt-have-allow-gay-marriage-n299751 |work=NBC News |title=Alabama's Top Judge: State Doesn't Have to Allow Gay Marriage |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=April 2, 2015}}
  • February 5 – American electronics retail store franchise RadioShack files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 11 consecutive quarterly losses.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2015/02/05/radioshack-cuts-the-cord-after-90-years-files-for-bankruptcy/ |work=Forbes |title=RadioShack Cuts the Cord After 94 Years, Files For Bankruptcy |date=May 2, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2015}}
  • February 10
  • U.S. officials announce that in light of the Houthi takeover of the Yemeni capital city of Sana'a and the resignation of Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, the United States will be closing its embassy in Yemen. All American diplomats working in Yemen are advised to evacuate.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-usa-idUSKBN0LE25720150210 |publisher=Reuters |title=United States closes its embassy in conflict-hit Yemen |date=October 2, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2015}}
  • NBC announces that NBC Nightly News host Brian Williams has been suspended for six months due to revelations that he greatly embellished stories of his role in a helicopter incident in Iraq on the air.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/11/business/media/brian-williams-suspended-by-nbc-news-for-six-months.html |work=The New York Times |title=Brian Williams Suspended From NBC for 6 Months Without Pay |date=October 2, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}}
  • February 11
  • Police arrest suspected shooter Craig Stephen Hicks for killing a Muslim family of three in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Police state that the shooting was motivated by a long-standing neighbor dispute over parking.{{Cite web |date=2015-02-12 |title=Three young Muslims shot dead in their home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/chapel-hill-shooting-three-young-muslims-gunned-down-in-north-carolina-at-their-family-home-10037734.html |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Independent |language=en}}http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5675a9eee93c40bbb169c875c93314ad/man-arrested-after-3-shot-death-north-carolina {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312225028/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5675a9eee93c40bbb169c875c93314ad/man-arrested-after-3-shot-death-north-carolina |date=March 12, 2015 }} AP
  • The New England Journal of Medicine publishes research from the American Cancer Society that mortality due to cigarette smoking in the United States may be substantially greater than previously thought when adding in associations with diseases that have not been formally established as caused by smoking.{{cite news |last=Grady |first=Denise |title=Smoking's Toll on Health Is Even Worse Than Previously Thought, a Study Finds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/health/smokings-health-toll-worse-than-previously-thought-study-says.html |date=February 11, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 11, 2015 }}{{cite journal |author1=Carter, Brian D. |s2cid=34821377 |title=Smoking and Mortality — Beyond Established Causes |date=February 12, 2015 |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |volume=372 |issue=7 |pages=631–640 |doi=10.1056/NEJMsa1407211 |display-authors=etal |pmid=25671255|doi-access=free |url=https://repository.escholarship.umassmed.edu/bitstream/20.500.14038/44901/2/nejmsa1407211.pdf }}
  • February 13 – Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber announces his resignation (effective February 18) amid allegations his fiancée used taxpayer resources to aid her green-energy consulting business. Kate Brown moves up to Governor from being the Secretary of State.http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d2b8cb51c03947df859fe26b583bd0f3/oregon-governor-resists-mounting-pressure-resign {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217021503/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d2b8cb51c03947df859fe26b583bd0f3/oregon-governor-resists-mounting-pressure-resign |date=February 17, 2015 }} APhttp://bigstory.ap.org/article/96019f6a849a414eaa5d797f4bb20abd/timeline-ethics-issues-surrounding-oregon-governor {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216210256/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/96019f6a849a414eaa5d797f4bb20abd/timeline-ethics-issues-surrounding-oregon-governor |date=February 16, 2015 }} AP{{Cite news |last=Voo |first=Lee Van Der |last2=Johnson |first2=Kirk |date=2015-02-13 |title=Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon Resigns Amid Crisis |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/us/kitzhaber-resigns-as-governor-of-oregon.html |access-date=2023-06-28 |issn=0362-4331}}
  • February 14 – The New York Police Department reports no murders in New York City over a 12-day period for the first time in the city's history, citing the recent storms and extreme weather events as the possible reason.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/14/record-new-york-city-freeze-hits-12-days-as-experts-cite-extreme-cold |title=Record New York City murder freeze hits 12 days as experts cite extreme cold |work=The Guardian |date=February 14, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2015}}
  • February 16
  • A Moscow-based security software company, the Kaspersky Lab, discovers the NSA's ability to hide spying software in hard drives made by several top manufacturers in the computers of users from 30 different countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyberspying-idUSKBN0LK1QV20150216 |publisher=Reuters |title=Russian researches expose breakthrough U.S. spying program |date=February 16, 2015 |access-date=February 16, 2015}}
  • A federal district court judge in Brownsville, Texas, temporarily halts President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration, allowing Texas and 25 other states to file a lawsuit opposing the orders.{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/us/obama-immigration-policy-halted-by-federal-judge-in-texas.html?_r=0|title = Obama Immigration Policy Halted by Federal Judge in Texas|website = The New York Times|date = February 17, 2015|last1 = Shear|first1 = Michael D.|last2 = Preston|first2 = Julia}}
  • February 17 – Ashton Carter is sworn in as the 25th Secretary of Defense, replacing Chuck Hagel.http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e889dba2ea284e65b8133785d2a08b17/new-defense-chief-makes-pentagon-debut {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404135716/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e889dba2ea284e65b8133785d2a08b17/new-defense-chief-makes-pentagon-debut |date=April 4, 2015 }} AP
  • February 19 - The long running 12-year sitcom Two and a Half Men comes to an end with the Finale.
  • February 20 – Charles Bothuell IV and Monique Dillard-Bothuell are charged with torture and child abuse of Charles Bothuell V.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/20/parents-boy-held-basement-charged-torture/23779195/|title=Parents of boy held in basement charged with torture|website=USA Today|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • February 22
  • In stock car racing, Joey Logano wins the Daytona 500 (extended to 203 laps due to a green-white-checkered finish), making him the second youngest winner of the race after Trevor Bayne, and giving Team Penske their second Daytona 500 victory. Jeff Gordon (in his final season as a full-time driver) leads the most laps with a total of 87 out of 200 and also wins his second pole for the race, and his first since 1999.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=44&RaceID=6752&StatType=Race+Results|title=Daytona 500 Results|publisher=Motor Racing Network|date=February 22, 2015|website=MRN.com|access-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223085853/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=44&RaceID=6752&StatType=Race+Results|archive-date=February 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}
  • The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences hold the 87th Academy Awards in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The telecast garners nearly 37.3 million viewers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/arts/birdman-wins-best-picture-at-oscars-2015.html |work=The New York Times |title=Academy Awards: 'Birdman' Wins Best Picture Oscar |date=February 23, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}}
  • Birdman wins four awards out of nine nominations, including the awards for Best Picture and its director Alejandro González Iñárritu for Best Director. Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel also wins four awards.
  • Eddie Redmayne wins the award for Best Actor for his performance in The Theory of Everything.
  • Julianne Moore wins the award for Best Actress for her performance in Still Alice.
  • February 24
  • Alaska's law legalizing the private use, but not sale of, recreational marijuana goes into effect.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/marijuana-officially-legal-in-alaska-for-private-use-20150224 |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=Marijuana Officially Legal in Alaska for Private Use |date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}}
  • A passenger train collides with a truck in Oxnard, California after a driver mistakenly turned onto the tracks. The train engineer died and 32 passengers and crew members were injured.{{Cite report|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB1607.pdf|title=Highway Accident Brief: Train and Truck Crash on Railroad Right-of-Way and Subsequent Fire|id=NTSB/HAB-16/07|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
  • February 26
  • The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules in favor of net neutrality by applying Title II (common carrier) of the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 706 of the Telecommunications act of 1996 to the Internet.{{cite news |author=Staff |title=FCC Adopts Strong, Sustainable Rules To Protect The Open Internet |url=http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db0226/DOC-332260A1.pdf |date=February 26, 2015 |work=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=February 26, 2015 }}{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |last2=Lohr |first2=Steve |title=In Net Neutrality Victory, F.C.C. Classifies Broadband Internet Service as a Public Utility |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-vote-internet-utility.html |date=February 26, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 26, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Flaherty |first=Anne |title=Regulators approve tougher rules for Internet providers |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323/regulators-move-toward-tougher-rules-internet-providers |date=February 26, 2015 |work=AP News |access-date=February 27, 2015 |archive-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228131018/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323/regulators-move-toward-tougher-rules-internet-providers |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Flaherty |first=Anne |title=Fact Check: Talking heads skew 'net neutrality' debate |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150225/us--net_neutrality-fact_check-e30cfb560f.html |date=February 25, 2015 |work=AP News |access-date=February 26, 2015 }}
  • The voter-elected legalization of possession and private use of recreational marijuana is put into effect in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Congress-Investigating-DCs-Move-to-Legalize-Pot-294016951.html |publisher=NBC Washington |title=D.C. Legalizes Marijuana Despite Threats From Congress |date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2015}}
  • A gunman kills seven people then himself in a spree shooting in Tyrone, Missouri.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-fatally-shot-gunman-dead-southeastern-missouri-29269115|title=U.S. News – National News|work=ABC News|access-date=July 16, 2016}}

= March =

  • March 2 – Federal judge Joseph Bataillon strikes down Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage, pending an appeal by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-gaymarriage-nebraska-idUSKBN0LY1MM20150302 |publisher=Reuters |title=U.S. judge rules Nebraska same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional |date=March 2, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-nebraksa-same-sex-marriage-20150302-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times |title=Nebraska's same-sex marriage ban struck down; appeal pending |date=March 2, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2015}}
  • March 3
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech in front of Congress attempting to deter the Obama administration from the current negotiated deal for a nuclear program for Iran.{{Cite news |date=2015-03-03 |title=Israel's Netanyahu warns US against 'paving way to Iran bomb' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31716684 |access-date=2023-06-28}}https://www.nytimes.com/live/netanyahu-address/netanyahu-speech-will-air-in-israel-with-5-minute-delay The New York Times
  • Former CIA director and U.S. Army officer David Petraeus pleads guilty in federal court to a charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified information.{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/petraeus-plea-deal-over-giving-classified-data-to-lover.html|title = Petraeus Reaches Plea Deal Over Giving Classified Data to His Lover|website = The New York Times|date = March 3, 2015|last1 = Schmidt|first1 = Michael S.|last2 = Apuzzo|first2 = Matt}}
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that neither the benefits nor the safety of testosterone have been established for low testosterone levels due to aging and has required that testosterone pharmaceutical labels include warning information about the possibility of an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Testosterone Products: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Cautions About Using Testosterone Products for Low Testosterone Due to Aging; Requires Labeling Change to Inform of Possible Increased Risk of Heart Attack And Stroke |url=https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm436280.htm |date=March 3, 2015 |work=FDA |access-date=March 5, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Tavernise |first=Sabrina |title=Drugs Using Testosterone Will Label Heart Risks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/health/drugs-using-testosterone-will-label-heart-risks.html |date=March 3, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 19, 2015 }}[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-health-testosterone-idUSKBN0LZ2NE20150303 Reuters] Reuters
  • March 6 – The Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around Ceres, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a dwarf planet.{{cite web |last1=Landau |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA Spacecraft Becomes First to Orbit a Dwarf Planet |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4503 |date=March 6, 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=March 6, 2015 }}
  • March 9
  • President Barack Obama signs an executive order declaring Venezuela a national security threat to the U.S.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.msn.com}}
  • A letter signed by 47 Republican senators to the leadership of Iran in regards to Iran's nuclear program, warns Iran that according to the US Constitution any foreign treaty made by a president of the United States without congressional approval can be overturned by a future elected president.{{cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|title=Angry White House and G.O.P. Senators Clash Over Letter to Iran|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/world/asia/white-house-faults-gop-senators-letter-to-irans-leaders.html?_r=0|access-date=March 9, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=March 9, 2015}}
  • March 11 – In Missouri, a gunman identified as Jeffery L. Williams shoots two policemen in front of the Ferguson city police headquarters.http://bigstory.ap.org/article/39ac3f9e632e435d97b58424e80448ef/st-louis-post-dispatch-2-officers-shot-ferguson {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313123158/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/39ac3f9e632e435d97b58424e80448ef/st-louis-post-dispatch-2-officers-shot-ferguson |date=March 13, 2015 }} AP
  • March 12 – The Federal Communications Commission releases the specific details of the net neutrality rules.{{cite news |last=Ruiz |first=Rebecca R. |title=F.C.C. Sets Net Neutrality Rules |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/technology/fcc-releases-net-neutrality-rules.html |date=March 12, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 13, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Sommer |first=Jeff |title=What the Net Neutrality Rules Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/12/technology/net-neutrality-rules-explained.html |date=March 12, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 13, 2015 }}{{cite web |author=FCC Staff |title=Federal Communications Commission – FCC 15–24 – In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet – GN Docket No. 14-28 – Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and Order |url=http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db0312/FCC-15-24A1.pdf |date=March 12, 2015 |work=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=March 13, 2015 }}
  • March 19 – Scientists, including an inventor of CRISPR, urge a worldwide moratorium on using gene editing methods to genetically engineer the human genome in a way that can be inherited, writing "scientists should avoid even attempting, in lax jurisdictions, germline genome modification for clinical application in humans" until the full implications "are discussed among scientific and governmental organizations.".{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Nicholas |title=Scientists Seek Ban on Method of Editing the Human Genome |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/science/biologists-call-for-halt-to-gene-editing-technique-in-humans.html |date=March 19, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 20, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Pollack |first=Andrew |title=A Powerful New Way to Edit DNA |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/health/a-powerful-new-way-to-edit-dna.html |date=March 3, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 20, 2015 }}{{cite journal |last1=Baltimore |first1=David |last2=Berg |first2=Paul |last3=Botchan |first3=Dana |last4=Charo |first4=R. Alta |last5=Church |first5=George |last6=Corn |first6=Jacob E. |last7=Daley |first7=George Q. |last8=Doudna |first8=Jennifer A. |last9=Fenner |first9=Marsha |last10=Greely |first10=Henry T. |last11=Jinek |first11=Martin |last12=Martin |first12=G. Steven |last13=Penhoet |first13=Edward |last14=Puck |first14=Jennifer |last15=Sternberg |first15=Samuel H. |last16=Weissman |first16=Jonathan S. |last17=Yamamoto |first17=Keith R. |title=A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germline gene modification |date=March 19, 2015 |journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.aab1028 |pmid=25791083 |volume=348 |issue=6230 |pages=36–8 |pmc=4394183|bibcode=2015Sci...348...36B }}{{cite journal |last1=Lanphier |first1=Edward |last2=Urnov |first2=Fyodor |last3=Haecker |first3=Sarah Ehlen |last4=Werner |first4=Michael |last5=Smolenski |first5=Joanna |title=Don't edit the human germ line |date=March 26, 2015 |journal=Nature |volume=519 |issue=7544 |pages=410–411 |doi=10.1038/519410a |pmid=25810189|bibcode=2015Natur.519..410L |doi-access=free }}
  • March 23
  • The U.S. Supreme Court affirms Wisconsin's law requiring voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot.{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-election-idUSKBN0MJ1DZ20150323|title = U.S. top court rejects challenge to Wisconsin voter ID law|website = Reuters|date = March 23, 2015}}
  • Texas Senator Ted Cruz announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|access-date=March 23, 2015|agency=NBC News|date=March 23, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html?_r=0 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York City |access-date=March 23, 2015 }}
  • The first ever all-girls youth tackle football league in the United States, the Utah GFL, is started.{{Cite magazine |date=2015-05-26 |title=1st known all-girls tackle football league formed in Utah |url=https://www.si.com/uncategorized/2015/05/26/ap-us-girls-tackle-football |access-date=2022-12-04 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}
  • March 25
  • The US Army charges US Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Afghanistan from June 2009 until his release in May 2014, with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.{{cite web |title=New Bergdahl letter outlines torture {{!}} CNN Politics |date=March 25, 2015 |website=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427071240/https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/politics/bowe-bergdahl-charges-decision/index.html |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |url-status=live |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/politics/bowe-bergdahl-charges-decision/index.html}}[https://www.foxnews.com/politics// Fox News] FOX News
  • Indiana Governor Mike Pence signs Indiana SB 101 into law, prompting a national debate over religious freedom and LGBT rights. After a week of public outcry, the law is modified and similar bills in Arkansas, North Carolina, Georgia, and North Dakota fail to pass their state legislatures.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/indiana-lawmakers-announcing-change-religious-freedom-law/story?id=30061619 |work=ABC NEws |title=Indiana Lawmakers Propose Change to Religious-Freedom Law |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/04/02/gov-pence-signs-revised-indiana-religious-freedom-bill-into-law/ |newspaper=Washington Post |title=Gov. Pence signs revised Indiana religious freedom bill into law |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/us/indiana-arkansas-religious-freedom-bill.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |title=Indiana and Arkansas Revise Rights Bills, Seeking to Remove Divisive Parts |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 }}

= April =

  • April 1 – Governor Jerry Brown of California signs an executive order mandating that the state reduce its water use by 25% in an effort to confront the severe drought affecting the region.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/01/us/california-water-restrictions-drought/index.html|title=California drought: Gov. Jerry Brown issues water rules|first=Ray |last=Sanchez|date=April 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • April 4 – Walter Scott, an unarmed black man, is shot and killed by a police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina. The officer, Michael Slager, is charged with Scott's murder. The event was filmed by a bystander.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/man-who-recorded-walter-scott-being-shot-speaks-out-n338126|title=Bystander Who Recorded Walter Scott Shooting Speaks Out|website=NBC News|date=April 9, 2015 }}
  • April 5 – A controversial Rolling Stone article by Sabrina Erdely is retracted after an investigation by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism concludes that the story around which the article is centered was fabricated and exhibited confirmation bias. Rolling Stone makes no firings in accordance with the retraction.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/business/media/rolling-stone-retracts-article-on-rape-at-university-of-virginia.html?_r=0 | title=Rolling Stone Retracts Article on Rape at University of Virginia Failed All Basics, Report Says | work=The New York Times | date=April 5, 2015 | access-date=April 12, 2015}}
  • April 7 – Kentucky Senator Rand Paul announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/politics/rand-paul-republican-presidential-nomination.html|title=Rand Paul Announces Presidential Run|date=April 8, 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • April 8 – A jury finds Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty for his role in perpetrating the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/boston-bombing-verdict--tsarnaev-guilty-on-all-30-counts-425151043941|title=Boston Bombing Verdict: Tsarnaev Guilty on all 30 Counts – NBC News|website=NBC News|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • April 11 – President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro discuss historic proposed normalizations to Cuba–United States relations at the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/11/barack-obama-and-raul-castro-handshake-captured-on-video | title=Barack Obama and Raul Castro's handshake captured by cameras | work=The Guardian | date=April 10, 2015 | access-date=April 12, 2015}}
  • April 12 – Hillary Clinton announces her run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election, the first major Democrat to announce a campaign.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-2016-presidential-campaign.html | title=Hillary Clinton Announces 2016 Presidential Bid | work=The New York Times | date=April 12, 2015 | access-date=April 12, 2015}}
  • April 13
  • The U.S. Federal Communications Commission publishes the final rule on its new net neutrality regulations.{{cite web |last=Reisinger |first=Don |title=Net neutrality rules get published – let the lawsuits begin |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/fccs-net-neutrality-rules-hit-federal-register-lawsuit-underway/ |date=April 13, 2015 |work=CNET |access-date=April 13, 2015 }}{{cite web |author=Federal Communications Commission |title=Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet – A Rule by the Federal Communications Commission on 04/13/2015 |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/13/2015-07841/protecting-and-promoting-the-open-internet |date=April 13, 2015 |work=Federal Register |access-date=April 13, 2015 |author-link=Federal Communications Commission }}
  • The sentencing retrial of Joia Arias concludes in Arizona. Arias had been convicted of the murder of Travis Alexander in 2013 and is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, having narrowly avoided the death penalty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jodi-arias-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/|title=Jodi Arias sentenced to life in prison without parole|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=April 13, 2015 }}
  • Florida Senator Marco Rubio announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/13/politics/election-2016-marco-rubio-presidential-campaign/ |publisher=CNN |title=He's in: Marco Rubio's presidential challenge |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2015}}
  • April 14 – President Barack Obama moves forward with removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list in light of his efforts to normalize relations with the country.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-removes-cuba-from-the-list-of-state-sponsors-of-terrorism/2015/04/14/8f7dbd2e-e2d9-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Obama removes Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=April 14, 2015}}
  • April 23 – Shayna Hubers is convicted of the 2012 murder of her boyfriend Ryan Poston in Lexington, Kentucky. Hubers had shot Poston six times and tried to claim she acted in self-defense.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ryan-poston-murder-why-did-shayna-hubers-shoot-boyfriend-six-times/|title=Obsessed|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=April 23, 2016 }}
  • April 25-May 3 – Protests in Baltimore, Maryland, from Baltimore City Hall to the Inner Harbor against the April 19 death of Freddie Gray in police custody soon turn violent, with extensive property damage, looting, numerous arrests, and injuries of both police officers and citizens being reported. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declares a state of emergency in the city and deploys the Maryland National Guard in response.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/us/baltimore-freddie-gray-protest/ |publisher=CNN |title=Freddie Gray death: 12 arrested during protests |date=April 25, 2015 |access-date=April 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/baltimore-police-threatened-as-funeral-held-for-man-who-died-in-custody/ar-BBiK3jU|title=Baltimore erupts in riots after funeral of man who died in police custody|website=MSN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • April 27 – A teacher, Brady Olson, at North Thurston High School in Washington stops a student from going on a shooting rampage.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/heroic-washington-teacher-says-he-ran-toward-gunfire-like-anyone-else-would/ar-BBiJMOj|title=Heroic Washington teacher says he ran toward gunfire like anyone else would|website=MSN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • April 28 – The Supreme Court hears arguments regarding the issue of whether the Constitution guarantees the right to marriage to same-sex couples.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html |work=The New York Times |title=Gay Marriage Arguments Divide Supreme Court Justices |date=April 28, 2015 |access-date=April 28, 2015}}
  • April 29
  • In a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court rules in favor of states' right to ban elected judges from soliciting campaign contributions for their own campaigns, the first instance of the court supporting regulations on campaign financing in recent years.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/29/supreme-court-campaign-finance_n_7171270.html |work=The Huffington Post |title=Supreme Court Actually Upholds Campaign Finance Restrictions on Judicial Fundraising |date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=April 29, 2015}}
  • Senator Bernie Sanders announces his run for the 2016 presidential nomination in an address on the Capitol lawn.{{cite news|title=Sanders takes on 'billionaire class' in launching 2016 bid against Clinton|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-takes-on-billionaire-class-in-launching-2016-bid-against-clinton/2015/04/30/4849fe32-ef3a-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=April 30, 2015}}{{cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |title=Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running for President |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-for-president.html |date=April 29, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 30, 2015 }}
  • April 30
  • A group of health professionals and human rights activists release evidence suggesting that the American Psychological Association worked closely with the CIA, the Department of Defense, and the George W. Bush administration to provide legal and ethical justifications for the use of torture against prisoners in the early years of the War on Terror.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/us/report-says-american-psychological-association-collaborated-on-torture-justification.html?smid=re-share |work=The New York Times |title=American Psychological Association Bolstered CIA Torture Program, Report Says |date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=April 30, 2015}}
  • NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft concludes its four-year orbital mission over Mercury by crashing into the planet{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=NASA's Messenger Mission Is Set to Crash Into Mercury |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/science/nasas-messenger-mission-is-set-to-crash-into-mercury.html |date=April 27, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 27, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Corum |first=Jonathan |title=Messenger's Collision Course With Mercury |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/30/science/space/messenger-collides-with-mercury.html |date=April 30, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 30, 2015 }} at 3:26 p.m. EDT (1926 GMT) at {{convert|14080|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at 54.4° N, 149.9° W, near the crater Janáček.[http://www.universetoday.com/120043/mercury-messenger-mission-concludes-with-a-smashing-finale/ Mercury Messenger Mission Ends with a Smashing Finale], Universe Today NASA confirmed the unobserved impact when the Deep Space Network failed to detect a signal from the spacecraft's beacon, confirming its demise.{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/29281-messenger-spacecraft-mercury-crash.html|title=Farewell, MESSENGER! NASA Probe Crashes Into Mercury|website=Space.com|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016}}

= May =

  • May 1 – Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby announces that the six police officers involved in the arrest of Freddie Gray, who died during their custody, will face criminal charges ranging from assault to manslaughter to second-degree homicide.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/overnight-calm-in-baltimore-as-tensions-remain-and-protests-expected/2015/05/01/00e07e7a-efe6-11e4-8666-a1d756d0218e_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Six Baltimore officers charged in Freddie Gray death |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2015}}
  • May 2
  • The 141st Kentucky Derby is held at the Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky, with American Pharoah ridden by Victor Espinoza winning in front of a record crowd.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/kentucky-derby-215451739.html |publisher= Yahoo Sports |title=American Pharoah Wins Kentucky Derby |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}}
  • In boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the United States defeats Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines for the united welterweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the Las Vegas Strip of Nevada by a unanimous points decision.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/01/sport/mayweather-pacquiao-by-the-numbers/ |publisher=CNN |title=Face-off: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao by the numbers |date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/05/03/mike-tyson-agrees-mayweather-pacquiao-fight-was-a-dud/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Mike Tyson agrees: Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was a dud |date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}}
  • May 3 – Two suspected Islamist gunmen attack the Curtis Culwell Center in the city of Garland, Texas, which was holding an exhibition of drawings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Both gunmen are shot dead by police. The Islamic State later claims responsibility for the attack.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/breaking-shooting-in-garland/|title=2 Dead In Shooting At Muhammad Art Exhibit In Garland|website=CBS News |date=May 3, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32589546 |work=BBC News |title=IS says it was behind US prophet cartoon attack |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015}}
  • May 4 – Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiorina announces her run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson also announces a run for the same nomination.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-fiorina-carson-presidential-campaign-20150501-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times |title=Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson join Republican presidential field |date=April 5, 2015 |access-date=April 5, 2015}}
  • May 5
  • Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/06/us/politics/mike-huckabee-running-in-republican-presidential-primary.html |work=The New York Times |title=Mike Huckabee Joins Republican Presidential Race |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015}}
  • The Obama administration approves the first ferry service from the United States to Cuba in decades, furthering President Obama's efforts to improve relations between the two countries.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/obama-administration-approves-ferry-service-cuba-30827522 |work=ABC News |title=Obama Administration Approves First Ferry Service to Cuba |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015}}
  • May 10 – An article published in the London Review of Books by Seymour Hersh alleges that the official account of the Navy SEAL raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is largely false, and that the Pakistani government was always aware of bin Laden's whereabouts and assisted in the raid itself. The Obama administration later calls the report "baseless".{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/11/politics/seymour-hersh-obama-bin-laden-raid-lied/ |publisher=CNN |title=White House rejects Seymour Hersh 'baseless assumptions' on bin Laden raid |date=November 5, 2015 |access-date=May 22, 2015}}
  • May 12 – An Amtrak train derails in the Philadelphia neighborhood for Port Richmond, causing cars to roll over and killing at least 8 people and injuring over 200. The train was later found to have been going nearly twice the speed limit at the time of the incident.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32716462 |work=BBC News |title=Philadelphia train crash: Amtrak rail accident kills seven |date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=May 14, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32743204 |work=BBC News |title=Amtrak driver says he cannot remember deadly crash |date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=May 14, 2015}}
  • May 15 – Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is sentenced to death for committing the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-death-sentence.html |work=The New York Times |title=Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Gets Death Penalty in Boston Marathon Bombing |date=May 15, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015}}
  • May 17 – A shootout erupts between rival biker gangs in a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, Texas, leaving nine dead.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/05/17/shootout-among-rival-biker-gangs-in-texas-restaurant-kills-9/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Shootout among rival biker gangs in Texas restaurant kills 9 |date=May 17, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}}
  • May 19 – The Federal Trade Commission alleges that four leading cancer charities conned donors out of $187 million over the course of four years, donating only 3% of the money to actual cancer research.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/us/scam-charity-investigation/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Government says for cancer charities are shams |date=May 19, 2015 |access-date=May 19, 2015}}
  • May 20 – David Letterman broadcasts the last episode of his 22-year run as host of The Late Show on CBS, drawing a record audience. He is succeeded as Late Show host by Stephen Colbert.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/david-letterman-s-late-show-finale-attracts-record-audience-1.3081539 |work=CBS News |title=David Letterman's Late Show finale attracts record audience |date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}
  • May 22
  • The State Department begins publishing the e-mails of Hillary Clinton, mostly concerning the 2012 Benghazi attack, that drew controversy earlier in the year when it was revealed that Clinton had been using a private e-mail server for work-related communications during her time as Secretary of State.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32853708 |work=BBC News |title=First set of Hillary Clinton emails published online |date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=May 22, 2015}}
  • California state officials accept an offer from farmers in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta to reduce their water use by 25% during the growing season in response to the severe drought in the area.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/us/some-california-farmers-to-cut-water-use-to-ease-drought.html |work=The New York Times |title=Farmers Agree to Water Cuts in California |date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=May 23, 2015}}
  • May 23–25 – Historic flash flooding levels occur in Texas and Oklahoma in a prolonged outbreak of floods and tornadoes, leaving at least 17 people dead and at least 40 others missing.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/severe-weather/ |publisher=CNN |title=Texas floods: cleanup continues – and so does the search for bodies |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • May 23 – The USA Freedom Act, which aims to end the controversial bulk collection of communication data by the National Security Agency permitted by Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, fails to reach the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate, despite passing overwhelmingly in the House.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/us/politics/senate-nsa-surveillance.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news |work=The New York Times |title=Senate Blocks Bill on N.S.A. Collection of Phone Records |date=May 23, 2015 |access-date=May 23, 2015}}
  • May 24 – In the IndyCar Series, Juan Pablo Montoya wins the 99th Indianapolis 500. This was this second victory in the race and his first in 15 years, after winning in 2000.
  • May 26
  • Unidentified criminals use an online service run by the Internal Revenue Service to access the tax information of over 100,000 American taxpayers.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/apnewsbreak-irs-thieves-stole-tax-info-100000-31317464 |work=ABC News |title=IRS Says Thieves Stole Tax Info From 100,000 |date=May 26, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denies the Justice Department's request to go forward with President Barack Obama's immigration reform plan that would have effectively blocked the deportation of over 4 million illegal immigrants.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/26/politics/obama-immigration-texas-federal-appeals-court/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Court sides with Texas against Obama on immigration |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • May 27
  • American courts indict fourteen members of FIFA with charges of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering involving tens of millions of dollars over the course of 24 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32902076 |work=BBC News |title=Fifa officials corrupted football – US prosecutors |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts's veto on state legislators' vote to ban the death penalty in the state is overridden, making Nebraska the first Republican-controlled state to ban the death penalty since 1973.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/05/27/410024375/nebraska-governors-veto-of-death-penalty-repeal-sets-up-override-vote |publisher=NPR |title=Nebraska Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto Of Death Penalty Repeal |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32909413 |work=BBC News |title=Rick Santorum joins crowded Republican field for president |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015}}
  • May 28 – Former New York Governor George Pataki announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/28/george-pataki-2016-_n_7343474.html |work=The Huffington Post |title=George Pataki Announces Presidential Run |date=May 28, 2015 |access-date=May 28, 2015}}
  • May 29 – Cuba is officially removed from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32926821 |work=BBC News |title=US removes Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terror |date=May 29, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2015}}
  • May 30 – Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announces his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/05/30/martin-omalley-president-announcement/27330857/ |work=USA Today |title=Martin O'Malley jumps into presidential race |date=May 30, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}

= June =

  • June 1 – South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lindsey-graham-jumps-2016-presidential-race-ready-commander/story?id=31441787 |work=ABC News |title=Lindsey Graham Jumps Into 2016 Presidential Race: 'Ready to Become Commander-in-Chief On Day One' |date=January 6, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2015}}
  • June 2
  • The USA Freedom Act passes the Senate after several delays and revisions since its inception and is signed into law by President Barack Obama. Though the law does restrict government surveillance under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, it does not completely end bulk collection of American phone metadata, which will now be collected by phone companies who may give information to the NSA voluntarily under the bill.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32982140 |work=BBC News |title=US Senate votes to curtail bulk data collection |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=March 6, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/02/411534447/senateis-poised-to-vote-on-house-approved-usa-freedom-act |publisher=NPR |title=Senate Approves USA Freedom Act After Amendments Fail |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2015}}
  • The director of the Transportation Security Administration is reassigned by the Department of Homeland Security after TSA officials were unsuccessful in identifying weapons in screenings 93 percent of the time during a covert test.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/us/head-of-tsa-out-after-tests-reveal-flaws.html?ref=us |work=The New York Times |title=Head of T.S.A. Out After Tests Reveal Flaws |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2015}}
  • June 3
  • Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee announces his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/politics/lincoln-chafee-2016-election-announcement/ |publisher=CNN |title=Iraq War focus for Lincoln Chafee campaign launch |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}
  • Colorado law enforcement destroy the house of an innocent bystander while trying to arrest a shoplifter.{{cite web|author=Littleton |url=https://patch.com/colorado/littleton/aurora-man-19-hour-police-standoff-gets-100-years-prison |title=Aurora Man In 19-Hour Police Standoff Gets 100 Years In Prison | Littleton, CO Patch |publisher=Patch.com |date=April 27, 2018 |access-date=October 30, 2019}}{{cite web|author=6 hrs ago |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-blew-up-an-innocent-mans-house-in-search-of-an-armed-shoplifter-too-bad-court-rules/ar-AAJzs8t?ocid=ientp |title=Police blew up an innocent man's house in search of an armed shoplifter. Too bad, court rules |publisher=Msn.com |date=May 31, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/30/police-blew-up-an-innocent-mans-house-search-an-armed-shoplifter-too-bad-court-rules/ |title=Leo Lech not entitled to money after police blew up his Colorado home, court rules |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 30, 2019}}
  • June 4
  • Chinese hackers are suspected in a hacking attack that results in the theft of personal data from nearly 4 million US federal government workers.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33017310 |work=BBC News |title=Millions of US government workers hit by data breach |date=April 6, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}
  • Former Texas Governor Rick Perry announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/us/politics/rick-perry-republican-nomination-for-president.html |work=The New York Times |title=Rick Perry to Run for President in 2016, Shrugging Off 2012 Missteps |date=April 6, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}
  • June 5
  • Christopher Monfort is convicted of the 2009 Murder of Timothy Brenton, a Seattle police officer. Brenton had been ambushed and shot by Monfort while sitting in his police car. The perpetrator, motivated by an anti-police agenda, was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder and arson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Jury-returns-verdict-in-murder-of-Seattle-police-6304432.php|title=Seattle cop killer convicted in 2009 deadly anti-police spree|first=Levi Pulkkinen|last=SeattlePI|date=June 3, 2015|website=seattlepi.com}}
  • A pool party in McKinney, Texas receives attention when police officer Eric Casebolt is filmed restraining an unarmed teenage girl on the ground and pointing his weapon at other bystanders. Amid heated debate in the media, Casebolt later resigns.{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/09/us/mckinney-texas-pool-party-video/index.html | title=Texas pool party chaos: 'Out of control' police officer resigns | publisher=CNN | date=June 9, 2015 | access-date=June 10, 2015}}
  • June 6
  • The 2015 Belmont Stakes is held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, with American Pharoah becoming the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown.{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/06/us/belmont-stakes-american-pharoah/ | title=American Pharoah becomes first Triple Crown winner in 37 years | publisher=CNN | date=June 6, 2015 | access-date=August 2, 2015}}
  • 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape: Richard Matt and David Sweat, two convicted murderers, escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, prompting an extensive manhunt. It is the first escape incident at the facility in 150 years.{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-new-york-prison-escape-how-they-did-it-20150608-htmlstory.html | title=New York prison escape: How 2 murderers broke out of maximum security | work=The Los Angeles Times | date=June 8, 2015 | access-date=June 10, 2015}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/08/nyregion/prison-escape.html?_r=0 | title=How 2 Murderers Escaped From a Maximum Security New York Prison, and the Manhunt That Followed | work=The New York Times | date=June 8, 2015 | access-date=June 10, 2015}}
  • June 9 – Former Olympian and television personality Bruce Jenner, coming out as a transgender woman and now going by "Caitlyn", becomes the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz |publisher=Vanity Fair |title=Caitlyn Jenner: The Full Story |access-date=January 7, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bruce-Jenner-Vanity-Fair-Cover-37598992 |publisher=PopSugar |title=Introducing Caitlyn Jenner! |date=January 6, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • June 10 – Dee Dee Blanchard is murdered by her daughter Gypsy Rose and her daughter's boyfriend. Dee Dee had abused her daughter for many years, forcing her to use a wheelchair and to pretend to be ill.{{cite news |title=The Latest: Missouri Woman Testifies in Boyfriend's Trial |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2018-11-15/the-latest-missouri-woman-testifies-in-boyfriends-trial |access-date=November 9, 2021 |work=U.S. News |date=November 15, 2018}}
  • June 15
  • Rachel Dolezal resigns as president of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) after allegations that she had lied about her race, claiming to be a black woman when she is actually white.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-spokane-naacp-rachel-dolezal-resigns-20150615-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times |title=Rachel Dolezal's story, a study of race and identity, gets 'crazier and crazier' ;Spokane's NAACP leader, Rachel Dolezal, steps down over allegations she isn't black|date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015}}
  • Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/15/politics/jeb-bush-2016-presidential-announcement/ |publisher=CNN Politics |title=Jeb Bush launches 2016 presidential bid |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015}}
  • In the NHL, the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win their sixth Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, and their third title in six years.{{cite AV media |title=Blackhawks win Stanley Cup as final buzzer sounds|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaY_N8JA7fw|work=NHL on NBC|publisher=The official NHL channel on YouTube|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=June 15, 2015}}{{cite web|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-blackhawks-lightning-spt-0616-20150615-story.html|title= Blackhawks seize their third Stanley Cup in six seasons|date=June 16, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 16, 2015}}
  • June 16
  • Business magnate and television personality Donald Trump announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/16/politics/donald-trump-2016-announcement-elections/ |publisher=CNN |title=Donald Trump is running for president in 2016 |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015}}
  • In the NBA, the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeat the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to secure their first NBA Finals championship title in 40 years, and their fourth in franchise history.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
  • June 17
  • Nine people are shot and killed during a prayer service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically black church, one of them being church pastor and state senator Clementa C. Pinckney. The accused gunman, 21-year-old white supremacist Dylann Roof, is apprehended by police the next morning.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting.html |work=The New York Times |title=Charleston Church Shooting Suspect, Dylann Roof, Captured |date=June 18, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015}}
  • Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announces that beginning in 2020, an image of a woman will replace that of Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, with Lew expecting to choose a woman by the end of this year. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Susan B. Anthony have all been considered frontrunners in the consideration.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/18/noteworthy-woman-to-feature-on-10-bill-us-treasury-announces |work=The Guardian |title=Move over, Hamilton: woman to appear on $10 bill, Treasury announces |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/us/portrait-of-a-woman-to-share-space-on-the-dollar-10-bill-with-hamiltons.html |work=The New York Times |title=Woman's Portrait Will Appear on the $10 Bill |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 17, 2015}}
  • June 18 – Four months after Lester Holt was named interim weeknight anchor of NBC Nightly News in the wake of preceding anchor Brian Williams' suspension for his misrepresentation of certain events, NBC News makes the move permanent, with Holt assuming full-time weeknight duties effective June 22. Holt, who had previously anchored Nightly News{{'}} Saturday and Sunday editions from 2007 until Williams' suspension, becomes the first African-American to serve as the sole lead anchor of a weeknight network newscast.{{cite news|title=Lester Holt gets anchor chair in historic moment for black journalists|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/06/18/media/lester-holt-nbc-promotion/|website=CNN Money|publisher=Time Warner|date=June 18, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Lester Holt Named Anchor of 'NBC Nightly News'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lester-holt-named-anchor-nbc-nightly-news-n377831|website=NBC News|publisher=NBCUniversal|date=June 18, 2015}}
  • June 19 – Delaware Governor Jack Markell signs a bill into law that decriminalizes the possession and private recreational use of up to one ounce of marijuana. Using marijuana in a public place will now yield a $100 civil fine rather than being treated as a misdemeanor.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/19/delaware-recreational-marijuana-decriminalised |work=The Guardian |title=Delaware is 18th state to allow recreational use of marijuana |date=June 19, 2015 |access-date=June 19, 2015}}
  • June 22 – Lester Holt replaces a suspended Brian Williams as weeknight anchor of NBC Nightly News. Williams now serves as a breaking news anchor for MSNBC.
  • June 23 – Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announces that the US will position tanks and heavy weapons in eastern and central Europe in response to Russia's continued military involvement in Ukraine.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-europe-defense-idUSKBN0P315620150623 | title=U.S. to pre-position tanks | publisher=Reuters | date=June 23, 2015 | access-date=June 25, 2015}}
  • June 24
  • The House of Representatives passes a bill that gives President Barack Obama an authority to negotiate international trade agreements with Congress's approval. It is seen as a stepping stone toward the passing of Obama's proposed trade deal with eleven Asian countries known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-poised-for-a-major-trade-win-burnishing-his-foreign-policy-legacy/2015/06/24/e940c6fa-1a77-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Obama scores a major trade win, burnishing his foreign policy legacy |date=June 24, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015}}
  • Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/24/politics/bobby-jindal-2016-election-announcement/ |publisher=CNN |title=Bobby Jindal faces uphill fight in crowded 2016 race |date=June 24, 2015 |access-date=June 25, 2015}}
  • June 25 – In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court upholds subsidies for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) nationwide, even in states that did not set up their own insurance exchanges.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33269991 |work=BBC News |title=Obamacare subsidies preserved in US Supreme Court ruling |date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=June 25, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/25/supreme-court-upholds-obamacare-subsidies/ |publisher=Fox News |title=Supreme Court upholds ObamaCare subsidies |date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=June 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625160039/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/25/supreme-court-upholds-obamacare-subsidies/ |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
  • June 26
  • In a 5–4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage in the United States. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.{{cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |title=Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, Supreme Court Rules, 5–4 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html |date=June 26, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 26, 2015 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Obergefell, et al. v. Hodges, Directory, Ohio Department of Health, et al.|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf |date=June 26, 2015|work=Supreme Court of the United States |access-date=June 26, 2015 }}
  • Richard Matt, one of two convicted murderers who escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, is fatally shot by police in Franklin County.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/nyregion/new-york-escaped-prisoners.html |work=The New York Times |title=Richard Matt, Escaped Prisoner in New York Manhunt, Is Fatally Shot |date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015}}
  • June 27 – Bree Newsome is taken into custody after climbing the flagpole on the grounds of the South Carolina State House and removing its Confederate flag as an act of protest following the Charleston church shooting ten days earlier. The flag is flown again 45 minutes later.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33297625 |work=BBC News |title=Confederate flag at South Carolina State House pulled down |date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015}}
  • June 28 – Convicted murderer David Sweat is shot and apprehended by police near the Canada–US border 22 days after escaping from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/28/david-sweat-shot-captured_n_7682898.html |work=The Huffington Post |title=Escaped New York Prisoner David Sweat Shot, Captured |date=June 28, 2015 |access-date=June 28, 2015}}
  • June 29
  • In a 5–4 ruling, the Supreme Court rules that the use of the chemical midazolam hydrochloride in a drug compound used in executions, which the petitioners argued did not properly sedate prisoners before execution and caused excruciating pain in three botched executions in Oklahoma the year prior, does not violate the cruel and unusual punishment statute of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-execution-drug.html | title=Supreme Court Allows Use of Execution Drug | work=The New York Times | date=June 29, 2015 | access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • In a 5–4 ruling, the Supreme Court rules that the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulations on toxic emissions from American power plants are unreasonable and violate the Clean Air Act.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/29/politics/supreme-court-epa-emissions/ |publisher=CNN |title=Supreme Court: EPA unreasonably interpreted the Clean Air Act |date=June 29, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • June 30
  • California Governor Jerry Brown signs into law a bill that requires California public or private school children to be vaccinated for various diseases to attend, regardless of their parents' religious objections.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/30/418908804/california-governor-signs-school-vaccination-law |publisher=NPR |title=California Governor Signs School Vaccination Law |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announce a statement, both agreeing to lower their greenhouse gas emissions and get 20% of their nations' electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/06/30/china-brazil-and-the-u-s-all-announce-new-climate-and-clean-energy-goals/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=In a major moment for climate policy, China, Brazil, and the U.S. all announce new commitments |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court approves temporarily resuming the National Security Agency's program of bulk phone metadata collection and surveillance.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/us/politics/fisa-surveillance-court-rules-nsa-can-resume-bulk-data-collection.html |work=The New York Times |title=Surveillance Court Rules That N.S.A. Can Resume Bulk Data Collection |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/us/politics/chris-christie-presidential-campaign.html |work=The New York Times |title=Chris Christie Announces Run, Pledging 'Truth' About Nation's Woes |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}

= July =

  • July 1
  • President Barack Obama announces the full re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba, with the countries planning to reopen embassies in each other's capital cities.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/02/us/us-cuba-restoring-diplomatic-ties-and-reopening-embassies.html |work=The New York Times |title=Announcing Cuba Embassy Deal, Obama Declares 'New Chapter' |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • The US Justice Department begins investigating "possible unlawful coordination by some airlines" in the United States to keep plane ticket prices high.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-33353360 |work=BBC News |title=US airlines investigated over ticket prices |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}
  • Oregon's decriminalization of recreational marijuana goes into effect, making it the fourth US state to legalize marijuana use.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/01/oregon-recreational-marijuana-legalized |work=The Guardian |title=Oregon becomes fourth US state to legalize recreational marijuana |date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015}}
  • Illegal immigrant Francisco Sanchez is suspected to have killed 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco, sparking criticism of U.S. immigration policy.{{cite news |date=July 3, 2015 |title=San Francisco: No 'legal basis' to hold shooting suspect |url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_28428146/woman-shot-death-at-busy-san-francisco-tourist |agency=Associated Press |access-date=July 10, 2015 |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712203708/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_28428146/woman-shot-death-at-busy-san-francisco-tourist |url-status=dead }}
  • July 2
  • BP agrees to pay the Department of Justice an $18.7 billion settlement in reparation for the 2010 BP oil spill that dumped over 125 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The settlement is the largest paid by a single company in US history.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-33363672 |work=BBC News |title=BP to pay £12bn for Gulf oil spill |date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015}}
  • A woman dies of measles at the University of Washington Medical Center, the first measles death in the United States since 2003.{{cite web|url=http://time.com/3945056/measles-death-washington/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703025237/http://time.com/3945056/measles-death-washington/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |publisher=TIME |title=First Person Dies of Measles in U.S. Since 2003 |date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015}}
  • Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb announces his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/07/02/jim-webb-2016-presidential-race/29574907/ |publisher=USA Today |title=Jim Webb joins 2016 presidential race |date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015}}
  • July 3 – The Swiss experimental solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse completes its 118-hour non-stop flight from Japan, landing in Hawaii. It is the longest successful flight of a solar-powered aircraft in history.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33383521 |work=BBC News |title=Solar Impulse plane lands in Hawaii |date=March 7, 2015 |access-date=April 7, 2015}}
  • July 5 – The United States beats Japan 5–2 in the final game of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, making it the highest scoring Women's World Cup game in history. The US is the first country to ever win three Women's World Cup titles.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/fifa-world-cup/index.ssf/2015/07/2015_fifa_womens_world_cup_fin_1.html |publisher=Oregon Live |title=USA beats Japan 5–2, wins first Women's World Cup title since 1999 |date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=May 7, 2015}}
  • July 7 – The FBI, U.S. Postal Service, and Indiana State Police seize electronics and other items from the Zionsville, Indiana home of Subway commercial spokesman Jared Fogle.
  • July 10
  • The South Carolina State House formally removes the Confederate battle flag from its grounds after weeks of protest and places it in a museum.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/10/south-carolina-confederate-flag/29952953/ |publisher=USA Today |title=South Carolina takes down Confederate flag |date=October 7, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2015}}
  • Basin and Range National Monument is established.
  • July 13
  • Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announces his run for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/13/politics/scott-walker-2016-presidential-announcement/ |publisher=CNN |title=Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker launches bid with red meat speech |date=July 13, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2015}}
  • Sandra Bland, an African-American woman who had been arrested on July 10 following a minor traffic violation in Waller County, Texas, is found dead in her jail cell.
  • July 14
  • Iran and a coalition including the United States come to an agreement on the nuclear program of Iran after numerous months of debate, agreeing to lift the United Nations Security Council's sanctions against Iran in exchange for the reduction of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium by about 98 percent for the next 15 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iran-nuclear-talks/iran-nuclear-deal-what-it-says-n391656 |publisher=NBC |title=Iran Nuclear Deal Highlights: The Good, The Bad, and the Complicated |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2015}}
  • The anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress releases the first of several undercover videos allegedly showing the negotiation of illegal selling of aborted fetal tissue by employees of Planned Parenthood. The videos trigger a strong months-long debate, and their validity is questioned.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/14/us/ap-us-planned-parenthood-fetal-parts.html |work=The New York Times |title=Covert Video Targets Planned Parenthood Fetal-Parts Policy |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}}
  • President Barack Obama calls for a reconsideration of the use of solitary confinement in American prisons, and for voting rights for released criminals.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33531314 |work=BBC News |title=Obama lays out a sweeping criminal justice reform plan |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2015}}
  • July 16
  • A gunman attacks two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Five U.S. Marines are killed and two others are injured.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-officer-shot-tennessee-naval-reserve-center-n393266?cid=eml_nbn_20150716 |work=NBC News |title=Chattanooga Shootings: Four Marines and Gunman Dead in Rampage at Tennessee Military Facilities |date=July 16, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-navy-says-sailor-injured-in-tennessee-shooting-has-died/ar-AAdaKnY |publisher=MSN |title=Tennessee gunman had unremarkable past; his 5th victim dies |date=July 18, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}
  • James Holmes is found guilty of perpetrating the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting. Holmes tried to plea not guilty by reason of insanity.{{cite web|url=http://ktla.com/2015/07/16/james-holmes-jurys-choice-was-aurora-theater-massacre-murder-or-madness/ |publisher=KTLA5-TV |title=James Holmes Found Guilty of First Degree Murder for Killing 12 in Colorado Theater Mass Shooting |date=July 16, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}
  • July 17–21 – The Cajon Pass wildfire spreads across {{convert|4250|acres}} in the Mojave Desert near the towns of Victorville and Hesperia, north of San Bernardino and south of Bakersfield in the state of California, destroying seven homes (one damaged), 16 out buildings (four damaged), and 74 vehicles{{cite news | url=http://www.pe.com/articles/north-773947-officials-fire.html | title=NORTH FIRE: Blaze completely contained|work=Press Enterprise | date=July 21, 2015 | access-date=July 21, 2015}} and also injuring three people.{{cite news | url=http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150717/NEWS/150719775 | title=UPDATE: Containment reaches 60 percent, freeway fully open | work=Victorville Daily Press | date=July 19, 2015 | access-date=July 19, 2015}}
  • July 20 – After 54 years, the United States reopens its embassy in Havana, Cuba, and Cuba reopens its embassy in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/americas/cuba-us-embassy-diplomatic-relations.html |work=The New York Times |title=U.S. and Cuba Reopen Long-Closed Embassies |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}
  • July 21
  • Authorities in Waller County, Texas announce that the death of activist Sandra Bland in police custody will be treated as a murder investigation.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/us/texas-sandra-bland-jail-death/|work=CNN|title=Texas Sandra Bland Jail Death|date=July 21, 2015}}
  • Hackers claim to have stolen and released 2,500 customers' information from extramarital affair dating website Ashley Madison.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/21/ashley-madison-customer-service-meltdown-hack-fallout |work=The Guardian |title=Ashley Madison customer service in meltdown as site battles hack fallout |date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • Ohio Governor John Kasich becomes the 16th person to seek the nomination of the Republican Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/john-kasich-says-hes-running-president-n395396|work=NBC News|title=John Kasich says he's running for President|date=July 21, 2015 }}
  • The National Hockey League announces that it has received formal applications for expansion teams from ownership groups in Las Vegas and Quebec City. If granted, the expansion teams would begin play in the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-confirms-expansion-bids-by-quebec-city-las-vegas-1.3161771|work=CBC|title=NHL confirms expansion bids by Quebec City by Las Vegas}}
  • July 22 – Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! airs for the first time on Syfy.{{cite news|last=Petski|first=Denise|title=Syfy Sets Summer Programming Schedule|url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/syfy-summer-programming-schedule-sharknado-3-1201415186/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 23, 2015|access-date=April 24, 2015}}
  • July 23 – A gunman opens fire at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, killing two people and injuring nine others before committing suicide.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/us/lafayette-theater-shooting-john-houser.html|title=Lafayette Shooting Adds Another Angry Face in the Gunmen's Gallery|work=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2015|access-date=July 25, 2015}}
  • July 24 – The United States Department of Transportation opens an investigation into whether airlines engaged in price gouging by raising ticket prices in the Northeastern United States following the 2015 Philadelphia train derailment in May.{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7a349d7bb4774ec99f21f31706b14643/transportation-chief-4-airlines-probed-price-gouging|work=AP|title=Transportation chief 4 airlines probed price gouging|access-date=July 27, 2015|archive-date=July 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727054214/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7a349d7bb4774ec99f21f31706b14643/transportation-chief-4-airlines-probed-price-gouging|url-status=dead}}
  • July 25 – The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games open at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
  • July 26
  • Verizon employees in nine states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia) and Washington, D.C. vote to go on strike on August 1 if disputes between the union and the company result in no new contracts.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhregister.com/business/20150726/verizon-workers-in-connecticut-8-other-states-authorize-strike|work=New Haven Register|title=Verizon workers in Connecticut, 8 other states authorize strike|date=July 26, 2015}}
  • Nike agrees to pay a combined $2.4 million to consumers of Nike+ FuelBand over false advertising.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimesgazette.com/apple-inc-and-nike-inc-settle-fuelband-lawsuit/5711/|work=Times Gazette|title=Apple, Inc. and Nike, Inc. settle fuelband lawsuit|access-date=July 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729000208/http://www.thetimesgazette.com/apple-inc-and-nike-inc-settle-fuelband-lawsuit/5711/|archive-date=July 29, 2015|url-status=dead}}

= August =

  • August 3
  • In a unanimous decision, the jury ruled that James Eagan Holmes, convicted for the 2012 movie theatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado, is still eligible for the death penalty.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/02/us/13th-juror-james-holmes-aurora-shooting/|title=James Holmes' life story didn't sway jury|work=CNN International|date=August 3, 2015 }}
  • US President Barack Obama announces the Clean Power Plan which includes the first-ever Environmental Protection Agency standards on carbon pollution from U.S. power plants.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/climate-change/|title=A Historic Commitment to Protecting the Environment and Reversing Climate Change|date=December 15, 2015|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=July 16, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/03/429044707/president-obama-set-to-unveil-new-power-plant-rules-in-clean-power-plan|title=President Obama set to unveil new power plant rules in clean power plan|work=NPR|date=August 3, 2015|last1=Perkins|first1=Lucy|last2=Chappell|first2=Bill}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/obamas-clean-power-plan-hailed-as-strongest-ever-climate-action-by-a-us-president|title=Obama's clean power plan hailed as strongest ever climate action by a US President|work=The Guardian|date=August 3, 2015}}
  • August 4 – A street-corner sized sinkhole forms at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 64th Street in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York City, around 7:30 am, destroying the street corner. The northbound N Broadway Local train is delayed; there is at least one disconnected pipe and gas lines are being repaired by National Grid workers, and the police have cordoned off the area. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-giant-sinkhole-has-opened-up-in-brooklyn/ar-BBlofjR?ocid=spartandhp|title=A giant sinkhole has opened up in Brooklyn|work=MSN Business Insider|access-date=August 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131010423/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-giant-sinkhole-has-opened-up-in-brooklyn/ar-BBlofjR?ocid=spartandhp|archive-date=January 31, 2016|url-status=dead}}
  • August 6 – The American news satire program The Daily Show airs its last broadcast with comedian Jon Stewart as host.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/08/10/exit-stage-left|title=Exit Stage Left|magazine=The New Yorker|date=August 2, 2015}}
  • August 7 – The jury in the penalty phase of the trial of Aurora shooter James Holmes reaches a verdict to sentence him to a life in prison without parole{{cite web|url=http://abc7.com/news/colorado-theater-shooter-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/911146/|title=Colorado theatre shooter sentenced to life in person without parole|work=WABC|access-date=August 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810032125/http://abc7.com/news/colorado-theater-shooter-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/911146/|archive-date=August 10, 2015|url-status=dead}} for killing 12 and injuring 70 during the attack at Century 16 Theatres in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/07/jury-reaches-decision-on-colorado-theater-shooter-sentence/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807232740/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/07/jury-reaches-decision-on-colorado-theater-shooter-sentence/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2015|title=Jury reaches decision on Colorado theatre shooter sentence|work=Fox News}} after they reject the death penalty.
  • August 12 – Former President Jimmy Carter reveals that he is being treated for brain cancer.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/12/former-president-jimmy-carter-reveals-he-has-cancer.html |work=NBC News |title=Former President Jimmy Carter reveals he has cancer |date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • August 19
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the drug flibanserin, sometimes called the "pink pill" or the "female Viagra", designed to boost women's sexual desire.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/controversy-surrounds-fda-decision-on-womens-libido-drug/ |work=CBS News |title=Controversy surrounds FDA decision on women's libido drug |date=August 19, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • Jared Fogle, popular spokesman and advertising figure for the American fast food restaurant chain Subway, agrees to plead guilty to charges of paying to have sex with minors and possession of child pornography.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33994289 |work=BBC News |title=Jared Fogle, Subway ad star, in underage sex guilty plea |date=August 21, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • August 20 – After an axe attack on cinema-goers in Tennessee earlier in the month, American movie theater chain Regal Entertainment Group announces that it will now perform security bag checks at all its theater venues.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34010790 |work=BBC News |title=US cinema chain Regal introduces bag search after attacks |date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • August 22 – Extramarital affair dating website Ashley Madison is faced with a $578 million class action lawsuit by two Canadian law firms after the breach of thousands of customers' personal data in July.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/22/adultery-website-ashley-madison-faces-578m-class-action-over-data-breach |work=The Guardian |title=Ashley Madison adultery website faces $578m class action over data breach |date=August 22, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015}}
  • August 26 – News reporter Alison Parker and camera operator Adam Ward are shot and killed on live television during an interview in Moneta, Virginia. The shooter, Vester Lee Flanagan (a former colleague of Parker and Ward at station WDBJ in Roanoke), commits suicide several hours later.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/26/us/virginia-shooting-wdbj/index.html|title=Police: Bryce Williams kills self after on-air slayings|author1=Eliott C. McLaughlin |author2=Catherine E. Shoichet|date=August 26, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • August 27
  • Officials report that, in the month of July, California residents reduced their water use by 31.3%, exceeding the 25% mandate put in place by Governor Jerry Brown in response to the ongoing drought in the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34077757 |work=BBC News |title=California drought: Water use 'down by 31 percent' |date=August 27, 2015 |access-date=August 28, 2015}}
  • McDonald's Corporation and Tyson Foods sever ties with a Tennessee-based farm after an exposé video released by Mercy for Animals depicts farmers stabbing, brutalizing, and stomping on chickens before sending them to companies for consumption.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/27/mcdonalds-drops-chicken-nuggets-supplier-video? |work=The Guardian |title=McDonald's drops nuggets supplier after video shows animal cruelty |date=August 27, 2015 |access-date=August 28, 2015}}
  • August 28 – Ashley Madison CEO Noel Biderman resigns from his position in response to the growing information coming out of the site's hacking incident a month earlier.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/noel-biderman-avid-life-ceo-steps-down-ashley-madison_55e06c45e4b0b7a963389d0c |work=The Huffington Post |title=Ashley Madison Chief Just Resigned Over Hacking Scandal |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=August 28, 2015}}
  • August 30 – At the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West announces he's running for president in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Zaru |first=Deena |date=2015-08-31 |title=Kanye West declares 2020 presidential bid at VMAs {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/politics/kanye-west-2020-running-for-president-vma/index.html |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=CNN |language=en}}
  • August 31 – The University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley is founded in Brownsville, Texas.{{Cn|date=January 2023}}

= September =

  • September 1
  • A widespread manhunt begins in northern Illinois after three suspects shoot and kill a veteran Fox Lake police officer.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fox-lake-manhunt_55e5dca5e4b0c818f619417b |work=The Huffington Post |title=Illinois Manhunt Underway After Officer Is Shot And Killed |date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=January 9, 2015}}
  • In a federal court settlement, the state of California agrees to reform its use of solitary confinement in prisons.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/us/solitary-confinement-california-prisons.html?ref=us |work=The New York Times |title=California Agrees to Overhaul Use of Solitary Confinement |date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=January 9, 2015}}
  • Colin Kaepernick takes the knee during the national anthem for the first time.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2016-09-02 |title=Colin Kaepernick joined by Eric Reid in kneeling for national anthem protest |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/01/colin-kaepernick-eric-reid-kneel-national-anthem-protest-san-francisco-49ers |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
  • The United States Olympic Committee chooses Los Angeles, California, as its selection for the American bid for host city of the 2024 Olympic Games.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34122208 |work=BBC News |title=US Olympic Committee picks Los Angeles for 2024 Olympic bid |date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=January 9, 2015}}
  • September 3 – Kim Davis, a clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, is found in contempt of court by federal judge David Bunning and jailed for five days for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds, defying the Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/us/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |title=Kim Davis Jailed For Contempt in Kentucky Gay Marriage Dispute |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=March 9, 2015}}
  • September 6 – Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig announces his run for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harvard-professor-larry-lessig-running-president/story?id=33568066 |work=ABC News |title=Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig Says He's Running for President |date=June 9, 2015 |access-date=September 16, 2015}}
  • September 8 – Stephen Colbert begins his run as the successor to David Letterman as host of The Late Show on CBS.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/arts/television/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review.html |work=The New York Times |title=Review: On 'Late Show' Premiere, Stephen Colbert Tries to Bring Big Back to Late Night |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2015}}
  • September 10 – Senate Democrats block a Republican resolution to reject the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action put forward by President Barack Obama regarding the nuclear program of Iran.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/us/politics/iran-nuclear-deal-senate.html |work=The New York Times |title=Democrats Hand Victory to Obama on Iran Nuclear Deal |date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2015}}
  • September 11 – Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry drops out of the race for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34227778 |work=BBC News |title=Rick Perry drops out of US presidential race |date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2015}}
  • September 13 – The Valley wildfire claims at least three lives in Lake County, California, with thousands of people forced to evacuate.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
  • September 14
  • Geography professor Shannon Lamb shoots and kills history professor Ethan Schmidt at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, before committing suicide.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34248767 |work=BBC News |title=Delta State University shooting suspect 'killed himself' |date=September 15, 2015 |access-date=September 15, 2015}}
  • 2015 Utah floods: Widespread flooding in southern Utah claims at least 20 lives.
  • September 16 – After sharp criticism and accusations of racial profiling, police in Irving, Texas, drop charges on 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed, who was suspended from MacArthur High School after authorities believed a reassembled digital clock he brought to school was a makeshift bomb. President Barack Obama also extends an invitation to Mohamed to the White House.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34266389 |work=BBC News |title=Ahmed Mohamed: No charges for boy, 14, arrested over clock |date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=September 16, 2015}}
  • September 18 – German car manufacturing company Volkswagen is directed by the Obama administration to recall about 500,000 vehicles in the United States after the company is accused of installing software in its diesel-powered cars that allow emissions of 40 times as much polluting exhaust pipe gas as is allowed by the Clean Air Act.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html |work=The New York Times |title=VW is Said to Cheat on Diesel Emissions; U.S. to Order Big Recall |date=September 18, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}}
  • September 20 – The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards are held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
  • Game of Thrones wins the award for Outstanding Drama Series.{{cite web |title=Emmy Award Winners 2015 – Full List |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/2015-primetime-emmy-award-winners-list-1201598030/ |website=Variety |access-date=March 22, 2021 |date=September 20, 2015}}
  • Veep wins the award for Outstanding Comedy Series.{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/09/21/emmys-transparent-veep/ |publisher=Fortune |title=Emmys 2015: HBO's 'Veep' and Amazon's 'Transparent' Win Big |date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015}}
  • Viola Davis becomes the first African-American woman to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/arts/television/viola-davis-emmys-interview.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Viola Davis Speaks About Her Emmy, Diversity, and Women on TV |access-date=September 24, 2015}}
  • September 21 – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker drops out of the presidential race.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/21/politics/scott-walker-drops-out-2016-election/ |publisher=CNN Politics |title=Scott Walker drops out of 2016 presidential race |date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=September 28, 2015}}
  • September 22–27 – Pope Francis visits Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia, where he spoke to a joint session of the United States Congress, addressed the United Nations, attended the World Meeting of Families, and held several masses.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34376771 |work=BBC News |title=Pope Francis holds large mass in Philadelphia to end US visit |date=September 28, 2015 |access-date=September 28, 2015}}
  • September 22 – County clerk Kim Davis once again faces legal action after four couples ask a judge to order Davis to reissue their marriage licenses after she removed her name from them.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34331759 |work=BBC News |title=Kim Davis case: Kentucky clerk faces new legal challenge |date=September 22, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2015}}
  • September 25 – Speaker of the House John Boehner announces that he will resign from his position, effective October 30.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/us/john-boehner-to-resign-from-congress.html |work=The New York Times |title=John Boehner, House Speaker, Will Resign From Congress |date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=September 27, 2015}}
  • September 28 – NASA announces that there is strong evidence that liquid water flows on Mars during the summer months, increasing the chance of sustainable life on the planet.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/28/nasa-scientists-find-evidence-flowing-water-mars |work=The Guardian |title=Nasa scientists find evidence of flowing water on Mars |date=September 28, 2015 |access-date=September 28, 2015}}

= October =

  • October – The unemployment rate drops to 5%, the lowest since April 2008 and the same as when the Great Recession started in December 2007.
  • October 1
  • 26-year-old Christopher Harper-Mercer opens fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, killing nine people and injuring eight others. It is the largest shooting at a college since the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007.
  • The {{SS|El Faro}}, a cargo ship, sinks off the Bahamas after leaving Jacksonville, Florida, two days prior, headed to Puerto Rico. It is the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.-flagged vessel in more than three decades.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ship-elfaro-idUSKCN0YI271|access-date=October 1, 2016|publisher=Reuters|title=Details of sinking of El Faro cargo ship emerge from U.S. probe|date = May 27, 2016}}
  • October 3 – The United States Air Force bombs a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, by request of local Afghan forces. The bombing may be in violation of international humanitarian law.{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/doctors-without-borders-afghanistan-airstrike/408865/ |publisher=The Atlantic |title=The Aftermath of the Airstrike on Doctors Without Borders |date=April 10, 2015 |access-date=July 10, 2015}}
  • October 9
  • The Obama administration decides to cease American training of Syrian rebels in the war against the Islamic State.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/world/middleeast/pentagon-program-islamic-state-syria.html |work=The New York Times |title=Obama Administration Ends Effort to Train Syrians to Combat ISIS |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2015}}
  • WikiLeaks releases a controversial portion of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade agreement in negotiation that is backed by President Obama, that covers policy related to intellectual property rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/tpp-treaty-full-text-wikileaks-releases-trans-pacific-partnership-intellectual-2134814 |work=International Business Times |title=TPP Treaty Full Text: WikiLeaks Releases Trans-Pacific Partnership Intellectual Property Rights Chapter |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2015}}
  • The California Coastal Commission bans the captive breeding of killer whales at the San Diego facility of SeaWorld.{{cite web|url=https://time.com/4067762/california-bans-captive-breeding-killer-whales-orcas-seaworld/ |publisher=TIME |title=California Bans Captive Breeding of Killer Whales at SeaWorld |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015}}
  • October 13 – The first debate for the Democratic Party before the 2016 primaries is held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcast on CNN.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/13/politics/democratic-debate-updates/ |publisher=CNN |title=Democratic debate 2015: Hillary Clinton's big night |date=October 14, 2015 |access-date=October 18, 2015}}
  • October 15 – President Barack Obama announces that the United States will extend its military presence in Afghanistan until the end of 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34536833 |work=BBC News |title=US troops to stay in Afghanistan in policy shift |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=October 18, 2015}}
  • October 20 – Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb drops out of the presidential race.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jim-webb-plans-to-drop-out-of-democratic-primary-153500314.html |publisher=Yahoo Politics |title=Jim Webb drops out of Democratic primary race |date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}}
  • October 21 – Vice President Biden announces he will not run for President.{{Cite web |date=2015-10-21 |title=Joe Biden Is Not Running For President In 2016 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-president-2016_n_55f1cefbe4b093be51be0d69 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}
  • October 22 – Hillary Clinton testifies for a second time before the Benghazi Committee and answered members' questions for more than eight hours in a public hearing.
  • October 23 – Former Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee drops out of the presidential race.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/23/politics/lincoln-chafee-2016-election-dnc-meeting/index.html |publisher=CNN Politics |title=Lincoln Chafee drops out of Democratic primary race |date=October 23, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}}
  • October 25 – A drunk driver plows into the Oklahoma State Homecoming parade in Stillwater, Oklahoma, killing four people and injuring 34.
  • October 26
  • A video surfaces online of a student being violently pulled from her chair in a classroom by a police officer at Spring Valley High School in South Carolina, prompting public outcry and an investigation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34650484 |work=BBC News |title=US to investigate officer-pupil clash in South Carolina |date=October 28, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}
  • The World Health Organization releases a finding that processed meat such as sausage and ham can cause cancer.{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/10/26/news/red-meat-processed-cancer-world-health-organization/ |publisher=CNN Money |title=Processed meat causes cancer, says WHO |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}
  • October 27 – The United States Senate votes overwhelmingly in favor of the controversial Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which would grant companies immunity from lawsuits for sharing personal data with the government for surveillance. The bill has several noted critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Edward Snowden.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/27/cisa-cybersecurity-bill-senate-vote?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other |work=The Guardian |title=Senate passes controversial cybsersecurity bill Cisa 74 to 21 |date=October 27, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015}}
  • October 28 – A military JLENS blimp from the United States Army breaks loose from its moorings at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, and drifts over 16,000 ft above Pennsylvania. F-16 Fighter jets were scrambled to track the blimp that has since deflated, causing widespread power outages from a long cable it dragged along the ground.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
  • October 29 – Representative Paul Ryan takes over for John Boehner as Speaker of the House of Representatives after being elected following Boehner's resignation.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/latest-mitt-romney-paul-ryans-family-ready-pomp-34820101 |work=ABC News |title=Paul Ryan Takes Gavel as House Speaker |date=October 29, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}}
  • October 30
  • President Barack Obama orders up to fifty US special operations ground troops to be deployed in Syria to fight Islamic State militants.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations |work=The Guardian |title=Obama orders US special forces to 'assist' fight against Isis in Syria |date=October 30, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}}
  • Under new rules from the United States Sentencing Commission, nonviolent drug offenders with reduced jail sentences begin to be released from prison, with the first of many waves totaling nearly 6,000 people, about 1,700 of which are illegal immigrants and may face deportation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34679662 |work=BBC News |title=US prisoner release: Nearly 6,000 drug inmates go free |date=October 30, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}}

= November =

  • November 1 – In Major League Baseball, the Kansas City Royals defeat the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series 4 games to 1 to win their first championship title in 30 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=351101121|title=Royals rally, then rout Mets in 12 to take Series|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • November 2 – Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig drops out of the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/lawrence-lessig-drops-out-215443 |publisher=Politico |title=Lessig drops out of presidential race |date=February 11, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • November 5 – Newspapers report that oil companies knew that burning oil and gas could cause global warming since the 1970s but, nonetheless, funded deniers for years.{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Timothy |author-link=Timothy Egan |title=Exxon Mobil and the G.O.P.: Fossil Fools |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/opinion/fossil-fools.html |date=November 5, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 9, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Goldenberg |first=Suzanne |title=Exxon knew of climate change in 1981, email says – but it funded deniers for 27 more years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/08/exxon-climate-change-1981-climate-denier-funding |date=July 8, 2015 |work=The Guardian |access-date=November 9, 2015 }}
  • November 9 – Amid increasing racial tension at the school, Tim Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri System, resigns from his position after a football team strike and a University of Missouri student's hunger strike.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tim-wolfe-resigns_5640be14e4b0411d3071a7e8 |work=The Huffington Post |title=Embattled University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe Resigns |date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=November 13, 2015}}
  • November 11 – A suspect is arrested by University of Missouri police for making racially charged violent threats on social media as the university protests continue to gain media attention.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/11/11/university-of-missouri-police-arrest-suspect-in-social-media-death-threats/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=University of Missouri police arrest suspect in social media death threats |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=November 13, 2015}}
  • November 12 – NASA scientists report that human-made carbon dioxide (CO2) continues to increase above levels not seen in hundreds of thousands of years: currently, about half of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere and is not absorbed by vegetation and the oceans.{{cite web |last1=Buis |first1=Alan |last2=Ramsayer |first2=Kate |last3=Rasmussen |first3=Carol |title=A Breathing Planet, Off Balance |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4769 |date=November 12, 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=November 13, 2015 }}{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Audio (66:01) – NASA News Conference – Carbon & Climate Telecon |url=http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/77531778 |date=November 12, 2015 |work=NASA |access-date=November 12, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=St. Fleur |first=Nicholas |title=Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record, Report Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/science/atmospheric-greenhouse-gas-levels-hit-record-report-says.html |date=November 10, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 11, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Ritter |first=Karl |title=UK: In 1st, global temps average could be 1 degree C higher |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20151109/climate_countdown-greenhouse_gases-d8a21f0397.html |date=November 9, 2015 |work=AP News |access-date=November 11, 2015 }}
  • November 13 – The US Department of Defense announces their belief that an American airstrike in Syria killed Mohammed Emwazi, better known as Jihadi John, who is responsible for numerous recorded beheadings of several hostages of the Islamic State, including American citizens.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34805924 |work=BBC News |title='Jihadi John': US 'reasonably certain' strike killed IS militant |date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=November 13, 2015}}
  • November 17 – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal withdraws from the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republican-bobby-jindal-drops-presidential-race/story?id=35263609 |work=ABC News |title=Bobby Jindal Drops Out of 2016 Republican Presidential Race |date=November 17, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • November 22 – The 2015 New Orleans shooting took place at Bunny Friend playground in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/nopd-identifies-suspect-in-bunny-friend-playground-shooting-that-injured-17-people/36684502 |title=NOPD identifies suspect in Bunny Friend Playground shooting that injured 17 people | New Orleans – WDSU Home |publisher=Wdsu.com |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2015}} In conjunction with the music video recorded at an impromptu unauthorized block party,{{cite web |url=http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/22/several-shot-ninth-ward-playground/76237528/ |title=17 now confirmed injured in Bunny Friend shooting |publisher=Wwltv.com |date=November 23, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127022457/http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/22/several-shot-ninth-ward-playground/76237528/ |archive-date=November 27, 2015 |url-status=dead }} 17 people were injured, with Joseph "Moe" Allen identified as a suspect.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/27/one-suspect-names-in-bunny-friend-shooting/76455058/ |title=Suspect named in playground mass shooting |publisher=Wwltv.com |date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129094956/http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/27/one-suspect-names-in-bunny-friend-shooting/76455058/ |archive-date=November 29, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
  • November 27 – A gunman opens fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing 3, including a police officer, and injuring 9. After a 5-hour standoff, shooter Robert Lewis Dear surrenders to police.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/27/us/colorado-shooting-probe/index.html|title=Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting: 3 killed|author1=Catherine E. Shoichet |author2=AnneClaire Stapleton |author3=Greg Botelho|date=November 27, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}

= December =

  • December 2
  • 2015 San Bernardino attack: 14 people are killed in a terrorist attack at a facility for the mentally disabled in San Bernardino, California. It is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in 2015, and the deadliest since 2012.
  • An E. coli outbreak involving over one dozen states and 150 000 products took place.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/e-coli-scare-spreads-to-walmart-starbucks-target/ar-AAfV8Z1?li=BBnb7Kz|title=E. Coli Scare Spreads To Walmart, Starbucks, Target|website=MSN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • December 3
  • 2015 NFL season: In American football, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a 61-yard Hail Mary pass to tight end Richard Rodgers to give the team a 27-23 victory against the Detroit Lions and advance to 8-4. The pass is the longest game-winning Hail Mary play in National Football League history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400791568|title = Packers vs. Lions - Game Recap - December 3, 2015 - ESPN}}
  • Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announces that all combat roles in the United States military must be opened to women by April 1, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/03/defense-secretary-us-military-combat-jobs-women |work=The Guardian |title=Defense secretary will tell US military to open all combat jobs to women |date=March 12, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • December 7 – Donald Trump calls for a complete ban on Muslims entering the United States, following the events in San Bernardino and Paris, causing nationwide controversy.{{cite web |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-on-preventing-muslim-immigration |publisher=DonaldJTrump.com |title=Donald J. Trump Statement On Preventing Muslim Immigration |date=July 12, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508054010/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-on-preventing-muslim-immigration |archive-date=May 8, 2017 }}
  • December 9 – Pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli is revealed to be the winner of the auction of the single copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, valued at $2 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-martin-shkreli-wu-tang-clan-album/ |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |title=Pharma's Bad Boy Exec Paid $2 Million for Wu-Tang Clan's New Record |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • December 15
  • 2015 Los Angeles Unified School District closure: The Los Angeles Unified School District received a credible terrorism threat causing the temporary closure of all Los Angeles Unified Schools.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/all-los-angeles-unified-schools-closed-by-credible-threat-of-violence/ar-BBnANkj?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout|title=All Los Angeles Unified schools closed by 'credible threat' of violence|website=MSN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-all-lausd-schools-closed-threat-20151215-story.html|title=L.A. schools to reopen Wednesday; threat against schools was 'not credible,' officials say|first=Los Angeles|last=Times|website=Los Angeles Times|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016}}
  • December 17 – Martin Shkreli is arrested on securities fraud charges for running a Ponzi-like scheme.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/martin-shkreli-arrested-on-fraud-charges-1450359637 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |title=Martin Shkreli, Pharma Executive, Arrested on Fraud Charges |date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • December 18 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens releases in the United States, the seventh film in the mainline Star Wars film series. Grossing over $2 billion worldwide, the film broke box office records and would go on to become the highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the high-grossing of the year.
  • December 21 – South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham drops out of the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lindsey-graham-drops-2016-republican-presidential-race/story?id=35886305 |work=ABC News |title=Lindsey Graham Drops Out of 2016 Republican Presidential Race |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • December 29 – Former New York Governor George Pataki drops out of the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2015/12/29/george-pataki-dropout-2016/#YNci8PwmlGqS |publisher=Mashable |title=George Pataki drops out of 2016 presidential race |date=December 29, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}
  • December 30 – An arrest warrant issued for comedian Bill Cosby for the alleged drugging and sexual assault of an employee at Temple University in 2004, following over a year of dozens of similar allegations. Cosby remains free on $1 million bail until his trial begins.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/bill-cosby-arrest-warrant-alleged-sexual-assault-2004 |publisher=People |title=Arrest Warrant Issued for Bill Cosby for Alleged 2004 Sexual Assault |date=December 31, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}

Elections

= April =

  • April 7 – Chicago mayoral election: Incumbent Rahm Emanuel wins a second term after facing off against Jesús "Chuy" García in the city's first-ever runoff election.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/07/politics/chicago-mayoral-runoff-results-rahm-emanuel-chuy-garcia/index.html|title=Rahm Emanuel wins second term as Chicago mayor|first=Alexandra |last=Jaffe|date=April 7, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 16, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-chicago-idUSKBN0MY0WZ20150407|title=Chicago's first-ever mayoral runoff election nears end|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016|newspaper=Reuters|last1=Wisniewski|first1=Mary}}

= November =

  • 2015 United States elections were held on November 3. By-elections to the United States Congress will appear.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/votecal/bidders-library/pdf/election-dates-121911.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020222655/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/votecal/bidders-library/pdf/election-dates-121911.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Election Dates|archive-date=October 20, 2014}}
  • 2015 United States gubernatorial elections occurred on November 3. Kentucky,{{cite web|last=Brammer |first=Jack |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/30/2426987/mongiardo-considers-running-for.html |title=Mongiardo considers running for governor | Politics and Government |publisher=Kentucky.com |date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=December 7, 2012}} Louisiana,{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/john_bel_edwards_announces_he.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223022323/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/john_bel_edwards_announces_he.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2013|title=John Bel Edwards announces he is running for governor in 2015|first=Jeff|last=Adelson|work=The New Orleans Times-Picayune|date=February 10, 2013|access-date=February 21, 2013}} and Mississippi{{cite web|title=New Lt. Gov Appointed After Republican's Abrupt Resignation|url=http://www.uspoliticalnewswire.com/politics/new-lt-gov-appointed-after-republicans-abrupt-resignation/|publisher=US Political Newswire|access-date=March 20, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412030214/http://www.uspoliticalnewswire.com/politics/new-lt-gov-appointed-after-republicans-abrupt-resignation/|archive-date=April 12, 2013|url-status=dead}} had gubernatorial elections.
  • 2015 Indianapolis mayoral election took place on November 3. Joe Hogsett was elected.{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/tim-swarens/2014/11/05/greg-ballard-will-seek-third-term/18550395/|title=Swarens: Indy Mayor Greg Ballard says it's time to move on|date=November 5, 2014|work=indystar.com|access-date=January 18, 2015}}
  • 2015 Philadelphia mayoral election took place on November 3. Jim Kenney was elected.{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-15/news/44117268_1_wednesday-night-council-president-darrell-clarke-dueling-events|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417032841/http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-15/news/44117268_1_wednesday-night-council-president-darrell-clarke-dueling-events|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2014|title=Rumored mayoral candidates hold dueling events|work=Philly.com|access-date=January 18, 2015}}

Deaths

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2022}}

= January =

File:Mario Cuomo NY Governor 1987.jpg]]

File:Rod Taylor - 1963.jpg]]

File:Lizabeth Scott-publicity.JPG]]

= February =

File:GaryOwens-cropped.jpg]]

File:Clark Terry in 1981.jpg]]

File:Leonard Nimoy by Gage Skidmore.jpg]]

  • February 1 – Monty Oum, animator (b. 1981)
  • February 2
  • Joseph Alfidi, American pianist, composer, and conductor (b. 1949)
  • The Jacka, American rapper (b. 1977)
  • February 3 – Charlie Sifford, golfer and first African American to play on the PGA Tour (b. 1922)
  • February 5 – Val Logsdon Fitch, Nobel physicist (b. 1923)
  • February 7
  • Billy Casper, golfer (b. 1931){{cite web |title=Billy Casper: Golfer who won prolifically but who became unfairly |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/billy-casper-golfer-who-won-prolifically-who-became-unfairly-overshadowed-big-three-his-generation-a173166.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/billy-casper-golfer-who-won-prolifically-who-became-unfairly-overshadowed-big-three-his-generation-a173166.html |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=July 26, 2021 |language=en |date=February 11, 2015}}{{cbignore}}
  • Marshall Rosenberg, psychologist and author (b. 1934)
  • Dean Smith, basketball player and coach (b. 1931)
  • John C. Whitehead, banker and politician, 9th United States Deputy Secretary of State (b. 1922)
  • February 9 – Ed Sabol, American football filmmaker (b. 1916)
  • February 10
  • Bill Enyart, American football player (b. 1947)
  • Dane A. Miller, businessman (b. 1946)
  • February 11
  • Bob Simon, journalist and television news correspondent (b. 1941)
  • Jerry Tarkanian, basketball coach (b. 1930)
  • February 12
  • David Carr, writer (b. 1956)
  • Movita Castaneda, actress and wife of Marlon Brando (b. 1916)
  • Gary Owens, disc jockey, actor, and announcer (b. 1936)
  • February 14
  • Louis Jourdan, French-born actor and singer, died in Beverly Hills, California (b. 1921)
  • Philip Levine, poet (b. 1928)
  • February 15 – Arnaud de Borchgrave, Belgian-born American journalist and executive (b. 1925)
  • February 16
  • Lesley Gore, singer, songwriter, and activist (b.1946)
  • Lorena Rojas, Mexican actress and singer (b. 1971)
  • February 17 – June Fairchild, actress and dancer (b. 1946)
  • February 18
  • Cass Ballenger, lawyer and politician (b. 1926)
  • Dave Cloud, American singer-songwriter and actor (b. 1956)
  • Jerome Kersey, American basketball player (b. 1962)
  • February 19 – Harris Wittels, actor, comedian, writer, and producer (b. 1984)
  • February 21
  • Robert O. Marshall, convicted murderer (b. 1939)
  • Bruce Sinofsky, documentary filmmaker (b. 1956)
  • Clark Terry, musician and composer (b. 1920)
  • February 24
  • Irving Kahn, businessman and investor (b. 1905)
  • Donald Keough, business executive (b. 1926)
  • February 23 – Ben Woolf, actor (b. 1980)
  • February 25 – Eugenie Clark, zoologist (b. 1922)
  • February 26 – Earl Lloyd, American basketball player and first African American in the NBA (b. 1928)
  • February 27
  • Rod McKuen, actor (b. 1931)
  • Leonard Nimoy, actor and director (b. 1931)
  • February 28
  • Alex Johnson, American baseball player (b. 1942){{cite web| url=http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/111022236/alex-johnson-1970-al-batting-champion-dies | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304161451/http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/111022236/alex-johnson-1970-al-batting-champion-dies | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 4, 2015 | work=MLB.com| first=Bobbie| last=Dittmeier | title=Johnson, 1970 AL batting champion, dies | date=March 3, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2015}}
  • Ezra Laderman, composer (b. 1924)
  • Anthony Mason, basketball player (b. 1966)
  • Maxee, American singer-songwriter (born 1969)
  • Thomas J. Stanley, writer and academic (b. 1944)

= March =

File:Sam Simon.jpg]]

= April =

File:Geoffrey Lewis - 2.jpg]]

File:Percy Sledge 1974 touring.jpg]]

File:JayneMeadows (cropped and adjusted).jpg]]

File:Verne Gagne 1964.jpg]]

File:Ben E. King 1990s.jpg]]

= May =

File:Grace lee whitney 1980.jpg]]

File:B.B. King in 2009.jpg]]

File:Anne Meara 1975.JPG]]

File:John Forbes Nash, Jr. by Peter Badge.jpg]]

File:Betsy Palmer 1960.JPG]]

File:BeauBiden-DOJ2013 (cropped).jpg]]

= June =

File:Ornette Coleman.jpg]]

File:James-horner-07.jpg]]

File:DickVanPattenByPhilKonstantin.jpg]]

= July =

File:Roger Rees.jpg]]

File:Alex Rocco 1990.jpg]]

File:Theodore Bikel (4133239868 24c25ac837 z) (cropped).jpg]]

File:Bobbi Kristina Brown.JPG]]

File:Lynn Anderson--Columbia Records.jpg]]

File:HOT ROD! (cropped).jpg]]

= August =

= September =

File:Jackie Collins.jpg]]

File:Yogi Berra 2009 (cropped).jpg]]

= October =

= November =

File:Fred Thompson.jpg]]

File:René Girard.jpg]]

  • November 1
  • Fred Thompson, politician and actor (b. 1942)
  • Houston McTear, sprinter (b. 1957)
  • November 3 – Howard Coble, politician (b. 1931)
  • November 4
  • Lee Robinson, politician (b. 1943)
  • Melissa Mathison, screenwriter (b. 1950)
  • René Girard, French-born historian and literary critic (b. 1923)
  • November 5
  • Ed Lechner, football player (b. 1919)
  • George Barris, custom car designer (b. 1925)
  • November 6 – Chuck Pyle, country singer-songwriter (b. 1945)
  • November 7
  • Gunnar Hansen, Icelandic-born actor (b. 1947)
  • Eddie Hoh, drummer (b. 1944)
  • Gladys-Marie Fry, folklorist and historian (b. 1931)
  • November 9 – Andy White, Scottish drummer (b. 1930)
  • November 10 – Allen Toussaint, musician and songwriter (b. 1938)
  • November 11 – Nathaniel Marston, actor and producer (b. 1975)
  • November 12
  • Earl E. Anderson, American general (b. 1919)
  • Bruce Dayton, businessman and philanthropist (b. 1918)
  • November 14
  • Nick Bockwinkel, wrestler, sportscaster, and actor (b. 1934)
  • Norm Ellenberger, basketball player and coach (b. 1932)
  • November 15 – Vincent 'Don Vito' Margera, television personality (Viva La Bam) (b. 1956)
  • November 18 – Mal Whitfield, middle-distance runner (b. 1924)
  • November 19 – Rex Reason, actor (b. 1928)
  • November 20 – Jim Perry, television personality, game show host (b. 1933){{Cite web|last=Barnes|first=Mike|date=2015-11-20|title=Jim Perry, Top Game Show Host in the 1970s and '80s, Dies at 82|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jim-perry-dead-game-show-842603/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716190354/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jim-perry-dead-game-show-842603/|archive-date=2021-07-16|access-date=2021-07-16|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=2015-11-21|title=Jim Perry Dies: Game Show Host Was 82|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/jim-perry-dead-game-show-host-card-sharks-sale-of-the-century-1201632486/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127061034/http://deadline.com/2015/11/jim-perry-dead-game-show-host-card-sharks-sale-of-the-century-1201632486/|archive-date=2015-11-27|access-date=2021-07-16|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}
  • November 21 – Bob Foster, boxer (b. 1938)
  • November 23
  • Dan Fante, author and playwright (b. 1944)
  • Douglass North, economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1920){{cite web|last1=Everding|first1=Gerry|title=Obituary: Douglass C. North, Nobel Prize-winning economist, 95|url=https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/douglass-north-obituary-11.24.15.aspx|publisher=Washington University in St. Louis|access-date=November 24, 2015|date=November 2, 2015}}
  • Cynthia Robinson, musician (b. 1944)
  • Jim Sochor, American football player and coach (b. 1938)
  • November 24 – Steve Wildstrom, technology columnist and consultant
  • November 28 – Majorie Lord, actress (b. 1918)

= December =

File:Robert Loggia.jpg]]

File:NatalieColeHWOFMay2013.jpg]]

See also

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References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Years in the United States}}

{{Year in North America|2015}}

Category:2010s in the United States

United States

United States

Category:Years of the 21st century in the United States