Claudette regains strength, Olympic trials, Amazon Prime Day: 5 things to know Monday
Claudette regaining strength after leaving at least 13 dead
Claudette was regaining strength early Monday and expected to return to tropical storm status as it neared the coast of the Carolinas, after leaving at least 13 people dead. Ten people, including nine children, were killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Saturday that was likely caused by storm-related hydroplaning, Butler County Coroner Wayne Garlock said. Separately, a 24-year-old father and his 3-year-old son died in their home when a falling tree struck the residence in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, police said. A 23-year-old woman also died Saturday after her car ran off the road into a swollen creek, DeKalb County Deputy Coroner Chris Thacker told WHNT-TV. Early Monday, Claudette had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The depression was forecast to become a tropical storm sometime Monday morning over eastern North Carolina.
- Photo gallery: Claudette threatens US Gulf Coast with rain, flooding
- 'It's a national tragedy': Young victims of Alabama highway crash were traveling home from beach trip when tragedy struck
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US Track and Field Olympic trials continues with five finals
The U.S. Track and Field Olympic trials continue with a handful of finals and one significant absence. The finals for the pole vault, javelin throw, men's triple jump and 800 meters, and women's 1500 and 5000 meters will take place Monday. Notably absent from the women's 1500M and 500M races will be Shelby Houlihan, the reigning national champion and American record-holder in the events. Houlihan was given a four-year ban for violating anti-doping rules last week when she tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. She has strongly denied wrongdoing and believes she must have unknowingly ingested the steroid through pork in a burrito she purchased at a food truck.
- US Olympic officials reverse course, boot banned runner Shelby Houlihan from track trials
- Sha'Carri Richardson dominates 100 meters in style to clinch trip to Tokyo Olympics
- Allyson Felix dreams of inspiring her daughter by qualifying for fifth Olympic Games
Get ready, shoppers: Amazon Prime Day has arrived
The day shoppers have been eagerly awaiting all year has come: Amazon Prime Day. On Monday and Tuesday, the retail giant is expected to unleash more than two million discounts for members of Amazon's Prime subscription service, which the company reports are now 200 million strong worldwide. Existing or new customers to the service will get access to tons of top-rated products at jaw-dropping discounts during the monster sale. Members will also be able to stream movies and TV on Prime Video and read thousands of books on Prime Reading (among other perks). Those on the fence can even test the service out for a free 30-day trial. These are a few of the many (many!) Prime Day deals you should check out:
- Bookmark our Prime Day page for all the most up-to-the-minute coverage
- 10 amazing products to bookmark for Prime Day — or shop right now
- 5 things you need to know to take advantage of Prime Day
US borders with Mexico and Canada will remain closed
U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada will remain closed through Monday "to reduce the spread" of COVID-19. The Department of Homeland Security announced Sunday that the restrictions at the borders — originally closed to leisure travelers in March 2020 — were being extended until July 21. The border restriction extension comes as about 45% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and cases are declining in a majority of states. But the spread of the highly-contagious Delta variant among the unvaccinated could pose a new public health threat, warned President Joe Biden and the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.
- Tracking COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state: How many people have been vaccinated?
- Delta is the 'most serious' COVID-19 variant, scientists say. How will it affect the US?
Start of summer brings travel troubles
After the longest day of the year, Monday brings about the first full day of summer. Summer solstice 2021 began Sunday at 11:32 p.m. EDT, and is often called the longest day of the year because it's the day with the most daylight, since the sun travels its longest path through the sky and reaches its highest point. And if you're planning on booking a summer getaway, "you better book something now," according to experts. Travelers are facing high lodging rates, driven by the millions of Americans who are ready to hit the roads now that COVID-19 cases have dropped. Whether they're looking for a hotel room in Miami or a Vrbo in Myrtle Beach, demand and prices for many destinations are back to 2019 levels, or even higher, following a dip last summer, experts warn.
- America's least-visited national parks are perfect for nature lovers who hate crowds
- Pack these 10 items to make sure you have the best road trip ever
Contributing: The Associated Press