Blistering, dangerous heat continues
100 million Americans are under heat warnings this week. Aggressive border-control tactics contributed to inaction during the Uvalde shooting. And the smile you needed today: Some businesses in Missouri are waging an all-out "sign war."
👋 Looking for short news? You came to the right place. I'm Laura Davis, and this is the news you need to know Tuesday.
But first, big bison news! This forest in the United Kingdom is home again for European bison, which haven't roamed there for 6,000 years.
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Summer heat getting hotter
The summer heat is getting intense, so hot that forecasters put nearly 100 million Americans under excessive-heat warnings or advisories this week. The National Weather Service says the "dangerous heat" is forecast to impact a large swath of the country, including Texas, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri. A number of states were also placed under a heat advisory with most areas forecast to reach at least the high 90s. Amarillo, Texas, is expected to reach a high of 113 degrees, and Shreveport, Louisiana, will soar to 108 degrees. Here's what we know and some tips for staying cool.
UK breaks its record for highest temperature
The United Kingdom crushed its record for highest temperature Tuesday as a scorching heat wave also broiled much of mainland Europe, leading to hundreds of heat-related deaths and fierce wildfires. Flames racing toward a French beach and Britons sweltering drove home concerns about climate change. The Meteorological Office, U.K.'s weather office, said a temperature of 40.2 Celsius (104.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was provisionally recorded Tuesday in London, beating the previous record high temperature in the U.K. of 38.7 C (101.7 F) in 2019. Keep reading.
Learn more:
- How hot will it get? The "extreme heat" will continue through the week and expand across the Northeast on Wednesday. Check your local forecast.
- Everything you need to know about heat: From the heat index to a heat dome to an excessive heat warning.
- Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke: How to recognize warnings signs, and tips to keep cool.
What everyone's talking about
- Plan B is not an alternative to abortion. Here's why.
- CDC issues health alert warning: What is parechovirus? What are the signs, symptoms in babies?
- Is student-loan forgiveness fair to those without college degrees? Americans remain divided over costs.
- 'Above the law': Feds unveil contempt case against Steve Bannon; defense claims case driven by politics.
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Border-control tactics contributed to inaction during Uvalde, experts say
Robb Elementary students were used to school lockdowns. But when a lockdown alert came on May 24 — the day a shooter killed 19 students and two teachers — many initially assumed it was like the 47 other lockdowns that happened, a newly released report by the Texas House of Representatives concluded. Those lockdowns had fostered a culture of complacency at the school, it said. And 90% of the security alerts earlier in the year came from “bailout” situations, described as when vehicles smuggling migrants lead officers on high-speed chases that often end by crashing the vehicle and allowing the occupants to scatter. Keep reading.
- The report: Uvalde school shooting report finds 'systemic failures' in law enforcement response.
- Will calls for police accountability be answered? Legal experts say pursuing charges could prove difficult.
Utah startup paid $219M by GOP governors for questionable COVID tests
How did an upstart, inexperienced Utah company and three partners from Salt Lake City's emerging tech hub become key players during the worst infectious-disease crisis in more than 100 years? A Paste BN investigation based upon more than 30,000 documents and dozens of interviews illuminates the web of business relationships, money and connected political leaders in five states that tipped the scales in favor of Nomi Health and its partners. Here's how it happened.
- How Paste BN reported its investigation of Nomi Health.
Real quick
- Methanol found in blood of 21 teens found dead in South African bar, officials say.
- Authorities use DNA from coffee cup to solve cold-case murder from 1975.
- Man driving by burning home rescues five children inside, including baby.
- Transformer fire at the Hoover Dam quickly extinguished, officials say.
- Moo-ve: Dozens of loose cows halt traffic for hours on Florida Turnpike.
- Showcasing stars young and old, the 2022 Home Run Derby was a magical night for MLB.
Missouri businesses waging 'sign war'
1-2-3-4, I declare sign war! A local "sign war" along the main thoroughfare in Marshfield, Missouri, is taking social media by storm. It all began when employees of the Marshfield McDonald's posted, "HEY DQ! WANNA HAVE A SIGN WAR" on their outdoor sign last week. Angela Jones, shift lead of the Dairy Queen across the street, said the crew became aware of McDonald's challenge on the morning of July 13. It was then they decided, as a team, whether and how they would respond. The decision? A roast. "WE WLD BUT WERE 2 BUSY MAKIN ICECREAM." Check out the pictures and read more here.
A break from the news
- 🛍 Peanuts fans, rejoice! This great sustainable sneaker brand just dropped a fab collab.
- 🛳 'What happens on the ship ... Stays on the ship': Swingers explore their lifestyle at sea.
- 🖼 Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day is back! Find venues in your state offering free entry.
This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.