Daily Briefing: Alberto is here

Alberto is the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. A new Russia-North Korea pact solidifies the nations' position in opposition to Western influence. Summer is coming a little earlier this year.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Happy summer! Here's how to get free ice cream today.

Alberto rains down on the South

Parts of Texas are braced Thursday for almost a foot of rain as Tropical Storm Alberto sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico.

Alberto is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas, forecasters said. 

• Alberto is the first named storm of what's expected to be an especially active season for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, which also includes storms that form in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
• Tornadoes are possible into Thursday across parts of Deep South Texas and Southeast Texas, the hurricane center said. Parts of Texas could see a storm surge of up to 4 feet. 
• Meanwhile, the Midwest and East portions of the nation are facing record heat. Unusually high daytime temperatures in areas around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are expected to feel like 110 degrees through Saturday.

Putin and Kim take the wheel

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed what they called a "comprehensive" diplomatic and defense pact that comes as the two nuclear-armed states have deepened ties amid their isolation from the West. Meanwhile, Kim told Putin he backed Russia's war in Ukraine. The agreement was signed as Putin made a rare trip to North Korea, his first in nearly a quarter of a century. The serious subtext of the visit was underscored by congenial photo ops between the two leaders.

More news to know now

• UN officials accused Israel of attempting "extermination" of Palestinians in Gaza.
• Trump on a $500 bill?
• Here's what Trump and Biden each want to do for the economy.
• RFK Jr. missed a midnight deadline to qualify for the CNN presidential debate.
• Pause the news: Play today’s Paste BN Crossword. Our expert, Sally, breaks it down.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

334 officials in swing states have undermined or cast doubt on elections

A new study identified 334 public officials in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin who have denied election outcomes, tried to overturn an election or made statements to undermine an election. These officials range from a state's second-highest elected official to local boards that certify election results. Those closely divided states are likely to decide the 2024 presidential election. But what can these individuals do next?

It's back to reality for cash-strapped US consumers

American households are on their own, now that pandemic-related stimulus funds have been exhausted. With the relief funds drying up, more people have been struggling to pay bills, bank deposits have declined, credit card balances have pushed above $1 trillion and other financial problems have worsened. Still, the depletion of stimulus funds might not be enough to slow the economy by much, and cash-stressed consumers have options to improve their situations, if they haven’t tried them yet.

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• Here's how Rickwood Field was renovated for a historic MLB game.
• This watermelon stand is staying strong against gentrification.
• Katie Ledecky dominated the 1,500 freestyle at the Olympic trials — exactly as expected.
• The Oilers' Stanley Cup Final turnaround goes beyond Connor McDavid.

Earliest solstice in 228 years coming Thursday

Folks hankering for the warmth of summer will get a special treat this week, with the earliest summer solstice in more than two centuries slated for Thursday afternoon. The early solstice is due to the complex dance between Earth's yearly orbit around the sun and its daily rotation, along with how we mark the solstice on our calendars. Quirks in the Gregorian calendar mean the solstice will make another jump earlier every leap year until 2100. Read more

Photo of the day:  Stonehenge sprayed orange

Two environmental protesters have been arrested after spraying Stonehenge with orange paint, according to the group responsible and local police. The site is a popular destination this week as visitors gather for the summer solstice.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.