TX man pleads guilty in deaths of 53 migrants in sweltering temps
An east Texas truck driver pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the deaths of 53 migrants found inside a semitrailer with no air conditioning during scorching temperatures. The 2022 incident is the deadliest human smuggling attempt across the U.S.-Mexico border in American history.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, that Homero Zamarono Jr. pleaded guilty to several charges including “conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death.”
Zamorano is set to be sentenced on April 24. He faces the possibility of life in prison, according to DOJ.
Authorities said Zamorano drove a truck that he and other men knew had a broken air conditioner with nearly 70 migrants inside the vehicle’s trailer for three hours from Laredo, Texas, to San Antonio, Texas.
Investigators said temperatures were in the triple digits as migrants cried for help and tried to escape.
Prosecutors said the migrants in the truck’s trailer were unable to call authorities because the human smugglers had taken their cellphones.
According to an indictment, those involved in the operation spread an unknown powder around the trailer. Investigators said this was to prevent patrol dogs from detecting the smell of human cargo at border checkpoints.
The bodies of 48 migrants were found by police when the truck reached San Antonio. Sixteen others were taken to the hospital, where five more people died.
Authorities also charged Christian Martinez in the case.
Officers arrested both Zamorano and Martinez shortly after police found the migrants inside the truck’s trailer.
Martinez has also pleaded guilty to multiple smuggling-related charges.
Investigators said the men worked with human smugglers from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, sharing routes, guides and stash houses as well as trucks and trailers.
Prosecutors said the migrants were charged $15,000 each to be smuggled across the U.S. border. The cost covered three attempts.
Renewables aided 2024 Texas summer power surge, winter challenges remain
Solar power and utility-scale batteries played a pivotal role in helping Texas maintain grid stability amid the extreme heat and record high energy consumption during the summer of 2024. However, a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas warns that these resources may not be able to handle future energy demands and potential winter challenges.
Last summer, solar energy provided nearly 25% of Texas’ mid-day power needs between June and August. Battery storage systems supplemented this by discharging energy during evening hours. This compensated for declining solar output when the sun went down.
In late August, both solar and battery storage set new records during a peak load event. This performance marked a significant improvement from 2023, as in the summer of 2024, Texas avoided issuing energy conservation appeals to consumers like it had been forced to do multiple times the prior year, demonstrating greater resilience during warmer months.
Winter poses unique challenges
Despite this progress, experts caution that winter poses unique challenges. Peak demand often occurs in the early morning, when solar generation is unavailable and current battery storage capacities may be insufficient for extended demands during extreme cold.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas also projects substantial growth in energy demand due to the expansion of data centers, industrial operations and electrification trends.
By 2030, peak summer load could rise to 148,000 megawatts, significantly higher than the 85,000-megawatt peak recorded in 2024.
Price reductions may deter investment
While solar and battery storage has lowered wholesale electricity prices — benefiting consumers — these price reductions may deter further investment in additional battery storage and dispatchable power generation.
Texas’ energy-only market design, which compensates generators solely for electricity produced, may require adjustments to incentivize new capacity and ensure future reliability.
Additionally, the state’s standalone grid has been criticized for past resilience issues. The federal government has allocated $360 million to create a new connection between Texas and the national grid, although experts estimate this project could take a decade to complete.
Papua New Guinea to boycott UN climate summit, calls it a ‘waste of time’
Despite being one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to global warming’s effects, Papua New Guinea has announced it will boycott the upcoming United Nations COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. Officials from the Pacific island nation, where average temperatures have risen by about 1.5 degrees over the past century, called the event a “total waste of time.”
“We are sick of the rhetoric as well as the merry-go-round of getting absolutely nothing done over the last three years,” Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said. “We are the third-biggest rainforest nation in the world. We are sucking up the pollutants of these major countries. And they are getting away with it scot-free.”
Tkatchenko specifically called out the world’s biggest carbon emitters, like China, India and the United States, which collectively produce nearly half of the world’s greenhouse gases, and highlighted what he sees as empty promises from these nations at previous U.N. talks.
“All the big polluters of the world promise and commit millions to assist in climate relief and support. And I can tell you now it’s all going to consultants,” Tkatchenko said. “Why are we spending all this money going to the other side of the world going to these talkfests?”
Papua New Guinea has opted to instead seek climate partnerships through bilateral channels rather than attending COP29. Their decision to boycott the U.N.’s climate conference has reportedly garnered support from other countries in the Pacific bloc.
Biden, Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. And billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk speak to voters in battleground states. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces have killed the man they say was the chief architect of the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which started the ongoing war in Gaza. They had been trying to get Yahya Sinwar for a year, describing him as a “dead man walking” in the days after Hamas’ first attack.
However, it appears that while Israeli forces had been tipped off Sinwar was in the Rafah area, troops just happened to come across him unknowingly during battle. It was not until later they realized they had killed Israel’s most wanted man.
The IDF released drone video of what appears to be Sinwar’s final moments, showing a man with a wounded hand, who they say is Sinwar, sitting down in a destroyed building and throwing a piece of wood at the drone. They say Sinwar’s body was found with a bulletproof vest, grenades, and 40,000 Israeli shekels.
“Since the beginning of this war that Sinwar started on October 7 — we’ve said: Our war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. We mean it.”
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari on the elimination of Yahya Sinwar and our operational goals in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/OgkgUc5Bhi
Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores and said it could be a turning point in the war.
“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages.”
U.S. officials are hoping with Sinwar out of the picture, a cease-fire can finally be reached between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden, who has already tried to broker cease-fire deals, seemed to have renewed hope when speaking to reporters Thursday, Oct. 17.
“Now’s the time to move on,” he said. “Move on, move toward a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re able to make things better for the whole world. It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.”
President Biden said he’s sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to help figure out what’s next. Netanyahu has said Israel will keep fighting until all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 are free, and that it will keep control over Gaza long enough to ensure Hamas does not rearm.
While Sinwar’s death has sparked optimism the war in Gaza will soon end, it won’t be the end of fighting in the Middle East.
Just this month, Israel opened a new front against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon after a year of trading cross-border fire. Hezbollah had been striking Israel as a show of solidarity with Hamas.
In the wake of Sinwar’s death, Hezbollah announced a “transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.”
Musk, Cuban talk election as candidates take part in charity event
As the 2024 presidential campaign inches closer to its final two weeks, the candidates each garnered the support of two billionaire representatives to spread their message to voters on Thursday.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has appeared alongside Republican candidate former President Donald Trump at recent events, held a town hall at a Pennsylvania high school near Philadelphia. Musk called on Pennsylvanians to register to vote and described the importance of the battleground state to this election.
“You show what matters by your actions, not your words, and my actions are I’m here,” Musk said. “I’m in Pennsylvania, and I’m here for a very important reason, which, yeah, which is, I can’t emphasize, I can’t emphasize enough that Pennsylvania is, I think, the linchpin in this election. And this election, I think is going to decide the fate of America, and along with the fate of America, the fate of Western civilization.”
Meanwhile Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris called on NBA team owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban to reach voters during a rally at a college campus in Wisconsin. In his address to the crowd, Cuban took aim at Trump’s trade policies.
“I mean back in the 90s, in the early 2000s, he was a little bit coherent when he talked about trade policy, and he actually made a little bit of sense,” Cuban said, “but I don’t know what happened to him. The way he’s been thinking about tariffs and trade now, something’s a little bit lost. And now his trade policies, particularly with tariffs, are basically just gibberish.”
As for the candidates themselves, they both made an appearance at Thursday night’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, which raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and is a traditional stop for both parties toward the end of the election cycle. However, breaking from tradition, Vice President Harris did not appear in person.
Instead, she sent in a video in which she appeared alongside former Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon, who reprised her famous character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
“It is a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition. And I’m so proud to be a part of,” Harris said.
In his speech, former President Trump criticized Harris for not showing up to the event in person. Harris is the first presidential candidate to do that since 1984.
“It’s been a long tradition for both Democrat and Republican candidates for President of the United States to attend this dinner,” Trump said. “You know, it is a rule; you got to go to the dinner. You got to do it. Otherwise bad things are going to happen to you from up there. You can’t do what I just saw on that screen. But my opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and, in particular, to our great Catholic community. Very disrespectful.”
In a statement regarding her absence, the Harris campaign said the vice president was campaigning Thursday and “the campaign wants to maximize her time in battlegrounds this close to the election.”
Texas execution of man in shaken baby case halted
The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of a man sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter.
A jury convicted Robert Roberson of killing the toddler in a case of “shaken baby syndrome,” which his attorneys, as well as Texas lawmakers and medical experts, now say was based on faulty and outdated scientific evidence related to the diagnosis.
The last-minute stay came just over one-hour before Roberson’s death warrant was set to expire. However, a legal battle is still ongoing, and a new execution date could be set after Roberson’s potential testimony before Texas lawmakers next week. A House committee subpoenaed him on Wednesday, Oct. 16, as it reconsiders the lawfulness of his conviction.
Liam Payne’s preliminary autopsy report released; One Direction statement
A preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said pop singer Liam Payne died of “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding.” The 31-year-old died Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The autopsy found a total of 25 injuries on the singer’s body, suffered from the fall. The prosecutor’s office has requested additional studies to help in the investigation.
On social media, Payne’s One Direction bandmates paid tribute to their friend in a joint statement Thursday, saying, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Phoenix ends 21-day streak of record hot temperatures
The city of Phoenix, Arizona is getting its first feel of fall, relatively speaking, after 21 straight days of record-breaking hot temperatures.
From Sept. 24 to this past Monday, Oct. 14, the Weather Service recorded 19 new all-time highs and two days tied previous records; all temperatures well into the triple digits.
Parts of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have been gripped by the recent heat wave, with unseasonably warm temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
A cold front is expected to move in this weekend and cool things down.
Rare copy of US Constitution sells for $9 million
You don’t have to be in a Nicholas Cage movie to get your hands on an important document from American history — but you do need millions of dollars. A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution sold at auction Thursday evening in North Carolina for $9 million.
The document was printed 237 years ago and is the only copy of its type believed to be privately owned. The copy of the Constitution was found two years ago when a property in North Carolina was being cleared out.
The property was once owned by Samuel Johnston, the state’s governor in the 1780s. The document also came with a letter from George Washington asking for the Constitution to be ratified.
French town tells visitors to stay away during summer tourism surge
France is expected to attract over 93 million international visitors in 2025, but one French town is telling visitors to stay away during the summer. American tourists play a big part in the tourism search, which is a major reason France expects to keep its title as “the world’s most visited country.”
However, not everyone is open to the accolade. St. Tropez, once a quiet fishing village, has now become a luxury hotspot. The town attracts 80,000 visitors per day between July and August, with a population of under 4,000.
The town attracts stars like George Clooney, Katy Perry and Naomi Campbell. The blend of luxury, privacy and even a vibrant night life are some of the reasons celebrities choose to visit the small town.
Meanwhile, locals are expressing their concerns about the town’s change of character. The mayor of the town has even begun asking visitors to consider coming during the off-season instead.
St. Tropez isn’t the only town feeling the heat of too much tourism. Visitors reportedly threaten some of the country’s fragile natural environments.
The French government has come up with ways to implement a sustainable tourism strategy. Over 80% of French hotels now have green rating systems.
The country has banned domestic flights to destinations reachable by train in less than two and a half hours, and it has even launched a monthly train pass for younger adults that costs €49.
France is just the latest nation struggling with an influx of tourists this summer, as Japan and Spain are working through similar difficulties.
Health issues reported due to mail-order medications in extreme temperatures
Across the nation, the summer sun isn’t just a nuisance for outdoor plans. The hot weather is potentially jeopardizing the effectiveness of millions of prescription medications that are arriving at patients’ doorsteps.
With delivery trucks reaching up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, medications are often exposed to temperatures far beyond the safe range of 68 to 77 degrees. The New York Times reported that over a dozen people have reported serious health problems due to consuming these products.
Dr. Mike Ren from Baylor College of Medicine highlighted the dangers, especially for liquid and aerosolized drugs like insulin and AUVI-Q, which can degrade in extreme heat. Despite assurances from mail-order pharmacies about weather-resistant packaging, a study published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that medications spend over two-thirds of their transit time outside the recommended temperature range.
Pharmacies like OptumRx use tracking technologies and reship packages if delays occur but do not monitor in-transit temperatures. The FDA’s guidelines do not cover direct patient deliveries, leaving states to address the issue.
Patients report receiving medications that feel warm or are inadequately packaged, raising concerns about safety. Efforts to strengthen regulations are ongoing, but significant hurdles remain. Until then, the risk of compromised medications persists.
Researchers have known about this issue since the 1990s. In a study published in 1996, more than 90% of medication shipments exceeded the recommended temperature range.
As global temperatures rise and access to online medications becomes more widespread, the problem seems to be growing. Federal agencies are reporting numerous comments about the these temperature extremes on their medications.
Pharmacists advise to check the condition of medications before taking them and recommend speaking to a pharmacist if any concerns arise.
Biden fields questions on ability, foreign affairs while misspeaking at times
For almost an hour President Joe Biden takes questions from the media about his policies, his candidacy and his health. And Prince Harry addresses the controversy surrounding his selection as an award recipient at the ESPYs. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, July 12, 2024.
Biden fields questions on ability, foreign affairs while misspeaking at times
The eyes of the world were on President Joe Biden on Thursday night, July 11, as he delivered an hour-long press conference to close out the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. It was his first press conference since his poor performance at the June 27 debate, which has led to growing concern in the Democratic Party about his candidacy.
The president fielded questions from reporters, but it was a gaffe he made earlier in the day at the summit that was already on people’s minds. He misspoke while introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said, before quickly catching himself. “President Putin? He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelenskyy. I’m so focused on beating Putin, we’ve got to worry about it. Anyway, Mr. President.”
Then came the evening press conference — President Biden’s first in eight months. He made it clear he plans on staying in the race to face former President Donald Trump in November, despite the calls from some Democratic lawmakers to step aside.
“I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president,” President Biden vowed. “I beat him once and I’ll beat him again.”
However, just minutes into the Q&A portion, Biden slipped when asked about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to beat Trump if she were at the top of the ticket.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, did I think she was not qualified to be president, so let’s start there,” he said.
And when answering a question about the U.S.’ military assistance for Ukraine, Biden made another error before correcting himself.
“I’m following the advice of my Commander in Chief — my, the Chief of Staff of the military, as well as the Secretary of Defense and our intelligence people,” he said.
Still, Biden spent most of his time in front of the press corps displaying his understanding of foreign affairs, giving detailed responses to questions on Russia, China and the Middle East.
“We have to make clear China has to understand that if they are supplying Russia with information and capacity along with working with North Korea and others to help Russia and armament, that they’re not going to benefit economically as a consequence of that by getting the kind of investment they’re looking for,” Biden said.
He also touched on the ongoing war in Gaza.
“I know Israel well and I support Israel,” he said. “But this war cabinet is one of the most conservative war cabinets in the history of Israel and there’s no ultimate answer other than a two-state solution here.”
Ultimately, the questions came back to Biden’s well-being. The president was asked if he’d be willing to take another neurological exam.
“Every single day I’m surrounded by good docs, if they think there’s a problem, I promise you or even if they don’t think it’s a problem, they think I should have a neurological exam again I’ll do it but no one’s suggesting that to me now,” he responded.
When asked by a reporter if he’d step aside if data showed Vice President Harris would be in a better position to win the election in November, Biden remained defiant.
“No, unless they came back and said there’s no way you can win,” he said. “Me. No one’s saying that. No poll says that.”
Former President Donald Trump seized the moment during Thursday’s press conference, commenting on Biden’s missteps on his Truth Social app, highlighting any mistakes the president made. When asked about that, Biden replied, “Listen to him.”
Crooked Joe begins his “Big Boy” Press Conference with, "I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president." Great job, Joe!
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 12, 2024
More Democratic lawmakers call on Biden to drop out of race
While President Biden may have hoped his press conference Thursday night would calm fears of his abilities among his party, three more Democratic lawmakers are now calling for him to drop out of the race. They join 13 other House members and one Senate Democrat.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said in a statement that he believes Biden is “a remarkable leader” but needs to “step away from his presidential campaign.”
Rep. Scott Peters of California said he’s asking the president to withdraw, adding the stakes are high and the Democrats are on a losing course.
And Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois said he hopes the president will step aside for a candidate “who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country.”
Meanwhile, CBS News reports dozens of Democratic lawmakers are expected to issue statements calling for Biden to leave the race within the next 48 hours.
Trump asks judge to toss criminal conviction over SCOTUS immunity ruling
Former President Trump is seeking to have his recent criminal conviction in New York thrown out based on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity. Trump’s lawyers argue some of the evidence and testimony used in the criminal trial should not have been allowed because they were related to official acts Trump made while president, which the Supreme Court ruled are protected from prosecution.
Already the Supreme Court’s decision has delayed sentencing in that case. Originally set for Thursday, July 11, it’s now been pushed back to Sept. 18 to give the judge time to consider how the ruling impacts the outcome of the trial.
We were all taught in grade school that there are no kings here in America, but what the MAGA Justices have done is placed a crown on Donald Trump's head.
I am working in the Senate on legislation to clarify that Trump's election-subversion acts do not count as official acts.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats are considering a bill that would classify some of Trump’s actions that have landed him in legal troubles as “unofficial acts” so he could still be prosecuted.
Record-setting heat wave scorches western U.S., dozens dead
A week-long heat wave has left nearly 30 people dead and incinerated multiple temperature records in the west. Forecasters say it will continue to bring dangerously high temperatures through Saturday, July 13, before moving to the central and eastern U.S. by Sunday, July 14.
Millions of people across multiple states are under heat advisories. The situation is especially bad in Texas, where thousands of people are still without power after Hurricane Beryl tore through Monday, July 8, killing at least ten people.
More than 1 million power customers in southeast Texas — mainly between Galveston and north of Houston — are still without power. Officials say half a million Houston-area homes and businesses may not have their power restored until July 22.
NRG Arena is being converted into a 250-bed post-hospital recovery site so discharged patients don’t go to homes without power. This is intended to alleviate the backup of patients at Houston’s hospitals. #KHOU11pic.twitter.com/zmPQowa9nO
The outages have crippled infrastructure across the region, including hospitals and water treatment plants, leaving many without clean drinking water.
Dollar General to pay $12M safety violations settlement
Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve working conditions at thousands of its stores across the country. The company reached a settlement with OSHA to resolve alleged violations, including unsafe storage, blocked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and inaccessible electrical panels.
Under the agreement, if inspectors find similar problems in the future, Dollar General could be fined up to $100,000 a day if they’re not resolved within 48 hours.
The terms of the deal also require Dollar General to significantly reduce inventory and improve stocking to prevent hazards and hire more safety managers, as well as create a health and safety committee with employee participation.
Prince Harry accepts Pat Tillman Award for Service at 2024 ESPYs
The best in the world of sports were honored Thursday night at ESPN’s annual award show — the ESPYs. But going into the event, there was some controversy over ESPN’s choice to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Prince Harry is the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
The Duke of Sussex founded The Invictus Games, an international platform that supports wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women who are navigating both physical and invisible injuries. pic.twitter.com/M3F3Rmft4j
Prince Harry was selected for his role in starting the Invictus Games for wounded military personnel and veterans.
In the days leading up to the ceremony. the mother of Pat Tillman — the former NFL player turned U.S. soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 — criticized ESPN’s selection, saying there were recipients far more fitting. Harry took a moment to respond to the controversy while delivering his acceptance speech.
“I’d like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to everyone at the Pat Tillman Foundation, led by Marie Tillman Shenton, who I’m so honored is here tonight,” he said. “I’d also like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother. Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect. The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
During his speech, Prince Harry said he is just a voice for the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service members who have taken part in the games over the past 10 years, adding the award belongs to them.
Blistering heat wave gripping western US won’t stop Death Valley tourists
A dangerous heat wave is gripping parts of the American West as temperatures broke record highs in some areas on Monday, July 8. However, the heat didn’t stop hundreds of tourists from flocking to Death Valley National Park, even in the wake of a motorcyclist’s death attributed to the latest heat wave gripping the park.
The California desert is one of the hottest places on earth but even this heat is extreme for Death Valley with temperatures potentially reaching 130 degrees. Park officials have warned those visiting the tourist attraction to heed caution in the dangerous temperatures and to limit their time outside their vehicles.
From Death Valley to Las Vegas and up the West Coast, heat advisories were in effect for around 146 million people on Monday, July 8, as summer vacations are well underway.
Las Vegas broke its record-high temperature by reaching 120 degrees on Monday but it’s not over yet. A predicted high of 118 is in the forecast for Thursday, July 11.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, authorities said the heat is to blame for four deaths over the weekend of July 6.
However, the heat isn’t just a danger to public health, it’s also creating a wildfire risk. Scorching temperatures along with dry conditions fueled a fire in the Santa Barbara mountains on Monday as more than a thousand firefighters battled the blaze. The fire forced the evacuation of some nearby communities as it grew.
Additionally, some areas not typically accustomed to high temperatures have soared into the 90s. For instance, South Lake Tahoe, California, reached a record-high temperature of 91 degrees.
The early July heat wave comes after global temperatures hit record warms for the 13th straight month in June.
Why there are more mass shootings, violence in summer
It’s no secret that violence and shootings seem to surge in the summertime and the most violent day of the year is here: Independence Day. Historically, Independence Day is also one of the deadliest days of the year when it comes to violence and mass shootings.
According to the Gun Violence Archive — which tracks mass shootings involving four or more people, regardless of whether they died — June, July and August have had the highest total number of mass shootings over the past decade.
Independence Day topped the list over the last 10 years, with 58 mass shootings. July 5 came in as the second biggest day for mass shootings.
A criminologist with Northeastern University said the rising temperatures likely have a lot to do with the spike in violence in the summer. It has been scientifically proven the heat can make people angrier and more aggressive.
But specifically, he said Independence Day is one of the worst days for gun violence, not just because of how hot it is, but because people aren’t working or in school and instead, they are gathering, making it easier to get in arguments or fights. He also said some of that spills over past midnight into July 5, which is why it sees the second highest number of mass shootings each year, historically.
Statistically, mass killings are far more likely to happen at a home. Most often, the victims know the shooter, according to The Associated Press.
Summer officially started on June 20 and in the first week alone, AP said at least eight mass shootings were reported across the country — several of those at large parties.
Overall, of the 10 most violent days of the year, nine are in the heat of summer. The one exception is Jan. 1, as people gather to celebrate the new year.
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
The White House released President Joe Biden’s next plans to reassure concerned Democrats after last week’s debate. And July 4 holiday travelers are expected to break records on the road amid soaring temperatures. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
President Joe Biden and his team are taking this holiday week to reassure supporters that his decision to remain in the presidential race is the right one after his performance during the June 27 debate left some in his party questioning his candidacy. During a campaign fundraiser event in Virginia Tuesday, July 2, Biden blamed his poor performance on jet lag from back-to-back European trips, telling donors that “he wasn’t very smart” that he “didn’t listen” to his staff.
Reports also said Biden added that he almost “fell asleep during the debate.” To what extent the president was joking is not clear.
Previously, Biden’s campaign had said the president had a cold going into the debate.
On Wednesday, July 3, the president will speak with Democratic governors and party leaders as he looks to calm their fears. The White House reportedly will also be holding an all-staff meeting which the Associated Press describes as a “morale-booster.”
Biden has also agreed to sit down for an interview ABC News on Friday, July 5.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration really wants to turn the page on this topic with Biden heading to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days, but that didn’t stop reporters from pressing the issue.
“I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer’s any form of dementia or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?” Andrew Feinberg, a reporter with The Independent, said. “And it’s a yes or no question and if you don’t know, why don’t you, as one of his senior staff members, know?”
Jean-Pierre fired back, “I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it? It’s a ‘no’ and I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question.”
This all comes as some members of the Democratic party are calling for Biden to step aside.
“I thought it was time for me to speak up, not for any self-gain, but because I think the risk to our country is so great we need to have the strongest candidate possible in order to ensure that the values that we hold for our democracy are not traded for an authoritarian strongman bent on revenge against his opponents,” Doggett told NBC News.
In a Newsweek opinion column, former Ohio congressman and presidential candidate Tim Ryan promoted the idea for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Biden on their party’s ticket.
Speaking to CBS News after leaving a fundraiser in California, the vice president confirmed President Biden remains the Democratic nominee.
“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee,” Harris said. “We beat Trump once and we’re going to beat him again. Period.”
Harris added, “I am proud to be Joe Biden’s running mate.”
Judge delays sentencing in Trump criminal case
Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his New York criminal trial has been pushed back to at least September. The judge’s decision came out Tuesday, July 2, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court handed the former president a big win, ruling he has some immunity from being criminally prosecuted on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump’s sentencing in New York was originally scheduled for next Thursday, July 11. Now, the judge overseeing the trial says Trump will be sentenced on Sept. 18 “if such is still necessary.”
That’s an “if” because Trump’s lawyers say the Supreme Court ruling should not only delay the sentencing but lead to tossing out his conviction completely.
Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social after the decision came down, saying the Supreme Court’s decision awarded him “total exoneration” in this and other criminal cases he faces.
Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony in May, when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The Supreme Court’s decision has cast doubt on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump on election subversion charges, and a trial before the November election is highly unlikely now.
Giuliani disbarred in New York for 2020 election interference efforts
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York after a Manhattan appeals court found he repeatedly made false statements about former President Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. The court said Giuliani “flagrantly misused” his position.
Giuliani, once a legal adviser to Trump, has been banned from practicing law in “any form” in New York. Giuliani’s lawyer said his legal team was disappointed by the court’s decision.
Island-wide emergency declared in Jamaica ahead of Beryl
As Hurricane Beryl hurtles toward Jamaica, the country’s prime minister preemptively declared the whole island a disaster area. He’s also instated an island-wide curfew for Wednesday, July 3.
Beryl has been downgraded to a Category 4 storm now, but it’s already caused at least six deaths in the Caribbean.
Beryl is forecast to weaken more as it gets closer to Jamaica, but is still expected to be a major hurricane — at least a Category 3 — when it hits, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surge.
Eli Lilly’s drug has been shown in clinical trials to slow a decline in memory and thinking abilities in people in the early stages of the disease. The drug, which will be sold in the coming weeks under the brand name Kisunla, is an infusion given every four weeks that targets a protein buildup in the brain — considered to be the main indicator of Alzheimer’s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.7 million people in the U.S. 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s last year. That number’s expected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060.
Watch for heat, rain, busy roads this July 4 holiday
The July 4 holiday is almost here, and while people get set to celebrate America’s independence, they may find themselves having to face two separate issues — the weather and the roads. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the brief break from the heat in the eastern U.S. is over, with heat and humidity pushing through New England.
In California and portions of the southwest, triple-digit temperatures are expected throughout the holiday week. Meanwhile in the Midwest, NOAA said rain could spoil the cookouts.
Then there’s the jam-packed roadways. AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will drive over the July 4 week. That’s nearly 3 million more than last year and would surpass 2019’s pre-pandemic levels, when around 55 million traveled by car.
