1. Severe Heat Warnings Across Regions: Prepare for High Temperatures
Welcome to Your Daily Digest!
5 Handpicked Stories for Your Inbox
Your schedule is jam-packed. We've compressed the latest news and other popular content into a quick, one-stop read. ** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY DIGEST EMAIL**.
1. Sizzling temperatures
Nearly 200 heat records are predicted to be broken this week as a vast heatwave envelops the Midwest and Northeast. The heatwave arrived over the South and Midwest on Father's Day, prompting cool-down alerts because of temperatures reaching 90°F in certain regions. The regions facing the most extreme heat risk currently are from the Great Lakes into the Northeast, as per the National Weather Service. This includes significant urban areas such as Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Boston. On the other hand, windy conditions in Southern California could be intensifying the L.A. Post Fire. The fire has torched over 14,000 acres and was only 2% contained as of midday on Sunday.
2. Gaza conflict
The Israeli military has announced an intermission in military operations along a specific route in southern Gaza to enable aid distribution. However, the offensive in Rafah will continue. Aid has been delivered to Gaza since the conflict began, but access points have become scarce due to the ongoing fighting. Humanitarian organizations have frequently raised concerns about the "ghastly" living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza. On a separate note, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the country's war cabinet, a source told CNN. The decision came after opposition leader Benny Gantz resigned last week, citing Netanyahu's failure to lay out a strategy for ending the conflict and governing Gaza in the future.
3. Marijuana convictions
Maryland's Democratic governor is anticipated to pardon more than 175,000 marijuana convictions today. These pardons, once issued, will automatically expunge every misdemeanor marijuana possession charge found within the Maryland judiciary's electronic court records system. The legal landscape of cannabis has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last decade. In November 2023, a record 70% of Americans surveyed by Gallup expressed their support for cannabis legalization, compared to 51% in 2014.
4. Gun violence
The U.S. witnessed more gun violence in various communities over the weekend, bringing the total number of reported mass shootings this year to around 220. In Round Rock, Texas, two individuals were killed, and 14 others were injured during a shooting at a Juneteenth festival on Saturday, according to police. The police are actively searching for a suspect. A shooting at a crowded splash pad in Rochester Hills, Michigan, resulted in nine injuries, including two children. The shooter has been identified, but his motive remains unclear.
5. Southwest Airlines scare
A federal investigation is underway following an incident where a Southwest Airlines flight plummeted towards the ocean off the coast of Hawaii. The incident occurred on April 11, but it only became public last Friday after Bloomberg reported Southwest sent a memo to pilots about the incident. The memo suggested that a new first officer accidentally moved the control column forward, causing the flight to briefly drop to 400 feet before quickly recovering. Southwest acknowledged the incident in a brief statement to CNN but declined to comment further.
Caffeine Kick
Blockbuster summer box office boost Movie theaters might be bracing for a difficult future; however, an animated film could breathe new life into the industry. The film recently achieved the highest-grossing box office opening since "Barbie."
Complete list of Tony Awards 2024 winners The Tony Awards, which celebrate the best of Broadway, were handed out on Sunday in New York City. Watch the full list of winners.
Season 2 premiere recap for 'House of the Dragon' The wait is finally over for the return of "House of the Dragon." The second season premiered on Sunday, and we've got the scoop. Let's discuss the opening episode.
US Open highlights The US Open was won by Bryson DeChambeau, marking his second US Open title. He narrowly edged out Rory McIlroy in a tense climax at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.
Sleep troubles for anxious kids Nearly one in four parents report difficulties getting their anxious child to sleep, and one in five resort to giving melatonin to help them sleep, according to a new survey.
Today's Number
1,000 That's roughly the number of individuals who have been affected by a dangerous bacteria in Japan, according to official statistics. Medical experts have thus far been unable to pinpoint the cause of the outbreak.
Today's Quote
"The Supreme Court has never been as out of touch as it is today."
— President Joe Biden, critiquing the Supreme Court at a Hollywood fundraiser in Los Angeles, where he teamed up with former President Barack Obama to warn of a potential second term for Donald Trump.
WRAPPING THINGS UP...
A religious group constructed an AI-powered cleric. Here's the lowdownAn AI-powered clergyman, enlightened with Catholic teachings, was created as a modern gizmo to dispense wisdom on religious subjects. The AI-priest swiftly adapted and showed promise—but with unintentional ramifications. Jon Sarlin, an anchor at CNN, delves into the ascent (and resurrection) of Father Justin.
Read also:
Us residents are currently facing severe heat warnings as a heatwave envelops the Midwest and Northeast, breaking nearly 200 heat records this week. (referencing the first story)
Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, United States Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently dissolved the country's war cabinet. (referencing the second story)
