Daily Briefing: Smoke and heat
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110 million people in the South are under a heat advisory as air quality concerns linger in the Midwest. Also in the news: A second night of violence erupted across French cities in response to police killing a teen during a traffic check. Human remains were likely recovered from the Titan submersible wreckage.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Need a read for the long weekend? The USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist is back!
Now, here we go with Thursday's news.
Life-threatening heat, dangerous air plague swaths of US
A record-smashing heat wave that's already killed at least 14 people in Texas and Louisiana will continue Thursday across much of the southern tier of the U.S.
Meanwhile, with no end in sight for the Canadian wildfires, poor air quality is expected to persist across portions of the country as the smoke keeps spreading south.
Many areas outside of Texas will endure their most significant heat of the season thus far on Thursday. In total, more than 110 million Americans live where a heat alert is in effect.
What the heat means for workers: A new law signed Tuesday by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott eliminates local rules mandating water breaks for construction workers.
Even after this bout, air quality woes might not be going away. More than a third of Americans live in areas with current air quality advisories and alerts.
Keep reading: These 11 products will help you stay cool.
Tensions in France after teen delivery driver killed in police standoff
Protesters angry after police shot a 17-year-old boy dead set cars and buildings ablaze in Paris suburbs. Unrest spread to some other French cities and towns Wednesday night and Thursday morning, despite increased security efforts and the president’s calls for calm. The killing Tuesday of the boy, identified by his lawyers as Nael M., during a traffic check was captured on video and shocked the country. It also stirred up long-simmering tensions between police and young people in housing projects and other disadvantaged neighborhoods around France. Read more
Deputies accused of beating and sexually abusing Black men were fired by a Mississippi sheriff.
More news to know now
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says his 2024 campaign is ''largely misunderstood.''
Are UPS workers going on strike? Here's what to know about Teamsters negotiations.
A Delta plane landed without nose gear. All passengers and crew were evacuated.
''Fueled by inflation'': USPS stamp prices are increasing soon.
On today's 5 Things podcast, the U.S. and Iran hold informal talks over a new agreement. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
President touts 'Bidenomics' benefits for Americans
President Joe Biden lauded a set of policies the White House has begun referring to as "Bidenomics" in a Chicago speech Wednesday, saying that it will take time for Americans to see the effects of new laws. Broadly, Biden says his stimulus plan swiftly lifted the economy from the pandemic-induced recession. But critics say it went too far and helped trigger soaring inflation and rising interest rates that have the U.S. facing the prospect of another downturn. Read more
Biden took aim at Putin over an armed rebellion in Russia, calling him a ''pariah.''
What are those marks on Biden's face? The president is using a CPAP machine to deal with sleep apnea.
Debris from destroyed submersible returns to land
Human remains were "carefully recovered within the wreckage at the site of the incident," the Coast Guard said in a news release Wednesday, nearly a week after five people aboard a submersible on its way to see the wreckage of the Titanic were presumed dead after a "catastrophic implosion." The announcement came as debris from the vessel returned to land at a Canadian coast guard pier. The Marine Board of Investigation said it will continue evidence collection and witness interviews "to inform a public hearing regarding this tragedy." Read more
Just for subscribers:
U.S.-Iran pact: Trump destroyed it. Biden wants to restore it. Just don't call it a deal.
The U.S. has a doctor shortage. Congress can help by expanding our physician workforce.
A Confederate flag at a Massachusetts construction site in triggered an outcry.
The transformed Ford Bronco is unlike any other — and could be game-changer for firefighters.
These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.
Yankees' Domingo Germán throws MLB's first perfect game since 2012
New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán threw the 24th in baseball's long history as he retired all 27 Oakland A's batters he faced in order. The game is the first in the MLB since Seattle Mariners great Felix Hernandez fired one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. Germán revealed after the game that he was pitching with a heavy heart: "Unfortunately, two days ago, an uncle of mine passed away and I cried a lot yesterday in the clubhouse, so I had him with me throughout the whole game." Read more
Quick hits
Simone Biles is returning to competition two years after the Tokyo Olympics.
Column: Kirby Smart and the Georgia football program need to heed warning signs before it's too late.
''Muscles & Mayhem'' covers ''American Gladiators''' pain and parties.
The intersex community speaks out in a powerful new documentary.
2023 Tour de France: Here's a visual guide to cycling’s most challenging race.
Photo of the day: Would you eat this ancient pizza?
A painting recently discovered at the Pompeii archeological site in Italy indicates the first pizza precursors were likely topped with fruit. Read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas heat, air quality, France protests, Biden, CPAP, Titan submersible, Domingo Germán: Daily Briefing
