How long will the smoky siege last?
Wildfire smoke continues to hover over much of the U.S., but for how long? And a nonsurgical alternative to spaying cats is showing promise.
👋 I’m Laura Davis. It's Thursday. You know what that means: Thursday’s news!
🐶 But first: If you think your dog gives slobbery smooches, you should meet Zoey. She’s a heckin’ good pupper who just claimed the Guinness World Record for the longest tongue on a living dog. (And if you do go meet her, bring a poncho!)
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Trump indicted for allegedly mishandling classified documents
Former President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges related to the hundreds of classified documents seized from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. More than 300 classified documents were recovered more than a year after Trump left the White House, most under subpoena in June 2022 or during an FBI search in August 2022. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has been investigating the potential mishandling of national defense records. Trump confirmed the indictment in a statement and protested his innocence in a post on Truth Social. He said that he was summoned to appear Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Miami at 3 p.m. Here's the latest.
Wildfire smoke still swarming the US
There's something in the air. And for some, it isn't going away anytime soon. As dystopian orange skies lingered, New Yorkers were gripped by the worst urban air quality in the world Thursday, and Americans could face days or even weeks of drifting haze from Canadian wildfires. Outdoor spaces from Canada to North Carolina sat empty as air quality readings in many areas ranging from unhealthy to hazardous. A look at the map + latest news.
How did this happen? Human activity, not lightning, likely started most of the hundreds of wildfires that have burned over 9 million acres across Canada.
Is wildfire smoke bad for you? It's definitely not great. Health experts are urging people in areas with air quality warnings to stay indoors and run an air filtration system.
Bad air quality harms your pets, too! How to protect them.
SCOTUS sides with Black Alabama voters
In a surprising ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday decided in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case from Alabama, with two conservative justices joining liberals 5-4 in rejecting a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. The ruling shot down an argument for "color-blind" boundaries that voting rights advocates feared could have significantly diluted the power of Black voters. Alabama will now have to redraw the map it used in the 2022 midterm election, likely to include a second district made up of a majority of African American voters. Here's what it means for other states.
What everyone's talking about
Wrong turn, dude: American driver arrested at Canadian border with 400 pounds of marijuana and $600k in cash.
Pat Robertson, Christian broadcaster and influential religious conservative, dies at 93.
Man charged with stalking Taylor Swift during Eras Tour, said he'd 'happily wear a bomb' if he couldn't be with her.
With a 132-year sentence, he was doomed to die in prison. Then something unexpected happened.
DeSantis or bust? A look at who has the best chances of taking Trump down in 2024.
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That summer job before college? It comes with a raise
The job market is hot this summer – and teens are cashing in. As the pandemic recedes and more Americans travel, attend ballgames and resume other summer rituals, employers are relying on a secret weapon to meet the surging demand: teenagers. Drawn by sharply higher pay and a desire to get out of the house, teens have streamed back to the workforce, especially for summer jobs. Teens are expected to make up nearly 1 in 5 summer hires this year, according to payroll data. A look at how the teens are stacking cash.
Cat birth control could be alternative to surgical spays
Could this be the purr-fect solution? Stray or feral cats who spend their lives outdoors are plagued by threats. But when given the chance, cats will, well, breed. While surgical sterilization is an effective method for population control among feral cat colonies, it's expensive. But there could be a new method on the horizon: Cat contraceptives. A new study found that just one shot of a gene therapy prevented female cats from becoming pregnant for at least two years. Paw through the details here.
A break from the news
🏝 Want to get some sun on your moon? Here's the skinny on nudist beaches.
🥺 This grad got a degree – and a big surprise from her Navy dad. See the heartfelt moment.
🪴 The air inside your house is filthy! Breathe easier with these tips.
🤷♀️ Sam's Club vs. Costco: Is paying that annual fee worth the savings? We took a trip to the store.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. 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 USA TODAY here.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air quality, Alabama redistricting, cat birth control: Thursday's news
