Surgeon general's warning

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY

June 25, 2024 at 6:14 p.m.·3 min read

The surgeon general declared a public health crisis over gun violence. Several notable names in Congress face primary elections tonight. And the newest target of financial sextortion schemes may surprise you.

👋Oh, hello! Laura Davis here. Tuesday, news-day! Let’s go.

But first: A legacy of generosity. 💝 After a lifetime of service, a dying pediatric nurse donates her organs to help kids in need.

A warning label on guns

Smoking, car crashes – now, gun violence. The soaring number of children killed by firearms has created an “urgent public health crisis” worthy of the type of response the government took to prevent cigarette smoking or car accidents, the nation’s top doctor said in a first-of-its-kind announcement Tuesday.

What to know: An estimated 50,000 people are killed every year in gun violence, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said, and the impact spreads far beyond those deaths. Murthy suggested several responses, including warning labels on weapons. ⚠️ We break it down.

🔎 Gun violence: See the statistics.

Primary forecast: Fireworks expected

Setting the stage for what's expected to be some tough battles in November, a handful of congressional primary elections on Tuesday have revealed intense intra-party conflicts among Democrats and Republicans.

What's heating up: Competitive House races in highly partisan New York and Colorado districts appear prime territory for major upsets that could see voters buck incumbents and change the makeup of Congress. And in Utah, a GOP Senate primary is shaping up to be a referendum on how Republicans in the state view Trump’s brand of conservatism. 🗳️ Here’s a look at the races to watch.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, the GOP firebrand who currently represents Colorado’s 3rd District, is instead running in the solidly red neighboring 4th District.

Real quick

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Josh Duggar's child pornography charges upheld by Supreme Court.
Bear in concession stand video euthanized for injuring employee.

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Target on teens

Internet catfishing and extortion schemes are nothing new. But there is a rising trend in who they target: teenage boys. Financial "sextortion" schemes have surged in recent years with offenders seeking out boys between the ages of 14 and 17 through Instagram and other social media platforms and threatening victims with compromising imagery in exchange for cash, a new report found. 👉 See more from the report.

Ramping up for a rematch

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off on Thursday in a rematch of the debate cycle in 2020.

Let's take a trip down memory lane: Their first 2020 debate was notably feisty and full of interruptions. The second one was canceled because Trump refused to participate remotely after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The third was more tempered, with discussions about the pandemic and racism.

If the TV faceoffs between Biden and Trump four years ago are any indication, viewers can expect a bitter clash, plenty of drama, and hopefully, fewer interruptions. The candidates' microphones will be muted outside their turn to speak. 🎤 What's ahead for Thursday's debate?

Hillary Clinton warns Biden about Trump debate.
How to watch the presidential debate without cable.

🏳️‍🌈 Hey, you! Snap any photos of your Pride Month celebrations? We'd love to see! Go here to submit your Pride Month photos, and be sure to let us know what Pride means to you. You might see your picture in an upcoming newsletter!

A break from the news

⚠️ Uh oh. A dashboard light came on. What does it mean?
🏖️ Resort newbie? The best all-inclusives for first-timers.
🛒 Add to cart: Unexpected Amazon Prime Day deals.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gun violence, primary elections, catfishing, debate: Tuesday's news

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