Heat alerts have been issued for 26 states from Washington to Florida, with over 120 million on alert for sweltering temperatures. Dry conditions and ongoing heat have led to several wildfires, including the Thompson Fire in Butte County, California, which has grown to over 3,500 acres, prompting evacuations. (ABC News)
Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica as a Category 4 storm and then veered towards the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 3 hurricane with dangerous winds and storm surges. The storm is projected to move northwestward across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, prompting hurricane warnings in the area. (UPI)
A federal court has ordered Mississippi to redraw its legislative district map to include more Black-majority districts. The court found the current map, approved by the state Legislature two years ago, violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the electoral power of Black residents. The decision mandates the addition of two Black-majority Senate districts and one Black-majority House district. (UPI)
The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue is set to acquire Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, forming Saks Global. The deal includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman, with the goal of improving efficiency and competitiveness in the luxury retail market. (AP)
In a controversial plan, U.S. wildlife officials aim to save the spotted owl by culling almost 450,000 barred owls encroaching on their habitat in the West. This strategy, unveiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeks to bolster declining spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington, and California. (NPR)
