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Record highs roast Northwest; heat wave looms for rest of Lower 48 Record-breaking highs over 110 degrees are predicted in interior Oregon and Washington state, while a sprawling heat dome may spread over the central and eastern U.S. next week Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings are blanketing the Pacific Northwest, where spiking temperatures are accompanying a stubborn heat dome. Highs are running some 10 to 15 degrees above average in spots, with readings as high as 115 degrees expected in spots. Fifteen million people in the western United States and Pacific Northwest will see highs hit the century mark over the coming days. By the middle of next week, an even bigger heat wave may build in across the central and eastern Lower 48. Seattle and Portland have been setting daily records, and triple-digit temperatures are bleeding south into the highly populous Willamette Valley. Concern is growing for vulnerable populations too, since only 44 percent of homes in Seattle and 78 percent of residences in Portland have air conditioning. (more) https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/07/28/heatwave-seattle-portland-northwest/

Alito, who authored the landmark opinion overturning the constitutional right to an abortion in the U.S., derided critics during a speech on religious liberty in Rome last week Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito mocked prominent figures around the world, including Prince Harry and outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for speaking out against the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In what appeared to be his first public comments since the decision was handed down last month, Alito dismissed criticism from the British pair, as well as from French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He was delivering the keynote speech at a conference on religious liberty in Rome last week that was hosted by the Notre Dame Law School. The speech was only posted online by the school Thursday. (more) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/justice-alito-mocks-prince-harry-boris-johnson-roe-reversal-abortion-rcna40579

Kentucky floods kill at least 16 as governor warns toll will be "a lot higher" Search and rescue teams backed by the National Guard searched Friday for people missing in record floods that wiped out entire communities in some of the poorest places in America. Kentucky's governor said 16 people have died, a toll he expected to grow as the rain keeps falling. "We've still got a lot of searching to do," said Jerry Stacy, the emergency management director in Kentucky's hard-hit Perry County. "We still have missing people." Powerful floodwaters swallowed towns that hug creeks and streams in Appalachian valleys and hollows, swamping homes and businesses, leaving vehicles in useless piles and crunching runaway equipment and debris against bridges. Mudslides marooned people on steep slopes, and at least 33,000 customers were without power. (more) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-flooding-power-outages-deaths/

Las Vegas flooding: Multiple casinos, entire Strip, airport under water Airports, parking lots, and the entire Las Vegas Strip, which houses some of the world’s most famous casinos and hotels, were flooded Thursday night. Heavy rain filled countless buildings as the city put a flash flood and severe thunderstorm warning in place. Video footage shared on Twitter shows the streets of Sin City consumed with floodwater. Other videos showed downtown streets turning into small rivers and water pouring into casinos. (more) https://nypost.com/2022/07/29/las-vegas-flooding-multiple-casinos-entire-strip-airport-under-water-amid-storm/

A post that violated the forum's fair use quoting policy and an ensuing series of diversionary and off-topic posts have been removed.

Several off-topic and bickering posts have been removed.

Floyd Family, Activists See Inequality as 3 Ex-Cops Get Sentences Below Guidelines Some of George Floyd's family members and activists believe the sentences three former Minneapolis police officers received for their involvement in the murder were too short. However, a legal expert called the sentences "groundbreaking" Three former Minneapolis police officers went before a federal judge during the last week to be sentenced for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, and for each man, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson handed out penalties well below what prosecutors sought and below federal guidelines. Tou Thao, who held back concerned bystanders as Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, got 3 1/2 years. J. Alexander Kueng, who pinned Floyd's back, got three. And Thomas Lane, who held Floyd's feet and asked twice about rolling the Black man on his side, got 2 1/2. For some Floyd family members and activists, the penalties were too small — and a bitter reminder of a justice system they say does not treat all people equally. “Once again, our judicial system favored people that should be locked up forever," Floyd's uncle, Selwyn Jones, said Thursday. The officers, he said, “contributed to the most brutal, heinous killing in most of our lifetimes.” (more) https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/floyd-family-activists-see-inequality-as-3-ex-cops-get-sentences-below-guidelines/2952063/

(CNN) - J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, two of the former Minneapolis Police officers convicted of federal charges in the fatal arrest of George Floyd, were sentenced to 3 years and 3.5 years in prison, respectively, on Wednesday. Kueng, who held down Floyd's torso, and Thao, who kept a group of bystanders back, were each convicted in February of violating Floyd's civil rights and of failing to intervene to stop their colleague Derek Chauvin during the restraint. With the sentences, all four of the officers who helped restrain Floyd in May 2020 have now been sentenced to prison time. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/us/tou-thao-kueng-george-floyd-sentence/index.html

Fall booster campaign could prevent 160,000 deaths, report finds Ramping up COVID-19 booster administration this fall could save up to 160,000 lives and prevent more than 1 million hospitalizations, according to a July 26 analysis from the Commonwealth Fund. Researchers used a simulation model to project the trajectory of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths if the U.S. completed an early fall vaccination campaign that opened eligibility to anyone who received their first booster at least five months earlier. If booster coverage mirrored flu shot rates for the 2020-21 season, the U.S. could prevent 101,858 deaths, more than 1 million hospitalizations and nearly 25 million infections. Researchers also modeled a more ambitious scenario in which 80 percent of eligible people get boosted this fall. Under this model, the nation could prevent 159,827 deaths, 1.7 million hospitalizations and more than 48 million infections. (more) https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/fall-booster-campaign-could-prevent-160-000-deaths-report-finds.html Also: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2022/how-many-lives-could-fall-covid-19-booster-campaign-save-united-states

With reformulated shots from Pfizer and Moderna on the horizon, the F.D.A. has decided that Americans under 50 should wait to receive second boosters WASHINGTON — The Biden administration now expects to begin a Covid-19 booster campaign with retooled vaccines in September because Pfizer and Moderna have promised that they can deliver doses by then, according to people familiar with the deliberations. With updated formulations apparently close at hand, federal officials have decided against expanding eligibility for second boosters of the existing vaccines this summer. The new versions are expected to perform better against the now-dominant Omicron subvariant BA.5, although the data available so far is still preliminary. ... All adults are expected to be eligible for the updated booster shots. Children could be eligible as well, according to people familiar with the deliberations. (more) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/us/politics/covid-booster-shots.html

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https://www.caa.ca/services/travel/international-driving-permit/

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Evusheld long-acting antibody combination retains neutralising activity against Omicron variant in independent FDA study Only antibody authorised in the US for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 "AstraZeneca’s Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody combination for the prevention of COVID-19, retained neutralising activity against the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.529), according to new preclinical data. ... The early data, generated by pseudovirus testing of the full Omicron variant spike against the combination of tixagevimab with cilgavimab, the antibodies that comprise Evusheld, add to the growing body of preclinical evidence demonstrating that Evusheld retains activity against all tested variants of concern to date.1 The study was performed independently by investigators at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. The work was supported by US government research funds. (more) https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/evusheld-long-acting-antibody-combination-retains-neutralising-activity-against-omicron-variant-in-independent-fda-study.html

"Tixagevimab/cilgavimab, sold under the brand name Evusheld is a combination of two human monoclonal antibodies, tixagevimab (AZD8895) and cilgavimab (AZD1061) targeted against the surface spike protein of SARS-CoV-2[14][15] used to prevent COVID-19." ... "In December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization of this combination to prevent COVID-19 (before exposure) in people with weakened immunity or who cannot be fully vaccinated due to a history of severe reaction to coronavirus vaccines.[27] and in certain people aged 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms (88 lb)." ... In March 2022, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee CHMP adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Evusheld... It has since been granted approval for use in the UK[32][33] and in the European Union." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tixagevimab/cilgavimab

A conspiracy theory post has been reported and removed.

Only one in five services running after rail chiefs accuse union bosses of overriding negotiators Britain’s railways ground to a halt on Wednesday, causing disruption to millions of commuters, as ministers, union leaders and railway bosses traded angry recriminations over one of the country’s biggest rail strikes in decades. Trains were stationary across most of the country, with only one in five services running overall and regional networks cut off altogether, as 40,000 workers who belong to the RMT rail union walked out. The union’s one-day strike follows three one-day walkouts last month, compounding weeks of chaos at ports and airports. Transport secretary Grant Shapps and Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, which manages the railway infrastructure, both accused union leaders of overriding negotiators after what they said were real signs of progress towards a deal on pay, job security and working conditions. (more) https://www.ft.com/content/6c641fd6-998c-4e99-84aa-c6d37322f11f

Families spending on average £89 more a month on energy, food and fuel than before pandemic, says bank Families are spending an average of £89 more a month on energy, food and fuel than they were before the pandemic, Lloyds Banking Group said in a financial update, as it laid bare the impact of surging inflation on everyday customers. Lloyds’ chief executive, Charlie Nunn, said about 20% of the bank’s customers had had to adapt their spending “significantly” to rising prices, forcing them to refrain from purchases such as white goods and computers. He added that customers had cancelled or blocked 2.2m subscriptions services such as Netflix since the summer of 2021, while about 1% of Lloyds customers were “really struggling to make ends meet”. UK households are being squeezed by soaring inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 9.4% last month. (more) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/27/lloyds-profits-take-hit-after-putting-more-money-aside-for-defaults

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A strong earthquake set off landslides and damaged buildings in the northern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. In the capital, hospital patients were evacuated and terrified people rushed outdoors. The 7-magnitude quake was centered in a mountainous area of Abra province, said Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, who described the midmorning shaking as a major earthquake. “The ground shook like I was on a swing and the lights suddenly went out. We rushed out of the office, and I heard screams and some of my companions were in tears,” said Michael Brillantes, a safety officer of the Abra town of Lagangilang, near the epicenter. “It was the most powerful quake I’ve felt and I thought the ground would open up,” Brillantes told The Associated Press by cellphone. (more) https://apnews.com/article/science-philippines-manila-earthquakes-9e94b57287c26effe19c1badc517d706

A stir crazy Joe Biden fought Covid cabin fever with help from his dog and a stack of books about Ireland (CNN)When President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid last week, the dog stayed with him. The cat went with his wife. Biden's long-anticipated, heavily-planned-for, how-has-it-not-happened-yet Covid infection turned the White House residence briefly into a sick ward for a single, high-profile patient who aides said spent the weekend going stir crazy from the isolation. His wife decamped for Delaware, bringing with her their new shorthair tabby. Staffing inside the executive mansion was reduced to the most essential personnel, whom Biden fretted might contract the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus that likely infected him. And even the cart of video equipment wheeled into the second-floor Treaty Room, phone calls from his grandkids and a stack of books about Ireland couldn't prevent the cabin fever from setting in. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/politics/joe-biden-covid-cabin-fever/index.html

President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning and will end "his strict isolation measures," according to the physician to the president, Dr. Kevin O'Connor. The negative test comes less than one week after the president's first positive test on Thursday morning. Biden finished his five-day course of Paxlovid 36 hours ago, O'Connor said Wednesday morning. "His symptoms have been steadily improving, and are almost completely resolved,” O’Connor said. (more) https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-biden-tests-negative-covid-19/story?id=87487134

Trump's defense secretary denies there were orders to have 10K troops ready to deploy on January 6 (CNN) - Former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller told the House select committee investigating the Capitol Hill insurrection that former President Donald Trump never gave him a formal order to have 10,000 troops ready to be deployed to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to new video of Miller's deposition released by the committee. "I was never given any direction or order or knew of any plans of that nature," Miller said in the video. Miller later said in the video definitively, "There was no direct, there was no order from the President." ... Trump has previously said that he requested National Guard troops be ready for January 6. He released a statement on June 9 that he "suggested & offered" up to 20,000 National Guard troops be deployed to Washington, DC, ahead of January 6 claiming it was because he felt "that the crowd was going to be very large." https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/chris-miller-house-select-committee/

COVID-19 cases are on the rise with extremely transmissible Omicron BA.5 variant, and businesses — already struggling with labor shortages — are dealing with an influx of workers calling out sick. By the numbers: Between June 29 and July 11, nearly 3.9 million people said they did not work because they were either sick with coronavirus symptoms or were caring for a sick loved one, according to recent Census Bureau data. In comparison, almost 1.8 million people around the same time last year said they missed work for those reasons. The big picture: The BA.5 variant is now the dominant strain in the U.S., is spreading and companies already affected by the pandemic labor shortage may not be able to keep up. (more) https://www.axios.com/2022/07/25/business-summer-covid-vacation-labor-shortage Also: https://www.newson6.com/story/62e0fe6dbb5ba50192c03ec7/businesses-struggle-as-many-workers-are-either-out-sick-with-covid19-or-on-vacation "From June 29 to July 11, 3.9 million Americans said they did not work because they had COVID-19 or were caring for someone with symptoms, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. That's more than double the 1.8 million people who didn't work for the same reasons during the same period last year."

People familiar with the probe said investigators are examining the former president’s conversations and have seized phone records of top aides The Justice Department is investigating President Donald Trump’s actions as part of its criminal probe of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, according to four people familiar with the matter. Prosecutors who are questioning witnesses before a grand jury — including two top aides to Vice President Mike Pence — have asked in recent days about conversations with Trump, his lawyers, and others in his inner circle who sought to substitute Trump allies for certified electors from some states Joe Biden won, according to two people familiar with the matter. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. The prosecutors have asked hours of detailed questions about meetings Trump led in December 2020 and January 2021; his pressure campaign on Pence to overturn the election; and what instructions Trump gave his lawyers and advisers about fake electors and sending electors back to the states, the people said. Some of the questions focused directly on the extent of Trump’s involvement in the fake-elector effort led by his outside lawyers, including John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani, these people said. (more) https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/07/26/trump-justice-investigation-january-6/

More than 3,800 monkeypox cases have been reported in the US, the most of any country around the globe, government health data shows. ... To date, more than 18,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries. According to data published online by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 25 July there were 3,846 confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases in the U.S. The figure - which comes amid expanded testing in addition to the growing outbreak of the virus - is now ahead of that of Spain, where 3,105 cases have so far been reported. The two other countries with the highest number of infections, Germany and the U.K., have reported 2,352 and 2,208 cases, respectively. (more) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62308455