Restoration efforts for Texas floods; RFK Jr. lawsuit : NPR

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Right this moment’s high tales

Over 100 persons are useless following the catastrophic flooding in central Texas, state authorities confirmed yesterday. The Guadalupe River swelled over 26 toes in lower than an hour early Friday, sweeping low-lying properties, vehicles and timber downstream. The overwhelming majority of the fatalities come from Kerr County, the place 84 individuals have been killed, together with 28 youngsters. Others stay lacking. Residents of the impacted areas are starting to query whether or not extra might have been accomplished to warn individuals earlier than the river’s speedy rise. Listed below are 4 issues to know concerning the flooding and ongoing search efforts.

• 🎧 NPR’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán was at to Camp Mystic, and he tells Up First that a part of the all-girls Christian summer season camp alongside the river was swept away, and areas round it have been destroyed. Twenty-seven youngsters and counselors have been killed within the flood. Paul Scherer, a survivor, expressed how painful it’s to see so many youngsters die. “That they had a giant life forward of them. And it is pitiful that this occurred to them,” Scherer mentioned. Martínez-Beltrán says the Kerr County residents he spoke with say they did not get an alarm concerning the flash floods, and those that obtained texts mentioned it occurred because the river was already on their steps.
• ➡️ Camp Mystic was established in 1926 and has grow to be a practice for generations of ladies in Texas. On Morning Version, former camper Lauren Garcia displays on what makes the camp a particular place for the ladies in her household.
• ➡️ If you wish to assist these affected by the devastating floods or want to hunt assist, here is what to know. (through Texas Public Radio)

President Trump posted letters on social media yesterday to leaders of 14 international locations, informing them of his plans to impose new tariffs on their exports to the U.S. beginning Aug. 1. Afterward, shares tumbled. The president signed an govt order formally pushing again a July 9 deadline for commerce offers to the brand new date and acknowledged that international locations can proceed to barter with the U.S. throughout that point.

• 🎧 It’s attainable that buying and selling companions are questioning how critical Trump is since he retains shifting the objective posts, NPR’s Scott Horsley says. The U.Ok. and Vietnam, two international locations which have made agreements, did not get any actual tariff reduction from the U.S. The uncertainty over what tariffs will likely be in August or subsequent 12 months is a brutal funding surroundings for importers or individuals seeking to spend money on the U.S., says Scott Lincicome, who’s with the libertarian CATO Institute.

A number of distinguished medical organizations within the U.S. are suing Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over current adjustments to federal COVID-19 vaccine suggestions. The teams concerned within the lawsuit embody the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Faculty of Physicians, and the American Public Well being Affiliation. The grievance alleges that Kennedy’s choices relating to COVID-19 vaccines have endangered public well being and violated federal regulation.

• 🎧 Within the 42-page grievance, the teams say Kennedy bypassed the traditional course of for making adjustments to the CDC vaccine schedule, based on NPR’s Will Stone. The lawsuit claims that he did not seek the advice of with a federal panel of specialists for steerage on vaccines and failed to supply a proof for contradicting proof that helps vaccinating youngsters and pregnant girls. One of many plaintiffs, a pregnant doctor, needs to stay nameless, says she’s involved she could not have the ability to get a COVID vaccine due to Kennedy’s directives. The intention of the lawsuit is to revive the unique suggestion for youngsters and pregnant girls to obtain COVID photographs.

Dwelling higher

Seed oils, generally known as vegetable oils, are extracted from the seeds of crops.

alaskla/iStockphoto/Getty Photos

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alaskla/iStockphoto/Getty Photos

Dwelling Higher is a particular collection about what it takes to remain wholesome in America.

Seed oils are dangerous for you, based on Kennedy. The well being secretary mentioned vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are poisoning Individuals and driving the weight problems epidemic. Kennedy factors to weight problems charges climbing as seed oils started to dominate the American food regimen as a part of the proof for his declare. Many researchers say seed oils will not be pretty much as good for you as olive oil, however the claims that they’re dangerous to well being have been stretched too far. Take a look at what the science has to say:

• ➡️ To maximise oil extraction from seeds, producers usually use warmth and chemical substances. Critics are involved about hexane, a hazardous solvent utilized in refining. Nonetheless, the residues are at ranges too low to be poisonous.
• ➡️ A typical argument in opposition to seed oils is that they promote irritation as a result of they include increased ranges of important fatty acids often called omega-6s. Nonetheless, randomized managed trials have demonstrated that when individuals eat extra seed oils, they do not present elevated ranges of pro-inflammatory compounds of their tissues.
• ➡️ Seed oils are prevalent in ultra-processed meals, which make up a good portion of the U.S. meals provide. Quite than specializing in which oils to eat, the focus must be an individual’s total food regimen, says Christopher Gardner, a vitamin scientist and professor of drugs at Stanford College.

Image present

Papilio is an image ebook instructed in three elements, every highlighting a unique stage of a butterfly’s life (there are technically 4 levels for a butterfly’s life, however the egg stage is not notably thrilling). The three associates who wrote and illustrated the story felt that these three levels have been the right option to justify the collaboration. All through the ebook, the authors, Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor and Andy Chou Musser, have been capable of show their very own voices and illustration types by every taking over one section. At its core, the story explores themes of change, transformation and rising up. One key lesson readers can take away is that it is OK to ask for assist as you develop up. Discover every butterfly life stage farther from the authors’ views and look at images from the ebook right here.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Three American flamingos wade within the shallow waters of Garfield Bight within the Everglades as they forage for meals.

Courtesy of Dr. Mark Ian Prepare dinner/WLRN

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Courtesy of Dr. Mark Ian Prepare dinner/WLRN

1. A flock of 125 American flamingos was noticed within the Everglades final week. This marks one of many largest teams of American flamingos in a decade. (through WLRN)
2. Claire Schwartz is on a mission to reunite spared, treasured objects corresponding to outdated household images, youngsters’s paintings, outdated sheet music, and yearbook pages from the lethal Palisades and Eaton fires in January with their house owners. (through KQED)
3. After a falling tree department left him paralyzed, Google engineer Sasha Blair-Goldensohn started serving to individuals with disabilities navigate cities by highlighting wheelchair-accessible public transit routes and “strolling” paths on the corporate’s maps. (through WBUR)

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.