UPDATE: A major IT outage prompted a system-wide ground stop for all Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights late Sunday, halting operations for over three hours. Travelers are warned of potential delays and disruptions on July 21, 2023. Passengers are urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
This summer has seen a shocking rise in deadly flash floods across the United States, highlighting the urgent climate crisis. Recent catastrophic events include the Texas floods that claimed over 130 lives on July 4, and three fatalities from flash floods in Ruidoso, New Mexico, on July 8. In Chicago, streets were submerged during a rare 1,000-year rainfall earlier this month. Meanwhile, New York City experienced its second-heaviest rainfall in just one hour on July 14. Despite this alarming trend, the Trump administration has paused the establishment of a critical database intended to inform Americans about flash flood risks. However, following reports from CNN and The Washington Post, the NOAA has received the green light to proceed with the project.
In a harrowing situation in the Gaza Strip, at least 76 children and 10 adults have died from malnutrition since the onset of the current conflict with Israel in October 2023, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The crisis has intensified since March when Israel imposed a humanitarian aid blockade. The World Health Organization warns that the humanitarian situation will only worsen, with thousands risking their lives daily to secure basic food supplies. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported nearly 800 Palestinians were killed while attempting to access aid between late May and July 7.
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for renewed negotiations with Russia this week to pursue a ceasefire. “The dynamics of the negotiations must improve. We need to do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire,” he stated. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia is “ready to move quickly” but remains focused on achieving its military objectives. The last round of talks in Istanbul ended abruptly in early June, with renewed missile and drone strikes observed in Ukraine since then.
In a shocking incident in Los Angeles early Saturday, a man allegedly drove into a crowd outside a nightclub, injuring at least 36 people and leaving seven in critical condition. The suspect, identified as Fernando Ramirez, 29, was reportedly kicked out of the venue before the incident. Eyewitnesses intervened and subdued him, resulting in injuries from a gunshot wound to his lower back. Authorities continue to search for the individual who shot Ramirez. Mayor Karen Bass described the event as a “heartbreaking tragedy” and praised the rapid response of over 100 police and fire personnel.
In political news, former President Donald Trump is threatening to block a stadium deal in Washington, D.C., unless the Washington Commanders revert to their former name, the “Redskins.” The team changed its name in 2020 amid significant criticism from Native American groups. Trump’s comments come as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans for a new stadium at the site of the old Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, a proposal currently stalled in the D.C. Council.
Stay tuned for further updates on these developing stories as they unfold. Check local forecasts and travel updates frequently as conditions continue to change.
