Get '5 Things' in your inbox
It’s World Bee Day! Did you know bees “dance?” And can use tools? There are lots of fascinating things to discover about these petite pollinators.
Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
(You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Congress
A day of national celebration turned to tragedy on Monday when a gunman killed at least six people and injured dozens of others in a shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, during a July Fourth parade. A witness described the horror of hundreds of paradegoers running and ducking for cover when they realized the popping noise they heard was a “rain of gunshots” and not fireworks. The suspected gunman is believed to have fired from a rooftop in an attack that appeared to be “random” and “intentional,” police said. A “high-powered rifle” was recovered from the scene and the suspect was taken into custody later in the day, authorities said. Among the six people killed, five adults died at the scene. The age of the sixth victim is not yet clear. Highland Park is located about 25 miles north of Chicago.
2. Coronavirus
The Senate Judiciary Committee will move quickly with the confirmation process once President Joe Biden announces his pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, the panel’s chair said yesterday. The comments from Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin come days after Breyer, the senior liberal on the high court, announced he would be retiring at the end of the court’s term. The White House has begun its search for his potential replacement, assuring the pick will be a Black woman. Across the aisle, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham lavishly praised one of Biden’s possible contenders, South Carolina US District Judge J. Michelle Childs, as “qualified by every measure” and “one of the most decent people I’ve ever met.” Graham, who represents South Carolina, sits on the Judiciary Committee.
As Russian shelling and missile attacks continue to cause widespread destruction throughout his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that the work required to rebuild Ukraine should be a “common task” of the democratic world. Ukraine’s infrastructure losses amount to more than $100 billion, according to its prime minister. This comes as Ukraine’s military has warned that Russian forces are preparing for renewed assaults on cities in the Donetsk region still controlled by Kyiv after taking over Lysychansk – the final city to fall in the Luhansk region. Meanwhile, up to 60 million tons of grain could be stuck in Ukraine by the fall if Russia continues to block the country’s exports, Zelensky said.
3. Mideast violence
Spotify announced it is adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes discussion about Covid-19. This comes after the streaming service received a flurry of criticism from a number of prominent artists who said they will leave the platform if it continues to host comedian Joe Rogan, whose podcast has spread misleading and inaccurate claims about vaccines and the virus. Spotify’s new advisory will direct listeners to a Covid-19 hub that will include links to trusted sources. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are among a growing list of prominent people who have expressed their concerns to Spotify over Covid-19 misinformation – a move sparked by musician Neil Young. Earlier this month, a group of more than 250 scientists, doctors and nurses penned an open letter to Spotify condemning the streamer for hosting Rogan after he suggested that healthy young people should not necessarily get vaccinated against Covid-19.
4. Policing
North Korea fired its most powerful ballistic missile in years over the weekend, an escalation of its weapons program and a possible sign of larger tests to come. A senior US official says the launch – the latest in a string of provocations from North Korea – could be designed to extract concessions from the US ahead of potential negotiations. The Biden administration has long sought to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang, extending the invitation for talks without any preconditions. While there has been “no serious discussion internally” of a meeting between President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officials are eager for talks at a lower level “anytime, any place.”
5. South China Sea
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is reportedly riddled with rust and badly in need of repairs. However, the iconic landmark is instead being given a paint job costing 60 million euros in preparation for the 2024 Olympics, Reuters reports, according to a confidential analysis cited by French magazine Marianne. The Eiffel Tower, built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 19th century, is among the most visited tourist sites in the world, welcoming about six million visitors each year. “It is simple, if Gustave Eiffel visited the place he would have a heart attack,” one unnamed manager at the tower told Marianne. The company that oversees the tower is reluctant to close the tower for a long time because of the tourist revenue that would be lost, Marianne said.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Tom Brady retirement rumors
Still no official announcement from the GOAT, but let’s face it – seven Super Bowl rings are sitting pretty in his display case. That’s legendary either way.
$426 million lottery ticket sold in Woodland Hills, California
Maybe this is your sign to go buy a ticket… or to put your money right back in your pocket.
Why are CVS receipts are so long?
Here’s an explanation why your CVS receipt is as long as a roll of toilet paper.
Cold weather in Miami is causing a lot of falling iguanas
Don’t worry! They may look lifeless for now, but these reptiles usually rejuvenate when it gets warm again.
Learn about the first 3 billion years of life on our planet
This paleontologist can help answer all your questions.
IN MEMORIAM
Howard Hesseman, the actor best known as disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” has died from complications related to colon surgery, according to his manager. He was 81. Hesseman earned two Emmy nominations for his role on “WKRP,” and also appeared on “Head of the Class” and “One Day at a Time,” along with guest appearances on “That 70’s Show,” among others.
TODAY’S NUMBER
73
That’s how much Elon Musk offered a 19-year-old to delete his Twitter account that tracks the billionaire’s private jet. Jack Sweeney, the college freshman who runs the @ElonJet account, countered Musk’s offer at $50,000, saying he could use the money for college and maybe a Tesla Model 3.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“We’re trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users.”
– A statement from the family of Cheslie Kryst, who died after jumping from a building in Manhattan yesterday, according to the New York City Police Department. Kryst was crowned Miss USA in 2019 and worked as an attorney and as a correspondent for entertainment news site ExtraTV. She was 30.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
Let’s pretend you’re on vacation
I challenge you to conquer one of your fears today! If you need a little extra nudge, check out this little elephant who overcame his fear of water.