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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
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
The city of Akron, Ohio, remains on edge one week after the fatal police shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker. A news conference held by city officials one Sunday – along with the release of 13 police body camera videos – has started to paint a fuller picture of the shooting, which police say happened when Walker, who is Black, fled an attempted traffic stop on June 27. Walker was unarmed at the time he was killed, Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett said. Authorities said Walker suffered at least 60 wounds in the fatal shooting. The Mayor of Akron declared a state of emergency and issued a curfew for Monday night through this morning in order to “preserve peace” in the community.
4. Policing
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
See the spectacular finale of the DC fireworks show
“Saturday Night Live” closed out its 47th season with a funny, yet emotional episode. Grab a tissue… your eyes may get a little sweaty when you watch their goodbye moments.
Justin Thomas wins 2022 PGA Championship
Another tee-rific victory for 29-year-old golf star Justin Thomas. If you ask me, he’s the best by par.
Manchester City produces stunning comeback to secure English Premier League title
That game goes down in history as one of the most exciting championship Sundays EVER. Talk about a dramatic ending!
Netflix released the first 8 chilling minutes of ‘Stranger Things’
Season 4 will air in two parts with the first seven episodes dropping this Friday. Oh, the suspense.
A Wisconsin couple survived after a bear charged through their window and attacked them
Panic mode: activated. What would you do in this heart-racing situation?
TODAY’S NUMBER
$10,000
That’s around how many confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported in 12 countries, including the US, the World Health Organization announced Saturday. Monkeypox is a rare virus transmitted to humans from animals with symptoms very similar to those previously seen in smallpox patients. President Biden today said he doesn’t believe an outbreak of monkeypox is as risky as the Covid-19 pandemic, tempering comments he made yesterday that people should be “concerned.”
TODAY’S QUOTE
“I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
– Trevor Reed, recounting the horrifying conditions of his detention in Russia, as well as the prisoner swap that ended a nearly three-year ordeal for him and his family. Reed, an American citizen and former Marine, was sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2020 after being accused of endangering the “life and health” of Russian police officers in an altercation the previous year. He and his family have denied the charges against him. In his first television interview since returning to the United States, Reed told CNN he’s feeling a little better each day since coming home less than a month ago.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
Parrot uses a face mask as hammock
It’s time to plug in and get started with your week. Check out this short video of a man who owns thousands of cell phones – and all of them still work! (Click here to view)