People & Population

"Rising death toll: At least 82 people have died and dozens are still missing after devastating floods hit central Texas. In Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, at least 40 adults and 28 children have been killed, officials say."

"The saguaro cactus is the iconic plant of the Arizona borderlands, and in June and early July, its thorn-covered small fruit ripens. For members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose ancestors have lived in this hot desert for thousands of years, harvest time for the “bahidaj” is sacred."

"President Donald Trump’s gutting of federal agencies could undermine his pro-fossil-fuel agenda as permit writers and energy experts head for the exit in droves, current and former government employees say."

"xAI’s gas turbines get official approval from Memphis, Tennessee, even as civil rights groups prepare to sue over alleged Clean Air Act violations."

"New research out of Iowa adds to a wide body of evidence showing that when pregnant women are exposed to nitrates in drinking water, it raises the risks of problematic birth outcomes, including low birth weights and pre-term birth."

"Seeking to secure weakened federal heat standards for workers, industry representatives this month asked the Trump administration to model federal heat rules after an untested Nevada standard."

"The threat of sea-level rise or storm surges at the nation’s most polluted sites puts millions of people at risk of exposure to dangerous contaminants."

"A heat wave covered much of Europe on Monday, with a record-hot first day of play at Wimbledon and high winds fanning forest fires in Turkey. Heat warnings were issued for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the U.K., with new highs expected on Wednesday before rain should bring respite to some areas."

"Midwestern and Southern states use much higher rates of the potentially harmful pesticide 2,4-D, according to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data."

"In a public letter, employees of the Environmental Protection Agency accused the administration of engaging in unlawful partisan activity and endangering public health."