About 89 Million Americans at Risk of Summer Power Shortfall, Regulator Says
The shutdown of older power plants, potential forced outages and high demand on hot days are contributing to potential deficits, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said in its annual summer assessment. Risk projections in the report are based on high temperatures rolling in this summer.
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Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Thousands of Americans Told to Avoid Drive-Thru Lanes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of Americans have been told to avoid drive-thru lanes amid concerns over high air pollution levels. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued air quality alerts in Colorado, Texas, Nevada and Wyoming for Wednesday. The warnings mean ground-level ozone and particulate concentrations are forecast to reach dangerous levels. In some areas, the pollution comes from drifting wildfire smoke. Why It Matters The NWS warned that the general public as well as sensitive groups—children, seniors, and individuals with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions—might experience health effects linked to poor air quality in the affected regions. "Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults and people with lung disease, such as asthma," the NWS said. "Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion." People wait in a queue at a drive-thru food distribution event in Austin, Texas, in 2021. People wait in a queue at a drive-thru food distribution event in Austin, Texas, in 2021. Mario Cantu/CSM/ZUMA Wire/Cal Sport Media/AP What To Know In Texas, an Ozone Action Day has been issued for the Houston, Galveston and Brazoria area, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area on Wednesday. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) said that residents in these areas can reduce ozone pollution by "sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-thru lanes, conserving energy and keeping your vehicle properly tuned." In Wyoming, an air quality alert for wildfire smoke has been issued until 1 p.m. on Wednesday for portions of the Bighorn Basin, Owl Creek Mountains, Bridger Mountains and Absaroka Mountains. Wildfire smoke across the Bighorn Basin, especially from the Red Canyon Fire, as well as fires in Idaho and Nevada, will continue to spread across the region on Wednesday. In Nevada, an Air Quality Action Day has been forecast for southwest Elko County, including Elko City, for elevated particulate matter. The air pollution is expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range. Meanwhile in Colorado, an Ozone Action Day Alert has been issued for the Front Range Urban Corridor until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Hot and stagnant weather will allow ozone levels to reach levels that unhealthy for sensitive groups. "If possible, please help us reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m.," the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. What People Are Saying The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement: "The Wyoming Department of Health recommends that the elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities during this time. "Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause respiratory health effects. Although these people are most susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality conditions." Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek that there are "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. He added: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults." What Happens Next The air quality warnings are currently set to remain in force until Wednesday afternoon in Wyoming and Colorado, and for the whole day in Texas and Nevada. Regular updates regarding air pollution levels are issued on the NWS website and on the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow interactive map.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Daily Briefing: The beach is closed
Good morning!🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Could have sworn that was Justin Bieber. Hurricane Erin closes beaches due to swell and rip currents The center of Erin is forecast to move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday. With Erin's predicted storm surge and waves of over 10 feet, the National Weather Service advised people along the East Coast to stay out of the ocean to avoid deadly surf conditions expected through at least Thursday. Tropical storm conditions were forecast to arrive by Wednesday evening or night, the National Hurricane Center said. Lifeguards have already rescued dozens of people from the churning waters along East Coast beaches even as Erin remains hundreds of miles offshore. Sleeping on the Texas State House floor Democratic State Rep. Nicole Collier will remain in the Texas statehouse Wednesday after spending the night on the House chamber floor. Collier slept in a chair because she refused Republican leadership assigning law enforcement officers to monitor the state's Democratic caucus. The order came after dozens fled the state for two weeks in attempts to halt a vote on new congressional maps that would advantage the GOP in next year's elections. She shared photos of her makeshift bed, posting on X "This was my night, bonnet and all, in the #txlege." More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Deportation of 6-year-old student sparks uproar A 6-year-old student and her family were deported just before the start of the school year in New York, a case sparking uproar across the state − including from the governor and officials in the nation's largest public school system. What happened: The Ecuadorian family were among migrants detained in controversial tactics by the Trump administration while attending routine immigration court hearings or ICE check-ins. The state banned phones in class. This teacher saw instant change. ~ Jonathan Buchwalter, a Tuscaloosa County High School 11th grade history teacher, in an Aug. 8 TikTok that reached nearly 2 million views. When Alabama enacted a new law keeping phones out of classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year, Buchwalter noticed immediate impact. Today's talkers Would you rather have money or love? A lot of Americans would probably say dollars over adoration. Although the median U.S. annual salary is about $62,192, Americans on average expect their ideal partner to earn six figures, a new survey found. On average, women want their ideal partner to earn $110,000 while men expect theirs to earn $90,000, according to a Tawkify survey of 1,000 Americans. Those unemployed in a rough job market may find more trouble in their love life. Nearly half of Americans report they would not date someone without a job, even if they were attracted to them. Photo of the day: A must-win situation Just eight teams have a shot at winning the Little League World Series trophy on Aug. 24. Based on tournament history, Taiwan, Japan and Connecticut would be among the favorites — but every team left standing has a serious shot at winning it all. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@
UPI
18 hours ago
- UPI
Hurricane Erin takes aim at U.S. East Coast
Hurricane Erin had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph Tuesday evening, and was expected to cause life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. east coast. Photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Hurricane Erin was taking aim at the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday evening, according to forecasters who are warning Americans of life-threatening rip currents along beaches that could persist for days. The storm was located about 585 miles southwest of Bermuda and 540 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. EDT update. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It was moving north-northwest at 12 mph. A storm surge warning was in effect for from Cape Lookout to Duck, N.C., while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Beaufort Inlet to Duck, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. North of Duck, N.C., to Chincoteague, Virginia, was under a tropical storm watch, as was Bermuda. "On the forecast track, the center of Erin will pass to the east of the Bahamas tonight, and then move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday," the NHC said. Erin has been pummeling the Turk and Caicos, which are expected to see diminishing rainfall this evening, as should the Bahamas, the forecasters said, as they predict heavy rainfall for North Carolina starting Wednesday night and into Thursday. A potential 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is possible, they said. Of greater worry are swells generated by Erin, which have the forecasters expecting life-threatening surf and rip currents affecting the Bahamas, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada and the U.S. east coast over the next several days. "Beachgoers in those areas should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities and beach warning flags," the NHC said in a discussion on Erin. "Storm surge flooding and tropical storm conditions are expected in the North Carolina Outer Banks beginning late Wednesday or Wednesday night, where tropical storm and storm surge warnings are in effect. The storm surge will be accompanied by large waves, leading to significant beach erosion and overwash, making some roads impassable." The season's first Atlantic hurricane reached Category 5 status Saturday morning, the highest classification, after rapidly intensifying overnight Friday, when it became a Category 1 hurricane, the year's fifth named storm. Erin dropped to a Category 4 and then a 3 overnight into Sunday, but regained Category 4 strength late Sunday before again losing strength. Erin became the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic storm season Friday morning. There have been four named storms so far this season in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Chantal caused major flooding in North Carolina but has been the only one of the four to make landfall in the United States this year. The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. The peak hurricane season runs from mid-August through September and into mid-October. Ninety-three percent of hurricane landfalls along the U.S. Gulf Coast and the East Coast have occurred from August through October, the Weather Channel reported, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Last year at this time, there had also been five named storms.
