Biden will promote the passage of the law to prevent gun violence
President Joe Biden hold an event at the White House on Monday to celebrate the passage of a landmark bill to prevent gun violence. Biden announced the event last month when she signed the bill into law, saying she would “mark this historic achievement” alongside members of Congress who voted for the bill and the families of victims of gun tragedies. Lawmakers passed gun safety legislation after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman opened fire at an elementary school, killing 19 children and two teachers. The White House event comes a week after a shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, that left seven dead and dozens injured.
Fire threatens iconic Yosemite redwood forest
Yosemite National Park’s largest and most iconic redwood forest remains threatened by wildfire as the rugged terrain and hot weather have made fighting the fire difficult. The Washburn Fire was first reported Thursday in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove, which is home to more than 500 mature redwoods, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. It spread rapidly amid hot, dry weather conditions: The fire grew to 2,000 acres on Sunday, up from 466 acres on Friday, according to the National Wildfire Coordination Group. The Washburn Fire also threatened the small nearby community of Wawona, forcing people to evacuate their homes and campsites Friday night.
Utah court to hold hearing in response to judge blocking abortion activation law
A hearing is set for Monday in response to 3rd District Judge Andrew Stone Blocks Utah Activation Law The abortion ban goes into effect on June 27 for 14 days to allow time to hear a challenge to the law. Planned Parenthood of Utah and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah filed a lawsuit June 25, alleging that the 2020 law violates the privacy and equal protection provisions of the state constitution. Under the law, which bans most abortions with some narrow exceptions, anyone found guilty of performing an abortion could face up to 15 years in prison. Planned Parenthood of Utah has resumed abortions in several places since the judge stopped the law, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
At least 15 dead after Russian missile attack in Ukraine
At least 15 people were killed and more than 20 are believed to be buried under the rubble on Sunday. after Russian rockets hit apartment buildings in eastern Ukraine. Rescuers aided by heavy equipment searched for survivors under the rubble in Chasiv Yar, where three buildings in a residential area were destroyed on Saturday night. Chasiv Yar is 12 miles southeast of Kramatorsk, a major Russian objective. After taking control of Luhansk province, the Russians have set their sights on seizing Donetsk, which would give them full control of Donbas.
Mighty ‘heat dome’ temperatures drive to record highs
At least 10 heat records were broken in cities across the southwestern and central US over the weekend. and more could fall on Monday and later this week amid continued scorching heat forecasts. Cities and towns in Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas posted record highs on Friday and Saturday. Some broke temperature records set nearly a decade ago and others topped previous highs by as much as six degrees. The high temperatures are largely the result of a “heat dome,” a persistent region of high pressure that traps heat over the area. While daily records broken weren’t necessarily widespread, the conditions created by the heat dome have still been ripe for approaching record numbers in many areas, Accuweather meteorologist Joseph Bauer told USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gun control law, Yosemite fire, heat dome: 5 things to know on Monday