Hurricane Beryl has killed four people in southeast Texas, causing heavy winds, rain and flooding. The Atlantic season’s first storm made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph near Matagorda before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Two victims were killed when trees fell onto their homes. (UPI)
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that a record-breaking 3,013,413 passengers were screened at U.S. airports on Sunday, the highest number ever in a single day. This surge in travel was attributed to the long July 4th weekend and surpassed the previous record set in June. This increase reflects a significant rise in travel compared to pre-pandemic levels. (UPI)
New research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology states that almost half of U.S. counties lack a practicing cardiologist, with the majority being rural areas. This leaves millions of Americans with limited access to cardiovascular care, despite having higher prevalence of risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. (NBC News)
Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States for its role in the two fatal 737 Max crashes, and will pay up to $487 million in fines. The guilty plea is a significant blow to Boeing’s reputation, which has been marred by a series of safety issues. The families of the crash victims oppose the deal and are seeking a public trial. (CNN)
A proposal in Baltimore aims to provide new parents with a $1,000 “baby bonus” to help reduce childhood poverty from birth. Baltimore teachers spearheaded the effort and obtained the necessary signatures for a November ballot initiative. Modeled after a program in Flint, Michigan, the initiative seeks to address child poverty, emphasizing the need for national systemic change to support families. (AP)