Serving the First Amendment and the Public's Right to Know
FEATURES
HOTTEST
JULY ON RECORD
Temperatures have hit record highs throughout world in 2023
​
NEW YORK (UN)—As wildfires raged across Southern Europe and North Africa, top UN climate scientists said at the end of July that it was "virtually certain" July 2023 would be the hottest on record.
​
Echoing that in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that "short of a mini-Ice Age," July 2023 would likely "shatter records across the board."
"Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning," said the UN chief, warning that the conse- quences are as clear as they are tragic: "children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames (and) workers collapsing in scorching heat."
​
In Geneva, scientists from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service described conditions this month as "rather remarkable and unprecedented." They said that new data showed July has seen the hottest three-week period ever recorded and the three hottest days on record.
"We can say that the first three weeks of July have been the warmest three weeks periods ever observed in our record," said Carlo Buentempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Service, via Zoom.
​
"This anomaly is so large with respect to other record-breaking months in our record that we are virtually certain that the month, the month as a whole will become the warmest July on record, the warmest month on record, in all likelihood."
​
Just as worrying was the fact that ocean temperatures are at their highest-ever recorded levels for this time of year. This trend has been apparent since the end of April. Citing "a clear and dramatic warming decade on decade" since the 1970s. WMO’s Director of Climate Services Chris Hewitt noted that 2015 to 2022 saw the eight warmest years on record, based on a 173-year dataset. This was despite the fact that the La Niña sea-cooling phenomenon prevailed towards the end of that period in the Pacific region, which reined in global average temperatures slightly, Hewitt explained.
​
"But now the La Niña has ended" — to be replaced by the sea-warming El Niño effect—waters have begun to heat up in the tropical Pacific, bringing the “almost certain likelihood that one of the next five years will be the warmest on record."
​
It is also "more likely than not" that global average temperatures will temporarily exceed the 1.5 degrees Centi- grade threshold above pre-industrial levels "for at least one of the five years," the WMO scientist continued.
'Era of global boiling'
​
Speaking at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General Guterres underscored the need for global action on emissions, climate adaptation and climate finance. He warned that the era of "global warming has ended" and "the era of global boiling has arrived."
​
Although climate change is evident, "we can still stop the worst," he said. “But to do so we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition."
​
He said leaders must step up for climate action and climate justice, particularly those from the G20 leading industrial nations, responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions. He pointed to upcoming summits, including the UN Climate Ambition Summit in September and the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November, as critical opportunities.
​
Net-zero goal
​
Guterres highlighted the need for new national emissions targets from G20 members and urged all countries to push to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. He said all actors must unite to accelerate the just and equita- ble transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, while stopping oil and gas expansion and phasing out coal by 2040. Action from companies, cities, regions, financial institutions and fossil fuel companies is also critical.
​
"No more greenwashing. No more deception. And no more abusive distortion of anti-trust laws to sabotage net zero alliances," Guterres said.
Four years of consecutive droughts have left families in southern Madagascar desperate and unable to feed themselves. With extreme weather becoming the new normal, Guterres appealed for a global surge in adaptation investment to save millions from the impacts of climate change, particularly in developing countries. He said developed countries must present a clear and credible roadmap to double adaptation finance by 2025. All governments should implement a UN action plan aimed at ensuring everyone on the planet is protected by early warning systems by 2027.
​
On finance, the secretary-general urged richer countries to honor their commitments to provide $100 billion annually for climate support in developing countries and to fully replenish the Green Climate Fund.
​
"I am concerned that only two G7 countries—Canada and Germany—have made replenishment pledges so far," he said. "Countries must also operationalize the loss and damage fund at COP28 this year. No more delays or excuses."
​
Guterres reiterated the need for a course correction in the global finance system to support accelerated climate action. Measures would include putting a price on carbon and getting multilateral development banks to scale up funding for renewable energy, adaptation, and loss and damage.
State of Minnesota
AIR QUALITY ALERT:
​
Wildfire smoke expanded
​
Air quality alert due to wildfire smoke expanded to include the North Shore, Duluth area, east central, and southeastern Minnesota
​
DULUTH, MN (MNS)—The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has expanded the air quality alert for east central and southeastern Minnesota to include the North Shore and Duluth area.
The alert is effective until 6 p.m. on June 6. The affected area includes the Twin Cities, Albert Lea, Rochester, Mankato, Hinckley, Duluth, Two Harbors, and the tribal nations of Prairie Island, Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage.
A band of smoke from wildfires in Quebec will continue to linger across east central and south-
east Minnesota today, due to very light winds. Another band of smoke is also moving into Minnesota off Lake Superior. Air quality will continue to be poor today across east central and southeast Minnesota, with the heaviest smoke expected to be near Rochester and Winona.
Air quality is quickly deteriorating across northeast Minnesota, as the second wave of smoke moves into that area. Air quality should improve across northeast Minnesota tomorrow morning as smoke moves south and exits the region. However, smoke will linger across east central and southeast Minnesota through late Tuesday.
​
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across southeast Minne- sota. This area includes Rochester and Winona. In the red area, everyone should avoid prolonged time outdoors.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across east central Minnesota. The alert area includes the Twin Cities, Albert Lea, Mankato, Hinckley, Duluth, Two Harbors, and the tribal nations of Prairie Island, Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage. In the orange area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged time outdoors.
​
What this alert means
​
Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind, and the weather.
​
The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes fore- casts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.
​
Red air quality: Unhealthy
​
Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy and you won’t be able to see far. You may smell smoke.
​
Health effects: This air is unhealthy for everyone. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly causing an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.
​
What to do: Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside.
​
Orange air quality/Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category from wildfires, the sky may be hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away.
​
Health effects: This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and fatigue.
​
What to do: People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.
​
Who’s most at risk
​
Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream.
This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes.
​
Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.
​
Sensitive groups include:
-
People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
-
People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
-
Pregnant people
-
Children and older adults
People with increased exposure include:
-
People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors
-
People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor
-
People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children
-
People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool
-
People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter.
-
​
Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care pro- vider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.
Fired for using the 'Nizzle'
word
Barbie Bassett. Screenshot
JACKSON, MS (MNS)—The euphemistic used of a term created and popularized by rap artist Snoop Dogg, has apparently led to the dismissal of veteran Mississippi TV news anchor. There has been no sign of a Miss- issippi morning news anchor woman since she voiced a Snoop Dogg phrase on air earlier this month, according to entertainment venue, Deadline Hollywood.
​
Barbie Bassett has not been on air for the NBC affiliate WLBT since March 8, when her team were discussing the rapper’s addition to his wine line.
Bassett said, "Fo shizzle, my nizzle," according to Deadline, when the idea of a Snoop collaboration with a newsroom journalist was raised. (“Nizzle” is slang for the N-word.) The station’s chief meteorologist as well as anchor, Bassett has previously caused controversy with a comment, referring to a Black reporter’s “grand- mammy” on air. She later apologized.
​
She is no longer listed on the station’s website, according to the Clarion Ledger. And Bassett has not shared anything on Twitter since the same day – her silence including this weekend when a deadly tornado struck Mississippi, sparking huge chatter among meteorologists.
The New York Post reports the story but has received no comment from Bassett, WLBT or Snoop Dogg. It quotes the station’s regional vice president Ted Fortenberry, saying:
​
"As I am sure you can understand, WLBT is unable to comment on personnel matters.​
Black Americans in Indiana were 10.2 percent of the population in 2019, but accounted for 200 murders that year.
Report: Indiana ranks third in nation for Black homicide rate
INDIANAPOLIS (Public News Service)—According to a new report by the Violence Policy Center, a national research institute, Black Americans are disproportionately affected by homicide, with guns accounting for nearly 90 percent of all deaths.
For the year 2019, the focus of the report, Black Americans represented 14 percent of the nation’s population, yet accounted for 52 percent of all homicide victims.
​
Indiana was no exception, where ironically, Blacks are only 10.2 percent of the population. Still, more than 200 Black Hoosiers lost their lives to homicide in 2019—one of the highest overall rates of Black homicide victims in the nation.
Based on federal crime data, the study found the 2019 Black homicide victimization rate in Indiana was nearly 29 homicides per 100,000 Black residents, which is the country's third-highest rate.
Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, which issued the report, said the devastation homicide inflicts on Black teens and adults is a national crisis that should be a top priority for policymakers to address, and an important part of ending "our nation’s gun violence epidemic will involve reducing homicides in the Black community.
Most of the states with high rankings share a common thread, Sugarman said.
These states have "limited gun violence prevention laws, and often rely solely or nearly solely, on federal standards," Sugarmann explained. "This is the case with Indiana, which has virtually no controls beyond the federal statutes."
The study only includes data up to 2019, the most recent year such federal crime statistics are available. The raw data is supplied to the federal government by local law enforcement agencies. And while the report's authors pointed out the study includes the most accurate information available, they added its findings are "limited by the quantity and degree of detail in the information submitted."
Sugarmann argued the best way to address the issue is by implementing a range of gun control policies. It might be a tough pitch in the GOP-controlled General Assembly, but such proposals could find traction in local communities across the state.
However, as Sugarmann acknowledged, local officials are not allowed to pass gun laws stricter than the state-level standards.
"Now, when you have virtually no state standards, that leaves those communities with no options to basically empower them to address the issues on a local level," Sugarmann said. "I think that could be a very important first step in addressing this level of violence in Indiana."
The report is part of an ongoing series from the Violence Policy Center, examining Black homicide data both at the state and national level. Sugarmann noted the FBI recently changed its crime-reporting protocols, which could reduce the amount of available data for future reports and limit research into gun violence.
The report revealed the firearms industry, looking to expand beyond its shrinking base of White male gun owners, has increased its marketing efforts targeting Black and Latino Americans. Such efforts can only increase gun death and injury in these communities. In addition, individuals living in communities where violence is prevalent are at increased risk for a broad range of negative health and behavior outcomes.
An increased understanding of how trauma resulting from community violence influences development, health, and behavior can lead to improvements in the way many social services are delivered as well as policy changes at the local and federal levels.
The report concluded that more focus must be placed on reducing access and exposure to firearms. For Black victims of homicide, like all victims of homicide, handguns are far and away the number-one murder tool.
​