NOAA said July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit. The month brought widespread heat alerts, record warm nights, drought, wildfires and flooding despite below-average national precipitation.
News Mash
Todd Blanche was sworn in as U.S. attorney general after the Senate confirmed him 50-49. Trump’s former defense lawyer had served as acting attorney general since April following Pam Bondi’s ouster.
The WHO says DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak began in February, months before it was officially declared in May. Nearly 2,000 people have died as health teams face insecurity, delayed diagnoses and the lack of an approved Bundibugyo vaccine.
Taylor Farms is recalling about 20 jalapeño-containing prepared foods sold at major retailers in 26 states after a supplier recalled fresh peppers over salmonella concerns. The company says no illnesses have been linked to the recalled products.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis is standing trial in Las Vegas nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting. Prosecutors say Davis orchestrated the attack and supplied the gun; his defense says his memoir and past statements were fictionalized or unreliable.
Louisiana and Florida have reported seven deaths this year from Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but dangerous bacterium found in warm coastal waters. Health officials are urging people with wounds or high-risk medical conditions to take precautions around brackish and salt water.
A record 230 people reached the UK in a single small boat after crossing the English Channel, surpassing the previous record of 165. Officials condemned smugglers for cramming people onto unsafe vessels while saying overall crossings are down this year.
A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, causing injuries and significant damage in Chocó province and shaking buildings as far away as Bogotá. Officials reported damage to regional airports and said assessments were underway.