California debates listing western Joshua tree as threatened

Russian President Vladimir Putin fishes in the remote Tuva region in southern Siberia. The picture taken between August 1 and 3, 2017.

Active caseload stands at 1,09,568 India reported 17,092 fresh COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. With this, the country's active caseload has reached 1,09,568. As many as 14,684 patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 4,28,51,590.

Canada Day celebrations since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.Public events marking the holiday were put on hold due to the pandemic, but eased health restrictions have once again made large gatherings and celebrations possible.Not all cities returned to staging major events, however. Montreal, Vancouver and other jurisdictions opted not to hold parades, for example, citing financial issues related to the pandemic as well as safety concerns.Smaller street festivals and events focused on Indigenous reconciliation were held instead.

Canada Day in the nation’s capital after two years that saw Canadians marking the country’s birthday at home, or virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Tensions were high amid a significant police presence as thousands gathered in the streets of downtown Ottawa where residents continue to grapple with what police have acknowledged is “lingering trauma” from the convoy blockade earlier this year. As it happened: Canada Day celebrations, protests held across the country In normal years, Canada Day festivities draw thousands to the lawns and streets around Parliament Hill for concerts, fireworks and parties.

PHILADELPHIA - After a pandemic pause, the Wawa Welcome America Festival is back in Philadelphia to help residents and visitors alike celebrate the 4th of July holiday.Nearly two-weeks of events will culminate on Independence Day with the Party on the Parkway and free concert headlined by Jason Derulo and Ava Max.Of course, no 4th of July celebration would be complete without a massive fireworks display. Wawa's Welcome America Firework Spectacular will start on the Parkway around 9:30 with an accompanying soundtrack by DJ Ghost.MORE HEADLINES"Everyone is welcome we want everyone to come down we just want folks to be prepared," President and CEO of Welcome America Michael DelBene said.There are several road and street closures planned for the weekend and Independence Day.In preparation for the July 4th Concert and Party on the Parkway, the following road closure will be in effect beginning 3 p.m.

DANE COUNTY, Wis. - Wisconsin's first case of orthopoxvirus, presumed to be monkeypox, has been identified in a Dane County resident, the state Department of Health Services confirmed Thursday, June 30."While it’s likely that additional cases will be found among Wisconsinites, we are relieved that this disease does not spread easily from person to person," said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, DHS chief medical officer and state epidemiologist.

PHILADELPHIA - Some people are staying close to home for the July 4th holiday, but according to AAA, a lot of people are on the move for the holiday weekend, even with traffic and high gas prices.It’s a holiday weekend and a lot of people have plans away from home and, despite the high cost of fuel, they’re going.John and Chase Miller, all the way from St. Louis, doing a very long father and son road trip.AAA said it doesn’t appear the higher gas prices, the highest ever for Independence Day road travel, is keeping people from their destinations.MORE HEADLINES:"We went down to Orlando for a few days and from there we decided to come to Philly to check it out and watch the Cardinals play the Phillies and then head home," explained John Miller."They will make concessions in other areas to make up for that.

Today we are reporting 6,460 community cases and 423 current hospitalisations.

Firefighters battle a fire in a duplex in Jenkintown. JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Fire crews are battling a two-alarm at a three-story duplex in Jenkintown, while trying to get someone out of the building.Firefighters were called to the 200 block of Summit Avenue Friday evening, around 7:40.Firefighters battle a fire in a duplex in Jenkintown.

Authorities say a man was shot several times during a shootout Friday night in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say a shootout between at least two men Friday night in Philadelphia left one of the gunmen fighting for his life. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 100 block of East Wishart Street shortly before 7:30 p.m.

RELATED: DC minimum wage increase takes effect FridayREAD MORE: New Virginia law aims to improve school emergency responseReally loud cars are about to become a focal point for police in Virginia.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say a motorcycle driver was killed when he collided with another vehicle Friday night in Philadelphia's Bustleton section. The deadly crash happened on the 1000 block of Bustleton Avenue shortly before 6:30 p.m., according to authorities. Police say a 32-year-old man driving a black Yamaha motorcycle collided with blue Chevy Malibu. The victim, whose name has not been released, sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests were made immediately following the deadly crash. 

NEW YORK - Police in Nassau County say they are investigating a possible shark attack.  It happened Thursday afternoon at Jones Beach but the information was not released until Friday.The Nassau County Police Department says a 37-year-old man was swimming at around 1 p.m.

AUSTIN, Texas - A woman that went missing in North Austin last week has been found dead, police say.APD issued a CLEAR Alert for 39-year-old Yolanda Jaimes after responding to the 7000 block of Craybrough Circle for a report of a missing person on Friday, June 24. Jaimes was last seen in that area around 6 a.m.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Someone carjacked a vehicle while a Detroit mother was inside a gas station paying Thursday night.Jada Hicks left her 10-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, and baby girl in her locked Jeep as she went into the Citgo near Fenkell and Meyers, a few blocks from her house. While she was inside the gas station, a man broke the Jeep's window with a rock and ordered the children out."He said, ‘Get the baby in the car seat and get out of the car now,’" Hicks said.

surface-to-air missile systems and counter-artillery radars to respond to Russia's heavy reliance on long-range strikes in the war.Russia in recent days has launched dozens of missiles across Ukraine and pinned down Ukrainian forces with continuous fire for sometimes hours at a time. Ukraine's leaders have publicly called on Western allies to quickly send more ammunition and advanced systems that will help them narrow the gap in equipment and manpower.All told, the U.S.

New York City officials, flanked by the White House COVID-19 coordinator, yesterday unveiled the nation's first test-to-treat mobile units, which are designed to speed treatment to vulnerable groups.

Chris Stapleton surfaced at Universal Studios Hollywood this Thursday, over a week after he announced he was postponing some shows because he had COVID-19.The delayed concerts in Salt Lake City and Denver were supposed to take place last weekend, but will now occur this Friday through Sunday.Before his next run of gigs, Chris, 44, was spotted cutting a casual figure as he soaked up the sun at the theme park with a camera slung across his front. Back out:Chris Stapleton surfaced at Universal Studios Hollywood this Thursday, over a week after he announced he was postponing some shows because he had COVID-19The country star announced the show postponements last Tuesday, June 21, announcing that the concerts had been pushed back a week.'To all my friends in Salt Lake City and Denver, I am very sorry to let you all know that I have tested positive for Covid and will be unable to perform this weekend's shows,' he wrote in a message he posted to his Instagram page.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - While four out of the five major casinos in Atlantic City have come to tentative agreements with their labor unions, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino remains the last player at the table."We’re fighting for our pay, we are now no longer in the 40’s and I feel like it definitely needs to go up. We need to be able to at least come to work and have gas in our tanks to get to work," said Ashley Coleman, a cocktail server at Hard Rock.She says the pay isn’t enough to support a family.

LAS VEGAS - A sunken boat dating back to World War II is the latest object to emerge from a shrinking reservoir that straddles Nevada and Arizona.The Higgins landing craft that has long been 185 feet (56 meters) below the surface is now nearly halfway out of the water at Lake Mead.The boat lies less than a mile from Lake Mead Marina and Hemingway Harbor.It was used to survey the Colorado River decades ago, sold to the marina and then sunk, according to dive tours company Las Vegas Scuba.LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NEVADA - JULY 01: A sunken World War II-Era Higgins landing craft that used to be nearly 200 feet underwater is being revealed near the Lake Mead Marina as the waterline continues to lower on July 01, 2022 in the L (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Higgins Industries in New Orleans built several thousand landing craft between 1942 and 1945, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Around 1,500 "Higgins boats" were deployed at Normandy on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day.The boat is just the latest in a series of objects unearthed by declining water levels in Lake Mead, the largest human-made reservoir in the U.S., held back by the Hoover Dam.

Lance Storz was booked into an eastern Kentucky jail, the Floyd County Sheriff's Office said, following a shootout and hostage standoff with police on June 30, 2022. (Pike County Sheriff's Office)ALLEN, Ky. - Two law enforcement officers were killed and five were injured when a man opened fire on police attempting to serve a warrant at a home in eastern Kentucky Thursday night, authorities said.Police took 49-year-old Lance Storz into custody late Thursday night.An emergency management official was also injured and a police K9 was killed, according to the arrest citation.The responding officers encountered "pure hell" when they arrived on the scene, Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt told reporters Friday afternoon.Floyd County Sheriff's K9 Drago was killed during a shootout with a suspect in eastern Kentucky on June 30, 2022.

NEW YORK - Have you heard the buzz? Mosquito season is here. If you feel like you're swatting away a lot more pests than this time last year, you may not be alone.Rising temperatures and rainfall levels due to climate change are creating the perfect conditions for mosquitos to start reproducing earlier and for longer periods of time. "There is a change in the distribution of rain and not just in the United States but in the entire world," Max Jacobo Moreno-Madriñán of Indiana University's Environmental Health Science Department said.

overturned Roe v. Wade last week.In Florida, a law banning abortions after 15 weeks went into effect Friday, the day after a judge called it a violation of the state constitution and said he would sign an order temporarily blocking the law next week.

LOS ANGELES - Elon Musk said Tesla’s long-awaited AI humanoid robot "Optimus" which has both wowed and terrified consumers, will be officially unveiled in just a few months. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum on June 21, Musk said he expects a prototype of the robot to be unveiled at Tesla’s "AI Day" on September 30. The construction of the robot "Optimus," was first announced in August 2021 in which the company boasted the droid would be able to walk at least five miles per hour and even lift 150 pounds. When he first announced the project, Musk said the robot would "eliminate dangerous, repetitive, boring tasks."Elon Musk says the "Tesla Bot" will probably be launched in 2022, claiming the robot would "eliminate dangerous, repetitive, boring tasks." (Source: Tesla) The robot would carry out the work people don't like to do."I hope that we will have an interesting prototype to show people," Musk said, speaking to British journalist John Micklethwait, at the June 21 event. "We have a very talented team at Tesla that I'm working with closely to have a prototype humanoid robot ready by the end of September.

FILE - Electric vehicles at a public charging station. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)With inflation driving gas prices to an all-time high, consumers are flocking to dealerships to get themselves an electric vehicle (EV). The prices may not be as competitive as some of the vehicles running on an internal combustion engine, but it's the great long-term investment many are striving to achieve while, of course, minimizing their carbon footprint.  But are these cars — which manufacturers boast are better for the environment — as green as they seem?  One of the biggest issues that come up when comparing the environmental impacts of EVs versus internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) is the battery.  Experts have weighed in on the controversial manufacturing surrounding EV batteries and while many huge automakers such as Chevrolet and Ford are starting to pump out EV models, consumers are still left to wonder: Do the environmental impacts outweigh the potential long-term benefits of moving towards an EV-dominated world? Let’s look at some of the myths surrounding EV batteries.  There isn’t really a clear-cut true-or-false narrative when it comes to answering this question. Most of the current battery chemistry relies on lithium and cobalt.

HARRISBURG - State lawmakers gave their final approval to new restrictions on fireworks Friday but the rules will not be in place as July Fourth weekend fireworks light up Pennsylvania skies.The House voted 163-37 to send the legislation to the desk of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, whose spokeswoman said he plans to review it.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Get ready for an adventure in the Big Easy. A new attraction coming to Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom will transport guests to the magical place of New Orleans. The Disney Company on Friday unveiled plans for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a new ride based on the hit movie The Princess and the Frog.

FlightAware. That’s on top of more than 2,600 flights canceled Thursday.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California on Thursday became the first state to guarantee free health care for all low-income immigrants living in the country illegally, a move that will provide coverage for an additional 764,000 people at an eventual cost of about $2.7 billion a year.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $307.9 billion operating budget that pledges to make all low-income adults eligible for the state’s Medicaid program by 2024 regardless of their immigration status.

FILE - Drone aerial view of winding road and red car in Utah. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)If you are planning to hit the road this summer but are not sure where to go, you might want to consider New York state. That is according to a report from WalletHub, which found the best and worst states for summer road trips in 2022.

Air New Zealand is giving passengers on long flights the chance to kick back and relax in one of their new sleeping pods. (Photo courtesy of Air New Zealand airline from a 2020 test run) (Air New Zealand)Falling asleep aboard a flight can be a hassle given the lack of space on airplanes, but one airline has a new, creative solution to help you enjoy slumber in the air.Air New Zealand is giving passengers on long flights the chance to kick back and relax in one of their new sleeping pods.

COVID-19 vaccination protected people of all body sizes from hospitalization and death—although vaccinated people with a low or high body mass index (BMI) were at greater risk, according to a study of adults in England published yesterday in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Made in Chelsea star was rushed to hospital earlier this week after receiving 'alarming' test results. Her fiance Ryan Libbey revealed he was devastated over the latest health battle. Louise, 32, nearly died twice as she gave birth last year and has been left suffering from PTSD.

James Bye, who will be attending the couple's wedding. The happy couple, who welcomed their daughter into the world last year, has had to postpone their wedding three times already due to Covid related issues. READ MORE: Eagle-eyed fans scratching their heads after noticing Shirley Carter blunderThe couple previously expressed that they planned to wed sooner however, were first forced to cancel the big day due to lockdown restrictions.

DOVER, Del. - A jury returned a mixed verdict Friday in the corruption trial of Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness, acquitting her of felony charges but finding her guilty of three misdemeanors.McGuiness, a Democrat elected in 2018, is the first statewide elected official in Delaware to be prosecuted while in office.As state auditor, McGuiness is responsible for rooting out government fraud, waste and abuse but was indicted last year on five charges, including felony counts of theft and witness intimidation.PREVIOUS: Delaware state auditor indicted on public corruption chargesAfter deliberating for about four hours over two days, jurors acquitted McGuiness of the theft and intimidation charges. They found her guilty of the three lesser charges — conflict of interest, official misconduct and structuring a contract to avoid a procurement rule.Prosecutors argued McGuiness abused her position in hiring her daughter, structuring payments under a consulting contract to avoid accounting scrutiny, and intimidating employees who were cooperating with investigators.The defense argued McGuiness was the target of an incompetent and biased investigation spurred by complaints from disgruntled employees as she tried to make changes in her office following her predecessor’s 30-year tenure.The jury verdict followed a two-week trial that featured about two dozen witnesses and hundreds of exhibits including emails, text messages, payroll records and accounting spreadsheets.Prosecutor Mark Denney told jurors that McGuiness "used and abused" her position to hire her daughter and give her special privileges unavailable to other part-time workers.

FILE IMAGE - North Korean defectors, now living in South Korea, prepare to release balloons carrying propaganda leaflets denouncing North Korea's nuclear test, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Oct. 10, 2014, in Paju, South Korea.

ATLANTA - The former agent of Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman says the Atlanta Braves are presenting a "false narrative" about the first baseman’s parting in March."I will not stand by as the circumstances surrounding Freddie Freeman’s departure from Atlanta are mischaracterized," agent Casey Close of Excel Sports Management said in a statement Thursday.Freeman was in tears and at times could barely speak when talking to reporters in Atlanta last week, his first trip back to the city where he had played his entire career before leaving for the West Coast. He was warmly welcomed by Braves fans.

Provided images show vandalism at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington. (Credit: Bellevue Police Department) The U.S.

Bret Michaels is "working on being back" after he was hospitalized and forced to cancel a Nashville concert at the very last second. "I was truly fired up to get on stage in the music city and perform, but due to an unknown complication & following hospitalization, it was not possible," he tweeted on Friday, July 1. "I send my deepest apologies for being unable to rock the stage tonight!! I'm working on being back 100% very soon & hope you rocked hard with my friends Motley [Crüe]/[Def] Leppard/Joan [Jett & The Blackhearts] and Classless Act!!!"Bret and Poison were set to perform on Thursday night, but the singer quickly fell ill just before set time, TMZ reported.

Louise Thompson has given her 1.4million Instagram followers a health update, saying she had seen a "very reassuring doctor" amidst her mental health battles.The former Made in Chelsea star, 32, and her fiancé Ryan Libbey, 31, welcomed their son Leo-Hunter in November 2021, however due to complications, Louise was left in intensive care for five weeks. After the traumatic experience, Louise was diagnosed with severe anxiety and has been open about her journey with PTSD. She has been candid with her struggles since the traumatic experience, often posting images of herself crying on Instagram, with a recent post saying that she "wanted to die in a big way", when suffering from her lowest points.

NEW JERSEY - A motorcyclist died after he was hit by a car while attempting to cross the NJ turnpike, according to New Jersey State Police. Troopers say 48-year-old Andrew Aaron of Glenolden, Pennsylvania was operating a Harley Davidson southbound on the NJ Turnpike. According to authorities, Aaron lost control of the motorcycle, struck a guardrail and ended up on the left shoulder of the highway. The man ran across both lanes and was struck by a Lexus traveling in the right lane, police say. Authorities say he did not survive the injuries sustained in the crash. NJ State Police say the crash remains under investigation. 

Steph McGovern, 40, has opened up about her health worries on Instagram.The Steph’s Packed Lunch star admitted she was “in agony” as the programme wrapped up for the summer. Steph shared a picture of her face covered in blisters in view of her 97,800 Instagram followers yesterday. “Here’s a pic of me looking rough, let me explain why…” she captioned the post. “We’re coming to the end of this series of Packed Lunch (we’re on a summer break after tomorrow) and whenever I get to the end of a long run I get poorly. “I’ve always had this whatever job I’ve been doing. I bet lots of people are the same.”“This time I have a bad ear infection and blisters in/around my ear/hair/face.

(Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) KEATON BEACH, Fla. - A teenage girl was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries Thursday after she was attacked by a shark while scalloping with her family in Florida, authorities said.According to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded Thursday afternoon to Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area along the Gulf Coast, where a juvenile had been bitten by a shark near Grassy Island in water about 5 feet deep.It’s unclear what kind of shark bit her, but it was described as approximately 9 feet long. A family member reportedly jumped in the water and "beat the shark" until the girl was freed.The teen was airlifted to a Tallahassee hospital with serious injuries.

Signage warning beachgoers about great white sharks is seen at the entrance to Newcomb Hollow beach in Wellfleet, Massachusetts in Cape Cod. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images) Researchers are warning beachgoers that they may not be the only ones headed to Cape Cod this summer, as great white sharks are expected there, too.The warm weather in the northern U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Homicide detectives with the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating a fatal shooting in Frankford. Authorities say the shooting happened Friday morning at 2:58 a.m. Police responded to the 1800 block of Fillmore Street for reports of a shooting, according to the department. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESOfficials say a 27-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities say he was pronounced dead on scene at 3:16 a.m. No arrests have been made and the shooting remains under investigation, per authorities. 

pandemic preparedness and enhanced health service delivery. The $1 billion loans are divided into two complementary loans of $500 million each.