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Thursday, June 8, 2023

6/8 WAKE-UP CALL: Millions Gag On Smoke From Wildfires

NYTimes Composite (6/8/23)

Schools across the U.S. East Coast canceled outdoor activities, airline traffic slowed and millions of Americans were urged to stay indoors on Wednesday as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south, blanketing cities in thick, yellow haze. The U.S. National Weather Service issued air quality alerts for virtually the entire Atlantic seaboard. Health officials from Vermont to South Carolina and as far west as Ohio and Kansas warned residents that spending time outdoors could cause respiratory problems due to high levels of fine particulates in the atmosphere.

Some 98 million people were under air quality alert conditions Wednesday as smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Eastern Canada ravaged northern states. Here is what to know about the health hazards of the smoke. At least 18 states issued air quality alerts Wednesday, warning people to avoid going outside or limit their activities as the smoke continued to drift south from Canada, bringing with it a dull, gray pallor that settled over many city skylines and caused many to wake to the smell of smoke. As of Wednesday afternoon, multiple United States airports had ordered ground stops for their flights due to the low visibility.

The Smokey Smog is caused Wildfires are blazing across Canada, from British Columbia in the west to Ontario in the center of the country and Quebec to the east. An abnormally dry winter is a key factor. All 10 provinces are currently facing conditions termed abnormal dryness, moderate or severe drought, according to the Canadian government's drought tracker. Late last month, Canada experienced its hottest day ever when the town of Lytton, in British Columbia, hit 121 degrees Fahrenheit, smashing the previous record of 113 degrees. It tied California's Death Valley as the hottest place in North America that day. As a result, the wildfire season has begun incredibly early.

The second consecutive day of haze prompted school schedule changes, outdoor activity cancellations and the renewed popularity of face masks. The National Weather Service said the air quality was unhealthy in numerous states; areas in upstate New York had air-quality levels above 300, which is considered hazardous, according to government tracking site AirNow. Forecasters said people should limit their time outside because inhaling polluted air can cause headaches, irritated eyes, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Seniors, children and immunocompromised people should be especially careful.

Why it matters: Wildfire smoke carries a mix of toxic air pollutants and particulate matter, including dust, soot, and ash, among other materials. Particulate matter accounts for roughly 80% of smoke from wildfires. The particulate matter can make its way into the eyes — accounting for many complaints of irritation — but it can also travel into the airways and settle in the lungs, causing irritation of the airways and other adverse effects, especially for people with underlying health conditions. Exposure to wildfire smoke is “basically the same as tobacco smoke, without the nicotine,” Dr. John Balmes, a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, Berkeley, told the Washington Examiner in an interview. 

With weather systems expected to hardly budge, the smoky blanket billowing from wildfires in Quebec and Nova Scotia and sending plumes of fine particulate matter as far away as North Carolina should persist into Thursday and possibly the weekend.


➤FBI CAVES: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced Wednesday night that the FBI has “caved” and will allow each member of the panel the opportunity to review an informant file held by the bureau that accuses President Biden of a $5 million bribery scheme while he was vice president.  As a result of FBI Director Christopher Wray’s change of heart – after weeks of refusing to hand over a physical copy of the FD-1023 form to the committee – he will no longer be subjected to a contempt of Congress hearing that was slated for Thursday.  The FBI is also making two additional documents referenced in the informant file available for Comer (R-Ky.) and House Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) to review, the panel announced. 

➤BIDEN VETOES STUDENT DEBT REPEAL: President Joe Biden vetoed Wednesday a bill that would repeal his signature plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, salvaging a key issue of his presidency that remains under siege at the Supreme Court. “I won’t back down on helping hardworking folks,” Biden said in a tweet that included a video of him rejecting the legislation. “That’s why I’m vetoing this bill.” The rejection marked the fifth veto of Biden presidency but this one might especially sting: Loan forgiveness was a significant campaign pledge for Biden, and all of his attempts to ease life for borrowers are under attack. Part of the debt ceiling deal Congress approved this month, for instance, strikes the pause on student loan payments that's been in effect since the start of the pandemic. 

➤TRUMP: WHAT ME WORRY?  Donald Trump disputed news reports Wednesday that he is subject to indictment in the investigation of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago, while a federal grand jury in Florida interviewed one of his former spokesmen in an apparent obstruction of justice investigation.   "No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong," Trump said on his Truth Social website, amid reports that he has received a formal "target letter" from prosecutors. Trump did not address whether he has received a formal letter, but said in his post that "I have assumed for years that I am a Target of the WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI." 

➤UKRAINE FLOODING CHANGES LANDSCAPE OF WAR: Ukrainians abandoned inundated homes on Wednesday as floods crested across the south after the destruction of a huge hydroelectric dam on front lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with their presidents trading blame for the disaster. Residents slogged through flooded streets carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address that it was impossible to predict how many people would die in Russian-occupied areas due to the flooding, urging a "clear and rapid reaction from the world" to support victims.

➤MOM, DAUGHTER ALLEGEDLY BAR-BE-QUED  GRANDMA: A missing woman's daughter and grandchild are facing charges including murder after police say the grandmother was dismembered and grilled at the family's Maryland home. Candace Craig, 44, and her daughter, Salia Hardy, 19, were arrested in connection to the death of 71-year-old Margaret Craig which police say took place inside the victim's Landover home in Prince George's County, bordering the eastern portion of Washington D.C. "Based on additional evidence gathered at the home, as well as multiple interviews, the preliminary investigation suggests Candace Craig murdered her mother on May 23," the Prince George's County Police Department said in a statement released this week. "The following day, Hardy helped her mother attempt to dispose of the remains."

➤ACTRESS REVEALS CANCER HAS SPREAD TO HER BRAIN: Shannen Doherty recently revealed that her breast cancer spread to her brain earlier this year. She shared a video of herself getting fitted for a radiation mask Tuesday (June 6th) and wrote, “On January 5th, my ct scan showed Mets in my brain.” The Beverly Hills 90210 alum continued, “I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at cedar sinai. But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like.” Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 that went into remission two years later. In 2020, the former Charmed star announced the cancer had returned, spread and was stage 4.

🏀NBA NUGGETS TAKES GAME 3: Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had dueling triple-doubles and Christian Braun was a revelation off the bench as the Nuggets regained homecourt advantage on Wednesday, beating the Heat 109-94 on the road. Jokic had 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists and Murray piled in a triple-double effort of his own with 34 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Brazilian soccer star Neymar was among the high-profile names at the Kaseya Center to witness Finals history Wednesday night.

⚾MLB 2 GAMES SMOKED OUT: The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies have had both their games postponed tonight as hazardous smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to wreak havoc across the east coast of America. New York City's current air quality is listed as 'Hazardous' and Philadelphia is currently listed as 'very unhealthy', according to AirNow. According to weather experts, both conditions call for people to move physical activities indoors - while hazardous conditions suggest that 'everyone should stay indoors'. 

⚾MLB PETE ALONSO DRILLED BY PITCH: Atlanta starting pitcher Charlie Morton went to find Pete Alonso and apologize for hitting him with a pitch that knocked the Mets slugger out of the game after the Braves beat New York 7-5 on Wednesday night.  Alonso told reporters that he appreciated the gesture while speaking after the game. 'He came up after I got X-rayed,' Alonso said. 'He was looking for me. He just wanted to apologize. Obviously he didn't mean to. For people speculating for this or that, I just wanted to clear that. Chuckie's a good guy and the situation didn't call for it either. There's nothing to it. I just happened to get hit with an up-and-in fastball.'

⚾MLB SCORES:

  • Rays 2 Twins 1
  • Athletics 9 Pirates 5
  • Padres 10 Mariners 3
  • Marlins 6 Royals 1
  • D'Backs 6 Nationals 2
  • Blue Jays 3 Astros 2
  • Guardians 5 Red Sox 2
  • Reds 8 Dodgers 6
  • Brewers 10 Orioles 2
  • Cardinals 1 Rangers 0
  • Giants 5 Rockies 4
  • Angels 6 Cubs 2



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