Happy Tuesday! Here's The Pulse For July 21

Radio Broadcasting

Expending Measurement: Xperi's DTS AutoStage has rolled out its in-car AM/FM radio audience measurement service to more than 300 U.S. markets, drawing data from approximately 6 million connected vehicles and delivering overnight ratings for the first time in every market.

Saga Promotion: Paul O’Malley has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Revenue Development at Saga Communications, the company has announced. 

Kelly's New Gig: iHeartMedia has named veteran country radio personality Kelly Ford as Music Director and afternoon drive host for Country 98.7 WMZQ in Washington, D.C., and Country 93.1 WPOC in Baltimore, effective immediately.

Orlando Lands Jessica: Cox Media Group’s bilingual adult contemporary station Hits 96.5 (WOEX) has named longtime local air personality Jessica Reyes as its new weekday morning host. 

Media Industry

Merger Blocked: A federal judge in California issued a temporary restraining order Monday blocking Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery from closing their $81 billion merger, delivering the deal's first major regulatory setback.

DOJ Sought Phone Records: The Trump administration subpoenaed phone records belonging to relatives of New York Times journalists earlier this month as part of an effort to identify the reporters’ confidential sources, according to a letter the Times filed with a federal judge that was unsealed Monday.

ESPN Layoffs: ESPN has severed ties with longtime NFL analyst Ryan Clark as part of a broader wave of layoffs affecting its Bristol, Connecticut headquarters and NFL Network, multiple sources briefed on the moves told The Athletic.

U-S News

New Front: The Houthis, the Iranian-backed armed faction in Yemen, on Monday said they would impose a blockade on Saudi ships, threatening to open a new front in the Middle East conflict and raising the pressure on volatile global energy markets.

Plane Upgrades: President Trump’s new Air Force One, the Boeing luxury jet donated by Qatar, will be taken out of service for about one month this fall for “additional upgrades and enhancements,” the White House press secretary said on Monday.

Storms Due: The same regions that have been choked with wildfire smoke since the middle of last week are now bracing for severe thunderstorms. From the Upper Midwest to the Northeast, a turbulent weather system on Monday and Tuesday could bring damaging winds, large hail and even tornadoes.

Bertha Butt: Tropical Storm Bertha formed on July 20 as it moved toward the Gulf Coast, where forecasters say it could bring flash flooding to multiple states.