promoearn: Blistering, dangerous heat continues

Tuesday, July 19

Yonny Hodges floats in the Lacy Park Pool, Friday, July 8, 2022 in Tulsa, Okla. It is the 5th day in a row for temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more, the first time since July 2012.

High-temperature record broken in UK.

100 million Americans are under heat warnings this week. Aggressive border-control tactics contributed to inaction during the Uvalde shooting. And the smile you needed today: Some businesses in Missouri are waging an all-out "sign war."

👋 Looking for short news? You came to the right place. I'm Laura Davis, and this is the news you need to know Tuesday.

But first, big bison news! This forest in the United Kingdom is home again for European bison, which haven't roamed there for 6,000 years.

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Summer heat getting hotter

The summer heat is getting intense, so hot that forecasters put nearly 100 million Americans under excessive-heat warnings or advisories this week. The National Weather Service says the "dangerous heat" is forecast to impact a large swath of the country, including Texas, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri. A number of states were also placed under a heat advisory with most areas forecast to reach at least the high 90s. Amarillo, Texas, is expected to reach a high of 113 degrees, and Shreveport, Louisiana, will soar to 108 degrees. Here's what we know and some tips for staying cool.

UK breaks its record for highest temperature

The United Kingdom crushed its record for highest temperature Tuesday as a scorching heat wave also broiled much of mainland Europe, leading to hundreds of heat-related deaths and fierce wildfires. Flames racing toward a French beach and Britons sweltering drove home concerns about climate change. The Meteorological Office, U.K.'s weather office, said a temperature of 40.2 Celsius (104.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was provisionally recorded Tuesday in London, beating the previous record high temperature in the U.K. of 38.7 C (101.7 F) in 2019. Keep reading.

Learn more:

•	How hot will it get? The "extreme heat" will continue through the week and expand across the Northeast on Wednesday. *Check your local forecast*.
•	Everything you need to know about heat: From the heat index to a heat dome to an excessive heat warning.
•	Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke: How to recognize warnings signs, and tips to keep cool.

Traffic crosses a bridge at Woodhead Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, Monday, July 18, 2022 as water levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK.

Jon Super, AP

What everyone's talking about

•	Plan B is not an alternative to abortion. Here's why.
•	CDC issues health alert warning: What is parechovirus? What are the signs, symptoms in babies?
•	Is student-loan forgiveness fair to those without college degrees? Americans remain divided over costs.
•	'Above the law': Feds unveil contempt case against Steve Bannon; defense claims case driven by politics.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Border-control tactics contributed to inaction during Uvalde, experts say

Robb Elementary students were used to school lockdowns. But when a lockdown alert came on May 24 — the day a shooter killed 19 students and two teachers — many initially assumed it was like the 47 other lockdowns that happened, a newly released report by the Texas House of Representatives concluded. Those lockdowns had fostered a culture of complacency at the school, it said. And 90% of the security alerts earlier in the year came from "bailout" situations, described as when vehicles smuggling migrants lead officers on high-speed chases that often end by crashing the vehicle and allowing the occupants to scatter. Keep reading.

•	The report: Uvalde school shooting report finds 'systemic failures' in law enforcement response.
•	Will calls for police accountability be answered? Legal experts say pursuing charges could prove difficult.

A Border Patrol vehicle sits at a checkpoint outside Uvalde, Texas, on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

Utah startup paid $219M by GOP governors for questionable COVID tests

How did an upstart, inexperienced Utah company and three partners from Salt Lake City's emerging tech hub become key players during the worst infectious-disease crisis in more than 100 years? A USA TODAY investigation based upon more than 30,000 documents and dozens of interviews illuminates the web of business relationships, money and connected political leaders in five states that tipped the scales in favor of Nomi Health and its partners. Here's how it happened.

•	How USA TODAY reported its investigation of Nomi Health.

Co-Diagnostics lab technicians manufacture COVID-19 testing kits Friday, March 27, 2020, in Salt Lake City. The company says it has the capacity to produce 50,000 test kits daily from its Salt Lake City facility.

Rick Bowmer, AP

Real quick

•	Methanol found in blood of 21 teens found dead in South African bar, officials say.
•	Authorities use DNA from coffee cup to solve cold-case murder from 1975.
•	Man driving by burning home rescues five children inside, including baby.
•	Transformer fire at the Hoover Dam quickly extinguished, officials say.
•	Moo-ve: Dozens of loose cows halt traffic for hours on Florida Turnpike.
•	Showcasing stars young and old, the 2022 Home Run Derby was a magical night for MLB.

Missouri businesses waging 'sign war'

1-2-3-4, I declare sign war! A local "sign war" along the main thoroughfare in Marshfield, Missouri, is taking social media by storm. It all began when employees of the Marshfield McDonald's posted, "HEY DQ! WANNA HAVE A SIGN WAR" on their outdoor sign last week. Angela Jones, shift lead of the Dairy Queen across the street, said the crew became aware of McDonald's challenge on the morning of July 13. It was then they decided, as a team, whether and how they would respond. The decision? A roast. "WE WLD BUT WERE 2 BUSY MAKIN ICECREAM." Check out the pictures and read more here.

The Marshfield Dairy Queen outdoor sign reads, "WE WLD BUT WERE 2 BUSY MAKIN ICECREAM." The employees of the Dairy Queen, located at 1324 Spur Drive, made the response to the McDonald's "sign war" challenge across the street last week. Since, several other local businesses have participated. The local "sign war" is gaining traction on social media.

Courtesy of Sign Wars of Marshfield Missouri Facebook group

A break from the news

•	🛍 Peanuts fans, rejoice! This great sustainable sneaker brand just dropped a fab collab.
•	🛳 'What happens on the ship ... Stays on the ship': Swingers explore their lifestyle at sea.
•	🖼 Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day is back! Find venues in your state offering free entry.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.