First Thing: Oregon declares emergency as another ‘extreme heatwave’ looms
Good morning,
Oregon has declared a state of emergency as the Pacific north-west prepares for triple-digit temperatures just weeks after a deadly heatwavestruck the region. People streamed into cooling centers and misting stations on Wednesday evening in an effort to escape the sweltering heat.
The governor, Kate Brown, said: “Oregon is facing yet another extreme heatwave, and it is critical that every level of government has the resources they need to help keep Oregonians safe and healthy.”
The declaration went into effect as concerns grew over the safety of residents, some of whom do not have air conditioning. The order is expected to remain in place until 20 August, writes Hallie Golden.
How hot is it in Oregon? Temperatures in Portland soared to 97F (36.1C) by Wednesday eveningand they are likely to rise to 100F or above for three consecutive days, peaking at around 105F on Thursday. In a “worst-case scenario”, the temperature could reach 111F (44C) in some parts of western Oregon.
Are any other areas affected? Exceptionally hot weather was also expected in other parts of the country. The National Weather Service said advisories and warnings would be in effect from the midwest to the north-east and midAtlantic until Friday at least.
Meanwhile, Oregon’s Bootleg fire has offered new evidence that Indigenous techniques can change how megafires behave.
Kathy Hochul vows to change ‘toxic’ culture as she waits to become New York governor
Kathy Hochul, who is expected to become New York’s first female governor after Andrew Cuomo resigned over sexual harassment allegations, has said she will work to change the “toxic” work culture in the state’s top office, writes Maya Yang.
“The promise I make to all New Yorkers, right here and right now: I will fight like hell for you every single day, like I’ve always done and always will,” said the Democrat, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2015 but remains an unfamiliar face to many in the city.
Hochul, 62, said there would be no place in her administration for any Cuomo aides who were implicated by the state attorney general’s investigation into his behavior toward women.
“At the end of my term, whenever it ends, no one will ever describe my administration as a toxic work environment,” Hochul said.
Cuomo, 63, announced on Tuesday that he would quit rather than face a likely impeachment trial after the state attorney general, Letitia James, released a report concluding he sexually harassed 11 women, including one who accused him of groping her breast. He denies that he touched anyone inappropriately.
Hochul will become the state’s first female governor in 13 days, when Cuomo’s resignation takes effect.
Google employees who work from home could lose money
Google staff could have their pay cut if they switch to working from home permanently in the wake of the pandemic, according to a company pay calculator seen by Reuters.
It is an experiment taking place across Silicon Valley, which often sets trends for other large employers. Facebook and Twitter cut pay for remote employees who moved to less expensive areas. However, Google’s pay calculator tool – which allows staff to see the effects of a move – suggests remote employees, especially long-distance commuters, could experience pay cuts without moving.
A Google spokesperson said: “Our compensation packages have always been determined by location, and we always pay at the top of the local market based on where an employee works from,” adding that pay would differ from city to city and state to state.
Smaller companies including Reddit and Zillow have shifted to location-agnostic pay models, citing advantages when it comes to hiring, retention and diversity.
In other news …
US officials have said Afghanistan’s government could fall in 90 days and
that Kabul could be isolated in as little as a month as the Taliban captured the strategic city of Ghazni, 95 miles (150km) south of the capital. The insurgents have taken control of the entire city, an official confirmed.
Brazilian lawmakers have voted to expel the gospel star turned congresswoman Flordelis dos Santos de Souza over her alleged involvement in the murder of her husband, in the latest dramatic chapter of a saga that has gripped Brazil. Flordelis has insisted she is innocent.
South Korean politicians are seeking to criminalise ‘semen terrorism’, after after a string of men who secretly ejaculated on women’s belongings were punished for “property damage”, and not for sexually criminal behaviour.
Meet Joe Biden’s secret weapon: the woman who wrangles with Congress. Louisa Terrell, the White House director of legislative affairs, is the tip of the spear of Biden’s team as she fulfils one of the most difficult jobs in a deeply divided political landscape.
Stat of the day: Nearly half of American workers are not paid enough to rent a one-bedroom apartment
Rents in the US continued to increase through the pandemic, and a worker now needs to be paid about $20.40 an hour to afford a modest onebedroom rental. The median wage in the US is about $21 an hour. Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition shows that millions of Americans – from Amazon warehouse workers to cab drivers to public school teachers – are struggling to pay rent.
Don’t miss this: Ready to quit your job? Here are the 17 questions to ask yourself first
It has been termed “the Great Resignation” and a “turnover tsunami”, writes Elle Hunt. Whether it is because of a shift in priorities during the pandemic or simply a desire for a change, many people have left their jobs, or are thinking of leaving. A Microsoft survey of more than 30,000 workers worldwide revealed that 41% were considering quitting or changing professions this year, but how do you know if you are in desperate need of change or just in a pandemic fug? Here are 17 questions to ask yourself.
Climate check: Highest recorded temperature in Europe of 48.8C apparently logged in Sicily
The highest temperature in European history appears to have been recorded in Italy during a heatwave sweeping the country, with early reports suggesting a high of 48.8C (119.85F). If this is accepted by the World Meteorological Organization, it will break the previous European record of 48C (118.4F) set in Athens in 1977. The temperature was measured at a monitoring station in Syracuse, Sicily, and confirmed soon after by the island’s meteorological authorities.
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Last Thing: Pilot charged after landing helicopter in Canada town centre to buy ice-cream cake
A man’s cravings for a sweet treat have landed him in the hot seat with the police after he landed his helicopter in the centre of a small Canadian town to buy an ice-cream cake. Residents in the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan watched in astonishment on 31 July as a bright red helicopter descended on the parking lot near the Dairy Queen. Initially, some residents thought the chopper was on the scene for a medical emergency. But when the town’s mayor saw the passenger leave the restaurant with an ice-cream cake, he realized the aircraft had a different mission …
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