Alberto is the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. A new Russia-North Korea pact solidifies the nations’ position in opposition to Western influence. Summer is coming a little earlier this year.
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Alberto rains down on the South
Parts of Texas are braced Thursday for almost a foot of rain as Tropical Storm Alberto sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico.
Alberto is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas, forecasters said.
Putin and Kim take the wheel
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed what they called a “comprehensive” diplomatic and defense pact that comes as the two nuclear-armed states have deepened ties amid their isolation from the West. Meanwhile, Kim told Putin he backed Russia’s war in Ukraine. The agreement was signed as Putin made a rare trip to North Korea, his first in nearly a quarter of a century.
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334 officials in swing states have undermined or cast doubt on elections
A new study identified 334 public officials in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin who have denied election outcomes, tried to overturn an election or made statements to undermine an election. These officials range from a state’s second-highest elected official to local boards that certify election results. Those closely divided states are likely to decide the 2024 presidential election.
It’s back to reality for cash-strapped US consumers
American households are on their own, now that pandemic-related stimulus funds have been exhausted. With the relief funds drying up, more people have been struggling to pay bills, bank deposits have declined, credit card balances have pushed above $1 trillion and other financial problems have worsened. Still, the depletion of stimulus funds might not be enough to slow the economy by much, and cash-stressed consumers have options to improve their situations, .
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Earliest solstice in 228 years coming Thursday
Folks hankering for the warmth of summer will get a special treat this week, with the earliest summer solstice in more than two centuries slated for Thursday afternoon. The early solstice is due to the complex dance between Earth’s yearly orbit around the sun and its daily rotation, along with how we mark the solstice on our calendars. Quirks in the Gregorian calendar mean the solstice will make another jump earlier every leap year until 2100.
Photo of the day:Â Â Stonehenge sprayed orange
Two environmental protesters , according to the group responsible and local police. The site is a popular destination this week as visitors gather for the summer solstice.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, . Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at [email protected].
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