"Live from MPR News in Washington, I'm Nor-Rom.
half the nation, ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, as millions of people crank up their
“air conditioners along the east coast, utilities are bracing for a surge electricity demand.”
Miriam Wasser from Member Station, W.B.U.R. reports. "Pick electric demand usually occurs between 4 and 8 p.m. on hot summer days. That's some people come home from work and solar production tapers off. Mary Kate Calapetrio with the New England grid operator says that while they expect to have just enough power to meet demand this week, they're still suggesting people try to use less."
"You're able to shift using energy intensive appliances, things like running your dishwasher, doing a load of laundry or charging EV, can shift the demand and help reduce how much electricity is being used." Other tips, pre-cooling your home before peak hours, closing blinds, and unplugging unnecessary appliances. For MPR News, I'm Miriam Wasser in Boston. A former Olympian is being charged with vandalism, a felony, of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting
“Pool. David Heron said he'd been writing his bike and stopped to touch the newly peeled”
coating. Janine Piro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, says Heron had harmed the pool intentionally. She says he ripped up recently installed sealant and caused more than $1,000 in damage. "Our evidence for those shows that the National Park Service employees observed hern actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands."
His attorneys told the Associated Press that charges out rages and should be alarming to every American as a misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen. The former special counsel who brought federal indictments against President Trump is speaking publicly
for the first time. In an interview on MSNow, Jack Smith spoke at length about his concerns
for the reputation of the Trump Department of Justice. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has more on
“the story. Jack Smith says he believes the rule of law is under attack but not dead under the”
Trump administration. His hour-long sit down with MSNow's Nicole Wallace was a first-for-smith who did not do live interviews. He resigned from the DOJ before Trump returned to office. Now he's weighing in on criminal investigations into the likes of former FBI director James Komi, saying cases against Komi for example have no merit. The only reasonable explanation is the president has it out for these people and he has
people who had former personal lawyers who are going to do what he says regardless of the fact of law. Smith says he believes in the career staff at the DOJ and that they will fight to do the right thing. Jacqueline Diaz and PR News You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Tens of thousands of people are still missing after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela last week on Wednesday night. The official death toll
is 2,595. Hospital emergency departments are especially busy places every July 4th weekend. NPR Sydney Lutton reports that fireworks are often to blame. They were an estimated 13,000 fireworks related injuries and 15 deaths in 2025. That's according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dr. Ryan Stanton is the president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He says most of those injuries happen
around the 4th of July weekend. Fireworks no matter whether they're professional or backyard. They are a serious business and can lead a significant life altering injuries. He says to keep children away from fireworks, even sparklers. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, when sober adults do use fireworks, they should light them one
at a time and then step back. Always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby and never
try to re-light a firework. Sydney Lutton and PR News According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the West Nile virus season has begun early this year. At least 48 cases reported, the highest number at this time of years since 2004. It's the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. It's been reported in 23 states with most cases involving severe neurological complications. The CDC urged
people to use insect repellent where lungs leaves and stay indoors between dust can dawn. This is NPR News. Are you tired of looking for a comfort show or film and realize it's moved to yet another streaming service or having to buy more storage for your $1,000 smartphone? Is it even possible to truly own anything anymore? On it's been a minute, we dig into how folks online are taking back their agency in the media we all consume.
