1 Trump Order Aims To Cut The Number Of Vaccines Required For Children
President Trump signed an executive order yesterday calling for fewer routine vaccines for children, while linking immunizations to autism, a connection that has been disproven by scientific research. The order aims to cut the number of diseases that all children are universally recommended to be vaccinated against from 17 or 18 down to 11. Shots for illnesses like RSV and hepatitis A and B would only be recommended for high-risk children or left up to a decision between parents and doctors. The order also calls for breaking up the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, known as MMR, into three separate shots given during separate doctor visits; those separate shots are not currently sold in the U.S. The move builds on efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, to reshape the childhood vaccine schedule. The order also directs the Justice Department to investigate states over their vaccine exemption rules.
2 Over 100 Killed By 7.4 Earthquake In Colombia
A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia yesterday, killing more than 100 people and trapping others in collapsed buildings, officials said. The magnitude 7.4 quake had its epicenter about three miles east of the town of San José del Palmar. Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared a national disaster as reports of destruction poured in from multiple cities. As of 11 pm last night, at least 132 people were confirmed dead and 87 injured, according to the president. Some of the hardest-hit areas were the cities of Pereira and Cali, where dozens of people were reported dead. Seven airports across the country suspended service, including those in Cali, Pereira, and Armenia.
3 Lower 48 States Breaks Record For Hottest Month According To NOAA
Last month was the hottest month ever recorded for the contiguous United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Temperatures averaged 76.9 degrees, edging out the previous records set in 1936 and 2012, and several spots in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana hit all-time highs since record-keeping began in 1895. A sweeping heat wave put more than 185 million people under heat alerts, forcing cities to cancel events, including the Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C. The extreme heat also brought heavy rain and major floods in some areas, even as much of the country stayed unusually dry. Forecasters expect above-normal warmth to continue.