Monarch butterflies now listed as endangered in US: 'Devastating'

Christina Larson

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast-dwindling numbers.

“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as "endangered" – two steps from extinct.

The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined 22% to 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.

“What we’re worried about is the rate of decline,” said Nick Haddad, a conservation biologist at Michigan State University. “It’s very easy to imagine how very quickly this butterfly could become even more imperiled.”

Haddad, who was not directly involved in the listing, estimates that the butterfly population he studies in the eastern United States has declined 85% to 95% since the 1990s.

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In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science. After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.

“It’s a true spectacle and incites such awe,” said Anna Walker, a conservation biologist at New Mexico BioPark Society who was involved in determining the new listing.

A smaller group spends winters in coastal California, then disperses in spring and summer across several states west of the Rocky Mountains. This population has seen an even more precipitous decline than the eastern monarchs, although there was a small bounce-back last winter.

Graphics: Life cycle and migrations maps of the monarch butterfly

Emma Pelton of the nonprofit Xerces Society, which monitors the Western butterflies, said the butterflies are imperiled by loss of habitat and increased use of herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as well as by climate change.

“There are things people can do to help,” she said, including planting milkweed, a plant that the caterpillars depend upon.

Nonmigratory monarch butterflies in Central and South America were not designated as endangered.

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The United States has not listed monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, but several environmental groups believe it should be listed.

The international union also announced new estimates for the global population of tigers, which are 40% higher than the most recent estimates from 2015.

The new figures, between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers worldwide, reflect better methods for counting the big cats and, potentially, an increase in their overall numbers, said Dale Miquelle, coordinator for the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society’s tiger program.

In the past decade, tiger populations have increased in Nepal, northern China and perhaps in India, while they have disappeared from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Miquelle. They remain designated as endangered.

California bees can be fish and have the same protections, a court ...

(CNN) A fishy ruling from California: A California court has ruled bees can legally be considered fish under specific circumstances.

The ruling, released May 31 , reversed an earlier judgment which found bumblebees could not be considered "fish" under the California Endangered Species Act.

"The issue presented here is whether the bumblebee, a terrestrial invertebrate, falls within the definition of fish, as that term is used in the definitions of endangered species in section 2062, threatened species in section 2067, and candidate species (i.e., species being considered for listing as endangered or threatened species) in section 2068 of the Act," wrote California's Third District Court of Appeal in its ruling.

The California Endangered Species Act was designed to protect "native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant."

Notably, invertebrates are absent from the list of protected species.

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American bumblebees disappeared from 8 states, face extinction

Dwindling populations of the American bumblebee and their complete disappearance from eight states has led to a call for the bee to be placed under the Endangered Species Act before they face extinction.

Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Oregon each have zero or close to zero American bumblebees left, according to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and Bombus Pollinators Association of Law Students.

"The American bumble bee was once the most common bumble bee species in North America, but without immediate action to protect it under the ESA, it will continue its alarming decline towards extinction," the petition authors wrote.

Over the last two decades, the American bumblebee population has decreased by 89% across the U.S. New York had a decline of 99% and they disappeared from the northern part of Illinois that has seen a 74% decrease in population since 2004, the petition said.

Climate change, pesticides, disease, habitat loss and competition from honey bees are listed as driving the bee to extinction.

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The petition was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Feb. 1 for review to determine if the insect could be listed as an endangered species and if a critical habitat could be designated for the bee under the Endangered Species Act.

A 90-day review conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found substantial evidence that the listing of the American bumblebee under the Endangered Species Act may, in fact, be warranted.

The review now heads to a 12-month status review where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will evaluate the potential threat to the species.

“This is an important first step in preventing the extinction of this fuzzy black-and-yellow beauty that was once a familiar sight,” Jess Tyler, a Center scientist and petition co-author, said in a statement. “To survive unchecked threats of disease, habitat loss and pesticide poisoning, American bumblebees need the full protection of the Endangered Species Act right now.”

The Bombus Pollinator Association of Law Students, or BPALS, is a group of 14 students from Albany Law School who collaborated with the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit organization that works to protect endangered species, to file the petition.

The loss of the insect could cause serious repercussions to the environment and crop production due to them being essential pollinators in agriculture. If the American bumblebee is added to the endangered species list, it will join the rusty-patched bumblebee.

If granted federal protection, anyone found to have killed or harmed the bee could face up to $13,000 in fines.

Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.

Climate change: One-third of all species could be extinct by 2070

The hottest daily highs in summer are the key variable that explains whether a population will go extinct.

Most species won't be able to "escape" to a cooler climate in order to avoid extinction.

Many species were able to tolerate some increases in maximum temperatures, but only up to a point.

One-third of all animal and plant species on the planet could face extinction by 2070 due to climate change, a new study warns.

Researchers studied recent extinctions from climate change to estimate how many species would be lost over the next 50 years.

Specifically, scientists from the University of Arizona studied data from 538 species at 581 sites around the world and focused on plant and animal species that were surveyed at the same sites over time, at least 10 years apart.

"By analyzing the change in 19 climatic variables at each site, we could determine which variables drive local extinctions and how much change a population can tolerate without going extinct," said Cristian Román-Palacios, of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, in a statement.

"We also estimated how quickly populations can move to try and escape rising temperatures.

"When we put all of these pieces of information together for each species, we can come up with detailed estimates of global extinction rates for hundreds of plant and animal species."

Globally, up to 1 million species are at risk of extinction because of human activities, according to a United Nations report released in May. Many experts say a “mass extinction event” – only the sixth in the past half-billion years – is already underway.

Climate change:Bumblebees are disappearing at rates 'consistent with mass extinction'

This study found that maximum annual temperatures – the highest daily highs in summer – are the key variable that best explains whether a species will go extinct.

Previous studies have focused on migration to cooler habitats as a way for species to "escape" from warming climates. However, this study found that most species won't be able to do this quickly enough to avoid extinction, based on their past rates of movement.

Instead, researchers found that many species were able to tolerate some increases in maximum temperatures, but only up to a point.

They found that about 50% of the species had local extinctions if maximum temperatures increased by more than 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit, and up to 95% if temperatures increased by more than 5.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Projections of species loss depend on how much climate will warm in the future.

"If we stick to the Paris Agreement to combat climate change, we may lose fewer than 2 out of every 10 plant and animal species on Earth by 2070," said study co-author John J. Wiens of the University of Arizona.

"But if humans cause larger temperature increases, we could lose more than a third or even half of all animal and plant species, based on our results."

The study was published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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How is climate change affecting national parks? | CNN

(CNN) When Garrett Dickman drove through Yosemite National Park early this week, he passed through a diverse band of large trees -- conifer, red fir, lodgepole pine -- and noticed a grim pattern: many of the trees were either dead or dying .

"It was really striking to see that every single tree seems to be getting hit by either climatic changes; it could be dying from drought, or it could be insect attack or fungus, but they're certainly weakened," Dickman, a forest ecologist with the National Park Service, told CNN. "There's a big shift happening right now, and it's right in front of our eyes."

The consequences of the climate crisis -- more wildfires, devastating drought, sea level rise, flooding, ecological disease -- are plaguing the country's national parks. Most recently, unprecedented flash flooding overwhelmed Yellowstone National Park and some of its surrounding areas.

Scientists and officials say it signals a dramatic change unfolding at the nation's most prized parks. And unless the planet slashes fossil fuel emissions, scientists believe the climate crisis could drastically alter the landscapes, cultural sites and ecosystems in the parks, potentially making them inaccessible for humans and uninhabitable for other species.

What happened at Yellowstone is also a classic example of the climate crisis converging with failed emergency disaster response, said Marcy Rockman, a former climate change adaptation coordinator for the Park Service.

"When I heard they were evacuating every visitor from Yellowstone, I was like, 'Oh my god, evacuating every visitor was not a part of our climate change scenarios,' " Rockman told CNN. "Seeing what my former colleagues at Yellowstone are having to deal with now, it's like ... I'm worried for them."

That the parks' climate change response "now involves 'how do you evacuate everyone from a park' is just a gut-punch that I don't think we had fully taken in when we started the climate program," she said.

As more climate change-fueled events occur, CNN talked to Park Service officials and scientists to see how the climate crisis may alter the ecosystems and landscapes of some of the country's most beloved national treasures.

Yosemite is just one of many examples of threatened and disappearing national parks. @Rene_MarshCNN reports @kaitlancollins pic.twitter.com/INl66OOcFC — The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) July 8, 2022

Yosemite National Park

Climate change has already touched one of the Sierra Nevada's most valuable sites. Yosemite National Park has been forced to close several times in recent years because of extreme heat, deadly wildfires or dangerous air quality from fire smoke.

The average temperature in Yosemite may increase by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, which is several degrees higher than global temperatures are predicted to surge

A deer grazes in Cook's Meadow at Yosemite.

And it's not a future threat. Park rangers and scientists have already observed the shrinking snowpack, dried-up waterfalls, increasing fire activity and more tree die-offs like those Dickman observed.

"People come to Yosemite because we have some of the biggest trees on Earth," Dickman said. "But the whole experience in Yosemite is starting to be altered ... We're just kind of seeing that tree line lift up in a weird way."

As average temperature increases, it increases the elevation of where trees can grow. Dickman said forecast models show this part of the Sierra Nevada could look more like the mountains around Los Angeles, where trees can grow at a higher elevation because of the warmer temperatures.

JUST WATCHED Yosemite's biggest restoration in history Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Yosemite's biggest restoration in history 01:36

Studies have also showed the range of small mammals in Yosemite has shifted upslope over the last century as the area warmed.

Dickman told CNN even 10 years ago he was concerned about different threats, pointing to how the park dealt more with flooding from powerful storms coming off the Pacific Ocean and less with dangerous wildfires.

"For our preparedness now, it's really going to be around fire, and to get fire back on the ground in a good way to ward off some of the effects of these climate- and fuels-driven fires," he said.

Glacier National Park

Scientists at Glacier National Park are bracing for its namesakes to disappear entirely.

"If you wanted to see a glacier, go to Glacier National Park in Montana," Beissinger said "But you better get there soon, because the glaciers are going to be gone from Glacier National Park, probably sometime in the next decade or two. They've been disappearing."

The Jackson Glacier Overlook, along the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the easiest spots in the park to see a glacier.

In the past 50 years, some of the Montana park's 26 glaciers have lost as much as 80% of their area. Loss of glacier ice is a huge threat for aquatic ecosystems within the park that rely on cold freshwater . It also threatens the surrounding area with increased flooding.

Much like the flooding at Yellowstone in June, the climate crisis is expected to trigger more flooding at Glacier. As Yellowstone closed down to visitors during its flooding disaster, officials at Glacier warned visitors their park was also experiencing dangerous water levels

Did flooding in @YellowstoneNPS divert your trip toward Glacier?

Be aware that we are experiencing some flooding too. Also, you will want to read about our vehicle reservation system before you arrive.

Video description: A short clip zooms in on water cascading. pic.twitter.com/ZhQ9hfN84I — Glacier National Park (@GlacierNPS) June 16, 2022

Melting glaciers are also a significant source of sea level rise. Caitlyn Florentine, a research physical scientist at the US Geological Survey who studies US glaciers, noted the glaciers at Glacier National Park are already quite small. But when taken together with other glaciers globally under a warming climate, they are enough to cause significant sea level rise around the planet.

"The meltwater from these glaciers affects the streams that are very high in the alpine environment," Florentine told CNN, pointing to a study which found "the presence or absence of glacier meltwater will be felt by water in the rivers that feed agricultural communities to the east of the park."

Given the rate at which climate change is accelerating, researchers say the timing of the loss depends highly on how much fossil fuel we burn in the future.

Sequoia National Park

Just south of the Yosemite Valley in California, the West's megadrought is weakening and destroying the nation's largest, oldest trees in Sequoia National Park

Six fires over the course of six years burned more than 85% of the giant sequoia grove acreage across the larger Sierra Nevada, compared to around 25% over the previous 100 years, the National Park Service reported . Three of those fires crossed into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks , forcing officials to close the parks to the public and take dramatic steps to protect the trees.

JUST WATCHED Climate change could wipe out iconic California landmarks Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Climate change could wipe out iconic California landmarks 03:04

In September 2021, park biologists wrapped the base of General Sherman -- the planet's largest living tree -- in protective foil as the flames of the KNP Complex fire approached. General Sherman is estimated to be anywhere from 2,200 to 2,700 years old, and has grown to 275 feet.

The tree's diameter is more than 36 feet at its base, which is about as wide as six average cars.

Park scientists have already seen "major effects" of climate change, said Christy Brigham, chief of resource management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, mainly in the form of hotter, drier droughts and how they fuel extreme wildfires.

"We had a historic superintendent's building burned down in a recent wildfire," Brigham told CNN. "So those kinds of impacts are already happening in lots of national parks, and will continue to happen."

NPS personnel fold up fire resistant aluminum and fiberglass blankets as they unwrap General Sherman.

Assistant Fire Manager Leif Mathiesen, of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nation Park Fire Service, looks for an opening in the burned-out sequoias in Redwood Mountain Grove.

Brigham added the climate crisis is "already changing our day-to-day operational business of managing our national parks."

Besides maintaining public amenities and ensuring endangered species are safe, she said park employees -- who have also been personally impacted by wildfires -- are working even harder to clear up trails and engage in new emergency response systems to prepare for events such as fire risks.

"People who work in these places like me and all the other staff really care deeply about keeping these places the spectacular environments that they are for the enjoyment of visitors, and we are seeing changes," Brigham said. "I came to Sequoia National Park from a different Park in 2015, and we were already seeing lots of dead trees from hotter drought, and that's only been made worse by the wildfires."

National parks, like Sequoia National Park, "is a place where we share values, as Americans, in terms of our heritage," she added. "It's a place where we can connect and see the impacts and maybe make some choices to reduce those impacts in the future."

Grand Canyon National Park

The impact of warmer temperatures, severe lack of rainfall and stunted streamflow on the Colorado River is alarming at Grand Canyon National Park, said Mark Nebel, the park's geosciences program manager.

The climate crisis is critically altering the Arizona park's ecosystems, habitats for species, as well as its hydrology, Nebel told CNN.

"We're seeing snow melting about a month earlier than it did a century ago, and there's evaporation as well, and that really affects the levels of water in the [Grand Canyon's groundwater] aquifer," Nebel said. "We're concerned about how it will affect the springs, which are our drinking water source, as well as the vast majority of the biodiversity around the springs."

Vasey's Paradise Spring is one which has gone from consistently reliable to bone dry.

What Vasey's Paradise Spring looks like in a normal springtime flow.

Vasey's Paradise Spring in 2022. Park officials say they dont totally understand why the spring is cut off, but they suspect it was caused by the lower groundwater table. There are other normally reliable springs in the park that are also showing erratic behavior.

The West's megadrought has devastated the Colorado River, which is a vital resource for the national park. Increased flooding, rock slides, wildfires, and heavy storms also pose severe challenges to Grand Canyon's cultural sites, infrastructure, surrounding communities, fisheries and other wildlife.

Because of a hotter and drier climate, as well as aging infrastructure, Nebel said the park is changing the source of their water supply from groundwater, which has long relied on one of Grand Canyon's springs, to surface water supply elsewhere.

The plummeting level of Lake Powell upstream on the Colorado River -- the nation's second-largest reservoir -- is affecting species in the river downstream and at the park according to Nebel.

"With the water level lowering at Lake Powell, these warm-water invasive fish that are normally near the surface are coming through the dam and getting into the Grand Canyon National Park and threatening native fisheries," he said. "Our fisheries folks have been working really hard to remove like invasive trout from streams, where these native fish reproduce."

Nebel acknowledge for most visitors who are only there for a few days, the impacts of climate change in the park are largely imperceptible. It's different for the park researchers and staff who live with them day in and day out.

"For most of us who work at Grand Canyon, we see these crises, we see the danger, we see the damage," Nebel said, and "we see that it's gonna get worse."

Joshua Tree National Park

For Steve Beissinger, ecology professor at the University of California in Berkeley, national parks like Joshua Tree in Southern California are vital for scientific research. But over the years he has seen how climate change has threatened the park's biodiversity by pushing many species -- including small mammals and birds -- toward the brink of extinction.

"When we go back and resurvey places [in Joshua Tree] that the early scientists at UC Berkeley visited a century ago, we find about half as many birds, and that's because it's warmed and dried so much," Beissinger told CNN. "What we're seeing is a whole kind of change in a community; a collapse in the case of birds. For park managers, there's limits of what they can actually do to reverse this because of the climate change effects."

The extreme heat, dire lack of rain and drought conditions at Joshua Tree have triggered a decline in several species, including the cactus mouse, kangaroo rat, mountain quail and other bird species

A visitor walks through Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua trees in the park.

Joshua trees themselves are also at risk. Scientists have concluded the western Joshua trees could lose up to 90% of its current habitat in the Mojave Desert by as early as 2070. In mid-June, the California Fish and Game Commission considered whether to list the tree under the state's Endangered Species Act. The four-person commission was split down the middle and so failed to secure a majority vote to give the species protected status.

Jane Rodgers, chief of science and resource stewardship at Joshua Tree National Park, said they're "fortunate to have some longer term data which is hard to come by for land managers to be able to inform and make decisions." She said such comprehensive data allows park managers to b proactive rather than reactive to extreme weather and drought.

"We are looking at a holistic portfolio of things we can do to protect these areas," Rodgers told CNN. "It's not just continuing to collect data, but also protecting these areas by managing fuels or creating fuel breaks, so that firefighters have a higher probability of stopping a fire. We want to be prepared for that ahead of time as much as we can."

Everglades National Park

Urban sprawl is nestled next to protected wetlands on the fringes of Everglades National Park.

As US national parks in the West continue to be plagued with drought, the opposite is taking shape in the eastern end of the country.

Researchers with the National Park Service have observed an increase in water level at some inland, freshwater areas in the Everglades over the last 50 years, on par with the pace of rising seas in the region.

The park has also been battered by intense hurricanes in recent years. The Everglades, which encompasses 1.5 million acres of mangroves, marshes and upland forest, is a critical buffer, absorbing the fury of tropical storms. Hurricane Irma pummeled the region in 2017, and the Everglades took much of the storm's wrath and protected inland communities.

But scientists warn the barriers won't be around for much longer. Because of the dramatic changes seen in US national parks, Dickman said people should make climate-conscious choices to help preserve the landscapes for future generations.

"The history of America is painted [in these parks], anything from some of the good in our history, some of the bad of our history, and it protects some of the most incredible landscapes on Earth," Dickman said. "I have traveled around the Earth and it is hard to go to a place more beautiful than the national parks of America. And we so owe the next generation the ability to experience these places as we have."

Groundbreaking study reveals the most threatened reptile species

(CNN) One-fifth of all reptile species face the risk of extinction, according to a comprehensive new study, with crocodiles and turtles most threatened.

It's the first study of its kind for reptiles and involved 961 scientists in 24 countries across six continents and took 15 years to complete.

Similar global assessments for other classes of animal have revealed that 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of bird species face the threat of extinction.

"Reptiles, to many people, are not charismatic, and there's just been a lot more focus on the furry or feathery species of vertebrates for conservation. But through persistence we were able to find the funding needed to complete the study," Bruce Young, chief zoologist and senior conservation scientist at NatureServe, a conservation nonprofit, told a news briefing. He was one of the authors of the study, which published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

"Through work like this, we advertise the importance of these creatures. They're part of the tree of life. Just like any other equally deserving of attention."

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Endangered monarch butterflies: 'Everybody has a role to play ...

(CNN) One of the most popular and recognizable insects is at risk of extinction, according to a global organization focused on conservation and sustainability.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has added the migratory monarch butterfly to its Red List of Threatened Species as endangered, the group said in a release Thursday.

"It is difficult to watch monarch butterflies and their extraordinary migration teeter on the edge of collapse, but there are signs of hope," said Anna Walker, a species survival officer for invertebrate pollinators at the New Mexico BioPark Society who works in partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration like birds, according to the US Forest Service . Every winter, monarchs that live in the eastern part of North America migrate to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico, and those in the west migrate to the coastal regions of California, according to the federal agency. Those migrations have been a spectator event in the past.

The IUCN Red List shows what actions need to be taken to save nature from extinction and is a resource often cited in peer-reviewed scientific research, according to its website. The list is not related to the US Endangered Species Act, and currently the US Fish and Wildlife Service has not listed the monarch butterfly as endangered.

World's fish scientists appeal for action to reduce greenhouse gases

Early one Saturday morning in June, Scott Bonar’s phone rang.

Bonar is a fish biologist at the University of Arizona, and on the other end of the call was a biologist from the U.S. Forest Service, who asked Bonar to come immediately to help rescue threatened fish and take them to tanks at his lab.

Flames were racing through the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, bearing down on the upper parts of Sabino Canyon. Federal and state wildlife officials determined that the Bighorn Fire, and the scar it would leave, could soon send ash and debris coursing through Sabino Creek, threatening one of the few remaining populations of an endangered fish called the Gila chub.

Bonar said his first thought was: “Here we go again. Another big fire.”

He’s seen the increasingly large and intense wildfires that have ravaged Arizona and the West over the past decade. And this wasn’t the first time he had been asked to help keep fish in his tanks at the university until the threat of polluted runoff from a burn scar had passed. If the Gila chub weren’t removed, there was danger that when ash and sediment washed down in a rainstorm, the fish could be smothered and die.

When Bonar rolled up to the creek in his truck, state wildlife biologists were pulling Gila chub from the water with hoop nets.

The finger-sized silvery fishes, most of them 4-6 inches long, were dropped from the nets into aerated containers resembling round coolers. Bonar drove them to the university, where students helped move about 150 fish into tanks — one group out of hundreds of Gila chub that were rescued and taken to several locations to be held temporarily.

Three months after the Bighorn Fire died down, charring nearly 120,000 acres, those fish are still swimming in Bonar’s tanks. He said the story of this rescue illustrates why he’s so concerned about how climate change is affecting fish and aquatic ecosystems, and how these threats will only grow if humans don’t act quickly to cut emissions of planet-heating gases.

The desperate attempt to save a species like the Gila chub is one of many experiences that have led biologists to decide they are witnessing a crisis so severe that they must alert the public.

In September, Bonar joined aquatic scientists around the world in issuing a statement appealing for urgent action to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions. Bonar was the outgoing president of the American Fisheries Society, and he was joined by the leaders of 110 other aquatic scientific societies representing more than 80,000 scientists from countries across the globe.

In their statement, the scientists laid out the grim picture that has emerged from thousands of peer-reviewed studies: Climate change is inflicting extensive harm to aquatic ecosystems, both in freshwater and the oceans. The degradation of these ecosystems, which are among the most threatened on Earth, is accelerating. And many of these changes are irreversible and “will continue to worsen if we persist on our current trajectory.”

“The world’s aquatic resources are now under their greatest threat in human history,” the scientists wrote. “Delaying action to stop underlying causes of climate change will increase the economic, environmental, and societal consequences.”

They listed the many ways climate change is adding to stresses on ecosystems in streams and rivers, including more severe droughts, heat waves, wildfires and floods, and how marine life is being hammered by warming and acidification, while coral bleaching events threaten to wipe out much of the world’s living reefs.

They pointed out that freshwater ecosystems cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface but support a third of vertebrate species and are especially vulnerable.

“Our existence and well-being depend on the health and well-functioning of aquatic ecosystems,” the scientists said. “It is time to acknowledge the urgent need to act to address climate change. Delaying action to control greenhouse gas emissions is not an option if humankind wishes to conserve the aquatic resources and environmental safety of the world.”

EXTINCTION CRISIS:Many species at risk of extinction because of human activities, UN report says

Bonar, a professor at the university’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, said it’s very unusual for him and other biologists, who usually keep a low profile, to speak out like this.

“Fish biologists, we tend to be quiet and in the background. We don't like to put ourselves out there,” he said. But the scientists have been seeing such major changes, he said, that they decided to sound an alarm about how humanity’s heating of the planet is profoundly harming fish and other aquatic life.

“If we don't address climate change, then we've got a lot of fish that will go extinct,” Bonar said. “If we don't control emissions, then a lot of our aquatic ecosystems as we know them can disappear. And it's happening right now. These changes are happening right now.”

Climate change accelerates extinctions

The world has been rapidly losing species in what scientist describe as Earth’s sixth mass extinction, a widespread and worsening ecological unraveling driven primarily by humans.

Fish and other aquatic species are being hit especially hard. Over the past century, these species have suffered because of pollution, the destruction and degradation of habitats, the diversion and pumping of water and competition from invasive species. Climate change is compounding these stresses.

“It’s always there in the background, increasing more and more and making it tougher and tougher for the whole fish community to live,” Bonar said.

In Arizona, many stretches of flowing streams and wetlands have been lost to development, water diversions and groundwater pumping. There are 35 native fish species in the state, and about two-thirds are listed as threatened or endangered, among them Apache trout, spikedace, razorback sucker and the Gila chub.

This year is the second time Bonar and his students have had to hold Gila chub from Sabino Canyon in their tanks. During a fire a decade ago, fish were similarly rescued and brought to the university, where they remained for months.

Bonar kept the fish until the post-fire sludge had washed through and settled. Once the stream stabilized, the fish were taken back and released.

This year, students have been feeding the rescued Gila chub fish food pellets and bloodworms. The fish will stay in the tanks until it’s safe for them to return, Bonar said. It’s not clear how long that might be.

The endangered Gila chub live only in streams in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, where they feed mainly on insects. They spawn in the spring and after monsoon rains. In the summers, when the flows shrink, they often survive in isolated pools.

To study these and other fish, Bonar regularly leads students to streams throughout the Southwest, where they catch fish to sample populations. One of their methods is electrofishing. They zap and stun the fish, scoop them out with nets, count them and measure them. Then the fish wake up and swim away.

When the water is clear enough, the researchers will strap on masks and snorkels and swim into stream pools to see the fish and estimate their numbers.

Bonar is passionate about this work. He grew up next to a lake in southern Indiana — watery “Mark Twain country,” he calls it — where he explored canoeing the rivers and cypress swamps.

At the University of Arizona, he teaches a course on freshwater fisheries management.

Wildfires threaten riparian habitats

During his two decades working in Arizona, Bonar has seen changes sweep through many watersheds. At some natural springs, the flow has decreased. He’s noticed less water in streams after years of drought. And increasingly, large fires have blackened landscapes where runoff feeds streams.

Across the West, climate change is contributing to bigger, more intense wildfires. Hotter conditions have dried out vegetation and left wildlands parched and primed to burn.

In Arizona, all 10 of the largest wildfires on record have occurred since 2002.

More and more frequently, these big fires incinerate streamside habitats, burning off vegetation that normally holds the soil in place, Bonar said. When the rains come, the sediment and charred debris wash into the water, harming and killing fish.

“Those big fires have a big impact on our fish,” Bonar said.

Warmer temperatures are also changing underwater habitats. Desert fish have adapted to a certain range of temperatures. And when the water heats up, Bonar said, many species struggle to survive.

Higher temperatures also increase the amount of moisture that evaporates from the landscape, leaving less water flowing in streams. This contributes to more fragmentation, Bonar said, and when portions of a stream are no longer connected, the fish can be stuck, unable to escape areas with warmer water.

Drying streams affect more than just fish. While streams and riparian areas cover a tiny portion of Arizona, an estimated 80% of the state’s animals spend some portion of their life cycle in these aquatic areas.

Arizona’s waterways also sustain outdoor activities and tourism, drawing residents and out-of-state visitors who fish, boat and spend money. In a report last year, researchers with Audubon Arizona estimated that water-based outdoor recreation accounts for an annual contribution of $7.1 billion to the state’s economy, ranking above mining and golf.

If more streams and wetlands continue to dry up, Bonar said, more of these vital natural places, and all the life they support, could be lost.

A chance to address the crisis

Bonar said he thought about the worsening toll of wildfires last week when he drove toward Payson for a fish survey and saw the landscape covered with charred saguaros, the cactuses devastated beyond anything he’s seen before.

He stressed that he’s an expert on fish, not fires. But over the past few years, some of the biggest fires on record have exploded in the West. Researchers have pointed to a mix of contributing factors, including the spread of invasive grasses that have pushed fires into desert areas, forests that have grown dense due to decades of fire-suppression, and the effects of climate change in fueling hot, dry conditions.

During his term leading the American Fisheries Society, Bonar traveled widely and talked with other fish biologists in places from the Midwest to Nova Scotia to the Great Barrier Reef. He said scientists told him about the many overlapping pressures affecting their species, including overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution. They also spoke about the background effects of global warming.

“Climate change is something that’s making things worse and worse. It compounds with these other factors,” Bonar said.

REEFS AT RISK:Visiting the Great Barrier Reef, a reporter reflects on the crisis of dying coral reefs

In the oceans, higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are leading to more acidic waters. And as the water chemistry changes, shellfish including oysters and scallops are increasingly having trouble forming shells and their shells are growing thinner.

Bonar said he feels sad seeing inaction on climate change. But he also feels hopeful about the prospects of starting to tackle the crisis.

“There are so many things we can do about it, and make money for our economy and take care of this,” he said, “if we recognize there's a problem and put our good old ingenuity to work.”

In their statement, he and other scientists suggested a list of responses. They called for drastically curbing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning rapidly toward clean energy and setting national and global targets to protect and restore ecosystems that capture and sequester carbon, including wetlands and seagrass beds.

The scientists recommended adaptation measures to prepare for and mitigate the effects of global heating on aquatic habitats.

These proposals parallel other recent efforts by scientists to advocate for solutions in addressing climate change, preserving water sources and saving natural ecosystems.

Another group of scientists and experts recently launched a global initiative for groundwater sustainability. Stressing a need for effective management of groundwater, they said pumping has impacted “environmentally critical” streamflow in more than 15% of streams globally and could affect a majority of streams by mid-century.

Other scientists have focused on the potential for nature-based solutions to help preserve biodiversity and address climate change.

The renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson has pointed out that species are now going extinct "somewhere between 100 and 1,000 times faster than before the spread of humanity, and the rate is accelerating." He has warned that if the trend continues, most species could be gone by the end of the century.

Wilson has called for protecting “Half-Earth” — managing half the land and ocean areas as natural habitat to reverse the extinction crisis and ensure the health of the planet.

Other scientists have advocated for a target of protecting 30% of Earth by 2030, and designating an additional 20% as “climate stabilization areas,” under what they call the Global Deal for Nature.

Recently one group of researchers identified priority regions for restoring ecosystems around the world. They focused on areas where farmlands and grazing lands could be managed to let nature come back, saving species and allowing the plants and land to soak up carbon.

When aquatic scientists from around the world released their statement calling for cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, they stressed that failing to act would imperil future generations. They also noted how preserving habitats can help store carbon.

Antonio Camacho, chairperson of the European Federation for Freshwater Sciences, said in a statement that when aquatic ecosystems are healthy, they’re “important allies that capture carbon and reduce climate warming.” But when they’re damaged, he said, “they may let go of the large amounts of carbon they hold.”

ENVIRONMENTAL ROLLBACKS: How Trump's new rules affect air, water, wildlife in Arizona

The American Fisheries Society and the other scientific societies didn’t mention the U.S. election and aren’t taking a position on the presidential candidates or any other candidates. Bonar said he hopes the information presented by the global group of scientists will help the public, and that includes in making decisions about which candidates to vote for.

The American Fisheries Society did, however, recently take a stance against the Trump administration’s rollback of federal protections for many streams and wetlands. The group filed a brief in U.S. District Court supporting 17 states in their challenge against the Trump administration’s new rule, which strips away protections under the Clean Water Act for many creeks and washes.

The change especially affects ephemeral streams, which flow after rains but otherwise sit dry. Many of the tributary streams and washes in Arizona fall into this category, and state environmental officials have been holding a series of meetings to consider ideas for new state regulations to protect streams and wetlands.

In its court brief in May, the American Fisheries Society said the Trump administration’s new rule leaves many aquatic ecosystems unprotected and, if it’s allowed to stand, “will cause irreparable harm.”

Ian James reports on climate change, water and the environment for The Arizona Republic. Send him story tips, comments and questions at ian.james@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter at @ByIanJames.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Chimps' gut bugs look similar to human ones

Dan Vergano, USA TODAY

Finding is in journal 'Nature Communications'

Gut bacteria are implicated in digestive health

A common ape ancestor for people and chimps explains the shared gut bugs

Apes and people share more than just genes, researchers report. Our gut bacteria look awfully similar, too. And that may mean our digestive system's bugs first evolved millions of years ago.

The finding reported in the journal Nature Communications points to ancient origins for the microbes populating our innards — the so-called "microbiome" — that help humanity digest what we eat. Up to three types of these microbiomes, called "enterotypes," have been found in people. They're made up of populations of gut bugs linked in some cases to either healthy digestion or ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Overall, "chimpanzees possess enterotypes that are compositionally similar to those observed within human populations," finds the study led by Yale's Andrew Moeller, which looked at gut bacteria from 35 chimps at Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park over eight years. In particular, the chimps possessed gut bacteria associated with carbohydrate-rich diets in humans, no surprise given their fondness for fruit.

However, gut bacteria types varied randomly among the chimps, where siblings and parents might differ while strangers had similar ones. Gut bacteria types changed over time in chimps, too, just as they seem to in people.

The similarity of gut bacteria suggests that chimps and people both derive their microbiomes from a common ape ancestor more than 5 million years old.

2 Arizona endangered species up for review

Danika Worthington

Cronkite News

Federal officials Tuesday rejected a request to remove the acuna cactus from the endangered species list, but said they will give further consideration to a petition to delist the Southwestern willow flycatcher.

Those were two of eight species in Arizona that were part of a batch of preliminary decisions released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on 29 species across the country.

The service said there was enough evidence to advance 16 of the 29 to a “rigorous” 12-month review process to see which ones will be added to, stay on or fall off the list.

“The petition is the first step in evaluating whether something warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act,” said Jeff Humphrey, a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman for the Southwest region.

Six species in Arizona did not make the cut for further consideration – which is what saved the acuna cactus – but the service said it will review the petition to add the Western bumblebee to the endangered list.

Acuna cactus stays on endangered list

Tierra Curry, senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said it’s not surprising that the acuna cactus will stay on the list, noting that climate change has made the desert hotter and drier. The cactus was only recently added by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2013, when the known population of the small, barrel-shaped plants had dwindled to just 3,600.

Curry said the Center for Biological Diversity was “definitely going to oppose” the delisting of the Southwestern willow flycatcher during an upcoming public comments period. The bird that has been listed as endangered since 1995.

The Fish and Wildlife Service said it received a petition from multiple groups seeking to delist the bird, and decided that there were substantial challenges to the bird’s scientific classification that merited another look. The flycatcher is found in the Southwest and breeds in trees and shrubs by rivers, swamps and wetlands, according to the service.

“I think that’s definitely a bad decision,” Curry said of the plan to move forward on the flycatcher.

“Rivers in the Southwest have never been more threatened,” she added, noting dropping water levels and high demands from a growing human population.

The requests on the cactus and the flycatcher were the only ones to delist species in Arizona – the other six all sought to put plants, animals or insects on the list.

Western bumblebee might be endangered

The service rejected five of those six, but agreed to consider the petition for the Western bumblebee. The bee was once one of the most common bumblebee species, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service, but its populations have declined in the past 20 to 30 years, especially in the West.

The service said there were substantial findings that disease, pesticide use and climate change, among other factors, have impacted the species.

Petitioners sought emergency listings for the Arizona wetsalts tiger beetle and the MacDougal’s yellowtops shrub, amid fears that proposed development near the Grand Canyon threatened to destroy their habitat. But the development was rejected, putting the beetle and shrub out of harm’s way, Curry said.

She said that the service’s decision to not move forward on petitions for two lizards and a silkmoth was likely due to inadequate information to prove they were threatened.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has been deciding the fate of more and more petitions in batches in the past two years in an effort to increase efficiency, Humphrey said. Additionally, environmental and advocacy groups have been filing petitions in batches, he said.

He said the service is trying to release results three or four times a year, with the next set of petition decisions likely to be released around May.


Dallas school district joins others in Texas requiring clear or mesh ...

(CNN) The Dallas school district announced Monday that it will require students to carry clear or mesh backpacks to class, joining other Texas districts in implementing new security measures following the Uvalde school massacre.

The new rules apply to 6th-12th grade students at Dallas Independent School District -- the second-largest public school district in Texas -- and will take effect when the upcoming 2022-2023 school year begins in August. Other types of bags will no longer be allowed, according to the school district

"We acknowledge that clear or mesh backpacks alone will not eliminate safety concerns," the district said in its announcement. "This is merely one of several steps in the district's comprehensive plan to better ensure student and staff safety."

The district has already purchased the clear bags, and is set to distribute them before the start of the school year, the statement said.

The decision was made based on feedback from students and parents, as well as recommendations from a safety task force at the district, the district said.

Dallas joins Texas school districts requiring clear backpacks after ...

One of the largest school districts in Texas announced it will require students to use clear or mesh backpacks following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

The Dallas Independent School District, the second largest in the state, made the announcement Monday. It joins other districts in the state that have implemented similar policies, even though school safety experts say banning regular backpacks is "security theater" that funnels resources away from more effective approaches.

“It comes across as a knee-jerk reaction to make people feel as though something is being done,” said Jaclyn Schildkraut, associate professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York at Oswego. “But it's really not going to do what people think it's going to do, and it's sending the wrong message.”

Texas schools move toward requiring clear backpacks

Beginning the next school year, students in sixth through 12th grade will be required to use clear or mesh backpacks, Dallas Independent School District announced. Other bags won’t be allowed.

The district said it will distribute free clear backpacks to students before the school year begins, adding that the decision came from safety recommendations from internal safety task forces and feedback from students and parents. Being able to easily see into students' backpacks, the district said, would help staff ensure they aren’t carrying prohibited items.

“We acknowledge that clear or mesh backpacks alone will not eliminate safety concerns,” the Dallas school district said. “This is merely one of several steps in the district’s comprehensive plan to better ensure student and staff safety.”

The decision follows intense scrutiny of school safety measures in Uvalde, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on May 24.

GRAPHICS:Total police response to Uvalde school shooting, in one chart

UNLOCKED DOORS, NO CLEAR LEADERSHIP:Experts say Uvalde report shows errors led to 'disaster'

Other Texas districts, including Seguin Independent School District, Greenville Independent School District, Harper Independent School District, Southside Independent School District in San Antonio, and Ingleside Independent School District, announced similar clear backpack policies since the Uvalde shooting.

“School administrators are under enormous pressure from parents and the public due to the heightened media attention after high-profile incidents,” said Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm.

More than anything, the policies are “an effort to appease the anxieties of school communities," Trump said.

“But with security theater like this, it may make you feel safer, but it doesn't always actually make you safer,” he said.

WILL CALS FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN UVALDE BE ANSWERED?: Legal experts say pursuing charges could prove difficult.

Schildkraut said such policies have often been an anxiety-fueled reaction to high-profile school shootings, including the 2018 shooting that left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, she said.

Students in that shooting were required to wear clear backpacks when returning to school.

While there is no official count of how many schools have had similar policies, Schildkraut said they’re rarely in place for longer than a year or two.

“These policies come when everybody's emotions are incredibly heightened,” she said. “And then, when people's heart rate gets back into resting zone a bit, these policies often don't stay in place.”

Clear backpack policy ‘defies any sort of logic'

Despite their popularity as a reaction to school shootings, Schildkraut said requiring clear backpacks “defies any sort of logic” because it’s “incredibly rare that the perpetrator of a school shooting will bring a gun to school in a backpack.”

Also, if someone wants to do harm, she said they’re not going to be easily deterred by a clear backpack policy.

'GUT-WRENCHING':Santa Fe shooting survivors livid after their fight was ignored in Uvalde

Michael Dorn, executive director of Safe Havens International Inc., a global nonprofit school safety center, said these requirements are often well-intended but “largely ineffective” because of how easy it is to conceal weapons, even in clear backpacks.

While the center does not publicly show such demonstrations to avoid influencing people who may want to do harm, Dorn said he has shown school officials how as many as 26 weapons can be concealed in one student’s clear backpack.

Policy may damage trust between students, staff

Dorn said policies that require clear backpacks can also damage trust between students and staff and negatively impact school environments.

“We're very big on trying to develop approaches that don't punish all students for the actions of a few,” he said.

WHAT TO KNOW:The sentencing trial for the Parkland school shooter begins Monday

Safe Havens has surveyed students at districts that have had clear backpack policies, including Broward County Public Schools, which includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

At Marjory Stoneman, Dorn said students showed administrators that the policy wasn’t effective by taking toy pistols to school to show how easy weapons are to hide. Many students criticized the policies as ineffective and violating student privacy. The requirement was scrapped just months after its implementation.

'We don't want to waste resources'

School districts usually have limited resources in three categories: time, energy and budget, Dorn said. When these resources fuel ineffective strategies, he said that means they’re being funneled away from other areas.

“Even something like bookbags can add up to quite a bit of money,” he said. “We don't want to waste those resources.”

'THEY WILL BE REGRETTING THEIR INACTION FOREVER':Experts say Uvalde shooting response went horribly wrong

Effective strategies for preventing violence in schools can also include investing in better training for school resource officers, including more culturally competent training tailored to the community a school is in, said Thaddeus Johnson, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Georgia State University.

"These simple solutions won't automatically fix complex, structural issues," he said.

Most shootings and other safety incidents “involve allegations of failures of people, policies, procedures, training and other human factors not failures of hardware, equipment and things like clear backpacks,” said Trump from National School Safety and Security Services. As a result, investing in better training for staff, more supervision in hallways and more teachers to build relationships with students can have a more significant impact on safety.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FROM INSIDE UVALDE SCHOOL:Officers' delayed response to mass shooting

Schildkraut also recommended better educating students in identifying and reporting potential threats, creating anonymous tip lines, and investing in threat assessment teams. Considering a school district’s door lock systems can also go a long way, she added.

“We need to invest into what will actually keep students safe rather than just more shiny objects,” Schildkraut said.

Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

Oxford school shooting: Michigan district requires clear backpacks

DETROIT — With the holiday break over, some security precautions have been put in place at Oxford Community Schools as students return to classrooms more than a month after the deadly shooting at Oxford High School.

Four students died and six students and a teacher were injured on Nov. 30 when a 15-year-old suspect opened fire at the suburban Detroit school. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder, terrorism and other charges.

As part of new safety protocols, high school and middle school students were provided with clear backpacks Monday to use for the foreseeable future, according to a statement from Superintendent Tim Thorne. Elementary students are not required to use clear backpacks but must keep their belongings in cubbies all day, and are not allowed to carry their backpacks throughout the day.

Middle and elementary students returned to school Monday, which began the winter semester at Oxford Community Schools. The district has yet to announce the high school's reopening.

"We continue to make progress in the reconstruction of Oxford High School and we are working through the enormous number of logistics involved in our safe and soft reopening plan," Thorne said in the statement.

O Holy Night: From Waukesha to Oxford, from Kentucky to Surfside, communities hard hit by tragedy pray for healing at Christmas

Additional safety precautions at Oxford schools include: law enforcement and a personal security firm hired by the district onsite at every school building; trauma specialists and therapy dogs in every school building; and Gaggle software to help students manage online safety.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said last month that Oxford school officials have declined her offer to lead an independent review of facts leading up to the shooting. At issue is what the school knew prior to the shooting and whether school officials took reasonable action to prevent the violence.

More:Student wounded in Oxford shooting files lawsuit against school district

5 things to know for June 10: January 6, Covid-19, Ukraine ...

5 things to know for June 14: January 6, Stocks, Gun laws, Ukraine ...

If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter.

(CNN) A Google engineer claims that one of the tech company's unreleased artificial intelligence programs advanced so much that it has achieved a level of consciousness. Google and many in the AI community quickly shut down the engineer's claims , but the mere idea is sparking fascinating conversations -- and stoking fears -- about the potential for what this technology can do.

Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

(You can get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here .)

1. January 6

The chairman of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol told reporters that the panel won't criminally refer former President Donald Trump or others to the Justice Department. Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson's statement on Monday drew quick reactions from other members of the committee, revealing the panel is split over how to handle potential criminal referrals of Trump and his associates for prosecution. In Monday's hearing , Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren laid out evidence that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 election, was told he had lost on dozens of occasions, and not only refused to accept it but actively pushed conspiracy theories and other false claims that he knew were wrong to stir up his party's base. In response, Trump lashed out in a 12-page statement trashing the committee's work.

2. Stocks

Stocks plunged again Monday, officially pushing the S&P 500 into bear market territory -- which happens when stocks close down 20% or more from their most recent high. In short, stocks are tumbling due to inflation and the Federal Reserve's efforts to tame it, experts say. One month ago, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that the central bank was not "actively considering" raising interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point to fight inflation, but Wall Street is now worried that Powell may have to change his tune. The S&P 500, the broadest measure of Wall Street, is down more than 21% from its high reached in early January -- and cryptocurrencies have also joined the meltdown. Bitcoin fell below $23,000 today as investors bailed out of risky assets.

JUST WATCHED What is a bear market? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What is a bear market? 01:09

3. Gun laws

The vast majority of Republican senators are showing they are hesitant to fully embrace the announced gun safety framework, with many telling CNN they want more details before saying where they stand. It's a sign of just how hard it will be for Republicans to hold on to the support they have and expand it, as pro-gun groups and others whip up supporters against the framework. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia -- the most conservative Democrat in the Senate -- defended the newly reached bipartisan agreement on Monday, adding it takes "no rights away, no privileges away" from gun owners. Separately, Ohio's governor Monday signed a Republican-backed bill into law that makes it easier for teachers and staff to carry guns on school premises.

JUST WATCHED School shooting survivor: Hardening schools is an excuse, not a solution Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH School shooting survivor: Hardening schools is an excuse, not a solution 11:41

4. Ukraine

The embattled Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk is nearly completely controlled by Russian forces , according to Ukrainian military officials. The third of three main bridges to the city was deemed impassable on Monday, making evacuations extremely difficult. Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International has accused Russia of war crimes during its efforts to capture the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, documenting the alleged use of cluster munitions and "other indiscriminate means of attack which killed and injured hundreds of civilians." Ukraine's national police said authorities are also investigating the deaths of more than 12,000 civilians across the country.

JUST WATCHED Putin unveils imperialist mission: taking back land he says is Russia's Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Putin unveils imperialist mission: taking back land he says is Russia's 02:59

5. Yellowstone

Severe flooding has shut down Yellowstone National Park and left some people in surrounding communities trapped without safe drinking water, officials say. All park entrances have been closed to visitors through at least Wednesday, officials announced, citing "record flooding events" and a forecast of more rain to come. Images of the damage show bridges partially collapsed and washed out roads across the park -- 96% of which is in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho. The Yellowstone River, which runs through the park and several Park County cities, swelled to a record high this week due to recent heavy rainfall and significant runoff from melting snow in higher elevations.

JUST WATCHED See the severe flooding that shut down Yellowstone National Park Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH See the severe flooding that shut down Yellowstone National Park 01:15

BREAKFAST BROWSE

America's most outstanding restaurant is...

Calling all foodies! These outstanding restaurants earned prestigious James Beard Awards at the annual ceremony on Monday.

Woman clings to tree in canal for hours after trying to save her dog

Watch the intense rescue footage here . A woman and her dog were trapped in the water for 18 hours -- but she didn't give up.

Post Malone welcomes a baby girl

lovely gift just in time for Father's Day this Sunday!

Amber Heard speaks out for the first time since her defamation trial

For all of our readers following the saga, here is Amber Heard's first interview since her blockbuster trial with Johnny Depp.

Think you're OK because you only drink on weekends? Think again.

Well, it's not too late for 2022 to be the "year of the mocktail." If you consider yourself to be a light-to-moderate drinker, this new research may interest you.

TODAY'S NUMBER

115

That's how many global travel destinations are on the CDC's "high" risk category for Covid-19 as of Monday. Some popular places that joined the "Level 3: Covid-19 High" category this week include Mexico, a favorite destination for US tourists, and the UAE, the Middle East's glitzy hot spot. The Level 3 category applies to countries that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, the CDC said.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"We remain concerned about the prospects for what would be a seventh nuclear test over multiple administrations. We know that the North Koreans have done preparations for such a test. We are being extremely vigilant about that."

-- Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasizing the US is prepared to make adjustments to military posture in response to a , emphasizing the US is prepared to make adjustments to military posture in response to a potential nuclear test by North Korea . Following several recent missile launches by Pyongyang, Blinken said Monday the US is "preparing for all contingencies" and is in "very close touch" with partners like South Korea and Japan "to be able to respond quickly" if North Korea carries out such a test.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Severe storms and excessive heat across much of the US Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Severe storms and excessive heat across much of the US 02:44

AND FINALLY

Today is National Flag Day

5 things to know for June 6: Shootings, North Korea, Ukraine ...

If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter.

(CNN) Summer vacations, though fun and beneficial for mental clarity, have become unattainable for many Americans amid surging airfare and gas prices . About 61% of respondents in a recent poll said gas will be a major factor in their vacation plans this year. And with prices at the pump steadily rising, it's no surprise that many people are postponing trips.

Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

(You can get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here .)

1. Shootings

There were at least 10 mass shootings in the US since Friday, following several back-to-back massacres in recent weeks. In Philadelphia , three people died and 11 others were injured over the weekend after gunfire rang out at a popular entertainment district, officials said. Three others were killed and at least 14 were injured in a shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee . Eight people were shot at a high school graduation party in Summerton, South Carolina , with one person killed. Several other shootings forced various law enforcement entities to remain on alert across the country. This comes as bipartisan talks on gun legislation are ongoing -- but previous attempts in Congress to pass major gun regulation measures have either stalled or failed

2. North Korea

South Korea and the US responded to North Korea's launch of eight missiles yesterday by firing eight more missiles into waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula earlier today. Seven were fired by South Korea and one by the US, officials said. The move demonstrated that "even if North Korea provokes with missiles from multiple locations, (South Korea and the US have) the ability and readiness to immediately strike with precision," according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile exchange comes as North Korea intensifies its provocations in the region amid heightened concerns that Kim Jong Un and his military are preparing to conduct a nuclear test . North Korea's launch yesterday was its 17th missile test this year.

JUST WATCHED See how US and South Korea responded to North Korea's missile tests Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH See how US and South Korea responded to North Korea's missile tests 01:13

3. Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Moscow will strike new targets if the US supplies long-range missiles to Ukraine. Delivering new arms to Kyiv would only "drag out the armed conflict for as long as possible," Putin said yesterday. Meanwhile, Putin claims Russia's actions in Ukraine " have nothing to do " with the looming global energy and food crisis, and has instead blamed Western economic policies. He also blamed European countries for not listening "to our urgent requests to preserve long-term contracts for the supply [of natural gas]" -- another factor that he said led to inflation. In Ukraine, some of the " fiercest battles " are being fought in the eastern city of Severodonetsk, the region's top official said today, adding that the evacuation of 15,000 civilians remains impossible because of intense fighting.

JUST WATCHED See Putin's warning to US over long-range missiles Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH See Putin's warning to US over long-range missiles 01:46

4. January 6

JUST WATCHED He was attacked on January 6th. Hear what he thinks will happen to Trump Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH He was attacked on January 6th. Hear what he thinks will happen to Trump 01:59

5. Baby Formula

The baby formula manufacturing plant that has been at the center of the nationwide shortage restarted production Saturday . Abbott, located in Sturgis, Michigan, said in a statement it has started with the production of specialty formulas for babies who can't tolerate more common ones, with the first batches expected to be available to consumers around June 20. Similac and other products made at the plant will take longer to become available , the company said. The Sturgis plant has been shut down for months following an FDA inspection that found dangerous bacteria -- which can be deadly to infants -- in several areas at the facility.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

Queen Elizabeth II makes surprise appearance to cap off jubilee

Thousands flocked to London from around the world to cheer on the 96-year-old monarch. Watch some highlights from the spectacular celebration here

Woman gets free couch from Craigslist. See what she found inside the cushions

Was it luck? Or was it fate? This incredible discovery sounds like a movie plot.

MTV Movie & TV Awards 2022

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Euphoria" took home the most awards at the eventful show last night. Check out the full list of winners

Minjee Lee wins US Women's Open

One trophy is great, but two is even better. Lee received $1.8 million for her second major win , the largest prize in women's golf history.

She was her family's breadwinner on a McDonald's salary. Now she's gone into space

Meet the first Mexican-born woman to reach the edge of space. Historic!

HAPPENING LATER

Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence later today , triggered by discontented lawmakers in his own party for hosting gatherings during the Covid-19 lockdown. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said in a statement that the number of Conservative Party parliamentarians calling for the vote had reached the necessary threshold. If 180 Conservative lawmakers -- a simple majority -- vote against Johnson, he will cease to be leader of the governing Conservative Party and will be removed from office.

IN MEMORIAM

Alec John Such, a founding member and , a founding member and original bass player of the band Bon Jovi , has died, according to a tweet from the group yesterday. He was 70 years old. Bon Jovi was formed in New Jersey in 1983 and has had hits with songs including "Livin' On a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive."

TODAY'S NUMBER

250,000

That's approximately how many migrants Immigration and Customs Enforcement is monitoring in the US using GPS ankle monitors and government-issued phones , according to the agency's latest statistics. The Biden administration has rapidly increased the number of people in the program known as "alternatives to detention" to better manage the increasing number of asylum cases. However, critics on both sides of the immigration debate say the program raises several big questions about privacy and funding that should concern every American.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! Our voice as athletes is stronger together."

-- NBA star LeBron James, urging US officials , urging US officials via a tweet to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner home after being detained in Russia for more than 100 days. Griner has been able to receive written correspondence from family and friends during her detention , her agent tells CNN -- but she has not been able to speak with her loved ones in the US.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Severe storms threaten parts of central and eastern US Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Severe storms threaten parts of central and eastern US 02:04

AND FINALLY

'Here Comes The Sun' on a Kalimba

5 things to know for February 18: Ukraine, Covid-19, Winter storm ...

5 things to know for July 14: Covid-19, Biden in Israel, Jan. 6 ...

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(CNN) Food prices in grocery stores and on restaurant menus are still on the rise, but relief may be on the horizon . Some financial experts say food producers' input costs peaked earlier this year and have been falling. But gas prices , which remain near record levels , are up nearly 60% over the past year, according to the government's latest inflation report.

Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

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1. Covid-19

Nearly two-and-a-half years since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the most infectious and transmissible variant yet has arrived. The latest version of the shape-shifting BA.5 variant , an offshoot of Omicron, is fueling a global surge in cases -- illustrating how the virus has evolved and can evade immunity provided by previous Covid-19 vaccines. In the US, BA.5 accounted for 65% of new infections last week, according to the CDC. The variant is also on the march in China, raising the fear that major cities there may soon reinstate strict lockdown measures that were recently lifted. As for how to manage the new wave, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's Covid-19 response coordinator, urged Americans aged 50 and older to get second booster shots. US health officials are urgently working on a plan to allow second Covid-19 boosters for all adults , a senior White House official confirmed to CNN on Monday.

2. Biden in Israel

President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday for the start of his four-day visit to the Middle East . It is his first visit to the region since being elected president. Biden was met at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whom he will hold meetings with today . In the lead-up to the trip, US officials have been working to deepen Israeli-Arab security coordination and broker agreements that will inch Israel and Saudi Arabia -- which do not have diplomatic relations -- closer to normalization. Meanwhile, many Palestinians are pessimistic about the President's visit because of the perceived unwillingness to pressure Israel over the continued expansion of West Bank settlements and other key issues.

JUST WATCHED Why Palestinians are pessimistic about Biden's visit Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Why Palestinians are pessimistic about Biden's visit 02:37

3. January 6

Former President Donald Trump tried to call a witness who was talking to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 , attack on the US Capitol, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. The witness, a White House support staffer, was not someone who routinely communicated with the former President and "declined to answer or respond" to his call and instead alerted their lawyer. "We will take any effort to influence witness testimony very seriously," Vice Chair Liz Cheney said during the committee's hearing on Tuesday, adding that the information has been supplied to the Department of Justice . This is not the first time the committee has raised concerns about a pattern of potential witness tampering and witness intimidation from Trump and other allies in his camp.

JUST WATCHED How is Donald Trump reacting to January 6 hearings? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH How is Donald Trump reacting to January 6 hearings? 01:44

4. Virginia

Search efforts will continue today for more than 40 people who remain unaccounted after severe flooding inundated a rural Virginia county, tearing homes from their foundations and damaging roads and bridges across the region. Buchanan County in the western part of Virginia was soaked with more than 6 inches of water in just a matter of hours Wednesday, causing widespread flooding and road closures. To aid in the response, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to help with recovery efforts. The storm was part of several that lingered over the county as well as the surrounding region -- including Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia -- on Tuesday night.

5. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has plunged into chaos and its President has fled to Singapore as anger grows in his home country over his refusal to formally resign. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been in Maldives after fleeing Sri Lanka Wednesday -- the same day he had said he would resign . Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed acting President during his absence. But by today, no formal resignation letter had been received by the Sri Lankan parliament's speaker, raising questions about the intentions of the apparently self-exiled leader. Last weekend's protests were among the most dramatic seen so far, with people setting fire to Wickremesinghe's residence, and swimming in Rajapaksa's private pool. Many protesters have vowed to continue to demonstrate until both men step down.

JUST WATCHED 'They got rich, while the poor became poorer': Hear why ordinary Sri Lankans want to oust the ruling family Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 'They got rich, while the poor became poorer': Hear why ordinary Sri Lankans want to oust the ruling family 02:54

BREAKFAST BROWSE

NASA released more images of stars, galaxies and an exoplanet

After decades of waiting, the world is finally able to see the deepest and sharpest images of our universe taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Netflix with ads is coming

No one likes the "A" word... but if you can tolerate a few ads, a lower-priced Netflix tier is currently in the works.

Chris Hemsworth stopped eating meat before filming a kiss with his vegan costar

This kind gesture helped vegan actress Natalie Portman romaine calm while shooting a kiss scene for "Thor: Love and Thunder."

Ryan Gosling is bringing major 'Ken-ergy' to the upcoming 'Barbie' film

The highly anticipated "Barbie" movie won't be released until next year, but fans are already swooning over Gosling's "Ken doll" character.

World's best airlines for 2022, ranked by AirlineRatings.com

We may be in the midst of a chaotic travel season, but some airlines are flying above the industry's challenges. Check out the new list here

TODAY'S NUMBER

$114 billion

That's Bill Gates' estimated net worth, making him the world's fourth-richest person -- but he doesn't intend to rank that high forever. On Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder said he wants to "move down and eventually off of the list of the world's richest people" because he feels "obligated to return his resources to society." On the same day, Gates moved $20 billion of his wealth into the endowment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest philanthropies in the world. The foundation plans to increase its payouts from nearly $6 billion to $9 billion each year by 2026.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"Today, (Joshua) Schulte has been convicted for one of the most brazen and damaging acts of espionage in American history."

-- US Attorney Damian Williams, after former CIA employee Joshua Schulte was convicted on Wednesday of carrying out the largest leak of classified data in the agency's history. Schulte, who had worked as a computer engineer within the CIA, stole cyber tools in 2016 and transferred the classified data to WikiLeaks, according to court records. Schulte had access to "some of the country's most valuable intelligence-gathering cyber tools used to battle terrorist organizations," Willams said, adding that those tools are now essentially useless.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Western Virginia devastated by heavy rain Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Western Virginia devastated by heavy rain 02:39

AND FINALLY

Did someone say free fries?

5 things to know for March 17: Ukraine, Inflation, Coronavirus, Japan ...

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(CNN) If you're hunting for a new job right now, the odds are in your favor. Companies across the board are struggling to retain and hire more workers. America's largest retailers, in particular, have been hit hard -- prompting massive hiring sprees and unprecedented wage boosts.

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1. Ukraine

Ukraine has come under increased attack by Russian forces, and despite signs of progress in ongoing negotiations, the situation on the ground is becoming more desperate by the day. A theater where hundreds of people are said to have taken shelter in the besieged city of Mariupol was mostly reduced to rubble yesterday, according to an image shared by its city council . Some people are emerging alive from the theater this morning but it is not yet clear if all those inside the building have survived, a Ukrainian official said. Russian President Vladimir Putin is maintaining aggressive rhetoric amid the destruction and is condemning Russians who show a pro-Western mindset . Putin also is retaliating by seizing hundreds of commercial jets owned by US and European leasing companies, making it harder for foreign companies to reclaim their planes without Russian government approval. President Biden called Putin a "war criminal" yesterday -- the harshest criticism of Putin's actions by any US official since the war in Ukraine began three weeks ago.

Want to help? Learn how you can support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. CNN's audience has contributed more than $5.7 million to the humanitarian relief work according to Public Good, the online donation platform partnering with CNN.

2. Inflation

The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates for the first time since 2018, the central bank announced yesterday. This comes as the pandemic and the supply-chain crisis have pushed the cost of virtually everything higher . Food and cars are more expensive, as are transport and labor costs, making inflation a concern for many Americans. The Fed needed to boost interest rates because things that could bring down inflation -- such as improvement in supply-chain gridlock and rising labor-force participation -- have not happened, Fed Chair Pro Tempore Jerome Powell said. The central bankers also revised up their inflation predictions to a median of 4.3% by the year's end, compared with 2.6% projected in December.

3. Coronavirus

4. Japan

A deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan yesterday, centered off the coast of its Fukushima region, north of Tokyo. Four people were killed and at least 160 others were injured, Japanese authorities said today. Video footage from the country shows street lights and apartment buildings vigorously shaking. For many, the incident brought back painful memories of 2011, when an earthquake triggered a tsunami that caused a disastrous nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant and killed thousands of people. Wednesday's earthquake struck about 55 miles from the location of the devastating 2011 quake, but hasn't prompted a national emergency this time. The quake also derailed a bullet train, leaving 78 people trapped on board for hours until they were able to escape through an emergency exit.

5. Disney

Disney employees are staging walkouts over the company's response to Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill. Organizers of the protests have encouraged employees to walk out during their work breaks in 15-minute daily sessions. They are also planning to stage a full-day walkout next Tuesday, but it is currently unclear how many employees will take part. The controversial bill bans educators from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with children from kindergarten to third grade. Organizers of the walkout penned an open letter that claims Disney's leadership "does not truly understand the impact this legislation is having not only on cast members in the state of Florida, but on all members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the company and beyond." The CEO of Disney, which employs 75,000 people at its resorts in Florida, has issued an apology for his silence on the bill.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

This might be the end of sharing Netflix passwords

Netflix is working to prevent account sharing for people who don't live in the same household. Say farewell to leeching off your friend's account (and if you're still on your ex's or parent's account... it's probably time anyway.)

Tesla's cheapest Model 3 now costs $46,990

How about a cheesy joke: What do you call Tesla's expensive new car smell ? An Elon Musk.

The Eiffel Tower is now 20 feet taller

France's iconic landmark has grown with the addition of a new antenna.

Here's who is presenting at the Oscars so far

We're ready for all the red carpet action! Lady Gaga was recently added to the list of A-list celebrities presenting at the March 27 ceremony.

Saharan dust turns skies orange over Europe

A ski resort looks like a desert after being transformed by a thick plume of dust. Check out these stunning images

TODAY'S NUMBER

6

That's how many days Jussie Smollett spent in jail for making false reports to police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019. The former "Empire" actor was released yesterday -- ending his 150-day sentence behind bars early -- after an Illinois appeals court ordered a stay on his jail term and granted him bond. The appeals court ordered Smollett's release after concluding it would likely not decide on his appeal before he finished serving his short, 150-day jail sentence.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"More than 20 years ago, the Webb team set out to build the most powerful telescope that anyone has ever put in space... Today we can say that design is going to deliver."

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA, on the world's premier space observatory successfully --, on the world's premier space observatory successfully completing a number of steps crucial for unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Specifically, the James Webb Space Telescope has aligned its 18 gold mirror segments, meaning it will be able to peer inside the atmospheres of exoplanets and observe some of the first galaxies created after the universe began.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Multi-day severe storm threat continues for much of the South Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Multi-day severe storm threat continues for much of the South 02:18

AND FINALLY

Polar bear cub surprised by seal

5 things to know for Jan. 24: Covid, Ukraine, Congress, Capitol riot ...

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(CNN) Bitcoin is off to a dismal start in the new year, tumbling almost 50% since hitting a record high of $68,990 in November. Some countries are even considering banning cryptocurrencies entirely to curb their growing popularity.

Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

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1. Coronavirus

The Biden administration is expected to begin distributing 400 million free N95 masks to Americans this week, the latest federal step aimed at reining in the spread of Covid-19. The masks -- which are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile -- will be made available at a number of local pharmacies and community health centers . A White House official described the distribution as "the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history." The huge allotment amounts to more than half of the 750 million N95 masks currently stored in the reserve, a figure that tripled over the last year as the administration sought to boost reserves. The move comes as the US grapples with an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

2. Ukraine

The US is amplifying calls for Russia to cease its aggressive actions along the Ukrainian border, where more than 100,000 troops have been amassed. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned yesterday that there would be a severe response by the US and its allies if " a single additional Russian force " enters Ukraine in an aggressive way. In preparation for a possible invasion, the US sent Ukraine a second weapons supply shipment of close to 200,000 pounds of lethal aid. Some political leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are urging the US and its allies to penalize Moscow with sanctions now before any lives are lost. The US, however, has shown unwillingness to punish Russia preemptively. The Biden administration and its NATO allies are instead focused on bolstering troop levels in the region to support Eastern European and Baltic allies.

JUST WATCHED Blinken: 'Single additional Russian force' in Ukraine would trigger sanctions Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Blinken: 'Single additional Russian force' in Ukraine would trigger sanctions 09:12

3. Congress

The Arizona Democratic Party announced over the weekend that it has formally censured Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema after she voted to maintain the Senate's filibuster rules, effectively blocking Democrats' voting legislation, a key priority for the party. The symbolic gesture from Arizona Democrats adds to the mounting pressure Sinema is facing from those in her state who helped her flip a Senate seat in 2018. Sinema -- who started her political career as a progressive -- has been a target on the left during Biden's administration for her stances. Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, both centrists, were the only two Democrats to join all Republicans last week in voting to maintain the Senate's 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster on legislation

JUST WATCHED 'In some political peril': Commentator on Sinema censure Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 'In some political peril': Commentator on Sinema censure 01:45

4. Capitol Riot

The House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol has been having conversations with former Attorney General William Barr . Barr, a staunch defender of former President Donald Trump, pushed the administration's "law and order" message, but resigned in December 2020 after rebuking Trump's false claims about widespread election fraud. Separately, Boris Epshteyn, an adviser to Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, acknowledged late last week that he was part of the effort to prop up so-called "alternate electors" to support Trump in key states. Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani supervised that effort, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the scheme . It involved helping pro-Trump electors access state Capitol buildings, drafting language for fake electoral certificates to send to the federal government, and finding replacements for electors who refused to go along with the plot.

JUST WATCHED January 6 committee chairman says panel is speaking with Barr Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH January 6 committee chairman says panel is speaking with Barr 01:35

5. Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing increasing pressure this week over alleged garden parties and Christmas gatherings held at Downing Street while the rest of the country was under strict Covid-19 lockdowns. His approval ratings are plunging and the parliamentary rebellion is growing. This is worrying some parts of his ruling Conservative Party that he is becoming a liability . Adding fuel to the fire, Johnson's former senior adviser Dominic Cummings said he would swear under oath that the Prime Minister was warned about the true nature of one of the parties, but Johnson denied that vehemently. Johnson launched an inquiry into the gatherings and that report is due to come out this week.

JUST WATCHED See Boris Johnson grilled by British Parliament amid 'Partygate' scandal Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH See Boris Johnson grilled by British Parliament amid 'Partygate' scandal 02:33

BREAKFAST BROWSE

NFL Playoff upsets

Was that not the greatest playoff round OF ALL TIME?

Netflix's 'Ozark' begins fourth and final season

Glass ceiling shattered!

Meet the first female captain of the historic USS Constitution in its 224-year history.

Mysterious ice formations showed up in Chicago

Have you ever seen ice pancakes ? They kind of crepe me out.

Indian couple plan country's 'first metaverse marriage'

HAPPENING LATER

The three former police officers who helped Derek Chauvin restrain George Floyd on a Minneapolis street in May 2020 are set to stand trial in a federal courtroom later today for violating Floyd's civil rights. The three officers previously pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, while Chauvin admitted guilt in December as part of a plea deal.

IN MEMORIAM

Thierry Mugler, has died. Iconic French fashion designer,has died. He was 73 . Mugler, who was born in Strasbourg, France, launched his eponymous label in 1974. He was known for his broad-shouldered, avant-garde designs. The designer's brand said they will remember their founder as a "visionary" who "empowered people around the world to be bolder and dream bigger every day."

TODAY'S NUMBER

11

That's how many hours a stowaway spent in the nose wheel of a cargo plane that flew from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport yesterday. Due to the extremely cold flying conditions, Dutch officials were surprised the stowaway was found alive. Once the stowaway was revived and stabilized, they said they would work to determine his status, if he indeed is looking for asylum.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"The IOC [International Olympic Committee] deserves all of the disdain and disgust that comes their way for going back to China yet again."

Former NBC sportscaster Bob Costas, who has covered 12 Olympic Games as a host and commentator, says journalists will face --, who has covered 12 Olympic Games as a host and commentator, says journalists will face unique challenges during the Beijing Winter Olympics next month. It is currently unclear how the host country may censor journalists and how they will allow reporters to cover events in and around the games.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Clipper bringing more chances for snow to the Great Lakes Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Clipper bringing more chances for snow to the Great Lakes 01:57

AND FINALLY

It's Monday, and you're going to crush it today!