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Episode Date: July 3, 2026

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Live from NPR news, I'm Jail Snyder. Forecasters are warning about that heat wave that has much of the central and eastern U.S. in its grip. They say little to no relief is in sight. Megan Borowski is a meteorologist with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. It's all tied to a dome of high pressure that's building over the eastern half of the United States, and that air is sinking. And as it sinks, it warms. And so also with the sinking, air. Our warm air is going to be trapped at the surface. It's got nowhere to go. And so we experience those very warm temperatures at the surface of the Earth. The National Weather Service says the heat wave will be focused on the eastern U.S. through the Independence Day weekend, with peak feels like temperatures up to 115 degrees. Before there was July 4th, there was July 2nd when the Second Continental Congress voted to break away from Great Britain. Two days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Around three dozen members of the current Congress joined a ceremonial session in Philadelphia to commemorate the event. Carmen Russell Suchansky of Member Station, W.H.Y.Y. Reports assembled at Congress

Hall, where the first U.S. Congress met. It was presided over by Pennsylvania Republican, Glenn Thompson, and included speeches by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Democrat Brendan Boyle, who represents the district that includes the historical sites and organized the event, said he was awed by the experience. This is a very special day, and I think one day when I leave politics and leave Congress, this will probably be one of my proudest moments. Other members flew in from as far as Florida, Texas, and California. From PR News, I'm Carmen Russell Sluchansky in Philadelphia. Today's been declared a day of morning in Ukraine's capital after Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Kiev early Thursday.

Officials say at least 27 people were killed and scores more wounded. clinical trials for two experimental Ebola treatments began Thursday in the Democratic Republic of Congo. MPR. Jonathan Lambert reports on the trials as the outbreak that has killed more than 430 people and sickened at least 1,400 more. Researchers are trying to see if two drugs, both separately and in combination, can boost an Ebola patient's chances at survival. One of them is REMDesivir, a more general antiviral drug that was used to treat COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The other is a monoclona antibody called MBP-134. It was designed based on antibodies from an Ebola patient from a previous outbreak. So far, only one clinic in DRC is participating in the trial.

But health officials say they're planning to expand to more sites. Researchers involved in the trial say they may need to enroll up to 1,000 participants, which could mean that results won't be available until next year. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. Police in New York City say a man has died after setting himself on fire outside the headquarters of the United Nations. The incident happened Thursday evening authorities are investigating but have not commented on what prompted the act. However, activists say the man was from Tibet and that he was appealing for independence.

Officials say he was holding a Tibetan flag when he set himself on fire. Spotify says it has removed more than half a million streams at Sinai Song surging on music charge. and Pierce Bobby Allen reports the music platforms suspects the streams were purchased as part of a prediction market scheme. The song Earrings by Malcolm Todd shot to the top of charts over a 24-hour period on Spotify. Meanwhile, on the prediction market site, Kalshi, bettors were placing wagers over what song would be number one, and those who bet on Todd received a payout. But after Spotify looked into the streams, it determined that automated bots, which can be purchased, appear to have contributed to hundreds of thousands of streams.

Spotify has deleted the streams and adjusted its rankings. It's the latest instance of suspected market manipulation on fast-growing prediction markets, where people can bet on elections, war, and White House policy. Critics have called for tighter regulation, but the Trump administration has embraced the industry. Bobby Allen and PR News. In World Cup play later today, Argentina, the reigning champions, will play Cape Verde, the smallest nation by population, to ever reach the knockout round. Argentina will star player Leonel Messi are heavy favorites, but Argentina's head coach says he's not surprised to be playing a round of 32 match against Cape Bird, saying they're not here by chance. This is NPR News.