NPR News: 07-02-2026 8AM EDT

Korva Coleman· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for nearly one hundred forty-three million people. They're in much of the central and eastern US. They face dangerous record-breaking heat today that's expected to extend into the holiday weekend. NPR's Brian Mann reports from New York.

Brian Mann0:19

The National Weather Service says high heat and humidity will push the heat index into triple digits and trigger storms. Here in New York City, officials have opened hundreds of cooling centers and launched a fleet of cooling vans and buses that will patrol, looking for vulnerable people. Mayor Zaron Mamdani urged people to check on neighbors.

Zaron Mamdani· Soundbite0:37

We know that on an annual basis, we lose about five hundred New Yorkers due to heat-related illness. However, we are speaking about what could be the hottest day in more than a decade.

Brian Mann0:46

The dangerously hot weather comes as millions of people are traveling and celebrating the Fourth of July and watching World Cup soccer matches. Officials say people should prepare by bringing water, staying hydrated, and limiting physical activity. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

Korva Coleman· Host1:01

President Trump is appealing a court ruling. It blocks key parts of his executive order that calls for restricting voting by mail. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports on the ruling that found Trump's directive to be unconstitutional.

Hansi Lo Wang1:15

So far, President Trump's order has not directly affected mail-in voting. It calls for the US Postal Service to come up with lists of eligible voters and deliver mail and ballots only to people on those lists. USPS is a financial supporter of NPR. A federal judge in Boston found Trump's directives