Sunday, August 16
Lake Powell reaches record low
The U.S’ second-largest reservoir on the Colorado River, Lake Powell, measured at 3,519.91 feet above sea level last Saturday, a record low. Plummeting water levels are a threat to the Colorado River Basin, an important resource for wildlife, hydropower and energy for 40 million people.
Federal and state governments struggle to agree on how to manage the river, which has been heavily impacted by overuse, high temperature and a dry winter, according to the Associated Press.
The reservoir is now 30 feet away from the point at which turbines would stop producing hydroelectric power. Federal officials warned that major intervention will be necessary to avoid reaching that low by the end of this year.
Monday, August 17
Flooding risks move from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic
While the South is experiencing extreme high temperatures, states in the Midwest are recovering from days of severe flooding and dangerous storms.
Heavy storms in Indiana have left at least seven people dead and many homes and roads flooded, as over 90,000 homes lost power across the state.
Meanwhile, West Virginia experienced over four inches of rain over the weekend, causing mudslides, poor road conditions, prompting water rescues and contributing to at least one death. Eight southern states have also issued extreme heat warnings as temperatures rise, according to the AP.
Tuesday, August 18
Trump insists Strait of Hormuz is open, threatens Oman
Despite a lack of negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Trump insisted Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz is open. Trump also threatened to bomb Oman due to their negotiations with Iran over management of the strait, the AP reported.
Trump posted to social media, claiming that while the blockade of the strait is in full effect, all mines have been removed. However, traffic in the strait has significantly declined, with only three vessels making it through the waterway Sunday, according to the AP
An unidentified projectile also damaged a ship in the strait, causing one casualty, and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Saudi Arabian oil refinery.
Wednesday, August 19
The U.S. and Canada strike tariff deal
Trump announced Tuesday that he will be delaying a 50% tariff on Canada as the two countries reached a deal hours before the tariffs would take effect on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Trump posted to Truth Social that the sanctions will be delayed for three days as the U.S. and Canada negotiate. According to a White House proclamation, Canada committed to removing measures the Trump Administration found discriminatory against U.S. alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle exports.
The U.S. received 72% of Canadian exports last year, persuading both parties to find a compromise, according to the AP.
Thursday, August 20
Prices for Palestinians soar as smuggling restricted goods booms
Smuggling restricted goods, such as medicine and equipment, into the Gaza Strip has boomed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, increasing costs of many goods, according to a report by the AP.
Israel restricts quantities of some goods and bans some outright, including cigarettes and tobacco, which are among the goods that make smugglers the most money. The AP found that smuggling rings bring in millions of dollars in profit, including to Palestine’s Hamas-led government, which takes a percentage of the price of smuggled goods.
Organizations, including hospitals, government agencies and tribes have had to resort to smuggled goods, as Israel’s process for approving imported goods can be long and difficult. Now, smuggling accounts for much of Gaza’s economy, but high smuggling costs are often passed onto the Palestinian people.
Friday, August 21
Trump administration announces economic “D-Day” for Iran
The Trump administration warns Iran that an “unprecedented” level of economic sanctions will be put into place if Iranian leadership does not end its nuclear production and open the Strait of Hormuz, according to the AP.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded with indifference, as Iran is currently one of the most economically penalized countries in the world.
In a CNBC interview Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened secondary sanctions on any country in business with Iran. The Trump administration argues that it's only a matter of time until Tehran caves to their demands.
