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Saturday, July 31, 2021

News and Weather Briefing for Saturday, July 31, 2021



Here is an index to assist you in moving from section to section within the article.

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Local News
Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
On This Day
Support Macon Media


OUTLOOK

A weak cold will stall to our south today, allowing a brief period of drier weather to return to the area. Another front arriving from the west Sunday will usher in a period of unsettled weather which may last into the middle of next week as it stalls near the area.




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Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.





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Local News

Dedication Ceremony - Beloved Man Dr. Jerry Wolfe Highway



Macon County Board of Education, July 2021



For more information, visit [MaconMedia.com].

Macon County Board of Commissioners, July 2021



Supporting documents can be found at [MaconMedia.com]

Franklin Town Council - July 2021



Supporting documents posted online at [MaconMedia.com]




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Local Weather

National Weather Map for Today



General forecast through Monday Night


Franklin area

Today

Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 80s. Calm winds becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Light winds out of the west. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in trhe mid-80s. Calm winds becoming west northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 80s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 50%.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 40%.




Highlands Plateau

Today

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs near 80. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers between 9pm and 2am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain is 20%.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 60. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 50%.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain is 50%.




Otto area

Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the upper 80s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 60s. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of rain is 30%.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in trhe mid-80s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 7 mph. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the lower 80s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 50%.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 40%.




Nantahala area

Today

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in trhe mid-80s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 80. Winds out of the west 3 to 7 mph. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of rain is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 70s. Calm winds.

Monday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with lows around 60.


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Hazards and Tropical Weather

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK



Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Sat Jul 31 2021

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.




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Almanac

Air Quality




Air quality is in the upper range of yellow
for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of yellow.

Fire and Smoke Map
(There is haze from the wildfires out on the west coast.)

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium range (5.3 out of 12) today with Grasses and Nettle being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the medium range (3.0 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on July 31st


Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 1999
Lowest Temperature 47°F in Highlands in 2014
Greatest Rainfall 3.00 inches in Highlands in 1879
Greatest Snowfall (No snowfall recorded on this date since records started being kept in 1872)


July Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on 07-29-1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on 07-27-1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on 07-29-1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1872



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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)


Katie Dean announces Macon Co. Townhall

Katie Dean is running for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th District. Katie is holding a Townhall on Thursday, July 15, 6pm – 7pm at the Big Bear Shelter [E. Main St. and Little Tennessee River].


The Macon County Art Association (a not for profit member organization) is offering classes in encaustic painting on Specified Fridays from 10AM-12PM at the Uptown Gallery 30 E Main St Franklin NC. Specific class dates are Friday July 9 and 23, August 3 and 27, September 3 and 17, October 29.

For more information contact the instructor, Karen Smith, at karen@programservices.org


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National News Roundup

Major quake hits off the coast of Alaska, triggers tsunami warnings but no large waves [LINKTEXT]

This animation, called a Ground Motion Visualization (GMV), shows the motion of the ground as detected on seismometers across North America - each dot is a seismic station and when the ground moves up it turns red and when it moves down it turns blue.



Brooks and Dionne on vaccine hesitancy, Capitol Police testimony, infrastructure



Senate Advances Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill With 66-28 Vote, Will Reconvene Tomorrow Morning (July 30, 2021)



Inside the Most-Protested Olympics Ever (July 30, 2021)



NBC Nightly News Broadcast (Full) - July 30th, 2021



PBS NewsHour full episode, July 30th, 2021




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COVID-19 News and Updates

Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.

UC Davis Health: COVID-19 Delta Variant - Masks for Fully Vaccinated People Explained



TWiV 787: COVID-19 clinical update #73 with Dr. Daniel Griffin



In COVID-19 clinical update #73, Daniel Griffin reviews updated mask guidance from CDC, infections in public school district employees, effectiveness of vaccines against delta variant, antibody response after third vaccine dose in kidney transplant recipients, protection afforded by mRNA vaccines fully vaccinated people with and without prior infections, correlates of protection in nonhuman primates, lack of effectiveness of doxycycline, neurological manifestations of COVID-19, and infection in vaccinated health care workers.

Show notes at [https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-787?utm_source=MaconMedia.com&utm_campaign=COVID_Update/]

Weekly COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County (July 30, 2021) [Macon Media]

Mask mandate back in Cherokee; Masking encouraged but not required in N.C. [Smoky Mountain News]

COVID-19 cases in 17 states linked back to Transylvania County summer camp [WLOS-TV]

Yes, your employer can require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine [WRAL-TV]

President Biden Delivers Remarks Laying Out the Next Steps to Get More Americans Vaccinated (July 29th, 2021)



Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (July 29th, 2021)



PRESS RELEASE (07-29-2021)
GOVERNOR ROY COOPER


 Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced that state government would begin verifying vaccination status of its workers. Employees not vaccinated are required to wear a mask and be tested at least once a week. Today’s announcement comes as North Carolina’s latest upswing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is driven by unvaccinated North Carolinians.

“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” said Governor Cooper.

NCDHHS updated guidance encourages private sector businesses to, at a minimum, verify vaccination status for their workers as well. The requirement for state government employees applies to cabinet agencies and is included in Executive Order 224.

“There is only one way out of this pandemic and that is vaccination. Our trends are accelerating at an alarmingly fast rate and the highest rates of viral spread are happening in areas with low vaccination rates and among those who are not fully vaccinated,” said Secretary Cohen. “If you are already vaccinated, I call on you to urge your unvaccinated family and friends to get their shot now. It is not an understatement to say that you will save lives by doing so.”

The NCDHHS updated guidance reminds unvaccinated people that they need to continue practicing the three Ws – wear a mask in all indoor public settings, wait six feet apart in all public settings and wash hands often. In addition, unvaccinated people should not gather with other unvaccinated people who do not live with them. If they do, they should stay outside and keep 6 feet of distance. In addition, unvaccinated people should not travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new mask guidance this week based on levels of transmission in communities. The new maps designate counties as areas of low (blue), moderate (yellow), substantial (orange) or high (red) transmission. Moving forward, everyone in a red or orange county in North Carolina, including those who have been vaccinated, should wear a mask in public indoor settings.

Additionally, in accordance with the updated CDC guidance, all K-12 schools should require universal masking, regardless of vaccination status. NCDHHS is updating its guidance for schools to align with this recommendation.

To date, North Carolina has administered nearly 9.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 57 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. 61 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 86 percent of North Carolinians 65 and over.

Learn more about the state’s vaccine distribution at myspot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). Details on the Your Shot at $1 Million Summer Cash Drawing can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/summervaxcash. Use NCDHHS’ online tool Find a Vaccine Location to find a nearby vaccine site. Call the state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 888-675-4567.

Read the Executive Order.

Read a Frequently Asked Questions document



TWiV 786: You make mucus and you move it (July 29th, 2021)



TWiVsters review off-season epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus in Australia after easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and impaired innate immune responses in upper respiratory tract cells from patients with severe COVID-19. Show notes at [https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-786/]

Covid-19 Delta variant affects younger, unvaccinated populations in NC [Carolina Public Press]

How the coronavirus infects cells — and why Delta is so dangerous [Nature]

SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance [BioRxiv]

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers [New England Journal of Medicine]

Surveillance Data Shows White-Tailed Deer Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 [USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service]

Risk of Myocarditis from COVID-19 Infection in People Under Age 20: A Population-Based Analysis [MedRxiv]

Long covid—mechanisms, risk factors, and management [BMJ]

Six Month Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine [MedRxiv]

A new perspective for mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection: priming the innate immune system for viral attack [Royal Society]

CDC Confirms That Viral Loads In Vaccinated People With Delta May Be Infectious, So Masks Are Necessary [SFist]


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On This Day

July 31st is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 153 days remain until the end of the year.



Historical Events

(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)


30 BC – Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Alexandria (30 BC)]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Mark Antony]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Augustus]

781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: Sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Ten'o (天応) era).

1009 – Pope Sergius IV becomes the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII.

1201 – Attempted usurpation by John Komnenos the Fat for the throne of Alexios III Angelos.

1423 – Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: The French army is defeated by the English at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Cravant]
• [WIkipedia: Hundred Years' War]

1451 – Jacques Cœur is arrested by order of Charles VII of France.

1492 – The Jews are expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree takes effect.

1498 – On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.

1588 – The Spanish Armada is spotted off the coast of England.

1618 – Maurice, Prince of Orange disbands the waardgelders militia in Utrecht, a pivotal event in the Remonstrant/Counter-Remonstrant tensions.

1655 – Russo-Polish War (1654–67): The Russian army enters the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius, which it holds for six years.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Vilnius (1655)]
• [Wikipedia: Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)]

1658 – Aurangzeb is proclaimed Mughal emperor of India.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Aurangzeb]
• [Mughal Empire]
• [The Hindu Lit for Life 2019: The Myth and Reality of Emperor Aurangzeb - An Illustrated lecture]

1703 – Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but is pelted with flowers.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Daniel Defoe]
• [HistoryPod Video]
• [Wiki[pedia article about the pamphlet]
• [The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters:] (PDF Copy)
• [Downloadable Copy on Internet Archive]

1712 – Action of 31 July 1712 (Great Northern War): Danish and Swedish ships clash in the Baltic Sea; the result is inconclusive.
• [Wikipedia: Action of 31 July 1712]

1715 – Seven days after a Spanish treasure fleet of 12 ships left Havana, Cuba for Spain, 11 of them sink in a storm off the coast of Florida. A few centuries later, treasure is salvaged from these wrecks.
• [Wikipedia: 1715 Treasure Fleet]
• [1715 Fleet Society]
• [The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet]

1741 – Charles Albert of Bavaria invades Upper Austria and Bohemia.

1763 – Odawa Chief Pontiac's forces defeat British troops at the Battle of Bloody Run during Pontiac's War.

1777 – The U.S. Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette "be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States."
• [Wikipedia Bio: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette]

1790 – The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.

1793 – Oulu Castle was destroyed in an explosion following the burning of a powder cellar.

1856 – Christchurch, New Zealand is chartered as a city.

1865 – The first narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Queensland, Australia.

1874 – Dr. Patrick Francis Healy became the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University.

1904 – Russo-Japanese War: Battle of Hsimucheng: Units of the Imperial Japanese Army defeat units of the Imperial Russian Army in a strategic confrontation and forever changed the way naval wars are fought.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Hsimucheng]
• [The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 🇷🇺🇯🇵 Full Documentary] (The Pacific War Channel)
• [Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 - Battle of Tsushima ] (Kings and Generals)
• [The Battle of Tsushima]

1913 – The Balkan States sign an armistice in Bucharest.

1917 – World War I: The Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres) begins near Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Passchendaele]
• [The Battle of Passchendaele - Mutiny in the German Navy I THE GREAT WAR Week 158]
• [The Battle of Passchendaele (1917)]
• [Why Passchendaele Was The Worst Battle Of WWI | The Battle Of Passchendaele | Timeline]

1932 – The NSDAP (Nazi Party) wins more than 38% of the vote in German elections.
• [Wikipedia: July 1932 German federal election]

1938 – Bulgaria signs a non-aggression pact with Greece and other states of Balkan Antanti (Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia).

1938 – Archaeologists discover engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius the Great in Persepolis.

1941 – The Holocaust: Under instructions from Adolf Hitler, Nazi official Hermann Göring, orders SS General Reinhard Heydrich to "submit to me as soon as possible a general plan of the administrative material and financial measures necessary for carrying out the desired Final Solution of the Jewish question."
• [Preparations for the Final Solution begin] (History.com)

1941 – World War II: The Battle of Smolensk concludes with Germany capturing about 300,000 Soviet Red Army prisoners.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Smolensk (1941)]
• [Wikipedia: Eastern Front (World War II)]
• [Barbarossa Visualized: The Battle of Smolensk [July 1941] [Episode 5]]

1945 – Pierre Laval, the fugitive former leader of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria.

1948 – At Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) is dedicated.

1948 – USS Nevada is sunk by an aerial torpedo after surviving hits from two atomic bombs (as part of post-war tests) and being used for target practice by three other ships.

1964 – Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes.
• [Ranger 7]
• [NASA: Ranger VII Photographs of the Moon]
• [JPL: Ranger 7 'Meets' the Moon]

1970 – Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy.
• [Wikipedia: Black Tot Day]
• [31st July 1970: Black Tot Day ends the Royal Navy's daily rum ration]
• [Video Playlist Marking the 50th Anniversary of Black Tot Day]

1971 – Apollo program: Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride in a lunar rover.

1972 – The Troubles: In Operation Motorman, the British Army re-takes the urban no-go areas of Northern Ireland. It is the biggest British military operation since the Suez Crisis of 1956, and the biggest in Ireland since the Irish War of Independence. Later that day, nine civilians are killed by car bombs in the village of Claudy.
• [Wikipedia: Operation Motorman]
• [Newsreel]
• [INSIGHT: OPERATION MOTORMAN 1972]

1973 – A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723 crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts killing 89.

1975 – The Troubles: Three members of a popular cabaret band and two gunmen are killed during a botched paramilitary attack in Northern Ireland.

1987 – A tornado occurs in Edmonton, Canada.

1988 – Thirty-two people are killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapses in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

1991 – The United States and Soviet Union both sign the START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first to reduce (with verification) both countries' stockpiles.
• [Wikipedia: START I]
• [Trip to Moscow and Kiev, Cuts of Signing Ceremony - 31 July 1991]
• [START I Nuclear Weapons Treaty Signing]

1992 – The nation of Georgia joins the United Nations.

1992 – Thai Airways International Flight 311 crashes into a mountain north of Kathmandu, Nepal killing all 113 people on board.

1999 – Discovery Program: Lunar Prospector: NASA intentionally crashes the spacecraft into the Moon, thus ending its mission to detect frozen water on the Moon's surface.
• [Lunar Prospector]
• [Spacecraft crash into lunar crater in search for ice]
• [Wikipedia: Discovery Program]

2006 – Fidel Castro hands over power to his brother, Raúl.

2007 – Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and the longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end.

2008 – East Coast Jets Flight 81 crashes near Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in Owatonna, Minnesota, killing all eight people on board.[5]

2012 – Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics.
• [Phelps' 19th Medal Breaks 48-Year-Old Record]

2014 – Gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung kill at least 20 people and injure more than 270.
• [2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions]
• [Video Compilation]

2018 - Facebook discloses and removes Russian-linked network of sites attempting to interfere in American politics

2019 - American officials announce Osama bin Laden's son, Hamza bin Laden and potential successor has been killed in US air strikes in Pakistan

2020 - Eurozone economic activity falls 11.9% for April-June with Spain the worst at -18.5%, its deepest in modern times 2020 - Mexico overtakes the UK to have the world's third highest death toll from COVID-19 with 46,688 fatalities 2020 - Apple wildfire starts near Beaumont, California, forcing the evacuation of nearly 8,000 people over the next few days



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Support Macon Media

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!



Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 5:15am on Saturday, July 31, 2021

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Friday, July 30, 2021

Weekly COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County
July 30, 2021



Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since April 17th, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to the public. In June, the health department stopped releasing numbers on a daily basis and now releases them once a week on Fridays.

Known COVID-19 Cases

3280 Detected
(+35 from July 23rd and +72 from July 2nd)

44 Active
(+23 (+109.5%) from July 23rd and +30 (214.29%) from July 2nd)

3195 Recovered
(+12 from July 23rd and +30 from July 2nd)

41 Deaths
(unchanged from July 23rd and unchanged from July 2nd)





Testing numbers reported to the health department

9720 by Macon County Public Health
(+34 from July 23rd and +84 from July 2nd)

11473 by Others
(+89 from Tuesday and +326 from July 2nd)

21193 Total Tests
(++123 from July 23rd and +408 from July 2nd)

10 tests pending results
(+6 from July 23rd and +1 from July 2nd)




Support Macon Media



If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!



Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 7:30pm on Friday, July 30, 2021

News and Weather Briefing for Friday, July 30, 2021



Here is an index to assist you in moving from section to section within the article.

Back to Top
Local News
Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
On This Day
Support Macon Media


OUTLOOK

Hot and dry high pressure persists across the region through Friday. A cold front will approach the area, gradually sinking south across the western Carolinas through the day on Friday. This front will stall in or near the forecast area to keep shower and thunderstorm chances around through the weekend. Early next week, another cold front brings cooler weather along with more shower and thunderstorm chances.




---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---



Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.





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Local News

Dedication Ceremony - Beloved Man Dr. Jerry Wolfe Highway



Macon County Board of Education, July 2021



For more information, visit [MaconMedia.com].

Macon County Board of Commissioners, July 2021



Supporting documents can be found at [MaconMedia.com]

Franklin Town Council - July 2021



Supporting documents posted online at [MaconMedia.com]




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Local Weather

National Weather Map for Today



General forecast through Sunday Night


Franklin area

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 90. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs near 90. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 9pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Light winds out of the northwest.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 11am and 3pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Chance of rain is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Chance of rain is 40%.




Highlands Plateau

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 80s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows around 60. Winds out of the north around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs near 80. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 60s. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of rain is 30%.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 60. Chance of rain is 40%.




Otto area

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 90. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Light winds out of the northwest. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with highs near 90. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 9pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Light winds out of the northwest.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 11am and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Chance of rain is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 40%.




Nantahala area

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog in the morning. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph early shifting to come out of the northwest by midmorning. Chance of rain is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds.

Sunday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 10am and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Partly sunny, with highs near 80. Chance of rain is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Chance of rain is 40%.


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Hazards and Tropical Weather

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK



Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Fri Jul 30 2021

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.




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Almanac

Air Quality




Air quality is in the middle range of yellow for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of yellow.

Fire and Smoke Map
(There is haze from the wildfires out on the west coast.)

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (5.0 out of 12) today with Grasses, and Nettle being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the medium range (5.5 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on July 16th


Highest Temperature 94°F in Franklin in 1952
Lowest Temperature 44°F in Highlands in 1911
Greatest Rainfall 3.00 inches in Highlands in 1878
Greatest Snowfall (No snowfall recorded on this date since records started being kept in 1872)


July Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on 07-29-1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on 07-27-1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on 07-29-1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1872



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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)


Katie Dean announces Macon Co. Townhall

Katie Dean is running for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th District. Katie is holding a Townhall on Thursday, July 15, 6pm – 7pm at the Big Bear Shelter [E. Main St. and Little Tennessee River].


The Macon County Art Association (a not for profit member organization) is offering classes in encaustic painting on Specified Fridays from 10AM-12PM at the Uptown Gallery 30 E Main St Franklin NC. Specific class dates are Friday July 9 and 23, August 3 and 27, September 3 and 17, October 29.

For more information contact the instructor, Karen Smith, at karen@programservices.org


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National News Roundup

Final Senate Floor Speech Of Former Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, Who Has Passed Away At The Age Of 87



Major quake hits off the coast of Alaska, triggers tsunami warnings but no large waves [LINKTEXT]

Level1 News July 30 2021: Let My Ice Cream Go



NBC Nightly News Broadcast (Full) - July 28th, 2021



PBS NewsHour full episode, July 28th, 2021




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COVID-19 News and Updates

Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.

UC Davis Health: COVID-19 Delta Variant - Masks for Fully Vaccinated People Explained



Is now the time to mandate vaccination?



Mask mandate back in Cherokee; Masking encouraged but not required in N.C. [Smoky Mountain News]

COVID-19 cases in 17 states linked back to Transylvania County summer camp [WLOS-TV]

Yes, your employer can require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine [WRAL-TV]

President Biden Delivers Remarks Laying Out the Next Steps to Get More Americans Vaccinated (July 29th, 2021)



Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (July 29th, 2021)



PRESS RELEASE (07-29-2021)
GOVERNOR ROY COOPER


 Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced that state government would begin verifying vaccination status of its workers. Employees not vaccinated are required to wear a mask and be tested at least once a week. Today’s announcement comes as North Carolina’s latest upswing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is driven by unvaccinated North Carolinians.

“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” said Governor Cooper.

NCDHHS updated guidance encourages private sector businesses to, at a minimum, verify vaccination status for their workers as well. The requirement for state government employees applies to cabinet agencies and is included in Executive Order 224.

“There is only one way out of this pandemic and that is vaccination. Our trends are accelerating at an alarmingly fast rate and the highest rates of viral spread are happening in areas with low vaccination rates and among those who are not fully vaccinated,” said Secretary Cohen. “If you are already vaccinated, I call on you to urge your unvaccinated family and friends to get their shot now. It is not an understatement to say that you will save lives by doing so.”

The NCDHHS updated guidance reminds unvaccinated people that they need to continue practicing the three Ws – wear a mask in all indoor public settings, wait six feet apart in all public settings and wash hands often. In addition, unvaccinated people should not gather with other unvaccinated people who do not live with them. If they do, they should stay outside and keep 6 feet of distance. In addition, unvaccinated people should not travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new mask guidance this week based on levels of transmission in communities. The new maps designate counties as areas of low (blue), moderate (yellow), substantial (orange) or high (red) transmission. Moving forward, everyone in a red or orange county in North Carolina, including those who have been vaccinated, should wear a mask in public indoor settings.

Additionally, in accordance with the updated CDC guidance, all K-12 schools should require universal masking, regardless of vaccination status. NCDHHS is updating its guidance for schools to align with this recommendation.

To date, North Carolina has administered nearly 9.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 57 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. 61 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 86 percent of North Carolinians 65 and over.

Learn more about the state’s vaccine distribution at myspot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). Details on the Your Shot at $1 Million Summer Cash Drawing can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/summervaxcash. Use NCDHHS’ online tool Find a Vaccine Location to find a nearby vaccine site. Call the state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 888-675-4567.

Read the Executive Order.

Read a Frequently Asked Questions document



TWiV 786: You make mucus and you move it (July 29th, 2021)



TWiVsters review off-season epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus in Australia after easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and impaired innate immune responses in upper respiratory tract cells from patients with severe COVID-19. Show notes at [https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-786/]

Covid-19 Delta variant affects younger, unvaccinated populations in NC [Carolina Public Press]

How the coronavirus infects cells — and why Delta is so dangerous [Nature]

SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance [BioRxiv]

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers [New England Journal of Medicine]

Surveillance Data Shows White-Tailed Deer Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 [USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service]

Risk of Myocarditis from COVID-19 Infection in People Under Age 20: A Population-Based Analysis [MedRxiv]

Long covid—mechanisms, risk factors, and management [BMJ]

Six Month Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine [MedRxiv]

A new perspective for mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection: priming the innate immune system for viral attack [Royal Society]

CDC Confirms That Viral Loads In Vaccinated People With Delta May Be Infectious, So Masks Are Necessary [SFist]


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On This Day

July 30th is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 154 days remain until the end of the year.



Historical Events

(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)


762 – Baghdad is founded.

1419 – First Defenestration of Prague: A crowd of radical Hussites kill seven members of the Prague city council.
• [Wikipedia: Hussites]
• [Wikipedia: First Defenestration of Prague]
• [Unbiased History: The Defenestrations of Prague]
• [Wikipedia: Bohemian Reformation]
• [First Defenestration of Prague] (1955 Dramatization in Czech, no translation)

1502 – Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras during his fourth voyage.

1609 – Beaver Wars: At Ticonderoga (now Crown Point, New York), Samuel de Champlain shoots and kills two Iroquois chiefs on behalf of his native allies.

1619 – In Jamestown, Virginia, the first Colonial European representative assembly in the Americas, the Virginia General Assembly, convenes for the first time.

1627 – An earthquake kills about 5,000 people in Gargano, Italy.

1635 – Eighty Years' War: The Siege of Schenkenschans begins; Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, begins the recapture of the strategically important fortress from the Spanish Army.

1656 – The Battle of Warsaw ends with a Swedish-Brandenburger victory over a larger Polish-Lithuanian force.

1676 – Nathaniel Bacon issues the "Declaration of the People of Virginia", beginning Bacon's Rebellion against the rule of Governor William Berkeley.
• [Wikipedia: Declaration of the People of Virginia]
• [Text at The Avalon Project]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Nathaniel Bacon (Virginia colonist)]
• [33 - 'The History of Colonel Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion' by Ebenezer Cook (1728)]
• [Wikipedia: Bacon's Rebellion]
• [amestown - Bacon's Rebellion] (Khan Academy)
• [Bacon's Rebellion: Racism in America | Michael Trownsell | TS]

1729 – Founding of Baltimore, Maryland.

1733 – The first Masonic Grand Lodge in the future United States is constituted in Massachusetts.

1756 – In Saint Petersburg, Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.

1811 – Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican insurgency, is executed by the Spanish in Chihuahua City, Mexico.

1859 – First ascent of Grand Combin, one of the highest summits in the Alps.

1863 – American Indian Wars: Representatives of the United States and tribal leaders including Chief Pocatello (of the Shoshone) sign the Treaty of Box Elder.
• [Wikipedia: Box Elder Treaty]
• [Wikipedia: American Indian Wars]

1864 – American Civil War: Battle of the Crater: Union forces attempt to break Confederate lines at Petersburg, Virginia by exploding a large bomb under their trenches.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of the Crater]
• [Battle of The Crater at Petersburg: War Department] (American Battlefield Trust)
• [Battle of the Crater: Everyone Into the Hole]
• [nder Siege! - S01E05: Petersburg 1864 - Full Documentary]
• [Eyewitness to the Battle of the Crater (North)]
• [Cold Mountain - Battle of the Crater (Seige of Petersburg)] (Dramatization)

1865 – The steamboat Brother Jonathan sinks off the coast of Crescent City, California, killing 225 passengers, the deadliest shipwreck on the Pacific Coast of the U.S. at the time.

1866 – Armed Confederate veterans in New Orleans riot against a meeting of Radical Republicans, killing 48 people and injuring another 100.

1871 – The Staten Island Ferry Westfield's boiler explodes, killing over 85 people.

1912 – Japan's Emperor Meiji dies and is succeeded by his son Yoshihito, who is now known as the Emperor Taishō.

1930 – In Montevideo, Uruguay wins the first FIFA World Cup.

1932 – Premiere of Walt Disney's Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon short to use Technicolor and the first Academy Award winning cartoon short.

1945 – World War II: Japanese submarine I-58 sinks the USS Indianapolis, killing 883 seamen. Most die during the following four days, until an aircraft notices the survivors.
• [94-year-old survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking, tells his story]
• [Wikipedia: USS Indianapolis (CA-35)]
• [The Story of the Deadliest Shark Attack in US History]
• [An Exclusive First Look Inside USS Indianapolis Wreckage Underwater | TODAY (2017)]

1956 – A joint resolution of the U.S. Congress is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing In God We Trust as the U.S. national motto.
• [Wikipedia: In God We Trust]
• [The Real Reason 'In God We Trust' Is On The U.S. Dollar]

1962 – The Trans-Canada Highway, the longest national highway in the world, is officially opened.

1965 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Social Security Act of 1965 into law, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.
• [Wikipedia: Social Security Amendments of 1965]
• [Medicare and Medicaid at 50 (2017)]

1966 – England defeats West Germany to win the 1966 FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium after extra time.

1969 – Vietnam War: US President Richard Nixon makes an unscheduled visit to South Vietnam and meets with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and U.S. military commanders.
• [News Reel Footage]

1971 – Apollo program: On Apollo 15, David Scott and James Irwin on the Apollo Lunar Module Falcon land on the Moon with the first Lunar Rover.
• [Wikipedia: Apollo 15]
• [APOLLO 15 Landing (stabilized video)]
• [Apollo 15: "Never Been on a Ride like this Before"] (NASA Video)
• [Apollo 15 in 60fps: Rover Traverse To Station 4]

1971 – An All Nippon Airways Boeing 727 and a Japanese Air Force F-86 collide over Morioka, Iwate, Japan killing 162.

1974 – Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard Nixon releases subpoenaed White House recordings after being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court of the United States.

1975 – Jimmy Hoffa disappears from the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at about 2:30 p.m. He is never seen or heard from again.
• [Jimmy Hoffa’s Disappearance: News Reports 1975 - 1980]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Jimmy Hoffa]
• [LINKTEXT]

1978 – The 730: Okinawa Prefecture changes its traffic on the right-hand side of the road to the left-hand side.

1980 – Vanuatu gains independence.

1980 – Israel's Knesset passes the Jerusalem Law.
• [Wikipedia: Jerusalem Law]

1981 – As many as 50,000 demonstrators, mostly women and children, took to the streets in Łódź to protest food ration shortages in Communist Poland.

1990 – Ian Gow, Conservative Member of Parliament, is assassinated at his home by IRA terrorists in a car bombing after he assured the group that the British government would never surrender to them.

2003 – In Mexico, the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line.

2006 – The world's longest running music show Top of the Pops is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show had aired for 42 years.

2011 – Marriage of Queen Elizabeth II's eldest granddaughter Zara Phillips to former rugby union footballer Mike Tindall.

2012 – A train fire kills 32 passengers and injures 27 on the Tamil Nadu Express in Andhra Pradesh, India.

2012 – A power grid failure in Delhi leaves more than 300 million people without power in northern India.

2014 – Twenty killed and 150 are trapped after a landslide in Maharashtra, India.

2020 – NASA's Mars 2020 mission was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• [Live NASA Webcast]
• [SciNews Highlight Reel]
• [Wikipedia: Mars 2020]
• [Official Website]





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Published at 4:00am on Friday, July 30, 2021

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