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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 29 June 2023
The heat wave blamed for 13 deaths in Texas so far spreads eastward

By K. McGILL/ K. MILLER The dead ranged in age
Associated Press from 60 to 80 years old
Scorching heat blamed for and many had underlying
at least 13 deaths in Texas health conditions, accord-
and another in Louisiana ing to Webb County Medi-
blanketed more of the cal Examiner Dr. Corinne
Southeast on Wednesday, Stern, who said the level of
stretching government heat in the county was un-
warnings of dangerous, precedented. The area has
triple-digit temperatures a higher poverty rate than
eastward into Mississippi the state average and that
and Tennessee. California, compounds the suffering,
meanwhile, was facing its Stern said. “The vast major-
first major heat wave of the ity do not have air condi-
year. The National Weather tioning in their homes. They
Service warned that the either have the fans off, or
dry, hot, windy conditions they have fans on but not
were ripe for dangerous proper ventilation,” Stern
fires in parts of Texas, New said. “There has been at
Mexico, Arizona, Colorado least one or two that have
and Utah. Mid-week tem- air conditioning but don’t
peratures were forecast want to run it due to the
to surpass 100 degrees (38 bill.” Two Florida hikers also
degrees Celsius) in much died while hiking in extreme
of the Southeast and high A fisherman reels in his catch as the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, heat at Big Bend National
humidity was expected in Bal Harbour, Fla. Associated Press Park. The heat has prompt-
to push heat index values ed the U.S. Postal Service
above 115 degrees (46 power to come back on, So this just makes it a lot ville also was blamed on to allow earlier starting
Celsius) in some areas. said in a phone interview easier.” Among the heat’s heat. Relatives found her times for letter carriers, ac-
Lingering power outag- Wednesday. “It’s kind of casualties was a man who after she had spent sever- cording to the National
es after weekend storms nice to have a little cool air, died late Sunday in Shreve- al days without electricity Association of Letter Car-
compounded the heat- so I came a little earlier.” port, Louisiana, the second because of earlier severe riers Lonestar Branch. This
related misery in Arkansas. A park in Pearl River, Louisi- heat-related death in the storms, the Caddo Parish comes after the death of a
More than 10,000 residents ana, featuring water foun- state in an unusually warm Coroner’s Office said. letter carrier who died June
were still without power tains and overhead sprin- June. The 49-year-old from In southeast Louisiana, the 20 in near triple-digit heat.
in the central part of the klers for children to play in neighboring Bossier City National Weather Service The cause of the carrier’s
state. In Cabot, northeast was a welcome respite for had been found lying on office in Slidell issued an death was still under inves-
of Little Rock, a local se- Victoria Lee, who was there a sidewalk in Shreveport, excessive heat warning on tigation Wednesday. The
nior center provided cool with her small children. where Sunday’s tempera- June 16, the earliest in the unusually high tempera-
air and a place to charge “I have outdoor kids,” she ture hit 97 degrees (36 de- year it’s ever done so for tures were brought on by a
cellphones and tablets for said. “They don’t like being grees Celsius) 10 degrees that area, a meteorologist heat dome that has taxed
those without electricity. inside. So, when we’re at Fahrenheit higher than the said. Eleven of the Texas the Texas power grid and
“Usually I just come at noon home and they’re outside average for the date. heat-related deaths oc- brought record highs to
for the meal,” Clint Hick- and they’re sweaty, they’re The death of a 62-year-old curred in Webb County, parts of the state, accord-
man, still waiting for his just miserable all the time. woman on June 21 in Keith- which includes Laredo. ing to meteorologists. q

U.S. commits more lawyers to address Native American

disappearances and killings

By SUSAN M. BRYAN New Mexico and Arizona day.
Associated Press to Alaska, Washington, Or- The announcement came
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) egon, Oklahoma, South as a special commission
— The U.S. Department of Dakota, Michigan and Min- gathered in Albuquerque
Justice on Wednesday an- nesota. for one of its final field hear-
nounced it will be funneling Attorney General Merrick ings as it works to develop
more resources toward ad- Garland acknowledged recommendations on im-
dressing the alarming rate that the crisis has shattered proving the response from
of disappearances and kill- the lives of victims, their law enforcement and co-
ings among Native Ameri- families and entire tribal ordination within local,
cans. communities. state, tribal and federal jus-
As part of a new outreach “The Justice Department tice systems.
program, the agency will will continue to acceler- The commission started its
dispatch five attorneys and ate our efforts, in partner- meeting with a prayer and
five coordinators to several ship with tribes, to keep a moment of silence as
regions around the country their communities safe and four colorful skirts were dis-
Members of the U.S. government’s Not Invisible Commission to help with investigations pursue justice for American played at the front of the
prepare for a field hearing in Albuquerque, N.M. on Wednesday, of unsolved cases and re- Indian and Alaska Native room in honor of those who
June 28, 2023.
Associated Press lated crimes. families,” Garland said in a have gone missing or have
Their reach will span from statement issued Wednes- been trafficked or killed.q