The wildfire spreading near Yosemite Park

The Oak fire torches California amid a nationwide heatwave; WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

California burns amid US heatwave

David McNew/AFP via Getty Images

• A wildfire near Yosemite National Park fueled by drought and high temperatures has become the most extensive burning in California. [USA Today / Celina Tebor]
• Since Friday, the Oak fire has burned nearly 17,000 acres and forced 3,000 people to flee their homes. Though the fire slowed on Sunday, thousands of buildings remain at risk. [New York Times / Thomas Fuller]
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state emergency activating several agencies to respond to the blaze. [CNN / Jason Hanna, Rebekah Riess, Sara Smart, and Andy Rose]
• The latest fire comes as firefighters battle the nearby Washburn fire, which threatened a grove of giant sequoias and is over 80 percent contained after burning for two weeks. [SF Gate / Amy Graff]
• As climate change causes warmer temperatures and drier conditions in the West, California wildfires are becoming more destructive and unpredictable. [Associated Press / Noah Berger and Christopher Weber]
• Meanwhile, 65 million Americans faced extreme heat warnings on Monday. Temperatures are expected to cool in the Northeast but remain dangerously high in parts of the South and Pacific Northwest. [Washington Post / Matthew Cappucci]

Monkeypox is a global emergency

• Saturday, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global emergency as at least 16,500 cases have reached 74 countries. [Washington Post / Fenit Nirappil]
• The declaration will likely encourage WHO member states to share information on spread and treatments. The US, UK, and Spain all have around  3,000 known cases — and experts say the actual total could be much higher. [NYT / Apoorva Mandavilli]
• The Monkeypox virus typically appears in west and central Africa. It spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal; symptoms include fever, sore throat, and painful lesions. [CNN / Carma Hassan and Carolyn Sung]
• Most cases have appeared among men who have sex with men; however, the WHO warns the virus could spread to other groups. Health officials say more information is still needed on the effectiveness of available vaccines and treatments against monkeypox. [CNBC / Karen Gilchrist]

Congress could vote this week on a bill that would give billions to the US semiconductor industry. [The Hill / Mychael Schnell]

• Goodfellas star Paul Sorvino, 83, died Monday of natural causes. [Hollywood Reporter / Mike Barnes]
• Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WVa) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced they’ve tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. [CNN / Melanie Zanona]
• Dallas police shot and took into custody a 37-year-old woman who opened fire at Dallas Love Field airport on Monday. [Dallas Morning News / Maggie Prosser, Jamie Landers, Michael Williams, Kyle Arnold, Hojun Choi, and Kelli Smith]

  Support our journalism

Reader contributions help keep newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a one-time gift today.

“Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus.”

[WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on containing monkeypox / Washington Post]

The necessity — and danger — of free speech 

Sean Illing talks with Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan about his new book The Paradox of Democracy, which he co-authored with media studies professor Zac Gershberg. 

Read more from Vox

Gavin Newsom’s plan to save the Constitution by trolling the Supreme Court

The deadliest road in America

We’ve all got Covid-19 fatigue, but BA.5 shows it’s not over

The future of remote work, according to 6 experts

What keeping secrets does to you

This email was sent to you. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.

View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.

Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036.
Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.