THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024

Happy Fourth of July! On this day in 1884, the completed Statue of Liberty was formally presented to the U.S. ambassador in a ceremony in Paris, France, commemorating the friendship between France and the United States.

In between grilling and hanging out, we're working today to put together a shortened holiday Flyover for your reading pleasure tomorrow. Have a safe holiday, everyone!

Did you click on something you really enjoyed in today's Flyover? Let us know how we're doing by replying to this e-mail.

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Thompson Fire Rages Near Sacramento

An evacuation order was issued for 28,000 residents in Oroville, California, due to the rapidly spreading Thompson Fire.

The blaze, which ignited around 11 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, has already consumed more than 3,568 acres in Butte County, 65 miles north of Sacramento.

Despite the efforts of 400 fire personnel, six helicopters, and six air tankers, the fire remains 0% contained. Here’s a video.

The Hyatt Powerplant was taken offline Wednesday morning due to de-energized powerlines, and employees were evacuated.

Biden Undeterred by Polling and Calls to Exit

President Biden vowed to keep running for reelection on Wednesday despite growing calls for him to withdraw from fellow Democrats and drastic changes in polls.

House Democrat Raúl Grijalva became the second sitting lawmaker after Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett to publicly urge Biden to step down. Grijalva said it was time for the Democratic Party to select a new nominee.

According to a new CBS poll, Biden now trails former President Trump by 3 points in battleground states and 2 points nationally.

A New York Times/Siena College poll has Trump leading Biden by 6 points, up 3 points from last week’s results. It was Trump’s best showing in a Times/Siena poll since 2015.

July 4 Brings Drones, Higher Prices

If you’re hosting a Fourth of July barbecue for ten, expect to spend an average of $71.22—a record high that's 5% more than last year and 30% higher than in 2019 before the pandemic.

As the nation grapples with record-breaking heat and devastating wildfires, many municipalities have opted for drone shows instead of traditional Fourth of July fireworks.

If you're still planning a private pyrotechnics display, be sure to check local and state regulations, as limits may be in place; here's a handy map.

If you run out of supplies, be sure to check which stores remain open today to ensure a smooth and enjoyable celebration.

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➤ Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that he was not a "church boy" but denied allegations of sexual assault made in a Vanity Fair article, dismissing the piece as "garbage.” (More)

➤ The Biden campaign launched a seven-figure ad buy in battleground states to criticize the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision and connect former President Trump to the Capitol riot and authoritarianism. (More)

➤ California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday suddenly withdrew his anticipated crime bill addressing retail theft and fentanyl, leaving a competing tough-on-crime measure backed by prosecutors and big-box retailers on November’s ballot. (More)

➤ The Biden administration announced its opposition to sex-change surgeries for transgender minors on Wednesday, reversing its previous position and angering activist groups. (More)

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➤ Jonathan Isaac, an NBA player who drew criticism for standing for the national anthem while his teammates knelt, agreed to a five-year, $84 million contract extension with the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. (See Photo)

➤ Lebron James has agreed to return to the Lakers on a two-year $104 million deal. The deal includes a no-trade clause and a player option for the 2025-2026 NBA season. (More)

➤ Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have both made the WNBA all-star team, the first time since 2014 that two rookies have made the all-star team in the same season. They'll play against the US women’s national team in the WNBA all-star game. (More)

➤ Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran made history on Tuesday by becoming the first American Leaguer to achieve 100 hits, 20 steals, 10 triples, and 10 homers before the All-Star break. (See 10th Home Run)

➤ Yesterday's results: MLB | WNBA | Copa América | Wimbledon | PGA

Daily Market Report 07/03/2024

▲	NASDAQ Natl. Assoc. of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	18,188.30	+0.88%
▲	SPX S&P 500	5,537.02	+0.51%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	39,308.00	-0.06%
▼	BTC Bitcoin	$59,652.65	-3.83%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$2,369.40	+2.00%
▲	KOSS Koss Corporation	$10.63	+143.81%

➤ Big Stock Move: Koss stock soared 144% Wednesday as the headphone maker’s shares got caught up in meme stock chatter and frenzy on X, formerly Twitter. (More)

➤ Paramount reported it had agreed to a tentative merger agreement with Skydance, despite previously calling off talks. (See Details)

➤ Southwest Airlines has implemented a 'poison pill' strategy in response to activist investor Elliott Investment Management acquiring an 11% stake and seeking control of management. (More)

➤ Bob's Stores, a Northeast clothing store chain, is closing all locations after failing to secure financing amid a bankruptcy filing. Liquidation sales at all remaining locations will run through July 14. (More)

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➤ Wildlife officials plan to resume shooting barred owls to protect the endangered spotted owl population in the Pacific Northwest. The culling aims to reduce competition for habitat. (See Details)

➤ Scientists revealed a fossil of a giant salamander-like predator with sharp fangs and a flat head resembling a toilet seat. The beast was larger than a person. (More)

➤ Astronomers say July and August are the best months to observe the Milky Way without a telescope. Choose a location with minimal light pollution and clear skies, and plan your stargazing around the new moon. (See Details)

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➤ What people like to talk about most at social gatherings is their family and friends, according to new Pew Research. Politics and social issues are far down the list, with fewer than a third of Americans citing those as discussion topics. (See Results)

➤ A new Gallup survey shows fewer than half of Americans feel “extremely proud” to be American, among the lowest results in Gallup’s history. Republicans are more likely to say they’re proud of the country than Democrats. (See Poll)

➤ Americans report they feel they need to make a salary that averages to about $186,000 a year just to live comfortably. That’s double the actual average salary in the U.S. (See Survey)

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➤ Two Union soldiers who seized a Confederate train and drove it 87 miles north, destroying train tracks and telegraph lines along the way, were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Wednesday. (More)

➤ The Brits jailed a man for the intolerable act of carrying a six-inch toy sword, saying its sharply pointed tip could cause fear and be used as a weapon. (More)

➤ Spoiled food forced a Delta Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday, where emergency medical responders treated 12 passengers. (More)

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