Up First briefing: Climate worsens heat waves; Israel protests; Emmett Till monument

Today’s top stories involve climate change exacerbating heat waves, protests in Israel over new judiciary laws, and US monument designation for Emmett Till sites.

Climate impact: A new study reveals that not only is climate change making heat waves more common, but also hotter.
* The effects of greenhouse gases on global temperatures are well-known, and the big-picture solution is to halt the planet’s warming. However, many climate scientists believe the international community’s goal to limit global temperature increases to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit compared to pre-industrial times is now out of reach.

Israel protests: Thousands of Israel’s military reservists are refusing to serve and protests erupted after controversial judiciary changes passed by the Israeli government.
* The new law prevents the Supreme Court from blocking the hiring and firing of officials for perceived unreasonable motives.
* Activists have petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the law which is seen as a wider move to change democratic institutions to further target Palestinian rights.

Emmett Till monument: President Biden is expected to designate three sites as a national monument for Emmett Till.
* The two sites in Mississippi are where Till was abducted, tortured, and murdered in 1955 at the age of 14, while the third site in Illinois will honor his mother.
* Supporters believe that these federally protected sites will provide more resources for teaching the true history of Till’s case and promote racial reconciliation.

Bias in admissions: The Supreme Court end to race-based affirmative action has not eliminated bias in college admissions, favoring wealthy children.
* The richest 1% of American children are twice as likely to attend elite US private colleges as middle-class students with similar SAT scores.
* Along with better non-academic ratings derived from extracurricular activities, wealthy students typically achieve better letters of recommendation and craft superior personal statements.

View original article on NPR

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