Hard coral cover across the Great Barrier Reef has declined substantially from the high levels of recent years back to near long-term average levels, underscoring a new level of volatility, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s (AIMS) annual survey report of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has experienced the largest annual decline in coral cover in two of the three regions since AIMS began monitoring 39 years ago. This was predominantly driven by climate change-induced heat stress leading to coral mortality from the 2024 mass bleaching event, but also by the impacts of cyclones and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. Coral cover dropped over the year: in the northern region (Cape York to Cooktown) by a quarter (from 39.8% to 30%) in the central region (Cooktown to Proserpine) by 13.9% (from 33.2% to 28.6%) in the southern region (Proserpine to Gladstone) by almost one third (from 38.9% to 26.9%) Percentage hard coral cover data from each of the three regions of the Great Barrier Reef since AIMS annual monitoring began. Image: AIMS AIMS LTMP leader Dr Mike Emslie said the effects of the substantial losses in regional hard coral cover were cushioned by the record high levels before the bleaching. “This year’s record losses in hard coral cover came off a high base, thanks to the record high of recent years,” he said. “We are now seeing increased volatility in the levels of hard coral cover. This is a phenomenon that emerged over the last 15 years and points to an ecosystem under stress. We have seen coral cover oscillate between record lows and record highs in a relatively short amount of time, where previously such fluctuations were moderate. “Coral cover now sits near the long-term average in each region. While the Great Barrier Reef is in comparatively better condition than many other coral reefs in the world following the global mass coral bleaching event, the impacts were serious.” Diverse coral assemblages at Pompey Reef No.1 in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, despite impacts from the 2024 bleaching event. Image: AIMS Dr Emslie said coral reefs dominated by the Acropora species were among the most impacted by mass coral bleaching and the two cyclones. “We’ve said in the past that these corals are the fastest to grow and are the first to go, as they are susceptible to heat stress, cyclones and are a favourite food of crown-of-thorns starfish, and this year’s results illustrate that,” he said. “This is also the first time we’ve seen substantial bleaching impacts in the southern region, leading to the largest annual decline since monitoring began.” AIMS’ 2025 Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) annual summary reports the results of reef surveys from August 2024 to May 2025 and assesses the impact of the 2024 mass bleaching event. A total of 124 coral reefs were surveyed. Most reefs (77) recorded hard coral cover between 10% and 30%, 33 reefs had hard coral cover between 30% and 50%, while two reefs had more than 75% and two reefs less than 10%. Overturned corals as a result of storm damage in the Central Great Barrier Reef. Image: AIMS AIMS CEO Professor Selina Stead said the 2024 mass bleaching event was part of a global event that began in 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere. It was the fifth mass bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016 and had the largest spatial footprint recorded, with high to extreme bleaching prevalence across the three regions. “This year Western Australian reefs also experienced the worst heat stress on record. It's the first time we've seen a single bleaching event affect almost all the coral reefs in Australia,” she said. “Mass bleaching events are becoming more intense and are occurring with more frequency, as evidenced by the mass bleaching events of 2024 and 2025. This was the second time in a decade that the Reef experienced mass bleaching in two consecutive years. “These results provide strong evidence that ocean warming, caused by climate change, continues to drive substantial and rapid impacts to Reef coral communities. “The future of the world’s coral reefs relies on strong greenhouse gas emissions reduction, management of local and regional pressures, and development of approaches to help reefs adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change and other pressures.” About the Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP)     The LTMP quantifies long term trends in the status of coral communities across the Great Barrier Reef.         Researchers use hard coral cover as one indicator of the condition of each reef. Percentage hard coral cover is estimated by experienced scientists during manta tow surveys and is a metric which allows AIMS scientists to provide an overview of the Great Barrier Reef’s status and keep policy makers, managers and other scientists informed in a timely manner.   An AIMS scientist conducts a manta tow survey to monitor hard coral cover. Image: AIMS AIMS invested in targeted, in-water bleaching surveys during and after the 2024 mass bleaching. These results have provided certainty around coral cover outcomes, verifying the results of the manta tows, and providing scientists with new insights into the coral bleaching. These findings will be shared in the peer review process.  The LTMP also does more detailed surveys on fixed sites on 71 reefs across the Great Barrier Reef.  The detailed information includes what types of corals and species of fish are present, their abundance, and causes of mortality like crown-of-thorns starfish numbers, coral disease and bleaching observations. 

TEHRAN (AP) — Authorities in Iran ordered government offices and banks across much of the country to close Wednesday as surging summer temperatures and a worsening water crisis strain the power grid. The state television announcement Tuesday is the second this summer. Iran hopes to ease electricity and water demand. As temperatures across the capital, Tehran, have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), authorities urged residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours and conserve water and energy. Iran produces some 62,000 megawatts of electric energy per hour at its peak but needs about 80,000 megawatts to meet its needs. Tehran and other cities already face two-hour electricity cuts every other day and experts warn cuts may increase to four hours. Protesters have gathered in front of Iran’s national electric provider, Tavanir, demanding better grid management. Years of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil and banking sectors, as well as difficulty in obtaining parts to operate and repair the electric grid, have made the country unable to properly maintain and upgrade its inefficient energy infrastructure. Related Stories Iran's capital and surrounding province will shut for a day due to a heat wave Iran's public sector shuts down in 8 provinces due to heat wave Israel-Iran war was a wake-up call for Asia’s dependence on Middle East oil Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s only nuclear power source, went online in 2011 with Russian help but produces only 1,000 megawatts per hour and goes offline for maintenance each year for two months. Southern Iran is bearing the brunt of the heat. Abadan registered temperatures exceeding 50  Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, ranking the city among the hottest places on Earth during this summer’s heat wave. In recent years Tehran has contended with recurring heat extremes and weakened infrastructure. Wednesday’s planned office closures echoes a similar one-day public holiday in July 2024 and a two-day action in 2023.

MIAMI (AP) — Officials have shut down early the remote krill fishery near Antarctica after trawling for the tiny crustacean — a vital food source for whales that also helps fight climate change — exceeded the seasonal catch limit for the first time. The unprecedented early closure of the fishery follows a report by The Associated Press last week detailing a record surge in the krill catch after a longstanding conservation framework was allowed to lapse with no plan in place to handle growing pressures in the world’s southernmost fishery. In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, the krill trawler Long Fa is surrounded by whales near Antarctica on March 24, 2025. (Alice Gregoire/Sea Shepherd via AP) Read More In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, the krill trawler Long Fa is surrounded by whales near Antarctica on March 24, 2025. (Alice Gregoire/Sea Shepherd via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR, the international organization that manages the fishery, declined to comment but confirmed the closure earlier this month of the 2024-25 season, which should have extended until December, after fishing hit the 620,000 metric ton limit. Related Stories Antarctic krill fishing boom sets record Takeaways from AP report on company that sold 200,000 carbon credits to remove CO2 from ocean Humpback whales cruise close to Sydney as migration peaks in winter The U.S., Russia, China and two dozen other governments last year failed to approve a new management plan that would have mandated spreading out the area in which krill can be caught and create a California-sized reserve along the environmentally sensitive Antarctic Peninsula. In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, a whale swims near the krill trawler Fu Xing Hai with mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula in the background, on April 2, 2025. (Youenn Kerdavid/Sea Shepherd via AP) Read More In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, a whale swims near the krill trawler Fu Xing Hai with mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula in the background, on April 2, 2025. (Youenn Kerdavid/Sea Shepherd via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In the absence of a deal, industrial trawlers were allowed this season to essentially fish anywhere at any time, including in smaller habitats preferred by whales, penguins and seals. In one hot spot, the catch through June 30 was nearly 60% higher than all of last season’s haul, according to an internal CCAMLR report obtained by the AP. Krill is one of the most abundant marine species in the world, with an estimated biomass of 63 million metric tons. But advances in fishing, climate change and growing demand for krill’s Omega-3 rich oil – for fishmeal, pet food and human dietary supplements — have increased pressure on the krill stocks. In the 2023-24 season, a fleet of 12 trawlers from mostly Norway and China caught 498,350 tons of krill — until now the largest harvest since CCAMLR began collecting catch data in 1973. A jar of krill sits on a lab counter at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, Va., on May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file) Read More A jar of krill sits on a lab counter at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, Va., on May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Underscoring the competition between humans and whales, three humpback whales were found dead or seriously injured last year in the long, cylindrical nets deployed by the vessels to vacuum up the paper-clip sized crustacean. Krill aren’t just vital to marine ecosystems. Increasingly, researchers are focusing on their role as a bulwark against climate change. One peer-reviewed study found that krill remove from the atmosphere and store in the ocean 20 million tons of carbon annually. That’s the equivalent of taking off the road 5 million cars every year. In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, a whale swims near the krill trawler Fu Xing Hai with mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula in the background, on April 2, 2025. (Youenn Kerdavid/Sea Shepherd via AP) Read More In this photo provided by Sea Shepherd, a whale swims near the krill trawler Fu Xing Hai with mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula in the background, on April 2, 2025. (Youenn Kerdavid/Sea Shepherd via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More — This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. __ Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

I’ve seen a rash of social media posts recommending the application of sticky-tape bands around tree trunks to prevent spotted lanternflies and other garden pests from accessing tree canopies and munching on foliage. But those bands also catch caterpillars, butterflies, bees and birds, which would be difficult to free without ripping off their limbs or breaking their wings. Similarly, glue traps are cruel devices, holding hostage everything from basement cave crickets to terrified mice and rats until they starve to death. Recently, after noticing a rustling sound coming from my attic, I discovered a family of squirrels had settled in, presumably after the pregnant mother gained access through an unscreened vent. At that point, securing the vent would have been easy, but would have trapped the critters indoors. After monitoring the scampering above me for a few days, I surmised that after their early-morning dance parties, the squirrels would leave the house each day, then return after sunset. So, when the disco closed one morning, I sealed up the vent opening, locking them out. Problem solved. It required more patience than setting out traps or poison, or calling someone to “take care of it,” but it was worth the wait (and it didn’t cost a dime). Coexisting with wildlife So-called “nuisance” animals, like squirrels, bats and raccoons, are just living their lives, as we are, and they need food, water and shelter, like we do. It’s not their fault that we chopped down their forested homes, paved over meadows and built neighborhoods in their habitat. They have nowhere else to go, so the least we could do is treat them humanely and share our (outdoor) space with them as much as possible. When they enter indoor living spaces, however, that means evicting them, as I did. But prevention would have been better. Look for openings in attics, basements, and around windows, doors and soffits, keeping in mind that a mouse can squeeze through a hole as small as the diameter of a pencil. Check, too, for gaps under eaves, missing chimney caps and broken vents. Ensure there aren’t any animals indoors before sealing them. If you have unwanted residents, wait for them to leave or lure them out so they don’t die in your walls. If you’re concerned about biting insects, there are better ways to control them than using pesticides, which can expose people, animals and groundwater to harmful chemicals and kill a variety of other insects that serve as an important food source for birds. The products also require repeated applications to maintain that control. Instead, eliminate mosquitoes from your backyard by preventing them from breeding in the first place. Don’t allow water to collect anywhere on your property. Get into the habit of emptying plant-pot saucers, overturned trash can lids, tires, children’s playsets and other receptacles after each rainfall (or irrigation session). Add Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a naturally occurring bacterium sold as Mosquito Dunks and Mosquito Bits, to sources of standing water, such as birdbaths or still ponds, where the insects lay their eggs. The biological control prevents mosquito, gnat and black fly larvae from developing, but is considered harmless to humans, pets, wildlife, beneficial insects, fish and plants. To discourage wild animals, avoid feeding pets outdoors, tightly secure trash can lids, and physically make your property as inhospitable as possible by sealing entry points, closing garage doors, installing fencing, etc. If there are babies, please don’t separate them from their mother. Wait a few weeks until they are old enough to leave on their own, as my attic’s squirrels were. Or, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for help. Avoid relocating animals. Many won’t survive; others will return, often from greater distances than you might imagine. It also may be illegal in your state. Reaching for a spray can might seem like an easy and effective route to a pest-free summer, but it shouldn’t be considered unless you’re facing a legitimate infestation. And in that case, start with the safest, least toxic method and escalate only if necessary. Indoor problems Kitchen ants, for example, can be effectively controlled with bait stations. Some cockroaches can be controlled with baits, as well, but if yours can’t, you have my blessing to hire a certified pesticide applicator (roaches multiply quickly, so common sense must prevail). Remember to do your part by removing clutter, keeping things clean and sealing up entry gaps to prevent a recurrence. Similarly, it wouldn’t be likely for you to have just one mouse in your house, as they are also prolific breeders. To eliminate indoor rodents, opt for a strong snap trap that will kill instantly without causing the animal to suffer. ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___ For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

ZAMORA, Mexico (AP) — The U.S. has suspended live cattle imports from Mexico due to concerns about the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite found in southern Mexico. This suspension has severely impacted ranchers in Sonora, who are already struggling with drought. ____ Follow AP visual journalism: Ranch hands move cattle at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Ranch hands move cattle at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Flies of various species sit stuck in a trap near the pens of an auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Flies of various species sit stuck in a trap near the pens of an auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cattle feed at a ranch that supplies cattle for export to the U.S. in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Cattle feed at a ranch that supplies cattle for export to the U.S. in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cattle feed at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, with the U.S. border closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Cattle feed at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, with the U.S. border closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cowboys push a cow out of its spot to a veterinarian inspection at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Cowboys push a cow out of its spot to a veterinarian inspection at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A calf is held in a head gate during veterinary checks at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports because of screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More A calf is held in a head gate during veterinary checks at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports because of screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Technicians prepare bait to attract flies near a cattle auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Technicians prepare bait to attract flies near a cattle auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A ranch hand sprays for fly control at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More A ranch hand sprays for fly control at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A cow waits to be examined by a veterinarian in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More A cow waits to be examined by a veterinarian in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Veterinarians examine cattle at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports because of screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Veterinarians examine cattle at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports because of screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A ranch hand sorts calves at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More A ranch hand sorts calves at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cows stand fenced in before getting displayed at a cattle auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Cows stand fenced in before getting displayed at a cattle auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Cattle buyers and sellers attend an auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Cattle buyers and sellers attend an auction in Hermosillo, Sonora state, Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Workers shepherd cattle at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Read More Workers shepherd cattle at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — More than 800 structures are threatened by a massive wildfire in central California that left at least three people injured as it burned through Los Padres National Forest. The Gifford Fire scorched more than 129 square miles (334 square kilometers) of coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with 7% containment, according to a U.S. Forest Service update on Tuesday morning. More than 1,900 personnel are battling the blaze that grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. The causes of the fires are under investigation. The blaze is burning through steep terrain and creating a huge smoke column, said Capt. Scott Safechuck, a spokesperson with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. “A lot of it’s in really inaccessible areas where even bulldozers can’t even get into,” Safechuck said, adding that aircraft is being added to the firefight. The smoke will affect parts of Southwest California, the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office said, noting that wildfire smoke is a health risk. Smoke was expected to move toward the south and east. Related Stories Massive wildfire in central California threatens homes and injures 3 Teen suspected of starting Laguna Beach wildfire with fireworks Wildfire grows to California's largest of the year The blaze threatened about 872 structures and forced the closure of the highway in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara County. About 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Santa Barbara and 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, the hilly agricultural region is dotted by sprawling California live oaks and Sycamore trees and is known for its strawberry fields and wine industry. Firefighters made great progress on the west, north and east flanks of the fire and significant efforts were made to ensure structure protection on the south end, officials said in an update Monday evening. Two new base camps were being established on the north and east sides of the fire, allowing more efficient access to the fire perimeter. Officials said they expected more helicopters to be able to deliver significant water drops Tuesday with a drone doing reconnaissance. A warming and drying trend was expected to continue from Wednesday through the weekend, with temperatures up to 90 to 100 degrees Thursday and Friday, with increasing fire behavior, officials said. A motorist was hospitalized with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames, U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Flemming Bertelson said. Two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned. Ranchers evacuated cattle Monday as aircraft made water drops on the encroaching flames.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Individuals in central North Carolina counties whose homes and belongings were damaged by massive rains last month from Tropical Storm Chantal can now seek state-funded financial grants for temporary assistance. The aid for residents in eight counties within or near the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is available after Gov. Josh Stein issued a state disaster declaration on Tuesday. As much as 9 to 12 inches (22.9 to 30.5 centimeters) of rain fell in the region at the close of the July 4 weekend, sending some rivers to record-breaking levels, affecting public water systems and damaging homes and businesses. There were at least six storm-related deaths, law enforcement agencies said. Stein also wrote President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday asking them to issue a federal major disaster declaration that would accelerate federal aid to help local governments with the costs of rebuilding roads and utilities, and for removing debris. Public assistance damage estimates have already totaled more than $42 million, according to Stein’s office. Stein’s state-of-emergency declaration three weeks ago in 13 central counties was designed to jump-start the process to seek federal recovery assistance. Related Stories 20 states sue FEMA for ending disaster grant program Trump avoids talk of scrapping FEMA after deadly Texas flood Trump approves disaster aid for New Mexico after flash floods Stein’s letter on Tuesday to Trump and FEMA said that Chantal’s rains at the time resulted in more than 100 roads in the region being impassable because of flooding, sinkholes and structural damage. Dozens of flood-related rescues were carried out in Durham and Orange counties. Water service was interrupted in Mebane, and Hillsborough’s water treatment plant was offline for several days. Many displaced residents ended up in hotels. Individual aid from the state for items such as rental housing assistance, personal property replacement and medical expenses can be sought at disaster recovery centers in Orange, Durham and Alamance counties. Home and business owners already can seek U.S. Small Business Administration loans.

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Kraken forward John Hayden and the team’s blue-haired troll mascot had a close call with a brown bear during a promotional video shoot in Alaska. Hayden and the mascot named Buoy were on a fly-fishing outing in Katmai National Park as part of a trip promoting youth hockey when the bear approached, video released by the team shows. Knee-deep in a shallow river, they wore waders and other fly-fishing gear. Hayden had been fishing, but a guide quickly took the rod from him. The bear charged toward the mascot, splashing water, but turned away before making contact as Hayden, Buoy and the film crew waded back to shore through a gentle current. Brown bears commonly feast on salmon in the Brooks River in Katmai National Park, gobbling them as they leap upstream over Brooks Falls to spawn. The park, nearly 300 miles (485 km) southwest of Anchorage and inaccessible by road, is home to the annual “Fat Bear Week” contest celebrating the bears as they fatten up for the winter. The NHL team said it didn’t intend to involve the bear in filming, but included it in a video posted to social media. Organizers had hired guides for safety. “Bears are everywhere at Brooks Falls and, like, this is their territory,” said Kraken Partnership Marketing Director Melissa O’Brochta, who also recorded the encounter from shore. “They’re also super used to seeing humans. So I wasn’t scared.” A troll might have been a different story. “I want to blame it on Buoy,” Hayden said on the video afterward. “They were pretty interested in his look.” The run-in happened on June 25 as part of an annual trip organized by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation in Anchorage, Alaska, with events that promote youth ice hockey. Alaska does not have its own NHL team; the closest teams are in Seattle and Vancouver, Canada.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilians were divided Tuesday over a house arrest order against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office. The division could set the tone for next year’s general election. Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday issued the order in a case that has gripped the South American country even as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration. Supporters of the far-right leader and some moderates see the ruling as harsh, while allies of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other moderates want to move on and leave the issue for the judiciary. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst with Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, a political consultancy firm based in Brasilia, said that could be the dynamic of next year’s election. “One is the effort of Bolsonaro supporters to keep strong on the right, no matter if it is pushing for amnesty in congress or putting themselves physically out there,” the analyst said. “The second is how the Lula administration will try to show that the country has a government.” Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who put Bolsonaro on trial for his alleged role in the coup plot to keep him in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election, ordered the 70-year-old former president’s arrest for violating precautionary measures imposed on him by spreading content through his three lawmaker sons. Related Stories US-Brazil relations hit low as Trump backs Bolsonaro with sanctions Brazil Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro US sanctions Brazilian judge overseeing Bolsonaro trial That decision followed one from the court last month ordering Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and to obey a curfew while the proceedings are underway. The polarization between supporters and critics of the former president took Brazil’s congress by storm Tuesday and was also reflected in figures from pollster Quaest, which say 53% are favorable to the order against the far-right leader and 47% against it. Analysts expect another narrow election next year, with Lula running for reelection and Bolsonaro barred. The political repercussions in Brazil are getting attention from the U.S. government as President Donald Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his ally’s judicial situation. Late on Monday, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the far-right leader’s order for house arrest and attacked de Moraes. Bolsonaro blockade Since de Moraes’ order, Bolsonaro allies are pledging to stop congress unless an amnesty bill is passed in favor of the far-right leader and his supporters involved in the coup plot probe. Early on Tuesday, a group of 40 pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers told journalists in the capital Brasilia they will push hard for the former president’s release. Altineu Cortes, the conservative deputy speaker of the lower house, said he will put the amnesty bill to a vote if he gets the chance. “I’ve already told speaker Hugo Motta that I will do that in the first moment I am working as the speaker of the house during one of his trips abroad,” Cortes said. Later, many of the same lawmakers protested in the lower house and the senate by blocking access to the presiding tables. “This is an arbitrary action,” said Sen. Davi Alcolumbre, the president of Brazil’s senate. “I call for serenity and spirit of cooperation. We need to start working with respect, civility and dialogue so congress can fulfill its mission in favor of Brazil and our population.” Members of Brazil’s opposition say such a move would also allow Bolsonaro to run in next year’s election, from which he was barred by the country’s top electoral court for abuse of power in 2022. That claim is denied by many legal experts and also by Supreme Court justices. Moving on Meanwhile, Lula and his allies initially showed they wanted to move past the issue of Bolsonaro’s house arrest and focus on trade negotiations with Trump, who imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian import goods starting Wednesday. Trump’s justification for the measure was what he called unfair treatment of the far-right leader. “I don’t want to speak about what happened to that other Brazilian citizen who tried to stage a coup,” Lula said during a long speech in Brasilia on Tuesday. The leftist leader added he will not call Trump to talk about trade “because he doesn’t want to” speak about it. Lula said he might instead “invite him to attend (November’s climate summit) COP in Belem.” “I came here with the compromise of not wasting much time speaking about tariffs. I will just say the least I can. If I didn’t (say anything) you would go: ‘Why didn’t Lula speak about it? Is he afraid of Trump?’ And I don’t want you to leave with that impression,” he said. Members of Lula’s Cabinet have also avoided discussing Bolsonaro’s future. A Brazilian government staffer told The Associated Press that Lula told his ministers that his reelection depends on governing, not on his predecessor’s future. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. Moderates speak If the next Brazilian election has the same standard of the previous face off between Lula and Bolsonaro, the winner will be decided by turnout and a very slim number of moderates. Gov. Eduardo Leite, a moderate from the Rio Grande do Sul state, embodied the split among many Brazilian voters who will likely have to chose one of the two camps in 2026. A critic of de Moraes’ actions against Bolsonaro, Leite does not condone the former president’s actions either. “I don’t like the idea of a former president not being able to speak, and even less see him get arrested for that before he is put on trial at the Supreme Court,” Leite said. “Our country does not deserve to remain hostage to this legal-political tug of war that only hinders us all.” Gilberto Kassab, the chairman of the centrist Social Democratic Party, has both Bolsonaro and Lula supporters in his party’s ranks and said “exaggeration on both sides are contaminating Brazil.” “I express my solidarity to the former president, I regret his arrest without discussing the merits of the issue. This is all that the country did not need,” Kassab said in a statement. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday was hearing arguments over whether to stop construction of an immigration detention center built in the middle of the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” because it didn’t follow environmental laws. Until the laws are followed, environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe said U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams should issue a preliminary injunction to halt operations and further construction. The suit claims the project threatens environmentally sensitive wetlands that are home to protected plants and animals and would reverse billions of dollars’ worth of environmental restoration. The lawsuit in Miami against federal and state authorities is one of two legal challenges to the South Florida detention center which was built more than a month ago by the state of Florida on an isolated airstrip owned by Miami-Dade County. A second lawsuit brought by civil rights groups says detainees’ constitutional rights are being violated since they are barred from meeting lawyers, are being held without any charges, and a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Aug. 18. Related Stories Legal challenge over Florida Everglades detention center faces venue dispute Environmental groups sue to block migrant detention center rising in Florida Everglades 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees held without charges, barred from legal access, attorneys say Under a 55-year-old federal environmental law, federal agencies should have examined how the detention center’s construction would impact the environment, identified ways to minimize the impact and followed other procedural rules such as allowing public comment, according to the environmental groups and the tribe. It makes no difference that the detention center holding hundreds of detainees was built by the state of Florida since federal agencies have authority over immigration, the suit said. “The construction of a detention center is an action that is necessarily subject to federal control and responsibility,” they said in a recent court filing. “The State of Florida has no authority or jurisdiction to enforce federal immigration law.” Attorneys for federal and state agencies last week asked Williams to dismiss or transfer the injunction request, saying the lawsuit was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. Even though the property is owned by Miami-Dade County, Florida’s southern district is the wrong venue for the lawsuit since the detention center is located in neighboring Collier County, which is in the state’s middle district, they said. Williams had yet to rule on that argument. The lawsuits were being heard as Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ′ administration apparently was preparing to build a second immigration detention center at a Florida National Guard training center in north Florida. At least one contract has been awarded for what’s labeled in state records as the “North Detention Facility.” ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social