{"id":6128,"date":"2026-08-04T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6128"},"modified":"2026-08-04T12:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:00:06","slug":"5-states-hold-primaries-today-and-spokane-police-arrest-man-connected-to-wildfire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6128","title":{"rendered":"5 states hold primaries today. And, Spokane police arrest man connected to wildfire"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"podcast-tools podcast-tools--510318\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 3000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Up First\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-tools__slugandmodal\">\n<div class=\"podcast-tools__modal\">\n<div class=\"subscribe\" data-sharepop data-selector=\".sharepop.subscribe\">\n          <button>LISTEN &amp; 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And, Spokane police arrest man connected to wildfire<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-08-04T07:29:23-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">August 4, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">7:29 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<p class=\"byline__name--block\">By\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/g-s1-9395\/brittney-melton\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Brittney Melton<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"headlineaudio\" class=\"storylocation linkLocation\">\n<article id=\"resnx-s1-mx-5919151-1\" class=\"bucketwrap resaudio\" aria-label=\"audio-module\">\n<div class=\"audio-module\">\n<h4 class=\"audio-module-title\">Blanche and the DOJ, Michigan Primaries, Spokane Wildfires<\/h4>\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls-wrap\" data-audio=\"{&quot;uid&quot;:&quot;g-s1-137277:nx-s1-mx-5919151-1&quot;,&quot;available&quot;:true,&quot;duration&quot;:790,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Blanche and the DOJ, Michigan Primaries, Spokane Wildfires&quot;,&quot;audioUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5919151&amp;p=510318&amp;d=790&amp;size=12655848&amp;sc=siteplayer&quot;,&quot;storyUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/04\/g-s1-137277\/up-first-newsetter-michigan-primaries-todd-blanche-spokane-wildfires-chuck-edwards&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;up first newsletter&quot;,&quot;program&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;affiliation&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;song&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;artist&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;album&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;track&quot;:0,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;segment&quot;,&quot;subtype&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;skipSponsorship&quot;:false,&quot;hasAdsWizz&quot;:false,&quot;isStreamAudioType&quot;:false,&quot;podcastEpisodeRawType&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;podcastEpisodeDerivedPlusType&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-audio-metrics=\"[]\">\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls audio-module-controls--no-js\">\n            <a class=\"audio-module-listen\" href=\"https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5919151&amp;p=510318&amp;d=790&amp;size=12655848&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\"><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-module-listen-inner\"><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-module-listen-text\"><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-cta\"><br \/>\n                            Listen<br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-listen-duration\"><br \/>\n                            <span>\u00b7 <\/span><br \/>\n                            <span>13:10<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                    <\/b><br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n                <time class=\"audio-module-duration\" datetime=\"P13M,10S\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"audio-module-duration__initial-value\">13:10<\/span><br \/>\n                <\/time>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-module-tools\">\n        <button class=\"audio-module-tools-toggle\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;audio_open_more_options&quot;,&quot;storyId&quot;:&quot;g-s1-137277&quot;,&quot;mediaId&quot;:&quot;nx-s1-mx-5919151-1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;5 states hold primaries today. And, Spokane police arrest man connected to wildfire&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;ondemand&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p>            <b class=\"label\">Toggle more options<\/b><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p>\n<ul class=\"audio-module-more-tools\">\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-download\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=75bc0f13-9795-4b58-80ce-62608ab62980&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5919151&amp;p=510318&amp;d=790&amp;size=12655848&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;audio_download&quot;,&quot;storyId&quot;:&quot;g-s1-137277&quot;,&quot;mediaId&quot;:&quot;nx-s1-mx-5919151-1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;5 states hold primaries today. And, Spokane police arrest man connected to wildfire&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;ondemand&quot;}\"><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Download<\/b><\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-embed\">\n                    <button data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/g-s1-137277\/nx-s1-mx-5919151-1\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;audio&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;audio_embed&quot;,&quot;storyId&quot;:&quot;g-s1-137277&quot;,&quot;mediaId&quot;:&quot;nx-s1-mx-5919151-1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;5 states hold primaries today. And, Spokane police arrest man connected to wildfire&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;ondemand&quot;}\"><b class=\"button-inner\"><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Embed<\/b><\/b><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"audio-embed-overlay\">\n                        <button class=\"btn-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button><br \/>\n                        <label class=\"embed-label\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <b class=\"label\">Embed<\/b><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/label><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"embed-url embed-url-touch\"><br \/>\n                            <code><b class=\"punctuation\">&lt;<\/b>iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/g-s1-137277\/nx-s1-mx-5919151-1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"NPR embedded audio player\"&gt;<\/code><br \/>\n                        <\/b>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<p><em>Good morning. You&#8217;re reading the Up First newsletter.\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/newsletter\/news\" target=\"_blank\">Subscribe<\/a><em>\u00a0here to get it delivered to your inbox, and\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510318\/up-first\/\" target=\"_blank\">listen<\/a><em>\u00a0to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Today&#8217;s top stories<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington hold their primary elections today. <\/strong>The spotlight will be on Michigan, where winning an open Senate seat is crucial for Democrats as they vie to regain control of the chamber. Michigan voters will choose between two Democratic candidates who are competing to face Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in the November midterm elections. Here&#8217;s what you should know about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/04\/nx-s1-5918643\/five-states-polls-what-to-know\" target=\"_blank\">five states holding primaries today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137256\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 7934;--source-height: 4463\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/7934x4463+0+415\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2F2b%2F03dca3784e0fa7827daa3b5137e0%2Fgettyimages-2288919882.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/7934x4463+0+415\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2F2b%2F03dca3784e0fa7827daa3b5137e0%2Fgettyimages-2288919882.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"A man walks outside Lincoln Liquor &amp; Wine on Monday in Oak Park, Mich.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                A man walks outside Lincoln Liquor &amp; Wine on Monday in Oak Park, Mich. The highly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is bringing national attention to Michigan ahead of voting on Tuesday.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Finn Gomez\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Finn Gomez\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7 <strong>NPR&#8217;s Sam Gringlas tells <em>Up First<\/em> he has spoken with around 50 voters in the past two weeks<\/strong>, and the conversations have shown him the intensity of this Senate race. He says the race has become a proxy for major debates within the Democratic Party: establishment versus insurgent, <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5919151:x\" target=\"_blank\">further-left versus more moderate<\/a>, and more. Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who flipped a suburban House district in 2018, is facing Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, for the Democratic nomination. Stevens is emphasizing her crossover appeal and support for Michigan manufacturing. El-Sayed champions Medicare for All and wants to eliminate corporate money from politics. Gringlas says the race will help determine if a leftist candidate like El-Sayed can win in a battleground state.<\/li>\n<li>\u27a1\ufe0f<strong> It&#8217;s not just Michigan: Democratic elections in Midwest states like Wisconsin and Minnesota <\/strong>have also become pivotal testing grounds to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/04\/nx-s1-5918682\/2026-primary-elections-michigan-wisconsin\" target=\"_blank\">determine whether progressive candidates<\/a> can win in competitive states.<\/li>\n<li>\u27a1\ufe0f <strong>There are 36 races for governor this year.<\/strong> Here is a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.npr.org\/primary-election-results-2026\/governors.html\" target=\"_blank\">how they are shaping up<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to move forward<\/strong> with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche&#8217;s confirmation vote today after Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/g-s1-136864\/todd-blanche-rescinds-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\" target=\"_blank\">dropped their objections<\/a>. Their change of heart came after Blanche provided written confirmation that the controversial $1.8 billion &#8220;anti-weaponization fund&#8221; established by the Department of Justice would be rescinded. The fund, which was created as part of a settlement deal for a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, had been a sticking point in Blanche&#8217;s confirmation process. Critics pointed out its potential to compensate the president&#8217;s allies and the Jan. 6 rioters. Blanche also provided written confirmation that a tax immunity deal that was part of the settlement would only apply retroactively to the president, two of his sons and the Trump organization. With the fund off the table, Cornyn and Tillis released a statement yesterday saying they &#8220;look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7 <strong>NPR&#8217;s Ryan Lucas points out that legal experts say neither of the documents Blanche released is legally binding<\/strong>, nor do they provide the guarantees they purport to provide. He adds that these legal experts and some department veterans think there&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5919151:x\" target=\"_blank\">long list of other issues<\/a> that should make Congress question Blanche&#8217;s leadership, including his handling of the Epstein files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Spokane County Sheriff&#8217;s Department has arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci <\/strong>on charges of first-degree arson in connection with one of the area&#8217;s most destructive fires. Firefighters in Spokane, Wash., are battling three major wildfires \u2014 the Old Trails Fire, Autumn Lane Fire, and Fairview Fire \u2014 that have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5918018\/washington-spokane-wildfires-evacuations\" target=\"_blank\">displaced around 65,000 people<\/a> since last weekend. The fires have burned over 7,000 acres and destroyed approximately 600 homes. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/the-picture-show\/2026\/08\/03\/g-s1-137003\/photos-wildfires-in-spokane-lead-to-thousands-of-evacuations\" target=\"_blank\">Photos from the area<\/a> show the extent of the devastation.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7<strong> Evacuated residents may not be able to return home for days<\/strong> as unpredictable winds pick up, shift direction and threaten neighborhoods, NPR&#8217;s Kirk Siegler says. Choking back tears, 54-year-old Charlie Patrick tells Siegler that she doesn&#8217;t know if she has a home to return to. The Spokane fires ignited in the wildlands outside the city, but winds carried them into neighborhoods, where <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5919151:x\" target=\"_blank\">structures fueled their spread<\/a>. Spokane has faced hotter, drier conditions due to climate change. Siegler says fire officials in the area have been warning and worried about wildfire risks for years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>After months of investigating, the bipartisan House Ethics Committee published a 20-page report <\/strong>recommending that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) be censured because of Edwards&#8217; &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5918341\/chuck-edwards-ethics-report\" target=\"_blank\">persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct<\/a> towards two young female staffers.&#8221; The committee said it did not find any evidence that the congressman propositioned or engaged in sexual activity with his staffers. The congressman&#8217;s lawyers argued that the panel did not show that the staffers communicated their discomfort to Edwards.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Picture show<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137271\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3500;--source-height: 1969\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3500x1969+0+182\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Fda%2Fd5e763bb43ef9e3aab49b1c58021%2Fpalmyra-15.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3500x1969+0+182\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Fda%2Fd5e763bb43ef9e3aab49b1c58021%2Fpalmyra-15.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"palmyra-15.jpg \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Claire Harbage\/NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Far out in the Pacific Ocean are tiny islands that few have seen. These pristine epicenters of biodiversity are teeming with life, from thriving coral reefs to sharks and seabird colonies. The Trump administration is now opening some of these waters \u2014 much of which are safeguarded as U.S. marine national monuments and sanctuaries \u2014 to commercial fishing. Hawaii&#8217;s fishing fleet supports the move. People in the industry say they&#8217;re facing increasing competition and rising diesel costs, and that opening the Pacific Marine Monument waters could give them more opportunities. But many Native Hawaiian cultural groups oppose this decision, viewing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as sacred. Conservationists also warn that, amid climate change, these marine areas require the highest level of protection to sustain their vibrant ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcf7 This area, far out in the Pacific Ocean, rarely gets visitors &#8230; but NPR journalists went and documented the wildlife there. See the <a href=\"https:\/\/npr.app\/stqe\/a1mb9o3y\" target=\"_blank\">images from their visit<\/a> now on the NPR app.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Today&#8217;s listen<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-131557\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 6000;--source-height: 3375\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x3375+0+313\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffe%2F34%2F363dbb9a463db48c298e0329aa30%2Frharlan-khalibkeith-dx1a0935.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x3375+0+313\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffe%2F34%2F363dbb9a463db48c298e0329aa30%2Frharlan-khalibkeith-dx1a0935.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Seven-year-old Khalib Townsend poses with conservation biologist Keith Russel at the Audubon Discovery Center in Philadelphia.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Seven-year-old Khalib Townsend poses with conservation biologist Keith Russel at the Audubon Discovery Center in Philadelphia.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Beck Harlan for NPR<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Beck Harlan for NPR<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Seven-year-old Khalib Townsend is a first-grader with a huge love for nature and big dreams of becoming a conservation scientist. To help keep his early passion for science alive, NPR connected Khalib with someone who does his dream job: Keith Russell, a conservation scientist at the Audubon Discovery Center in Philadelphia. This spring, they went on a bird walk along the Discovery Center&#8217;s nature trail, and Townsend got to interview Russell all about his career. NPR tagged along on the journey. <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5758054:x\" target=\"_blank\">Listen to their conversation<\/a> and read about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/02\/nx-s1-5758054\/we-asked-a-first-grader-to-interview-his-hero-a-bird-scientist\" target=\"_blank\">how the interview went<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">3 things to know before you go<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-136900\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5349;--source-height: 3009\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5349x3009+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F69%2F6ffe9816414eaf8756c6b523ae1d%2Fap26183085536365.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5349x3009+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F69%2F6ffe9816414eaf8756c6b523ae1d%2Fap26183085536365.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"U.S. Soccer and Mauricio Pochettino have agreed to a new contract that extends the men&apos;s national team coach&apos;s tenure through 2030.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                U.S. Soccer and Mauricio Pochettino have agreed to a new contract that extends the men&#8217;s national team coach&#8217;s tenure through 2030.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Martin Meissner\/AP<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Martin Meissner\/AP<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ol class=\"edTag\">\n<li>Mauricio Pochettino has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5917999\/us-soccer-mauricio-pochettino-coach-2030\" target=\"_blank\">signed a new contract<\/a> to remain the coach of the U.S. men&#8217;s national soccer team through the 2030 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced.<\/li>\n<li>Two people in Michigan have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/g-s1-137048\/michigan-cyclosporiasis-deaths-cyclospora-outbreak\" target=\"_blank\">died from the cyclosporiasis outbreak<\/a> that began in May, according to Michigan&#8217;s Department of Health and Human Services.<\/li>\n<li>The federal government has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5918001\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-dropped\" target=\"_blank\">dropped charges against three people<\/a> accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors attributed the damage to a &#8220;botched installation&#8221; carried out by a contractor chosen by Trump.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>This newsletter was edited by <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/859721331\/suzanne-nuyen\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Suzanne Nuyen<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStoryg-s1-137277\" data-share-facebook=\"{&quot;storyId&quot;: &quot;g-s1-137277&quot; }\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;clickName&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\"><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storyg-s1-137277\" data-share-flipboard=\"{&quot;storyId&quot;: &quot;g-s1-137277&quot; }\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;clickName&quot;:&quot;flipboard&quot;}\"><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"g-s1-137277\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;share&quot;,&quot;clickName&quot;:&quot;email&quot;}\"><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. 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