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Today’s Big Story

Canadian wildfires blanket eastern U.S. in smoke

Air quality across the U.S. and Canada plummeted to unhealthy levels on Wednesday due to wildfires burning from Nova Scotia to Yukon.

Why it matters: States in the Northeast to mid-Atlantic are experiencing for the first time the effects of wildfires that many in the Western U.S. and world have dealt with for decades.

Perspective: When the air quality index exceeds 151 in California, employers are required to provide respiratory protection equipment. The AQI topped 370 in some N.Y.C. boroughs but the state has no safety protocols in place as they have never dealt with this issue before.

Big picture: People hundreds of miles away from wildfires can be affected by microscopic particles that enter the lungs and cause inflammation and worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease.

• Air quality warnings affected 100 million people on Tuesday in the U.S.

• N.Y.C. air quality was so bad that public schools canceled outdoor activities on Wednesday.

• N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement urging residents to remain inside and encouraged those with heart conditions to wear protective N95 masks.

Looking forward: Smoke will continue to affect the areas hit today through Saturday, with more episodes possible in the coming weeks due to the severity of the fires.

Little Stories

Business & Economy

*U.S. stock markets were mixed on Wednesday (S&P -0.38%, Nasdaq -1.29%, Dow +0.27%)

*New York City sued Kia and Hyundai on Wednesday alleging that their cars are easy to steal.

*GameStop shares tumbled 20% after hours after the company fired CEO Matthew Furlong.

World

*The Italian Coast Guard rescued over 1,400 migrants on overcrowded boats off the country’s southern coast.

*The Arctic Ocean’s ice cap could disappear entirely during summer months by the 2030s, 10 years earlier than originally predicted by scientists.

*Pope Francis will have intestinal surgery and remain in the hospital for several days.

US News, Politics, & Government

*Flesh-eating bacteria has been detected in the massive amounts of seaweed washing up on Florida’s shore, according to researchers.

*Mike Pence announced his presidential bid in a video where he called for “different leadership.”

*A father and son were killed and five more were injured in a shooting after a high school graduation ceremony on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus.

Sports & Entertainment

*Nikola Jokic records the first 30 point, 20 rebound, 10 assist game in NBA Final history as the Nuggets handle the Heat 109-94.

*Lionel Messi will sign with American soccer club Inter Miami after he departs from his current team Paris Saint-Germain.

*CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht parted ways with the company after one year and a number of missteps on the job.

Science, Health, & Tech

*Volvo announces new, smaller electric SUV starting at $34,950 expected in early 2024.

*Researchers record the first known “virgin birth” by a crocodile in Costa Rica.

*Scientists found promising results in a new kind of cat birth control that could eliminate the need for spaying.

Extras

*An iconic Taco Bell menu item goes vegan.

*Do you have a “salt tooth”?

*What does spoiled milk look like under a microscope?

*The world’s most endangered porpoise resists extinction.