July 26 top stories
It is July 26. Here are today’s top stories.
101.1-degree water recorded in Southern Florida
NBC News reported that a buoy in Southern Florida, near the Florida Keys, recorded a water temperature of 101.1 degrees F.
This is in Manatee Bay, which is in waters between mainland Florida and the Florida Keys.
Surrounding buoys had very high temperatures, with 99.3 F at Murray Key and 98.4 at Johnson Key.
These temperatures are what you would typically feel in a hot tub.
NBC said several factors may have caused the high water temperatures: air temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s, weak winds across the region, strong sunlight hitting shallow water, and silty / darker water, which absorbs more heat.
In separate but related news, scientists say some Florida Keys coral reefs are losing their color weeks earlier than normal due to high water temperatures, which means coral reefs are under stress and their health is potentially endangered. Scientists said they are doing everything they can to support efforts to rebuild Florida’s coral back to what it was like in the past, but it’s difficult with high water temperatures. Reefs are turning white.
Hunter Biden’s plea deal
Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, appeared at a federal courthouse in Delaware expecting to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors for not paying taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. He was expected to also make a deal with prosecutors for a felony gun charge.
CNN reported that the court proceeding did not go smoothly because the judge overseeing the case said she had concerns about the idea of linking the tax plea agreement with the deal on the gun charge.
The latest, at the time of signing, is that federal prosecutors and Biden’s defense team have agreed to a more limited plea deal that covers 2014 to 2019 and only includes conduct related to tax offenses, drug use and gun possession. This deal does not shield him from potential future charges.
Federal prosecutors previously recommended a sentence of probation as a part of the plea deal.
Prior to today’s hearing, House Republicans urged the judge to consider claims from IRS whistleblowers who said the investigation into Hunter was tainted by political interference. But several Department of Justice officials said it’s not true that there was political interference.
Text Update:
Update: The hearing ended with the judge saying she is not ready to accept the plea deal. The judge asked both sides to file additional information explaining why the plea deal is legal. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to his charges for now.
Giuliani says he made false statements about election workers
USAToday reported that former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, in a court filing in response to a lawsuit filed against him, conceded that he made false statements about two Georgia election workers that he previously accused of rigging votes during the 2020 election.
The two workers are Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. They said they faced harassment and death threats after Trump accused them of committing election fraud. The two workers are the ones suing Giuliani.
Politico explained that Giuliani’s attorney said he was not admitting to the workers’ allegations against him but is just deciding to stop contesting them. Giuliani is arguing that he has a constitutional right to make these statements or opinions.
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Jamie Foxx provides update on health situation
Jamie Foxx posted a video on Instagram a few days ago to provide an update on his health situation.
He was hospitalized in April and the exact reason why is unknown.
Foxx said he went through something that he never thought he would go through. He said he knew that a lot of people wanted to hear updates but he didn’t want the public to see him with tubes running out of him. He said he is not blind or paralyzed like some people have speculated, but he said he “went to hell and back” with his health. Foxx said he is coming back and he’s able to work and that he’s thankful.
Foxx is in a recently-released Netflix film called “They Cloned Tyrone.”
Kevin Spacey found not guilty in U.K. sexual assault trial
Actor Kevin Spacey was found not guilty in a British court on nine counts of sexual assault. The New York Times said it took the jury just over 12 hours to reach its decision.
The court heard testimony from four men who said Spacey assaulted them between 2001 and 2013 in the London area. Spacey argued that the relationships were consensual.
The trial lasted for a month. When the “not guilty” verdicts were read out, Spacey cried and sighed with relief.
The Times explained that Spacey also successfully defended allegations of sexual assault in 2022 in New York City.
Spacey said last month that he intends to return to acting after he is cleared of his charges.
Mbappe offered $776M by Saudi team
CBS Sports reported that the Saudi Arabian soccer team Al Hilal is prepared to pay over $1 billion to get French soccer star Kylian Mbappe on their team.
The team wants to pay Mbappe $776 million for a one-year deal and is willing to pay a $332 million transfer fee to Mbappe’s current team, Paris Saint-Germain.
The fee and the proposed one-year deal would be new world records if it happens.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo joked on Twitter that Al Hilal can take him because he looks like Mbappe. Mbappe responded with 13 crying laugh emojis.
That is all the top stories for today. I will be out of the studio on Thursday and Friday and Renca Dunn will be delivering news. Stay with the light.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/hunter-biden-tax-charges-hearing/index.html
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/26/giuliani-trump-election-00108205
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_Iog9tJIk/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/arts/kevin-spacey-verdict-not-guilty.html