The Morning Wire

Good morning, I'm Sophia Tulp filling in for Sarah Naffa for one more day. In the news today: glacial flooding in Alaska; likely cancer-causing substances detected at a military missile base; and how to protect against increasing scams. Also, the Loch Ness Centre in Scotland has a request.

CLIMATE Bursting ice dam in Alaska highlights risks of glacial flooding  Destruction came to Alaska’s capital over the weekend as a glacial dam burst, swelling the levels of the Mendenhall River to an unprecedented degree. The bursting of such snow-and-ice dams is a phenomenon called a jökuhlaup, and while it’s relatively little-known in the U.S., researchers say such glacial floods could threaten about 15 million people around the world. Read more

Why this matters: More than half of the people at risk from glacial outburst floods are in just four countries — India, Pakistan, Peru and China, according to a study published this year in Nature Communications.

Related coverage ➤  European scientists make it official. July was the hottest month on record by far Even frozen Antarctica is being walloped by climate extremes, scientists find New Zealand is partnering with BlackRock in aim to reach 100% renewable electricity POLITICS Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites as reports of hundreds of cancers surface The Air Force said Monday it has detected unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen in samples taken at a Montana missile base where a striking number of men and women have reported cancer diagnoses. Read more

Why this matters: Much of the infrastructure at the missile silos and control centers are decades old. Missileers have raised health concerns multiple times over the years about ventilation, water quality and potential toxins they cannot avoid as they spend up to 48 hours on duty underground. After a military briefing was obtained by The Associated Press in January showing that at least nine current or former missileers at Malmstrom Air Force Base were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine launched a study to look at cancers among the entire missile community checking for the possibility of clusters of the disease.

Related coverage ➤ Military probing whether cancers linked to nuclear silo work Veterans see historic expansion of benefits for toxic exposure as new law nears anniversary BUSINESS People are losing more money to scammers than ever before Business for scammers is booming. The most recent Federal Trade Commission data from 2022 shows that reported consumer losses to fraud increased 30% over 2021. The biggest losses were through investment scams, including cryptocurrency schemes. Read more

Why this matters: Younger adults ages 20-29 reported losing money more often than older adults ages 70-79, the FTC found. But when older adults did lose money, they lost more.  Experts say to be aware of typical scams, such as robocalls or romance schemes, and to always research company names and details. Never click unusual links in a text or email.

Related coverage ➤ Florida woman who stole nearly $3 million from Holocaust survivor gets over 4 years in prison IRS is ending unannounced visits to taxpayers to protect worker safety and combat scammers Judges halt a Biden rule offering student debt relief for those alleging colleges misled them HAPPENING TODAY Ohio voters will decide whether to make their state constitution harder to amend. And in Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves’ bid for renomination to a second term tops the list of contests. Thousands of Los Angeles city workers are on strike for 24 hours. A Colombian man once seen as one of the world’s most dangerous drug lords is facing sentencing in a U.S. prison. IN OTHER NEWS Storm damage: Powerful storm kills 2 people and leaves 1.1 million without power in eastern US Facial recognition: Pregnant woman's arrest in carjacking case spurs call to end Detroit police facial recognition Post-9/11 case: A judge called an FBI operative a ‘villain.’ Ruling comes too late for 2 convicted in terror sting War in Ukraine: Death toll rises to 7 after Russian missiles slam into Ukrainian city's downtown area Missing hikers: Trio of missing hikers who set out on treacherous ridge in Scottish Highlands found dead Publisher purchased: Simon & Schuster purchased by private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion Riverfront brawl: Arrest warrants issued for large fight in Alabama TODAY IN HISTORY On Aug. 8, 1974: President Richard Nixon, facing damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal, announced he would resign the following day. In this image, Nixon bids farewell to his Cabinet, aides and staff in the White House East Room. (AP File Photo)   A look at what else happened in history on August 8 A CHANGE OF PACE WATCH: Indigenous leader inspires an Amazon city to grant personhood to an endangered river In late June, the Amazon city of Guajara-Mirim approved a law that designates the Komi Memem River “as a living entity and subject to rights.” This is part of a new legislative approach to protect nature that has made inroads in many parts of the world, from New Zealand to Chile. Monster hunters sought for new Loch Ness search The Loch Ness Centre in Scotland is calling for “budding monster hunters” and volunteers to join in what it dubs the largest search for the Loch Ness Monster since the 1970s.