NEW: Cyberattacks on U.S. water supply now being reported in 12+ states and 100+ municipalities, though some may be unrelated to wave of suspected Iranian attempts. The nationwide threat follows years of ignored warnings and neglect to water systems. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/u...

Hacks on U.S. Water Supply Follow Years of Warnings and Neglect (Gift Article)

Federal and state officials are racing to address an assault on the nation’s water supply that they believe is the work of Iranian hackers.

nytimes.com

Christine Wells Wonsley, the mother of Nolan Wells, has learned that the Mississippi Board of Nursing opened a professional misconduct investigation against her following an anonymous complaint, the family’s lawyer said. www.mississippifreepress.org/nolan-wells-...

Nolan Wells’ Mother Under Investigation With Nursing Board After Complaint, Lawyer Says

Christine Wells Wonsley, the mother of Nolan Wells, is under investigation by the Mississippi Board of Nursing after an anonymous complaint.

mississippifreepress.org

A federal judge lifted a stay Wednesday on the termination of temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians in order to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for the Trump administration to remove their legal status, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.

TPS for up to 350,000 Haitians officially ends as judge applies Supreme Court order • West Virginia Watch

A federal judge lifted a stay Wednesday on the termination of temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians.

westvirginiawatch.com

New series just dropped: Hummingbird Wars. Sound up! #birb

Where there’s smoke…

Puerto Rico begins water rationing in San Juan and other major cities as crisis deepens

Puerto Rico begins water rationing in San Juan and other major cities

Residents will lose running water for up to 48 hours at a time under a rotating rationing schedule

trib.al

Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 12,000, state health officials say reut.rs/4fRXS9E

Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 12,000, state health officials say

Michigan health officials reported 12,218 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 710 cases since ​its last update a day earlier.

reut.rs

Please take a moment’s break from the depressing Zeitgeist to imagine, in your own mind, the cracked movie plot that Boys 1 and 2 are cooking up, in which all cousins will play a role and I will make an appearance as an angry mom 🙄

"Wyoming will become the first state in the US where you cannot receive a B.A. in Philosophy. The University of Wyoming will be the only R1 institution, the only state flagship university, and one of two land-grant universities that do not offer a B.A. in Philosophy." dailynous.com/2026/07/23/u...

A fast-moving wildfire has destroyed about 230 homes in an Indigenous community in western Canada.

Wildfire destroys about 230 homes in western Canadian Indigenous community, officials say

A fast-moving wildfire has destroyed about 230 homes in an Indigenous community in western Canada. The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band says the Bradley Creek wildfire devastated much of the reserve near Vernon, about 440 kilometers northeast of Vancouver.

bit.ly

Man charged with setting Spokane’s largest wildfire went to prison for killing his father

Man charged with setting Spokane’s largest wildfire went to prison for killing his father

denverpost.com

Boys 1, 2, and 3 picked up their cousins, Girls 1 and 2, from Co Springs. Let the nonsense begin

There are several scientists in my family but apparently it took a literature scholar to diagnose our piñon trees with pitch mass borer disease. It’s bad 😑

The U.S. State Department has notified Congress that it plans to close five foreign missions — including one in Japan — in a rare downsizing of America's global diplomatic footprint.

U.S. to close consulates in Canada, Japan and Indonesia, sources say

The State Department has notified Congress of its plans to also close ‌its foreign missions in Grenada and Cameroon.

ebx.sh

Owls make a regular appearance in Beniya Miyake's (紅谷三宅) annual line-up. Last autumn's creations were known as "owls that bring good fortune" (幸運を呼ぶミミズク)🦉😋 ➡️https://beniyamiyake.com/ ➡️https://instagram.com/beniya_miyake/ #wagashi #和菓子 #フクロウ #梟

I’ve said it before, but transphobes are not normal and need psychiatric help instead of being taken seriously in policy matters.

Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 3d ago

An initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play

Mountain boys in formation

In the best place, with the best person 💜

Made it to Denver Airport, where it’s only $8 to rent a luggage cart (?!)

Take 2 🎬

Senate C.R. would block the White House’s proposal to give political appointees control over federal research grants. www.statnews.com/2026/08/02/s...

Senate measure would block Trump plan to politicize federal grants, for now

A White House proposal to subject research grants to political scrutiny meets at least a temporary roadblock in the Senate.

statnews.com

We can verify the daily physical status of a specific Seattle raccoon but apparently we're completely unable to determine whether a United States Senator is alive or dead.

ContempraInn 🌹@contemprainn.bsky.social · 2w ago

Jimothy the racoon from Seattle keeps getting spotted

Cherise Doyley was in her 12th hour of contractions at the hospital when a tablet was brought to her bedside. On the screen was a Zoom call with a judge and several lawyers and doctors. She was in court, a nurse told her. The reason? For failing to agree to a C-section. (Published March)

She Was in Labor at a Florida Hospital. Then She Was in Zoom Court for Refusing a C-Section.

A virtual court hearing from a pregnant mother’s hospital bed shows what forced medical treatment can look like.

propublica.org

Yeah mama you didn’t want to go to Colorado anyway right

Folks I’ve officially lost it I actually went out like this and didn’t notice until I was all the way down the block

Just gonna drop this on a Saturday night Reuters? 😆

Capital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after anti-money laundering probe

The disclosure marks the first time a bank has formally tied money laundering concerns to Trump's family business.

reuters.com

The cat suspects something and is keeping a very close eye on me 😂

Three teenage boys printed directions for a hike on a trail in British Columbia, Canada that Google Maps estimated to be over five hours. In reality, their hike weeks ago lasted at least 12 hours and required the intervention of rescue crews, according to the Lions Bay Search and Rescue team.

Teen Hikers Rescued 12 Hours Into Google Maps Hike

The three teenage boys estimated their hike time would be over five hours on a rugged trail in British Columbia, Canada. A helicopter crew had to retrieve them.

nyti.ms

I’m going to hold you to that, Boy 1 😑

Well, the kids are on the plane. I’m sitting here in the airport, sweaty/rumpled, after I had to take custody of a checked bag that TSA didn’t want to let thru bc Boy 2 insisted on bringing his Airsoft gear, which he did without incident last year. Had to rebook for tomorrow. Beyond furious/resigned