7/26 NEWSBREAK: Heat much worse in urban communities, new analysis shows

Tens of millions of Americans are living with stifling, dangerous heat this summer. A new analysis by nonprofit research group Climate Central shows it’s much worse for those living in urban environments.

Roughly 41 million people live in these urban areas, where temperatures are at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than their more rural surroundings, the analysis reads. In some cities, temperatures can be more than 10 degrees hotter, amplifying health risks and cooling costs for residents. And low-income communities in these cities are often the worst affected. [Charleston has an urban heat island score of 6.3, which is pretty high, but it is not listed as a Top 20 urban heat island city in the study.]

The phenomenon is caused by the urban heat island effect, a byproduct of built environments. Gas-powered cars and air conditioning units generate and radiate heat. Concrete parking lots and buildings absorb and emit heat even after the sun sets. Fewer trees mean less shade. All of this combines in densely built areas which essentially become islands where temperatures are hotter than their surroundings.

Meanwhile, the effects of climate change are being felt even beneath the ocean’s surface.

The Gulf Stream, a powerful underwater river which passes South Carolina with such force that it sucks water away from the coast, lowering sea levels by as much as three feet, is on the verge of collapse, according to a new study. Moreover, the Gulf Stream is part of a much larger conveyer belt of warm and cool waters — the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Due to the rapidly warming planet, the AMOC system is in danger of total collapse between 2025 and 2095, researchers with the journal Nature Communications said in the new study.

In other recent headlines:

Federal lawsuit looms over S.C. warehousing mentally ill. Advocates for South Carolinians with severe mental illness say a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice could prompt needed change to the state’s health care system.

Mega Millions jackpot remains up for grabs. Prize climbs to $910M. One of the largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history grew even larger on Tuesday, after no one matched the Mega Millions numbers. The new jackpot is $910 million, the eighth-largest ever, and the next drawing is on Friday night.

Ramaswamy to headline Dorchester County GOP fundraiser. Biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is slated to headline a GOP fundraiser in South Carolina as he returns to campaigning in the first-in-the-South primary state.

Breaking down which GOP candidate got the most campaign cash from S.C.

Merriweather joins crowded North Charleston mayoral race. Dr. Curtis A. Merriweather Jr. announced his campaign on Thursday touting a platform focused on unity and bringing the number of candidates up to 10.

Charleston police to host Narcan training sessions. With 150 reported overdose calls that Charleston police have already responded to this year, the agency is hosting eight training sessions designed to help lower the number of overdoses.

Pre-booked ticket sales dominate IAAM during first month. During its first month open, hundreds of visitors from across the country passed through the doors of Charleston’s International African American History Museum.