Alleged shooter’s mother warned Ga. faculty. And, opposition chief flees Venezuela

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In the present day’s prime tales

The mom of the alleged gunman within the Apalachee Excessive Faculty taking pictures in Winder, GA, the place 4 individuals had been killed and 9 others had been injured, known as the varsity to warn officers about her son. Textual content messages despatched by Marcee Grey, the suspect’s mom, to her sister concerning the telephone name she made to the highschool surfaced over the weekend. The college stays closed whereas the investigation continues.

• 🎧 Grey talked to the varsity counselor for about 10 minutes round a half hour earlier than the taking pictures, Chase McGee of Georgia Public Broadcasting tells Up First. Faculty directors took the decision severely and went to the classroom the place her son was presupposed to be, however he wasn’t there. Later he tried to enter that room, however was prevented as a result of the door was locked. Witnesses say the varsity didn’t order a lockdown as shortly as they may have. There was additionally confusion on account of one other pupil with the same identify who occurred to be in the identical class, however was not there when the administrator arrived.
• ➡️ A trainer at the highschool described on social media how she protected her college students throughout the taking pictures.

Venezuela’s opposition chief Edmundo González, who’s broadly believed to have received the July presidential election, has fled to Spain, the place he has been granted political asylum. This comes after Venezuela’s authoritarian regime ordered his arrest. President Nicolás Maduro controls all branches of energy in Venezuela and is backed by the army.

• 🎧 González joins an ever-expanding group of exiled Venezuelans who’ve gone to Spain, together with 4 earlier presidential hopefuls, NPR’s John Otis says. As soon as politicians depart, it normally signifies that they’re gone for good. The opposition had been hoping the U.S. and different nations would acknowledge him as Venezuela’s new president, however now that he has fled it appears out of the query.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits London right this moment, addressing rising coverage variations between the U.S. and U.Ok., notably over Israel and different international coverage points. This comes forward of a White Home journey by the brand new U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The U.S. counts on British assist for its efforts to arm Ukraine, and to work towards a cease-fire deal in Gaza. The U.Ok. has taken some actions just lately that differ from the U.S. in relation to Israel.

• 🎧 NPR’s Lauren Frayer says the U.Ok. suspended a few of its arms exports to its ally Israel, on account of its conduct in Gaza. The U.Ok. has stated there’s a danger that Israel would possibly use British-made weapons to violate worldwide humanitarian legislation. Funding has additionally been restored to the UN assist company serving to the Palestinians. Blinken is claimed to be making the journey to reaffirm the 2 nations’ particular relationship.

Local weather Options Week

Juan Rodriguez and his cousin Orlando Flores examine on their 2-acre agave subject in Vacaville, Calif., on June 26.

Manola Secaira/CapRadio

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Manola Secaira/CapRadio

Local weather change is affecting our meals, and our meals is affecting the local weather. NPR is dedicating per week to tales and conversations about the seek for options.

California farmers are looking for to develop much less thirsty crops like agave as they grapple with human-caused local weather change. Excessive warmth and intensifying durations of drought are extra frequent now for the state, impacting a lot of the U.S.’ manufacturing of fruits and nuts, like avocados and almonds. Rising agave, a key ingredient in making tequila and mezcal, is a reasonably new concept for the U.S. Right here’s how some farmers are embracing the crop.

And the wine trade in Napa Valley is beginning to confront the truth that grapes grown for cabernet are being broken not simply by rising temps but in addition by new know-how getting used to regulate to local weather change.

From our hosts

This essay was written by A Martínez, Morning Version and Up First host

American rapper and actor LL Cool J poses for a portrait in New York, NY, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Shuran Huang/for NPR

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Shuran Huang/for NPR

When LL Cool J launched his debut album Radio, there wasn’t a distinguished West Coast rap scene {that a} freshly minted teen like myself may simply entry. Listening to songs akin to “I Need A Beat,” “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock The Bells” made me dream, not of having the ability to rap like him, however of sooner or later having the ability to challenge only a tiny fraction of his confidence and swagger. It is solely been 40 years, and I’m nonetheless ready for that to occur.

His voice and lyrics popped for me as a result of LL Cool J was additionally a young person, simply 17, when Radio got here out. That blew my thoughts and hooked my coronary heart on rap music with LL as one of many primary entry factors to this world. I imply, did I purchase a Jeep in 1993 simply because I heard his track “Back Seat”? Possibly, in all probability, however do not inform my mother that and positively DO NOT present her the lyrics to that track.

LL Cool J is 56 years previous now and I talked to him about his first new album in over a decade. And in that chat I obtained the reply to the query I had been questioning about, which seems like I am “Going Back to Cali.”

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Mr. Grasping, the penguin with essentially the most spots on his stomach, is pictured at far left.

Maryland Zoo

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Maryland Zoo

1. “Mr. Greedy,” a prolific penguin dad, died at Baltimore’s Maryland Zoo final week on the age of 33, almost doubling his species’ median life expectancy of 18 years.
2. A Miami-Dade police officer is on administrative depart after handcuffing and detaining Miami Dolphins extensive receiver Tyreek Hill, hours earlier than the group performed towards the Jacksonville Jaguars.
3. A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs branded Milo’s Poultry Farms and Tony’s Contemporary Market has made not less than 65 individuals sick in 9 states, U.S. officers stated.

This text was edited by Obed Manuel.