Thursday morning news - July 21, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Zelenska Congress address » The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, stood at a podium at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday…

ZELENSKA: Good morning … Dear members of the U.S. Congress …

Zelenska pressed her country’s appeal for more air defense systems and she did not spare lawmakers the horror her people have seen at home. She punctuated her remarks with images of blood-stained baby strollers and small crumpled bodies in city streets.

ZELENSKA: We want every father and every mother to be able to tell their child, ‘go to sleep peacefully. There will be no more airstrikes.’

Zelenska also shared names and told the personal stories of many victims of Russian attacks. And she thanked the United States for its support as she appealed for more weapons and defenses.

Her address followed a meeting at the White House one day earlier.

Her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed Congress by video earlier this year.

Pentagon: U.S. committed to backing Ukraine » A short time later at the Pentagon, top U.S. defense officials said they’re committed to making sure Ukraine has the weapons it needs. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin …

AUSTIN: As you know, we’ve provided the Ukrainians with 12 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to further strengthen their long-range fires capability. And I think that everyone here understands the difference that they’ve made on the ground.

He said Washington is committed to sending at least four more HIMARS systems, along with other munitions and missile defense systems.

Austin also responded to reports that Iran may supply Russia with drones and other munitions to wage war in Ukraine.

AUSTIN: We would advise Iran to not do that. We think it’s a really, really bad idea, and I’ll leave that at that.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said despite Russia’s concentrated attacks in the eastern Donbas region, that battle is not lost.

MILLEY: The Ukrainians are making the Russians pay for every inch of territory that they gain.

Russia expanding Ukraine war focus » But despite the high cost, the Kremlin is undeterred. And Moscow’s forces are expanding their offensive farther to the south, according to a top Russian official. WORLD’s Mary Muncy has more.

MARY MUNCY, REPORTER: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russian forces are expanding their “military operations.”

The Kremlin is stepping up attacks in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and other areas in the south.

In Russian-occupied Kherson, Ukrainian missiles hit a bridge Wednesday that Kyiv said was a crucial link in Russia’s military supply chain.

Russia has been operating a shadow government in Kherson for months. The White House is warning that Russia aims to formally annex more Ukrainian territory and could hold a “sham” election as soon as September.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Mary Muncy.

Texas wildfire » In Texas, firefighters are using bulldozers to dig trenches around nine square miles of burning flatland. As of Wednesday, the Chalk Mountain wildfire had burned more than 6,000 acres about 50 miles southwest of Ft. Worth.

Somervell County Commissioner Jeff Harris said as the flames spread, some ranchers have not had time to round up their livestock.

HARRIS: I talked to somebody who was just cutting fences at some point just to let stock out. Just hoping they could roam free and be gathered up later.

Firefighters last night only had the blaze about 10 percent contained, but officials said they were able to lift evacuation orders in nearby Hood County.

Extreme temperatures are helping to fuel the fire. And Americans are feeling the heat well beyond north Texas.

U.S. heat advisories » More than 100 million people in 20 states are under severe heat warnings or advisories. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: A heatwave is scorching a large path across the country. Dallas hit 107 degrees on Wednesday. And Boise, Idaho is expected to hit 102 today.

Roughly 80 percent of Americans will feel high temperatures in the 90s within the next week. And more than 60 million Americans could see temps of at least 100 degrees.

The heatwave is expected to shatter numerous local records.

That comes as records are also falling in Europe. Some parts of the continent are still feeling triple-digit heat.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Biden climate change / McConnell response » Seizing on surging temperatures, President Biden on Wednesday announced new steps he said are aimed at battling climate change.

BIDEN: Climate change is an emergency, and in the coming weeks, I’m going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal, official government action.

But he stopped short of declaring a formal climate emergency, something many Democrats have urged him to do.

The executive actions announced Wednesday will bolster the domestic offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast.

Biden blasted GOP lawmakers for not backing his climate change proposals. But Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats are pushing a “radical green” agenda.

MCCONNELL: They’re having trouble getting enough senators to agree to make the most reliable and abundant forms of energy more expensive for working Americans.

Biden also announced Wednesday that the federal government is sending nearly $400 million to states to help some people to buy air conditioners for their homes and to set up community cooling centers.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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