Thursday morning news: June 29, 2023

Bidenomics » President Biden is promising voters that the U.S. economy will get better under an economic strategy he calls “Bidenomics.”

BIDEN: I believe that every American willing to work hard should be able to get a job no matter where they are - in the heartland and small towns and every part of this country to raise their kids on a good paycheck and keep their roots where they grew up. That's Bidenomics.

The president is focusing on the economy in his early campaign for reelection. He spoke in Chicago on Wednesday, criticizing past administrations for believing in trickle-down economics.

But a survey by the Associated Press says only 33 percent of American adults approve of how Biden has handled the economy.

Price pressures on American families have eased over the past year… but inflation is still above the desired two percent rate the Federal Reserve is aiming for.

Hunter Biden » IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley says the Justice Department restricted his investigation of Hunter Biden.

Shapley told CBS News that the probe could have eventually linked President Biden to the case.

Hunter Biden has tentatively agreed to a plea deal for misdemeanor tax charges.

Republican Congressman Mark Alford:

ALFORD: We need to make sure that there is not a two tier justice system, the justice system, the United States of America. That is a danger to our survival as a nation.

Shapley told Fox News stronger felony charges against the younger Biden were dropped, including tax evasion and filing false tax returns.

The Justice Department denies interfering with the investigation.

Sub recovery » The Coast Guard says it has found “likely human remains” in the debris recovered from the Titan submersible vehicle. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The craft imploded while on a voyage to the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic on June 18.

On Wednesday, workers unloaded the mangled submersible onto a pier at St. Johns, Newfoundland in Canada.

Experts say analyzing the debris could lead to clearer explanations for why the vessel imploded.

All five people on board were killed in the implosion.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Wildfire smoke » Smoke from Canadian wildfires hangs thick over Chicago, Detroit, and much of the Great Lakes region.

National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Kluber:

KLUBER: Kind of a stagnant low pressure system over the Great Lakes has drawn that smoke around the western part of the lakes and into, uh, portions of Michigan and Wisconsin, Illinois. And so we’re seeing the effects of that right now coming through the Chicago area.

In Chicago, people with asthma and other health problems are being told to stay inside due to the poor air quality. And in Detroit, officials said Wednesday that no one should go outside.

Another mass of wildfire smoke was drifting through western Pennsylvania and western New York and headed toward the Mid-Atlantic.

Heat wave » Meanwhile, in the southern U.S.:

RESIDENT: It's too hot to be outside as it is right now. And just walking around there sweating nonstop. So if it wasn't for splash pads and stuff like that, we'd be inside all the time.

Families doing everything they can to stay cool in triple-digit temperatures caused by a weather phenomenon known as a heat dome.

The scorching heat has caused thirteen deaths in Texas and at least one in Louisiana.

Another heat dome has developed over central California, spurring high temperature advisories there.

Paris riot » In suburban Paris, burned cars and overturned trash cans littered the streets on Wednesday after anti-police riots the night before.

Violent protests broke out over the police shooting of a 17-year-old driver.

Authorities said the teen refused to follow police instructions during a traffic stop. He died from a gunshot wound.

BORNE [Speaking French]: While violence has flared up in some suburbs. I want to call everyone to remain calm.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne calling on citizens to remain calm.

Authorities said 31 people were arrested during Tuesday’s protests … 24 policemen were injured and about 40 cars were burned.

Officials mobilized an additional 2,000 police officers to the area on Wednesday in anticipation of more violent protests.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the teen’s death inexcusable …and pleaded for protesters to remain peaceful.

I’m Kristen Flavin.

Straight ahead: Churches pull funding over abortion abolitionism. Plus, finding healing by caring for horses.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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