PBS News Hour: Texas Floods, Measles Surge, Justice Department Shifts, and AI in Opera

Texas Flood Warning System Failures

• ⚠️ Deadly floods in South Central Texas have claimed 121 lives, with 161 still missing, prompting scrutiny over warning systems.
• 💡 Previous efforts in Kerr County to fund a new flood warning system, including updating outdated gauges and monitoring stations, failed to secure state funding a decade ago.
• 🚨 Local officials reportedly delayed sending alerts via a private system after a firefighter requested it during the recent catastrophe.
• 📢 Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated lives could have been saved with a more robust system and pledged state funding for sirens by next summer.
• 📈 Experts emphasize the need for more real-time monitoring data and a broader conversation about developing in flood-prone areas.

Measles Outbreak and Public Health Concerns

• 📈 Measles cases have surged to their highest levels in over 30 years, with 1,288 cases reported across 38 states and 162 hospitalizations.
• 👶 Three deaths have been attributed to the outbreak, including two unvaccinated children in Texas.
• 🦠 Measles is highlighted as the most contagious disease, serving as a