Most dangerous CA cities to celebrate July 4th revealed — including ritzy celebrity hideaway

The Golden State's most dangerous places to the celebrate the Fourth of July have been revealed.

Dem-run city urges residents to snitch on those who break out sparklers on the 4th

Not only is the city of Alexandria, Virginia, apparently not celebrating America’s 250th anniversary on the Fourth of July, but the DC suburb is also encouraging residents […]

Mamdani blasts ICE agents, Elon Musk and 'supremacy' in America 250 speech ahead of July 4 weekend

Zohran Mamdani blasted Elon Musk, ICE and oligarchs in a fiery America 250 speech flanked by naturalized citizens ahead of July 4 weekend.

‘Heat for thee, but not for me’: Mamdani lets City Hall go chill as he tells residents to sweat it out

Reporters test New York building, find temps as low as 54 degrees

READ IN FULL: Zohran Mamdani’s America 250 address from George Washington’s desk at New York City Hall

Good morning, my fellow Americans. Season after season, year after year, the tides have come in and out of New York Harbor long before the name New York had ever been spoken; Lenape dugouts crossed these currents. It was on these waters, tall masts crested the horizon, captained by explorers like Verrazzano and Hudson, after […]

Mayor Mamdani Orders NYC to Sweat at 78 Degrees — While His Own City Hall Was HOW Cold?

Why this July 4 weekend is a wildfire tinderbox

Extreme heat, drought and dangerous fire weather are raising wildfire risks across the U.S. West heading into the July 4 weekend.Why it matters: Millions of Americans celebrating Independence Day face fireworks restrictions as officials warn that a single spark could ignite fast-moving wildfires in areas already strained by extreme heat and drought.Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in parts of Utah and Colorado due to massive blazes in those states.Driving the news: "Dangerous, record-breaking heat" continues across the central and eastern U.S., with the most intense heat shifting east through Independence Day weekend, the National Weather Service warns. Heat indexes of up to 115°F are possible, and temperatures are set to hit 105°F or higher in Washington, D.C., this weekend.Widespread drought conditions have fueled an unusually active wildfire season in Florida.Several areas of the West and Great Plains are in extreme or exceptional drought, which, combined with recent heat waves, has increased the likelihood of wildfires.Case in point: Utah officials report that more than 300,000 acres have burned this season.The Cottonwood Fire alone has burned more than 92,000 acres. Two other major fires near Eureka have burned about 70,000 acres combined.Fire threat level elevatedState of play: Counties nationwide have issued fireworks bans to reduce the risk of fires during July 4 celebrations.Fire danger is elevated nationwide, with at least 49 large fires burning across 13 states as of Thursday, per the National Interagency Fire Center.Conditions are particularly dangerous across the Four Corners and the Great Basin.Zoom in: Gusty winds, low humidity, dry thunderstorms and near-record- to record-dry fuels have ignited new fire starts and rapid fire spread across the eastern Great Basin and Four Corners. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon have major topsoil moisture deficits, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.Red flag warnings were in effect Friday across the interior West, including parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.By the numbers: Wildfire activity is well above average this year. Through June 30, acreage burned was 157% of the 10-year average, while 36,262 wildfires had been reported — 133% of average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center's July outlook.Between the lines: "Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last two decades," NOAA notes.The congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment notes that Western wildfires have become larger, hotter, more destructive and deadlier due to multiple factors, including climate change.How wildfire danger is affecting July 4 fireworksSome U.S. counties and cities have issued fireworks bans amid extreme heat or drought, including parts of the Nebraska Panhandle, New Mexico and Colorado Springs.Multiple Florida counties remain under burn bans that limit bonfires, trash burning and fireworks.Utah has implemented statewide fireworks restrictions. Gov. Spencer Cox said the ban was in response to "the reality that is with us, not the one that we wish we had."What we're watching: More wildfire activity is possible if prolonged extreme heat worsens drought conditions.Fireworks safety tips for July 4 weekendWhat they're saying: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises Americans to never use homemade fireworks and always keep water nearby "in case of fire or to safely soak used fireworks."The CPSC recommends that you "leave fireworks to the professionals and enjoy public fireworks displays in your community." Go deeper: America's 250th fireworks party collides with burn bans

The surprising history behind 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' — the anthem of America's pastime

Everyone knows the song.It’s a warm summer night, the top of the seventh inning has just concluded, and the organ begins to ring throughout the stadium. It’s time to whip out the singing voice for one of America’s most iconic tunes — "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." At a time when baseball fandom was overwhelmingly male-dominated, the character of Katie stands out as an unusual creation for the era.Yet few baseball fans, let alone Americans at large, know the true history behind the 118-year-old symbol of our country’s pastime.To get to the beginning, we must travel back to the time of President Theodore Roosevelt. The year is 1908: The Ford Model T makes its debut in the automobile market; New York City drops the very first New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square; and the Grand Canyon is declared a national monument.The story goes that Jack Norworth was riding a New York subway train when he was inspired by a sign he saw that read, “Baseball Today — Polo Grounds.” Norworth quickly developed the lyrics to the song, with Albert Von Tilzer composing the music.The irony? According to reports, neither of these men had ever been to a baseball game. Norworth did not attend a game until 32 years later in 1940.Norworth and his then-wife Nora Bayes would go on to debut the tune during a vaudeville act at the Amphion Theater in Brooklyn. The song was quickly recorded by multiple different groups, with both the Edward Meeker and the Haydn Quartet versions finding mass success. Although only the chorus is sung at baseball games today, the original song contains multiple verses that tell the story of Katie Casey (later changed to Nelly Kelly by Norworth) — a “baseball mad” fanatic who would rather have her boyfriend take her to the ballgame than to the theater. At a time when women did not even have the right to vote, let alone the fact that baseball fandom was overwhelmingly male-dominated, the character of Katie stands out as an unusual creation for the era.The earliest documented instance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" being played at a baseball game was during a Los Angeles high school game in 1934. The song made its Major League debut later that year during Game 4 of the 1934 World Series.Stadium bands began regularly performing the tune during games in the mid-20th century. However, the way baseball fans engage with the song today — singing it during the seventh-inning stretch — was popularized by Chicago White Sox announcer Harry Caray in the 1970s. Caray later brought the tradition to the Chicago Cubs when he became their announcer in 1982. In 2001, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was ranked #8 on the "Songs of the Century" list, and later in 2010, Edward Meeker's recording was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.So next time you find yourself indulging in America's pastime, remember to buy some "peanuts and Cracker Jack" so that you can "root, root, root for the home team" — but never forget: "For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!