Wildfire smoke + storms: Canadian wildfire haze over the Northeast is expected to clear from New Jersey ahead of the World Cup final as thunderstorms move through, though unhealthy air quality warnings lingered and MetLife Stadium saw heavy rain and lightning. Tropics watch (Florida rain risk): The National Hurricane Center is tracking Invest 91L in the Gulf; it has a low chance to become a named storm but could bring heavy rain and possible storms to Florida over the weekend. El Niño + hurricane outlook: Experts link a quiet Atlantic start to El Niño, citing stronger wind shear that can suppress tropical development. Endangered Species Act rollback: The Trump administration rescinded the “blanket rule,” weakening protections for newly threatened species, including Florida manatees, and also moved to require regulators to consider economic impacts in habitat decisions. Coral reef loss (South Florida): Scientists say South Florida’s reefs are dying fast, shrinking from about half the seafloor to under 5%, raising coastal flooding and erosion risks. Solar push in Florida: A Florida op-ed argues the state can lead on solar as a homegrown way to cut reliance on imported fuels. Local preparedness: FPL held a Touch-A-Truck Hurricane Expo in Bradenton to help families practice storm readiness. Data center backlash: Anti–AI data center protests went national, including in Naples, Florida, as residents cite power, water, and local pollution concerns.