Axios

New Mexicans impacted by the Trinity Test are getting closer to receiving compensation after eight decades of health problems and rare cancers stemming from the world's first atomic explosion.

The big picture: President Trump's recently signed the "big, beautiful bill," which includes an extension of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and, for the first time, covers victims of the Trinity Test.

Waymo vehicles are cruising on Philadelphia streets this summer, potentially setting the stage for a fully autonomous rideshare service here.

Why it matters: Self-driving taxis have already been rolled out in several cities — Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco — and Waymo is expanding.

The appearance of Neil Jacobs, President Trump's NOAA nominee, before a Senate panel on Wednesday was fairly revealing by the standards of these kinds of things.

Why it matters: NOAA is a major climate research agency, and its National Weather Service plays a huge public safety role — especially as climate change intensifies some extreme weather events.

The new budget law creates hurdles for domestic critical minerals despite new support, Center for Strategic and International Studies analysts write.

Why it matters: Domestic mining and mineral security are White House priorities, especially amid Chinese dominance.

President Trump announced Wednesday he'll impose a 50% tariff on copper imports from Aug. 1 "after receiving a robust" national security assessment.

The big picture: Copper is the third most widely used metal globally and the U.S. imports almost half of the commodity that it uses — mostly from Chile, per U.S. Geological Survey data.

Authorities said the death toll in Kerr County, epicenter of the July Fourth Texas floods, now stands at 95, including 36 children.

The big picture: Authorities are now concentrating on sorting through debris as they search for victims.

President Trump's nominee to lead the agency that includes the National Weather Service said Wednesday it did a "great job" in Texas, but sees ways to improve forecasting technology and communicating hazards to the public.

Why it matters: Neil Jacobs, Trump's choice to run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, appeared before a Senate panel days after fatal flooding in Central Texas killed over 100 people, with many more still missing.

The built-in modem that delivers live traffic and streaming apps to the dashboard of most modern vehicles works the other way, too — if anyone actually uses it.

Why it matters: That untapped potential could unlock billions of dollars in revenue for car dealers looking to expand the most profitable part of their business — parts and service.

Financial industry pledges to move away from coal haven't translated into reduced worldwide funding, per a new analysis from environmental groups.

Why it matters: Coal is the most CO2-intensive fuel, and its future trajectory will help dictate how much global warming occurs.

New Mexico's flooding rains killed a man and two children in the Village of Ruidoso and prompted dozens of water rescues in the state's south over Tuesday night, officials said.

The big picture: N.M. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration late Tuesday "to get federal response teams and repair resources on the ground immediately," she said on Facebook.

President Trump's pick to head NOAA — which includes the National Weather Service — will tell Congress on Wednesday that he wants to make the U.S. a weather forecasting leader.

Why it matters: Neil Jacobs' nomination hearing arrives as Democratic critics question whether NWS staffing reductions hampered performance in the deadly Texas flooding — and whether proposed budget cuts will hinder the very forecasting improvements he's vowing.