If you thought last weekend was too hot, brace yourself: A heat dome is expected to bring dangerously high temperatures to Atlanta and much of the eastern half of the U.S. this week.

Why it matters: The extreme heat will last through the July 4 weekend, which could affect celebrations planned to mark America's 250th birthday.

Driving the news: NOAA forecasters write in a bulletin that "widespread and daily, record-breaking maximum temperatures into the 90s to low 100s, combined with high humidity, will result in heat indices approaching or exceeding 105-110 in many places."

• They also say overnight lows will be "quite warm," and there could be record-breaking low temperatures that won't bring relief from the heat.

Zoom in: Cities from Minneapolis and Chicago to Nashville and Atlanta will be under extreme heat risk this week, NOAA says.

• The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City forecasts high temperatures in metro Atlanta and across Georgia will reach into the mid- to upper-90s by Wednesday and will hold that pattern for the rest of the week.
• The heat index in Atlanta will reach or exceed 100 degrees every day this week, and some parts of the state will feel like 105 degrees.

How to stay cool: First, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid going outside in the afternoon if you can.

• If you must be outside, wear light-colored and lightweight clothes, drink water, wear a wide-brimmed hat, seek the shade and take plenty of breaks.
• To keep cool while outside, place cold cloths on your skin or spray clothing with water, according to TIME.
• Also: Watch out for signs of heat-related illnesses.

For the pet parents: It's best to walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day. This can help prevent overheating, as well as the hot pavement from damaging your dog's paws.

Tell a friend

Nick Poulos, a Greek immigrant who became an Atlanta legend dishing out pitas and platters and an unexpectedly delicious burger, died this past week after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Zoom in: Nick's Food to Go, the Grant Park corner restaurant that Nick opened with his late wife, Helen, in 1994, has thrived as the neighborhood transitioned from warehouses to apartments.

State of play: The Poulos family is closing the restaurant throughout the month of July to lay Nick to rest alongside Helen in Greece, according to an Instagram post announcing his death.

• It will reopen the first Monday in August; Nick's eldest daughter will continue the restaurant's legacy.

Catch up quick: Nick's, which started off serving burgers and hot dogs, has always been a family affair; his daughter Evie told the AJC in 2022 that she practically grew up in the kitchen.

• Nick retired in 2014 but remained a regular presence as Helen cooked souvlaki and more for service workers, star chefs and state employees.

What they're saying: "If you knew Nick, you knew he was truly a character," the announcement said. "He had a zesty attitude, a quick wit, and never hesitated to tell you exactly what was on his mind."

• "It was all part of his charm, and those who knew him best know he always meant it in good fun."

Share this story

Borrowers face substantial changes to student loans beginning tomorrow, including fewer repayment options under President Trump's tax-and-spending law and the final death blow for the dismantled SAVE plan.

Why it matters: Millions of borrowers must pick a new repayment plan, and some will face tighter borrowing caps and higher repayments.

Here are some of the biggest July 1 changes:

Sayonara, SAVE Plan:

After years of legal limbo and paused repayments, SAVE Plan borrowers will now receive notices to enroll in a different repayment plan within 90 days.

• If a borrower doesn't do so, they'll be automatically enrolled in the standard repayment plan.

New repayment plans:

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act created a new Tiered Standard repayment plan and a new income-driven plan, the Repayment Assistance Plan.

• New borrowers will be left with just those two repayment options.

The fine print: The Tiered Standard Plan offers fixed monthly payments to repay a loan in full within a minimum of 10 years or a maximum of 25 years, depending on the amount borrowed.

Meanwhile, under the Repayment Assistance Plan, monthly payments are based on income and the number of dependents.

• So, the more you make, the more you'll pay per month. The income brackets that determine the monthly payment are not indexed to inflation.

Go deeper

Police body camera footage obtained from agencies in northeast Georgia show officers discussing how they target "work vans" to arrest people for federal immigration detention. (AJC)

🤖 A new report from the state shows almost 60% of teachers in Georgia use AI to help prepare classroom lessons or for planning. (Georgia Recorder)

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Trump can't remove Federal Reserve governor and Georgia native Lisa Cook. (Axios)