Heat deaths in large Arizona county hit half-year record

Heat-associated deaths in Arizona’s largest county have hit a half-year record with 17 such fatalities reported through the first week of July and another 126 under investigation.

The higher numbers come as more homeless people live unprotected outdoors in the arid desert city, where summer temperatures soar well into triple digits.

Cities in other around the U.S. and the world are also sweating through earlier, more intense, and longer-lasting heat waves that scientists blame on global warming.

A heat wave currently grips Europe with London officials asking people to stay home and wildfires raging in France, Spain, and elsewhere.