It's hard enough for humans to keep cool with the heat wave currently hitting much of the central and eastern parts of the nation. But what about the country's animals and livestock? A report from Iowa yesterday said that more than 100 cattle may have died near the Minnesota state line from heat-related issues. Today, with the heat expected to reach over 100 degrees in parts of the northeast, farmers are taking extra precautions to protect their animals.

Temperatures will be in the 90s today across the country, as the heat wave that has been stifling the Midwest begins to move east. The National Weather Service reported yesterday that at least 22 people have died from the heat, and 141 million more are under heat warnings or advisories. With the heat wave reaching this lethal level, is there technology in the U.S. that we should be using to battle it?

In this video, host Celeste Headlee provides her take on today's show which touched on some tough topics, including the continued dispute over the debt ceiling in Washington and the growing scandal surrounding News Corp. across the pond. Here, Celeste turns her focus elsewhere, congratulating the U.S. women's soccer team on their efforts in yesterday's final World Cup match against Japan, and warning our listeners against the dangers of the current heat wave.  

This week, meteorologists are predicting that heat waves will hit hard and heavy in the midwest. Though many consider them to be merely a nuisance, heat waves are among the deadliest natural disasters in the U.S. So why don’t we treat heat waves with more concern?

A heat wave is hitting much of the United States, and some states say they’ll soon be reeling from the effects of climate change. Chicago’s long-term forecast looks like a scene from a horror movie: lethal and extreme weather, including blizzards; a termite invasion, and even a 1.5 foot drop in the depth of Lake Michigan.

During this heat wave, many of us are thankful for our air conditioning, despite the power costs. We're talking about the problems with our reliance on A/C and about some of the cultural changes that go with shutting ourselves indoors. We want to know from you, What would your life be like without air conditioning? Would you leave your house more? Interact with more people?