March for Our Lives, historic heat waves, Rich Strike at Belmont Stakes: 5 things to know this weekend

Protests across the country rally against gun violence Saturday in March for Our Lives

Thousands of gun control advocates are expected to rally across the country Saturday in nationwide March for Our Lives protests to demand action on gun laws after the recent batch of deadly mass shootings. Up to 50,000 protesters are expected in Washington, D.C. to participate in the march against gun violence, according to a permit from the National Park Service. Several hundred other marches are set to take place across the country, including in New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago. It marks the latest widespread move by March for Our Lives, which was founded by teens after 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018.

MLK’s granddaughter says ‘enough is enough’ at 2018 March for our Lives protest
‘Let us finally do something’: Biden urges Congress to pass bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines

Uvalde families, survivors testify as House advances gun legislation

Nine witnesses testified in front of a House committee for gun reform while the chamber voted to advance gun legislation at the U.S. Capitol.

Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY

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Biden to visit New Mexico in wake of historic wildfire season

President Joe Biden will travel to New Mexico Saturday in the wake of multiple record-breaking wildfires that are scorching hundreds of thousands of acres of the state’s forest land this year. Biden will meet with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, first responders and emergency personnel at the New Mexico State Emergency Operation Center in Santa Fe. New Mexico is battling two of the largest wildfires in its history – the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire in the Santa Fe National Forest and the Black Fire in the Gila National Forest — burning over 605,000 acres collectively. The Biden administration announced in January a $50 billion plan to stave off catastrophic wildfires that would more than double the use of planned fires and logging to reduce vegetation that serve as tinder in the most at-risk areas.

Previous coverage: US review traces massive New Mexico fire to planned burn
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New Mexico wildfire burns area the size of Los Angeles

The fire has burned more than 468 square miles, becoming the largest fire in the arid state’s recorded history.

Anastasiia Riddle, USA TODAY

California, Texas among states facing weekend heat wave

California and Texas are among the many states under excessive heat warnings this weekend issued by the National Weather Service, reaching temperatures over 100 degrees. These temperatures are expected across the Southwest region of the U.S., including Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Many states are expected to match or break records, and temperatures are even forecast to exceed 110 in some places. The reason for the heat wave is a high-pressure system, in which a large area of sinking, dry air heats up, AccuWeather meteorologist Reneé Duff told USA TODAY. Evening temperatures across the region are expected to be in the 70s and 80s.