House Hunting: “The Senate on Wednesday opened the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, swearing in senators as jurors while Democrats said they wanted to end the trial before arguments even begin.” I guess they got bored with Hunter Biden.

+ The Other War: “Food production and distribution networks have broken down and aid agencies are unable to reach the worst-stricken regions. At the same time, the conflict has brought widespread reports of atrocities including killings, displacement and rape, particularly in the area of the capital and the western region of Darfur.” World paid little attention to Sudan’s war for a year. Now aid groups warn of mass death from hunger.

+ Murder, She Rewrote: “At this pace, the murder rate in the U.S. could match its level in 2014 when many cities saw 30-year lows in violent crime and homicides.” Number of homicides plummets in major U.S. cities.

+ On the Beat: Luther Hall was awarded $23 million after being beaten by police officers. Here’s the twist. Hall was working as an undercover cop when the incident took place.

+ Denying Reality: “Even the harshest opponents of Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza acknowledge, albeit often half-heartedly, that Hamas acted with brutality on October 7 in killing innocents. But many of those same critics refuse to acknowledge the widespread sexual assaults against Israeli women that day.” (They also refuse to consider what’s happening to the hostages.) Michael A. Cohen in The Atlantic (Gift Article): The Rape Denialists.

+ Desert Storm: Here are some dramatic photos and videos after UAE sees heaviest rainfall in 75 years. Though Dubai has been known to perform cloud seeding efforts, they say they didn’t in this case.

+ Control Vault Delete: “Biles got lost in the air on her vault and did one and a half twists rather than the planned two and a half. ‘As soon as I landed, I was like, ‘Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me, and I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now.'” What a metaphor for social media and modern life that one of America’s most decorated athletes has that as a first thought when something goes wrong. Simone Biles overcame tears, fears for a no-regrets gymnastics comeback.

+ Bad Bet: “A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” Jontay Porter receives lifetime ban from NBA for violating gambling rules.

+ Happy Hump Day: “Grazable land is shrinking. Water sources are drying up. A three-year drought in the Horn of Africa that ended last year killed 80 percent of the cows in this part of Kenya and shattered the livelihoods of so many people. In this region with the thinnest of margins, millions are being forced to adapt to climate change — including those who were now drawing numbers from a hat, each corresponding to one of the 77 camels that had just arrived in Samburu County.” WaPo (Gift Article): In Kenya, drought-tolerant camels replace cows for herders.