DLNews News:

The air quality in New York City and Philadelphia remained "very unhealthy" to "hazardous" Wednesday as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires blanketed the cities. Schools in both places canceled outdoor activities and recommended people with respiratory conditions wear masks.

More than 75 million people across the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of South are under air quality alerts due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. The smoky blanket has chased players from ballfields, actors from Broadway stages, and held up flights at major airports. It's also prompted a resurgence of mask-wearing and remote work.

In New York City, a pall of orange smoke covered the sky Wednesday, blotting out sunlit Midtown Manhattan and snarling traffic. School districts urged kids to stay indoors at recess and encouraged commuters to wear Covid masks. The smoky conditions will persist into Thursday and Friday, especially in central New York.

The smoky conditions are expected to be pushed west toward the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, with the worst smoke expected to reach Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo on Friday and Saturday, according to AccuWeather. The haze, known as "vog," is a mixture of sulfur dioxide gas and fine particulates. It can irritate the lungs and cause asthma, allergies, and other health issues. Sensitivity to vog varies from person to person, but those with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions are at a greater risk.

Prosecutors have informed Donald Trump's lawyers that he is a target of their investigation into the former president's handling of classified documents after he left office, according to two people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department typically informs individuals that they are targets of grand jury investigations to allow them to testify against themselves before indictments are pursued.

Trump's lawyers previously signed a statement that they had conducted a "diligent search" of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and turned over all classified documents. Still, federal investigators suspect he kept some at the golf club after leaving office. In August, the FBI searched the property and recovered more than 100 documents marked as classified.

Prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith are investigating whether Trump violated laws prohibiting the destruction, concealment, or mishandling of classified documents. They also are investigating his possible role in litigation that sought to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results and his finances related to a pro-Trump PAC, Save America. Both investigations are ongoing.

A burst of lava spewing from within Halemaumau crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park began erupting on Wednesday morning, and officials say the volcano's summit activity is now occurring entirely within a closed area of the park. High levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard for park visitors, and these gases react in the atmosphere to create the smog-like haze known as vog that can present air quality hazards for people downwind from the volcano.

Throughout the 20th century, Halemaumau was periodically filled with lava and then drained back to its solid crater floor. But in 2008, a new pit crater formed along the east edge of the hole and filled with a lava lake that has been filling up and draining intermittently ever since.

The lava flows threaten several of the park's facilities, including the archaeologically significant Kailili Village and the visitor center in the Kalapana district. Lava is also advancing towards the Leilani Estates subdivision, and two fingers of lava are threatening to cross the park’s Chain of Craters Road between the volcano and Pahoa.

Pope Francis, 86, underwent what was described as a "successful three-hour operation" Wednesday to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. The Vatican said he was undergoing surgery after complaining of abdominal pain and frequent intestinal blockages. He had gone to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for tests, then returned to the Vatican Wednesday after a general audience and was admitted to a 10th-floor suite reserved for popes.

Doctors removed adhesions, or internal scar tissue, on the intestine that had been aggravating the blockages for months. They also repaired a hernia formed over a previous scar, possibly from surgery two years ago to remove half of his colon. The surgeon, Sergio Alfieri, expected the pontiff to recover quickly and without complications.

A Vatican spokesman, early Thursday, said the pope spent a restful first night in the hospital and had a good test result. He added that the pope thanks well-wishers for their many messages of closeness and affection and asks for prayers. The Vatican canceled all papal audiences through June 18. He'll likely stay in the hospital for several days.

The White House says President Biden officially vetoed legislation Wednesday that would block his student loan forgiveness plan. Biden blasted lawmakers who supported the bill for an "unprecedented attempt to deny critical relief to millions of their constituents."

The legislation, which passed Congress earlier this month with support from some moderate Democrats, sought to overturn the administration's move to cancel debt for tens of millions of Americans. The program has not yet been implemented and faces a legal challenge from conservative states. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in February and is expected to rule by early July.

The measure was brought up under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn federal regulations without a total vote in both chambers. That allowed the bill to pass with a simple majority in the Senate rather than the usual filibuster requirement of 60 votes. It will now return to the House and Senate for a possible override, requiring two-thirds of both chambers. Democratic Sens. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and John Fetterman of Ohio were among the senators who voted against the bill.