Tim Phillips Show, 7/1/26

Hoping to get some hiking in this summer? If you’re heading to a national park to hit the trails, you’ll be in good company, as they’re often crowded with hikers this time of year. But some hiking trails are much more popular than others and a new ranking tells us where they are.

Research from Strava, a fitness tracking platform, reveals the hiking spots people hit most nationwide.
According to the study, California is the place to be, as it’s home to half of the 10 most popular hikes.
The top two on the list are both in Yosemite National Park, with hikers rating the Mist/Muir Intersection Down trail - which has an elevation change of nearly 500 feet - the most popular trail.
It offers “spectacular, up-close views of two large waterfalls, enjoyable scenery along the Merced River, and unique views across Yosemite Valley,” the National Park Service explains.
The second most popular trail is Yosemite’s Half Dome, which features one of the most iconic views of the park ever captured.
This hike is physically demanding and takes 10 to 12 hours, on average, to complete. It’s 14 to 16 miles and rises 48-hundred-feet to reach the top, which park officials point out can be a “great challenge to many hikers.”
The 10 Most Popular Hikes in the U.S.

Yosemite National Park: Mist/Muir Intersection Down
Yosemite National Park: Half Dome
Arches National Park, Utah: Arches Entrance Road Climb
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Dream Lake to Bear Lake – Downhill
Zion National Park, Utah: Angel base down to river
Coconino National Forest, Arizona: Devil’s Bridge Ascent
Honolulu: Diamond Head Hike to first tunnel
Fremont: Mission Peak – Stanford gate
San Diego: Cowles Mountain Descent
Los Angeles: Down We Go!
Source: NY Post

One-Hit Wonder - THINK IT OVER    CHERYL LADD  #34 in  1978, Born Cheryl Stoppelmoor on 7/12/1951 in Huron, South Dakota. Singer/actress. Starred in several movies and TV shows. Married to David Ladd (son of actor Alan Ladd) from 1974-80. Married producer/songwriter Brian Russell (Brian & Brenda) in 1981. This song was writte by Brian and Brenda.

The Fourth of July holiday is just days away and there’s even more to celebrate this year as America marks 250 years since its founding. In honor of the anniversary, CBS News asked Americans to weigh in on what they think stands out most about our country.

According to the poll of 2,150 U.S. adults, the best thing about the American way of life is “the people.”

Nearly half (44%) of respondents rated it number one, followed by the land resources and climate (20%), the economic system, trade & business (17%), and our system of government (10%).
When asked to explain what they think America’s greatest invention has been, freedom and democracy were the most popular response overall (16%).
The lightbulb and lighting were second (14%), followed by the Internet (10%).
Most of the answers were related to technology and innovation, with the automobile (6%), telephone (5%) and airplane (4%) rounding out the top responses.
Respondents were also asked “What is America the best in the world at?” And movies and television top the list with 58%.
Technology and innovation are second with 56%, followed by music (41%), sports (38%) and food (31%).
As for the food that best represents America, hamburgers are number one, scoring a third of the votes.
Burgers beat barbecue (25%), apple pie (19%), hot dogs (14%) and pizza (6%).
Just over half of those polled are at least somewhat excited about the upcoming “America 250” celebrations, including 23% who are “very excited.”
But 47% admit they’re not really excited about them.
And 48% say they’ll be flying the American flag at home on the Fourth of July this year.
Source: CBS News

Tim's News You Can't Use 

Want to know how intelligent someone is without having to talk to them? It may be as simple as looking into their eyes. New research from Georgia Tech suggests a person's eyes might reveal how well they process information. Specifically, scientists found a link between a person’s baseline pupil size — that's how big their pupils are at rest — and certain types of intelligence. Researchers tracked nearly 500 adults using eye-scanning technology and discovered that people with larger pupils tended to perform better on tests measuring problem-solving, attention control, and working memory. Scientists say this could be tied to a part of the brain that regulates focus and mental effort. 
==
WPIX says this year's Macy's 4th of July fireworks show is going to be the biggest ever. Organizers are using six barges to fire off 85,000 fireworks. The show is expected to last 27 minutes. Over 80 pyro technicians will ignite the fireworks 
==
Wersm says a scented KitKat nail polish line is in the works. Six shades are planned, including Choco Cósmico, Crocante na Medida, Só Mais Um Pedacinho, KitKat Mania, Meu Wafervorito and Eu Mereço Esse Glow.
==
KSHB says pre-July 4th fireworks have destroyed another apartment complex.  The fireworks exploded in an Olathe, Kansas duplex. Thirteen people were forced from their homes. Damage to the duplex is estimated at $150,000. Several families have nowhere to go.   A 12 and 14-year-old lit the fireworks that caused the fire 
==
UPI says Lopburi, Thailand officials are scrambling to capture 100 monkeys that escaped from an animal nursery yesterday.  Staffers kept more than 1,000 other primates from following.  The police and other teams are rounding up the monkeys.  The damaged enclosure was fixed and plans to build a stronger double fence are in place.  
==
A translation mistake has left city officials in Ottawa, Canada embarrassed and scrambling to make a correction. French language posters promoting a new city program to create public gathering spaces accidentally used the French word for "pubic" instead of "public," thus announcing the creation of so‑called "pubic squares." The signs were part of an initiative to close off sections of downtown for community events through the summer and early fall. The mistake quickly spread on social media, and organizers say the posters have now been taken down and will be corrected. Local officials called the error unacceptable, noting the importance of getting French‑language messaging right in a bilingual city. (UPI)
==
People magazine says the July 4th travel holiday kicked off with TSA officers recently finding two live smoke grenades hidden in a jar of peanut butter at the Indianapolis Airport. The passenger’s bag set off alarms before an explosive specialist was called in to remove the grenades. The passenger told TSA officials that a friend told him he could get the grenades through security if he placed them in the peanut butter.  
==
A 79-year-old great-grandmother in England says she was left feeling like a criminal after being banned for life from every Sainsbury's and Argos store in the UK. Rita Seymour, from Hook, Hampshire, says the trouble started during her weekly shop when she tried to buy a lottery ticket and repeatedly asked a staff member for help. She then heard the worker say over a headset that the customer was being rude. Things escalated, with managers shouting and waving their arms before trying to record her on a body camera. Seymour admits she knocked the camera from a manager's hand but insists she did nothing wrong, saying she would never start trouble at nearly 80. She also says staff wrongly accused her of stealing before she showed her receipt. The next day she got a letter banning her from all the chain's stores, gas stations, and parking lots nationwide. Sainsbury's said it takes abusive behavior seriously and that worker safety comes first. Seymour now walks 30 minutes to another store and hopes to overturn the ban.