Good morning, CivMixers. For some of us, it’s Day 2 of a fabulous long summer weekend. For others, it’s just back to work.

However, if you’re bummed because you’re headed out the door for your commute while so may others are sleeping in – and maybe sleeping off a little too much patriotism? – cheer up! It’s Friday.

And it’s going to be another hot and humid one, with partly cloud skies and temperatures in the low 90s throughout the Capital Region, according to The Weather Channel.

That forecast holds even it you’re up in Lake George or down in the Hudson Valley. So be careful and stay hydrated.

At his long-planned “Salute to America,” President Trump avoided infusing partisan rhetoric into his rainy July 4 speech on the National Mall, though he still received energetic applause from a drenched crowd of supporters.

Speaking before a cheering crowd that repeatedly erupted in chants of “USA! USA!,” Trump hailed US innovations in science, medicine and space exploration during his 45-minute speech.

In a made-for-TV Independence Day production starring America’s military weaponry, Trump used the Lincoln Memorial as the backdrop for a tribute to the country’s armed forces and a call for unity that has been largely absent during his divisive presidency.

Attendees at the Empire State Plaza 4th celebration used fans, ice and shade to beat the heat. Also, the DEC set up cooling stations for the second year running.

If you didn’t make it to any of the many fireworks displays around the region yesterday, click here to see what you missed.

Results from the Firecracker 4 – a four-mile road race in Saratoga Springs – are here.

The former governor of Rio de Janeiro state said in court testimony yesterday that he paid $2 million to buy votes to ensure the sprawling Brazilian seaside city would be chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

Police in the Bahamas say a helicopter flying from Big Grand Cay island to Fort Lauderdale has crashed, killing seven Americans on board.

Reportedly among the victims: Chris Cline, a billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist and political donor once called the “King of Coal.”

California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, a top 2020 Democratic contender, clarified her position on federally mandated school busing, saying it’s only necessary in cases where local governments are actively opposing integration.

Round II of the Democratic primary debates on July 30-31 in Detroit is expected to include just about the same 20 participants — including NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. But the rules for the third debates on Sept. 12-13 could whittle the field down by half.

The Santa Cruise, which gives professional Santas an opportunity to gather, schmooze, and stay sharp during the off-season, is a thing – and has been for 11 years.

An 11th-hour twist in the Queens Democratic DA primary puts the establishment candidate, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, ahead of the progressive insurgent, public defender Tiffany Cabán, by 20 votes, means an automatic recount. Conspiracy theories abound.

The dramatic seesaw in the race has Cabán’s campaign eyeing the roughly 2,500 rejected provisional ballots subject to a NYC Board of Elections hearing today as one way to claw back into the lead. No matter the outcome on the disputed paper ballots, a manual recount of all ballots starts next week.

A #MeToo episode from 1969 involving Peter Yarrow, the 81-year-old singer and songwriter known for being the Peter in the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has led to the cancellation of his appearance at a free, outdoor arts festival in the small town of Norwich.

The Northway near Exit 20 was shut down yesterday morning during a one-car rollover accident in which the vehicle caught fire, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said.

A home in Latham has major damage this morning after a fire that occurred last night.

A local development firm has purchased 19 buildings containing 104 apartments in Schenectady’s Stockade neighborhood. Redburn Development Partners has been involved in multiple projects involving historic buildings in downtowns across the region.

Investigators in South Glens Falls are working to figure out what caused a fire on Spring Street in which three people – a firefighter, a man and a child – were injured.

Niskayuna’s two new school board members, Greta Jansson and Kim Tully, took their positions on the board this week as it dispensed with formal business to begin the new school year.

“Hamilton” is the hottest ticket on Broadway and people lined up for hours to get tickets to see the play at Proctors in Schenectady next month. For three years running, the hit show has also brought renewed interest in the Schuyler Mansion in Albany.

A legislative committee has approved a bill that would establish a statewide ban on single-use plastic shopping bags at supermarkets and other Massachusetts retail stores. But an organization that’s been pushing hard for such a ban isn’t happy with the measure.

Once a cultural touchstone, Mad Magazine is halting the publication of new content and vanishing from newsstands. The seminal humor publication will reportedly no longer be available on newsstands after its August issue.

If you’re up for a road trip, 11 tall ships are in Buffalo though tomorrow.

With just seven weeks to go before the 50th anniversary Woodstock festival is scheduled to open at Vernon Downs, details remain murky and people in the know aren’t saying much.