Over 115 million individuals face exposure to hazardous smoke and poor air quality levels. This situation arises due to the widespread dispersion of wildfire smoke, resulting in health advisories across at least 17 states, stretching from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic regions. The smoke has caused disruptions such as flight delays and the shutdown of pools and beaches, along with the cancellation of various outdoor activities.

Reporter Background

The report comes from Stephanie Sy, a noted correspondent for PBS News Hour. Her career has seen her take on anchor and correspondent roles at major networks such as ABC News, Al Jazeera America, CBSN, CNN International, and PBS News Hour Weekend.

Before her tenure at News Hour, Sy contributed to Yahoo News by anchoring discussions related to the 2018 Midterm Elections and providing insights from Donald Trump’s victory celebration on Election Day 2016.