PREPARED CITIZEN INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

July 30, 2025 | 09:28 AM CDT

Analyst Insight

TL;DR: Over the past day, the threat landscape was relatively calm but not without concern. A fatal shooting at a Manhattan office tower and a brief gun scare at a Chicago‑area mall were the main security incidents. Severe heat and storms continue to stress power grids in the Midwest and South, while a major earthquake off Russia’s coast prompted a brief tsunami advisory for the U.S. West Coast. Border security operations reported a significant cocaine seizure, and new gun‑safety laws were signed in Illinois. No major protests, border surges, or supply‑chain disruptions were detected.

1. Domestic Security & Civil Unrest

• Manhattan office‑tower shooting (NY): On July 29, a gunman armed with a “self‑assembled” AR‑15 and a revolver stalked an office tower at 345 Park Avenue, killing four people (including off‑duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam) and wounding another before taking his own life. Investigators say the shooter left a note complaining about chronic traumatic encephalopathy and appeared to target the NFL headquarters, but took the wrong elevator. Detectives obtained search warrants for his car and phones, travelled to Las Vegas to search his home and the gun shop where he bought a revolver, and are questioning an associate who purchased the AR‑15 lower receiver. The shooter had bought a revolver on June 12 and missed his shift at a Las Vegas casino the night before.

• Skokie, IL, mall lockdown: Skokie police locked down Westfield Old Orchard Mall around 2:30 p.m. on July 29 after reports of a person with a gun. The incident was a dispute between two people; both were detained, no shots were fired, and the lockdown was lifted after roughly an hour.

• Illinois gun‑safety laws: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed two bills on July 28. Senate Bill 8 (Safe At Home) requires firearms to be locked up whenever anyone under 18 is present in a home; supporters say it aims to reduce accidental shootings, suicides, and unauthorized access. House Bill 1327 mandates that law enforcement agencies upload data on recovered crime guns to the ATF’s e-trace system; Attorney General Kwame Raoul noted that the tracing measure helps identify traffickers. Violations of the storage law carry civil fines.

• Airline bomb threat (UK flight): An EasyJet flight from Luton to Glasgow on July 29 was diverted when a 41‑year‑old passenger claimed he had a bomb and shouted “Death to America” and “Death to Trump.” Passengers restrained him; he was arrested and charged with assault and endangering the aircraft. No explosive was found.

• No significant protests or other violent incidents were reported in the United States during the last 24 hours.

2. Infrastructure & Grid Alerts

• Storm‑related outages (MN/WI): Severe storms with lightning, heavy rain, hail, and 65 mph winds on July 28–29 knocked out power to more than 140,000 Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Crews restored service to more than 50,000 customers overnight, and over 2,000 employees and contractors worked to repair the damage; residents were advised to stay away from downed power lines.

• South Dakota tornadoes and winds: National Weather Service meteorologist Samantha Garrett reported that supercell thunderstorms on July 29 produced tornado touchdowns across Gregory County, South Dakota. Straight‑line winds exceeded 80 mph, a cell‑phone tower north of Beresford was destroyed, and several thousand customers in Sioux Falls remained without power.

• Boil‑water advisories:

  • Marlin, TX: The city issued a boil‑water notice on July 29 after system pressure dropped below 20 psi; residents must boil water for at least two minutes before drinking, especially protecting children, seniors, and immunocompromised people.

  • Amsterdam, NY: Officials rescinded a partial boil‑water advisory for some Southside streets on July 29 but advised other neighborhoods to continue boiling water and to flush household lines.

  • Earlier: Westminster, SC, issued a boil‑water advisory, and Whitewater, KS, lifted one (see previous brief).

• No major cyberattacks or infrastructure sabotage were reported.

3. Extreme Weather & Natural Hazards

• Heat wave: The National Weather Service kept more than 140 million Americans under heat advisories or warnings, with dangerous heat stretching from Nebraska to Long Island and from New Hampshire to northeast Texas. Temperatures near 100 °F were forecast for New York City and Chicago; LaGuardia Airport hit 100 °F on July 29, and Tampa, FL, also reached 100 °F.

• Tsunami advisory after Russian quake: A magnitude‑8.7/8.8 earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29 prompted tsunami warnings for parts of Alaska and an advisory/watch for the U.S. West Coast. The National Tsunami Warning Center predicted waves of 1–2 ft; residents were advised to avoid beaches and marinas. The City of Palo Alto stressed that no evacuations were necessary and expected wave heights in its area would be less than a foot.

• Wildfires:

  • National situation: The National Interagency Fire Center lowered the national preparedness level to 3 on July 29. More than 11,600 personnel were assigned to wildfires nationwide; 93 % of fires in 2025 were human‑caused, and extremely dry, windy conditions persisted across the Nevada‑to‑Rockies corridor.

  • Laguna Fire (NM): The lightning‑caused fire on the Santa Fe National Forest had burned 17,413 acres and was 78 % contained as of July 29. A Type 4 incident team took over management; 164 personnel were mopping up and reinforcing containment lines. Monsoon moisture was expected to bring gusty winds and lightning, raising concerns about flash flooding in burn scars.

• No active hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes in the continental U.S. were reported outside seasonal norms.

4. Border & Immigration

• Cocaine seizure at Hidalgo Port of Entry (TX): CBP officers intercepted a 2020 Renault Oroch at the Hidalgo International Bridge on July 26 and discovered 30 packages of cocaine weighing 34.9 kg (77 lb) hidden in the vehicle. The narcotics have an estimated value of $1,027,316. The 20‑year‑old Mexican driver was arrested; detection relied on a canine team and non‑intrusive imaging.

• Legal challenge to parole program: The Trump administration filed an appeal seeking authority for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to end a humanitarian parole program covering roughly 480,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans; a lower court had ruled she lacked that discretion. The case could affect future use of humanitarian parole.

• No mass crossings, ICE raids, or cartel‑related violence were reported along the U.S.‑Mexico border in the last 24 hours.

5. Church, Mission & Civilian Safety

• No verified attacks or kidnappings involving U.S. missionaries, pastors, or civilian volunteer teams were reported globally during the review period.

6. International Flashpoints

• Russian Far East earthquake and tsunami alerts: The 8.7/8.8‑magnitude quake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings across the North Pacific. Alaska coastlines were under warning; advisories covered the U.S. West Coast and Canada. Waves were modest (1–2 ft), and no significant damage was reported.

• Other conflict zones: The Israel–Gaza and Russia–Ukraine conflicts continue; however, no major escalations with direct implications for U.S. security were confirmed in accessible sources during the last day.

7. Supply Chain & Liberty Watch

• Supply chain: No significant U.S. port closures, rail strikes, or trucking stoppages were reported. Normal operations continued at major ports, and fuel and food supplies remained stable.

• Liberty and policy:

  • Illinois laws (see §1) will impose civil fines for unsecured firearms and require gun‑trace data reporting.

  • Immigration parole litigation could set a precedent for executive authority over humanitarian parole programs.

  • No other notable federal or state actions affecting free speech, surveillance, or privacy were identified.

Signals to Monitor

• Continued grid stress from prolonged heat and thunderstorm activity in the Midwest and South; watch for new power‑outage reports.

• Updates on the Manhattan shooting investigation, particularly any evidence of ideological motive or networked accomplices.

• Elevated wildfire danger in the desert Southwest and Rocky Mountains as hot, dry conditions persist.

• Progress of the Laguna Fire and other large wildfires; watch for new evacuations or road closures.

• Legal developments in the federal humanitarian parole case and challenges to Illinois’ new gun laws.

Preparedness Action Items

• Heat safety: Limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day; drink plenty of water, and check on older neighbors. Use air‑conditioned spaces or cooling centers if possible, and know the signs of heat stroke.

• Power outage planning: Keep mobile phones charged and have flashlights, battery‑powered fans, and a basic kit ready. Report outages to your utility and stay clear of downed lines.

• Water safety: If under a boil‑water notice, boil tap water vigorously for at least two minutes before drinking or cooking. Flush household lines after advisories are lifted.

• Coastal awareness: Residents along the West Coast should avoid beaches and harbors during tsunami advisories and follow local emergency alerts.

• Fire safety: Avoid any activity that could start a wildfire; adhere to local burn bans. Prepare evacuation plans if you live near fire‑prone areas.

• Stay informed: Monitor official weather advisories, local emergency management updates, and credible situational accounts. Confirm information through multiple reliable sources before acting.

Stay safe. Be dangerous.