NPR News: 07-18-2026 3AM EDT

Torrential rain in Texas, a cyberattack on a Coca-Cola dairy brand, and a fresh round of U.S.-China tension over election interference claims anchor this NPR News Now update. The episode also covers a multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to Taco Bell, the sentencing of a Cuban dissident musician, and a political appointment in South Carolina.

Deadly Flooding Grips Texas Hill Country

A week of relentless storms has left two people dead in Texas, with hundreds more rescued from floodwaters. More than two feet of rain has fallen in parts of the state's hill country. Governor Greg Abbott declared 28 counties a disaster area, a move designed to fast-track federal assistance. While emergency workers have safely removed people from flooded homes and cars, Abbott warned that the danger is not over. "Because of the flow of water downstream, residents and leaders need to understand the rivers will still rise and still pose life threatening danger," he said. In a related development, the Lower Colorado River Authority announced plans to open two floodgates on the Mansfield Dam for the first time since 2019, in order to lower water levels on Lake Travis.

Trump Accuses China of Voter Data Theft; Beijing Denies