U.S. banning TikTok and WeChat Downloads: The U.S. Commerce Department plans to restrict the downloading of WeChat and TikTok on Sunday. While those with the app will be able to continue using it, updates, distribution and attempts to maintain the apps on the app store are prohibited. 

Significance: Future restrictions can be put in place. President Donald Trump is placing the ban in an attempt to protect the security of the country from a Chinese Communist threat, but TikTok will continue to challenge the restrictions put in place. They said the ban “threatens to deprive the American people” and businesses in the U.S. 

Yosemite National Park closes: Yosemite closed Thursday because of toxic smoke in the air from wildfires scorching the West Coast. The air quality monitor run by the federal government showed levels that surpassed the websites index. The fire was 18 percent contained on Thursday. It isn’t certain when Yosemite will open again.

Significance: Wildfires have been spreading along the West Coast and are resulting in destruction of the areas they have gone through but also are negatively affecting areas surrounding the trail that is left behind. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation order for nearby communities like Juniper Hill on Thursday afternoon.