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Driverless Cars In San Francisco Stall Causing A Traffic Jam; Hawaii Wildfires Continue To Burn In The Upcountry Maui Town Of Kula; Rafting Trip Down The Iconic Colorado River In Utah; New Snake Species Named After Harrison Ford.

COY WIRE, CNN 10 ANCHOR: Hello, all you superstars rising in bright light shining, happy Friyay. Let`s finish this week strong and dominate before we

start dreaming and scheming for the weekend, two days of endless possibilities. Those were just around the corner. But today we`re going to

take you from Hawaii to Colorado, then to the Peruvian wilds, but first San Francisco for our futuristic roadblock.

California recently decided that some Robo taxi companies can operate driverless cars around the clock in San Francisco. The decision passed in a

three to one vote by regulators. Before the vote, the approved companies, Cruise and Waymo could only offer limited service to locals. But now you

can hail a self-driving taxi in the golden city at any time, but the venture already hit its first roadblock.
 

roadblock [ˋrod͵blɑk] n. 路障；障碍物

Literally over the weekend, self-driving cars owned by Cruise caused a traffic jam downtown. Witnesses say the cars blocked intersections for

about 15 minutes. Imagine if this happened and you were going to be late getting somewhere, you can run, but you can`t ride. Some are worried that

these types of conundrums might block emergency vehicles, too.
 

conundrum [kəˋnʌndrəm] n. 复杂难解的问题

Local police, fire, and sheriff`s associations have all expressed similar concerns in letters to the California Public Utilities Commission. And the

San Francisco Fire Department, well, they told CNN it has recorded more than 50 incidents of driverless cars interfering with emergency responses

just this year alone. Cruise addressed the traffic jam on social media explaining that a nearby music festival had affected wireless bandwidth,

delaying the connection to the driverless cars. The company has told CNN though that it`s 24/7 driverless service is a major milestone. One that

could make transportation safer and more accessible. What say you sunshine? Is the world ready for self-driving cars? Are self-driving cars ready to be

self-driving cars? Or do you think we should just park this idea for a bit? I know, sorry. Car puns are exhausting.

Next up, we have a new report from CNN`s Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir on the Hawaiian island of Maui where deadly fires continue to burn.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the disaster. Many more still missing. In Maui`s upcountry, Bill met volunteer first responders who are
 

upcountry [ˋʌpˋkʌntrɪ] n. 内地（的）；内陆（的）

taking desperate measures to put out the flames and a family that`s still holding on to hope for a missing mother.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL WEIR, CNN CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With an upcountry fire, not fully contained Maui`s Fire Department stretched painfully thin and
 

be stretched thin: not have sufficient resources to carry out tasks, have too much work

winds kicking up once again, some residents around Kula are using sprinklers and hope to protect their homes.

(On camera): Whoa, careful, careful.

(Voice-over): And I met volunteer first responders trying to knock down hot spots with bottled water.

(On camera): Oh man, you can feel the heat.

MERILL KALOPODES, VOLUNTEER: Because there`s a smoldering pit over there.
 

smoldering [ˋsmoldɚɪŋ] adj. 闷燃的

WEIR: Oh.

KALOPODES: And all it needs is a good wind to -- to get it going. By the time we got there, it was already flaming.

WEIR: Really?

KALOPODES: Yeah, it was -- it was started off with just a little smoke and then we said, OK, let`s get some water, haul it over there. And then by the

time we got over there, it started -- it started flaming already. So, you know, we`re going to go back and go put some more water on it.

WEIR: In this city, smokey brush one wrong step into smoldering ash means a burn foot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s what happened there. I went to go check that one. And the -- and the soot is so deep, you can`t get through it.
 

soot [sʊt] n. 煤灰；煤烟

WEIR: But they stay at it until they`re spotted by a helicopter dropping water, scooped from swimming pools and they finally get the help they need.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: Ten second trivia. Located at the border of Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam controls the flow of what water?

Yellowstone River, Colorado River, Rio Grande, or Missouri River?

This national historic landmark is located on the Colorado River. Let`s take a ride down the Colorado river now. It`s an important waterway that

has been shrinking steadily over the past century. For the first time in years, a strong snow pack has raised water levels on the river and federal

officials are easing water restrictions in response. The decision could restore billions of gallons of H2O to affected states. But as CNN

Correspondent, Lucy Kafanov found out, some people think it`s too soon to celebrate. Hold on As we join her in Utah on a raft ride down the iconic

river.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SINJIN EBERLE, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AMERICAN RIVERS: This river is iconic.

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sinjin Eberle has spent much of his life on the Colorado River.

EBERLE: It`s a remarkable, remarkable area of the world.

KAFANOV: As an avid adventurer and Colorado River advocate, his mission in life is to protect it.
 

avid [ˋævɪd] adj. 热心的，劲头十足的

EBERLE: This is one of the most important places in the nation. And it`s one of the places that we need to be really diligent about taken care of
 

diligent [ ˈdɪlədʒənt] adj. 认真刻苦的，勤奋的，勤劳的; carried out with care and perseverance

because it -- it does contribute so much to all of us.

KAFANOV: The Colorado River is the lifeblood of this region. Powering cities, watering farms, and quenching the thirst of some 40 million people.
 

lifeblood [ˋlaɪf͵blʌd] n. 生机的根源；命脉

quench [kwɛntʃ] v. 解（渴）[（+with）]

It`s a critical refuge for wildlife and a playground that`s under threat.

EBERLE: It`s being overused. There`s more demand on the river. There`s more water being taken out of the river than the river can handle. If we

continue to over extract the bank account, we are going to run dry.

KAFANOV: An unusually wet and snowy winter brought some relief, replenishing snow pack and boosting water levels for the first time in
 

replenish [rɪˋplɛnɪʃ] v. 再装满

years. But with the rapidly changing climate experts are warning, it`s not enough.

EBERLE: It`s been so hot and so dry in the Southwest. That much of the benefit we got out of the snow pack is literally evaporated.

KAFANOV: The one or two extra wet winters is not going to solve this crisis?

EBERLE: My concern is that people will assume that the situation is getting much better and that we can take our foot off the gas in terms of
 

assume [əˋsjum]v.（想当然地）认为

take one’s foot off the gas 把脚从油门上挪开; to do something with less effort and determination

conservation. This system can crash and it can crash fast.

KAFANOV: Over the last century, the river has shrunk by roughly 20%. Those losses are more apparent in the lower basin states, but the impacts are

being felt across the entire waterway.

(On camera): Raft into Colorado is a breathtaking experience. It`s a slow and sometimes bumpy ride through ancient time at a moment when it seems

like the Earth`s clock is speeding up. Even here, the effect of climate change, rapid growth and water over consumption are threatening the very

existence of this river.

DAVIDE IPPOLITO, COLORADO RIVER RAFTING GUIDE: We boat through Cataract Canyon. It`s the best roller coaster in north America. Class IV Rapids all
 

rapid [ˋræpɪd] n. 急流；急湍

the way down when it`s high water. And yet my most dangerous part of my job is when I get to this ramp, it`s extremely dangerous.
 

ramp [ræmp] n. 斜面；斜坡

KAFANOV: The river has shrunk so much that it`s nearly impossible for Colorado River guides like Davide Ippolito to pull boats out of the water.

IPPOLITO: It`s kind of like pyramid building. You have guides putting roller tubes underneath boats, as that boat is pulled up, guides are

running and putting those tubes under until we get to flat land on top like ancient Egyptian technology, literally.

KAFANOV: It`s such a hassle that many tours now float an extra 50 miles downstream adding up to two days, not to mention cost to a trip. What

worries Ippolito more than the business impact is the threat to future generations.

IPPOLITO: So if we want to live out west and we want to protect our heritage out here and we want to have enough water for our kids and

grandkids, then we need to solve these issues now. It`s -- it`s no longer problem we can kick down the line.

KAFANOV: A sentiment echoed by Eberle.

EBERLE: It would be heartbreaking to lose this place.

KAFANOV: Lucy Kafanov, CNN on the Colorado River in Moab.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: For today`s story, getting a 10 out of 10 from Otishi National Park in Peru, a group of researchers making history, discovering a brand-new

species of snake. They named the yellow brown serpent after action hero, Harrison Ford, AKA Indiana Jones. And I`m rep telling you that`s witty,

because Indiana Jones was famously afraid of snakes. Tachymenoides harrisonfordi is the name. Now, I don`t know slither or not, you`re afraid
 

slither [ˋslɪðɚ] v. 连走带跑地滑；滑溜

of snakes, but if you are, you just might have ophidiophobia or an extreme fear of snakes.
 

ophidiophobia [͵ɔfədaɪoˋfobɪə] n. 恐蛇症

Special shout out to home of the Mustangs, New Washington, Middle and New Washington High School in New Washington, Indiana. Thanks for subscribing

in commenting on our CNN 10 YouTube Channel for a shout out. Let`s go out now and make this world a bit of a better place today. Shall we? Even if

it`s just making someone smile today. Remember you are more powerful than you know. I`m Coy Wire. It`s been a blessing to spend this week with you.

END