RIGHT NOW ON WJCL 22 MORNING NEWS .. A BRAND NEW GOLF TOURNAMENT STARTS TODAY IN THE LOWCOUNTRY. IT'S BRINGING SOME OF THE BEST GOLFERS TO OUR AREA. PLUS--- I'M FAITH ABUBEY IN WASHINGTON WITH THE LATEST ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRIP TO EUROP E. AND SHORT ON SECURITY. MORE THAN 1- HUNDRED AIRPORTS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH A TSAGENTS. HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AROUND THE SHORTAGE. - ***2-SHOT***} THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL ! 22 GOOD MORNING, I'M ASHLEY GARRETT. AND I'M CHRIS TATUM... WJCL'S METEOROLOGIST JONATHAN MYERS IS ALSO HERE... WITH YOUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TR ACKER RADAR... TODAY A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY AFTER 5PM. PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HH IG NEAR 92. SOUTHWEST WIND 3 TO 8 MPH. TONIGHT A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS D AN THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY BEFORE 8PM. MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 74. SOH UT WIND AROUND 7 MPH. FDARIY A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER 3PM. MOSTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 92. SOUTHWEST WIND 6 TO 11 MPH. FRIDAY NIGHT A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY BETWEEN 7PM AND 2AM. PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROD UN 74. WEST WIND 6 TO M 8PH THE PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP AT CONGAREE TEES OFF TODAY... WJCL'S DANIEL ROBINSON - SAYS- YOU CAN BET-- THOSE-- GOLFERS ARE-- GETTING READY. DANI... EL AS HLEY - GOOD MORNING - EYES FROM AROUND THE WORLD - ARONE THE CONGAREE GOLF CLUB THIS MORNING AS THE PGA TOUR EVENT -- THE CONGAREE GOLF CLUB THIS MORNIN- AS THE PGA TOUR EVENT -- GETS READY TO GET UNDWA ER <> QUESTION: DANIEL - A RE HOTELS SEEING A BOOST IN BOOKINGS FROM THIS EVENT? ANSWER: ASHL -EY THEY ARE. SEVERAL HOTELSN I RIDGELAND TOLD ME THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT MO RE BOOKINGS BUT THEY STILL HAVE ROOMS AVAILAB. LE ONE - EVEN TOLD ME TY HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD SEE ME OR OF A DEMAND THAN WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN SO FAR. ASHLEY... YOU CAN EXPECT QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC AROUND THE GOLF COURSE THIS WEEKEND. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TROOPERS SAY THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EXPECTED TO TURN OUT. THEY HAVE THIS PIECE OF ADVICE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE. "WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DRINK. WE KNOW THAT. AND A LL WE ASK IS JUST HAVE A PLANN I PLACE. IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO GET A SOBER RIDE. IF YOU ARE HEADED OUT THERE THIS MORNING---THERE ARE SEVEARL PARKING LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM. TROOPERS ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU ITS NOT JUST CARS TO BE MINDFUL OF--- THE ER WILL BE LOTS OF FANS WALKING AROUND TRYING TO GET TO THE COURSE. DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY HAVE FIREFIGHTERS WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WILDFIRE OUTBREAKS... AND FOR GOOD REASON... YEAH ASHLEY... DOZENS OF HOMES A RE EVACUATED THIS MORNI IN NG NEVADA - - AS THIS WILDFIRE ROARS TOWARD THEM... FIREFIGHTER SAY THIS BLAZE BROKE OUT LATE YESTERDAY EVENING... NEAR CARSON CITY, NEVADA... AND FIREFIGHTERS HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS - - SO FAR - - GETTING UITNDER CONTROL... IT ALSO SENT SOME CAMPERS IN THAT AR SCREAAMBLING FOR SAFETY. CHRIS MICHAEL: WE WERE SETTING UP A CAMP, MY BUDDY'S RV. WE GOT A CALL SAYING THERE WAS A FIRE HERE. SAW SMOKE HEADING TH WISAY. THAT'S ALL WE HAD TIME TO DO WAS GET OUR PS ET OUT OF HERE. GET THE WIFE OUT OF HERE AND GET SOME VALUABLES. AND NOW TO UTAH... WHERE FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALSO MANGKI LITTLE PROGRESS IN CONTAINING THIS MASSIVE WILD- FIRE... THEY BLAME A LIGHTNING STRIKE FOR SPARKING THIS BLAZE... IT'S ALREADY FOED RC STATE LEADERS TO CLOSE A MAJOR HIGHWAY... FIREFIGHTERS WORRY - - 50-MILE- AN-HOUR WD IN GUSTS PREDICTED FOR THAT AREA TODAY - - WILL HELP THAT FIRE SPREAD EVEN MORE QUICKLY. THIS MORNING STATE HEALTH LEADERS ARE KEEPING A CLE OS EYE ON A NEW VARIANT OF COVID- 1 9. AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT COD UL HAVE ON CHILDREN. THE DELTA VARIANT WAS FIRST SPOTTED IN INDIA. A GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SPOKESPERSON SAYS FEWER THAN 20 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED STATEWIDE. DOCTOR ANTHONY FAUCI SAID THE DELTA VARIANT IS AROUND 40 PERCENT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE-- AND IT'S SPREADING FASTER IN 12 TO 20 YEAR OLDS -- WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE VACCINAT. ED SOT: DR JHA: "IT'S THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VARIANT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR AND IT HAS REALLY CAUSED DEVASTATIONN I COUNTRY AFTER COUNY TR AFTER IT AS THE TAKEN OFF" ABOUT 6-PERCENT OF N EW COVID INFECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE THE DELTA VARIANT. RESEARCHERS FOUND MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES DO PR OTECT A PERSON AGAINS THE VARIANT ONCE THEY RECEIVE BO STHTS. HO THE C-D-C HAS UPDATED ITS INTERNATIONAL TRELAV GUIDANCE FOR VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED TRAVELERS. IT'S BROKEN DOWN BY COUNTRY AND BY A FOUR TIER RISK FACTOR ASSESSMENT. LEVEL FOUR IS THE HIGHEST THREAT - F OR COUNTRIES WHO HAVE ME OR THAN 500 CASES PER 100- THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN THE LAST 28 DAYS. THIS INCLUDES BRAZIL AND INDI A. THE RISK TIERS FOLLOW WITH LESS ACTIVE CASES DOWN THE LI. ST THE AGENCY ADVISES UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WHO ARE AT A SEVERE RISK SHOD UL AVOID TRAVELING. WE HAVE THE VACCINE TO PREVENT COVID. .. NOW THERE MAY SOON BE A DRUG TO TREAT IT... DRUG MAKER - - MERCK SA YS THE NEW MEDICINE IS RIT GH NOW IN A TRIAL PHASE... MERCK PLANS TO ASK THE U-S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT DRUG. .. IF APROVED... THE U -S GOERNMENT WILL GET ENOUGH OF IT TO TREAT THREE MILLION PATIEN. TS HILTON HEAD ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS E AR GETTING READY FOR THEIR FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING IN MORE THAN A YEAR... THAT MEETING WILL HAPPEN JUNE FIFTEENTH. .. THE COUNCIL STOPPED IN- PERSON MEENGTIS LAST APRIL BECAUSE OF COV. ID AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TRAVEL - THE T-S-A IS FACING STAFFING SHORTAGES AT AIRPORTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A MEMO OBTAINED BY THE WASHINGTON POST SHOWS MO RE THAN ONE- HUNDRED AND THIRTY OF THE NATION'S AIRPORTS ARE TIGHT ON AFSTF...DOWN 25- HUNDRED OFFICERS BEFORE THE START OF JUN E. APOIRRTS IN DETROIT, DENVER AND WASHINGTON D-C- ARE REPORTEDLY AMONG THE HARDEST HIT. THE T-S-A ADMINISTRATOR NOW ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HANDLE NON- SCREENINGS RESPONSIBILITIES. THE GOAL IS TO HIRE 6-THSAOUND NEW OFFICERS TO HANDLE THE BOOST--BUT SO FAR ITS ONLY REACHED HALF OF ITS GO. AL THIS MORNING PRESIDE NT JOE BIDEN IS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP SINCE TAKING OFFICE. ABC'S FAITH ABUBEY EXPLAINS WHAT THE PRESIDENT HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT EIGH T DAYS. TH IS MORNING, HIGH PROFILE MEETINGS ON PRESIDT EN BIDEN'S AGENDA AHEAD OF HIS FIRST G-7 SUMMIT, AFTER TOUCHING DOWN IN ENGLAND WEDNESDAY. THE PRESIDENT PREVIEWING HIS 8- DAY TRIP IN A FIERY SPEECH TO AMERICAN TROOPS AT AN AIRBASE. HIS HIGH STAKES SITDOWN WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN TOP OF MIND. SOT BIDEN: "I'M HEADING TO THE G7, THEN TO THE NATO MINISTERIAL, AND THEN TO MEET WITH MR. PUTIN TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT I WANT HIM TO KNOW ." ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT WILL PRESSURE PUTIN ON RECENT CYBER ATTACKS ON U.S. ENTITIES, RUSSIA'S ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. SOT BIDEN: "WE ARE NOT SEEKING CONFLICT WH IT RUSSIA. WE WANT A STABLE, PREDICTABLE RELATIONSHIP // BUT I'VE BEEN CLEAR: THE UNITED STATES WILL RESPOND IN A ROBUST AND MEANINGF UL WAY WHEN THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ENGAG IESN HARMFUL ACTIVITIES." BIDEN ALSO DISTANCING HIMSELF FROM THE FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATI, ON DECLARING TRADITIONAL AMERICAN DIPLOMACYS I BACK, AS HE LOOKS TO REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY U.S. ALLIES THAT HAVE FRAYED IN RECENT YEARS ." SOT BIDEN: "OUR ALLIANS CE WEREN'T BUILT BY COERCN IO OR MAINTAINED BY THREATS.// THE UNID TE STATES IS BACK AND DEMOCRACIES OF THE WORLD ARE STANDING TOGETHER." LATER ON TODAY PRESIDE NT BIDEN ALSO SET TO MAKE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST THE COVID PANDEMIC. C AB NEWS HAS LEARNED, AS THE US SITS ON AN EXCESS OF UNUSED DOSES, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PURCHASING AND DONATG IN ANOTHER 500,000 MILLION VACCINE SHOTS TO DEVELOPING NIOATNS. TAG: AFTER HIS MEETINGS WITH LEADERS IN THE UK AND THE G7 SUMMIT, THE PRESIDENT'S NEXT STOP WI LL BE BELGIUM WHERE THE NATO SUMMIT BEGINS ON MONDA Y. FAITH ABUBEY, ABC NEWS, WASHINGTON. BRAND NEW THIS MORNING. .. A FORMER ORLANDO L-B-T G- CLUB WHERE 49 PEOPLE DIED IN A MASS SHOOTING - - COULD SOON BECOME A NATIONAL MEMORI... AL THE U-S SENATE JU ST PASSED A BILL TO GIVE THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB SITE THAT DISTINCTION... SEVERAL FLORIDA LAWMAKERS PUSHED THAT BILL. .. JUNE TWELFTH WILL MK AR FIVE YEARS SINCE A KILLER OPENED FIRE INSIDE THAT CLUB. THE CONTROVERSIAL KEYSPONE XL PIPELINE PROJECT IS CANCELE D. PRESIDENT BIDEN REVOKED A KEY PERMIT FOR THE PROJECT IN JANUA. RY THE PIPELINE WOULD HAVE CARRIED 800- THOUSD AN BARRELS OF OIL A DAY FROM CANADA TO THE U- S. SUPPORTERS SAID IT WOULD BENEFIT THE U-S' ENERGY CAPABILITIES WHI LE CRITICS SAID IT POSEA D THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. NEW OVERNIT GH THE LARGEST BEEF SUPPLIER IN THE WORLD PAID 11 MILLION DO LLARS TO HACKERS WHO SHUT DOWN ITS MEAT PLANTS. JB S'S COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS BREACHED LAST MONTH. COMPANY LEADERS SAY THE RANSOM WAS PAID AFTER MO ST OF ITS FACILITIES HAD COME BACK ONLINE. THE F-B-I HAS LIEDNK T