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Editors, USA TODAY Published 3:54 a.m. ET July 30, 2018 | Updated 10:00 a.m. ET July 30, 2018

A firefighter monitors flames from an advancing wildfire July 28, 2018, in Redding, Calif.(Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)

A deadly wildfire continues to roar through Northern California, as high winds and hot temperatures complicate efforts to fight the blaze. At least six people are dead, hundreds of homes have been destroyed and more than 30,000 residents have been evacuated. The fire is near Redding, along the Sacramento River 170 miles north of the state capital and 120 miles south of Oregon. But it's only one of many blazes cropping up throughout the state: Another wildfire has burned 80 square miles near Yosemite National Park.

An explosive wildfire that has torn through several Northern California communities, forcing thousands to flee and burning hundreds of home houses, continues to grow out of control. (July 29) AP

Yet another fight over government funding is heating up: President Donald Trump indicated that he's willing to shut down the government if he doesn't secure funding for his long-sought wall on the Mexicanborder. Trump met in recent days with Republican leaders in Congress to work out a deal that would avoid a shutdown in the fall and postpone an immigration debate until after the November midterms, but Trump tweeted Sunday morning that he'd be "willing to 'shut down'government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security." The government has briefly shut down twice this year, once after a similar spending-and-immigration impasse and again when Sen. Rand Paul was concerned about spending increases.

President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd as he addresses the Veteran's of Foreign Wars national convention July 24, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo.(Photo: Charlie Riedel, AP)

Jarrod Ramos, the man accused of killing five people at Maryland's Capital Gazette newspaper on June 28, is scheduled to appear in court for the first time Monday morning. He's facing 23 charges, including five counts of murder for the deaths of Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Ann Smith and Wendi Winters. Meanwhile, the Annapolis community honored the victims with a music festival this weekend, attended by U.S. senators and high-profile journalists.

Photos of five journalists adorn candles during a vigil across the street from where they were slain in their newsroom in Annapolis, Md., Friday, June 29, 2018. Prosecutors say Jarrod W. Ramos opened fire Thursday in the Capital Gazette newsroom. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)(Photo: The Associated Press)

America is currently facing a mid-summer blood shortage crisis, and Amazon is offering a special incentive to volunteers who sign up to donate.Starting Monday and running through August 30, anyone who donates blood or platelets will receive an Amazon gift card. In a season of fewer blood drives and more vacations, the Red Cross expecting a shortfall of more than 56,000 donations worldwide, and will need to collect roughly 13,000 donations a day to prevent a shortage.

Tech columnist Kim Komando shows you the settings you need to change on Amazon settings to safeguard your privacy. Kim Komando, for USA TODAY

Monday is National Cheesecake Day: Diners can snag a half-price slice of cheesecake at any of The Cheesecake Factory's 198 U.S. locations(with a limit of one discounted slice per guest). The company's also celebrating by rolling out two brand new cheesecakes: Cinnabon Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake and Very Cherry Ghirardelli Chocolate Cheesecake.

Birmingham, Ala.’s most geotagged restaurant on Instagram is The Cheesecake Factory.(Photo: @cheesecakefactory, Instagram)

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