Crypto News: The right to A/C

Hi folks! It's Sophia in New York City, where the heat last week was nearly enough to send this San Francisco girl packing. But before we get to that ...

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A home without air conditioning can be downright dangerous during the summer. My living room's broken A/C went from a mild annoyance to a safety hazard last week as temperatures topped 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35C) in some parts of the city. My sweltering apartment left me wondering if I — and other renters — had any rights as the thermostat soared.

New York knows what's up. A lack of A/C is "the most important risk factor" for heat-related health complications in the city, where 350 people die prematurely each year between May and September because of hot weather. Around the world, experts are struggling to determine how many people are dying from extreme heat.

In New York, the local government is considering legal options to protect renters, and it isn't alone. Los Angeles and Kansas City are also exploring cooling mandates, which force landlords to keep indoor temperatures below a certain threshold, usually 82 to 85 degrees. New York is also considering requiring air conditioning in all units built after 2025.

"A/C has traditionally been viewed as a kind of luxury item in many parts of the country," says Eric Dunn, director of litigation at the National Housing Law Project. "With climate change, it's not a luxury item anymore."

Landlords, unsurprisingly, aren't in favor. They say it will be too expensive and push up rent prices. Local officials worry overburdened energy grids can't accommodate the increased demand on the hottest days.

For now, the unlucky among us with broken A/C units don't have many options when dealing with an uncooperative landlord.

Some cities in the hottest parts of the country, including Phoenix, Dallas and Palm Springs, California, do require landlords to keep indoor temperatures below a set maximum, usually in the mid-80s. Palm Springs specifically mandates air conditioning, while Arizona allows tenants to deduct some hotel costs from monthly rent when A/C repairs are delayed.

In most other cities though, there are no protections. Landlords are vaguely required to keep their rental units "safe and inhabitable," says Dunn. While most states have strict laws giving renters the right to heat in the winter, the standard hasn't been set broadly for cooling. Until that changes as temperatures continue to soar, here are tips to stay cool.

For now, my grocery list is full of ingredients for meals that require zero time next to the sweltering stove. On the menu this week: ceviche and gazpacho! — Sophia Vahanvaty

No-cost home visits for newborns are part of an Oregon pilot program hoping to strengthen post-partum care and reduce ER visits, reports NPR.

California is rushing to test cannabis products for pesticides after toxic chemicals were found in vapes and similar items, per the Los Angeles Times.

Virtual reality is leading to very real injuries, writes the Washington Post.

Ask us anything — well, anything health-related that is! Each week we're picking a reader question and putting it to our network of experts. So get in touch via AskPrognosis@bloomberg.net.