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News to Know: Health Care, John McCain, San Antonio, Gray Hair, Michael Phelps, Switzerland

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Ahead of Key Vote, Details of GOP Health Bill Still Unknown

The Senate will move forward with a key vote this week on a Republican health bill but it's not yet known whether the legislation will seek to replace President Barack Obama's health care law or simply repeal it, the third-highest ranking Republican senator said. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will make a decision soon on which bill to bring up for a vote, depending on ongoing discussions with GOP senators. Thune sought to cast this week's initial vote as important but mostly procedural, allowing senators to begin debate and propose amendments. But he acknowledged that senators should be able to know beforehand what bill they will be considering. The Republican-controlled House in May passed its version of a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare." Senate Republicans are now considering two versions of similar legislation, one that would repeal and replace, and another that would simply repeal Obamacare with a two-year delay to give the Senate more time to agree on a replacement.

John McCain Spends Weekend Outdoors With Daughter, Friend

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., spent the weekend outdoors about a week after undergoing surgery and being diagnosed with brain cancerNBC News reported. McCain, 80, tweeted a photo of himself and a friend, Joe Harper, with their feet in the Oak Creek of Zebra Falls in Arizona. The senator's daughter Maghan McCain also tweeted a photo of the outing, which she used to thank supporters for their well wishes in the wake of her dad's diagnosis. McCain underwent surgery to remove a blood clot on July 14 and was subsequently diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

9 Dead, Dozens Hurt After Suspected Smuggling Truck Found

Nine people are dead and the death toll could rise after emergency crews pulled dozens of people from a sweltering tractor-trailer found parked outside a Walmart in the midsummer Texas heat, victims of what officials said was an immigrant-smuggling attempt gone wrong. The driver was arrested, and nearly 20 others taken from the rig were hospitalized in dire condition, many with extreme dehydration and heatstroke, officials said Sunday. "We're looking at a human-trafficking crime," said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, calling it "a horrific tragedy." One U.S. official said Sunday evening that 17 of those rescued were being treated for injuries that were considered life-threatening. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the information has not been publicly released.

Cancer Patients' Gray Hair Turned Dark in Trials for New Immune Drugs

Cancer patients' gray hair unexpectedly turned youthfully dark while taking novel drugs, and it has doctors scratching their heads. Chemotherapy is notorious for making hair fall out, but the 14 patients involved were all being treated with new immunotherapy drugs that work differently and have different side effects. A Spanish study suggests that may include restoring hair pigment, at least in patients with lung cancer. With the first patient, "we thought it could be an isolated case," said Dr. Noelia Rivera, a dermatologist at Autonomous University of Barcelona. But she said the research team found the same thing when they asked other patients for photos from before treatment. The 14 cases were among 52 lung cancer patients being followed to see whether they developed bad side effects from the drugs — Keytruda, Opdivo and Tecentriq.

Many Viewers Disappointed After Michael Phelps Takes on 'Great White' Shark in Race

After ample build up and the promise of a dramatic face-off, Michael Phelps finally raced his fiercest competitor. But the great white shark snagged the gold in Discovery Channel's anticipated Shark Week kick-off, "Phelps Vs. Shark: The Battle for Ocean Supremacy." In the previously recorded stunt, the trained athlete and the ocean predator went head-to-head (sort of) in a 100-meter race off the coast of South Africa. The shark ended up crossing the finish line 2.0 seconds before Phelps. Though the show highlighted Phelps' man-made advantages, which included an especially buoyant wetsuit and a mono fin to help him "swim like a shark," his victory was perhaps never meant to be. A great white shark can hit top speeds of 15 miles per hour in short bursts, according to National Geographic. However, the beasts have been reported to max out at 25 or even 35 miles per hour.

Police: Man Armed With Chainsaw Injures 5 People in Northern Switzerland

An unkempt man armed with a chainsaw wounded five people Monday at an office building in the northern Swiss city of Schaffhausen and then fled, police said. A manhunt is on for him. Police were alerted to the incident at 10:39 a.m. (04:39 ET). Five people were taken to the hospital, two of them with serious injuries, police said. A rescue helicopter was brought in to help the victims and the old town in Schaffhausen was sealed off. "This case is not a terrorist act," police said, without elaborating on what the man's motive might have been.

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