AZ Briefing: Why monsoons are unpredictable; School board member's crude posts about Kamala Harris; Make your new favorite no-bake cookie

Good morning, Arizona. Here's what our reporters are working on and what you should know before you start your day.

Why is the monsoon so unpredictable ? It takes a lot to make a good thunderstorm . Weather patterns are fairly consistent during summer , but if all the elements aren't there, monsoons won't form.

Find out more about the ingredients for a perfect storm.

Other big stories

➤ Queen Creek Unified board member James Knox posted content on social media that derided Vice President Kamala Harris , Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ people . Here's what to know.

➤ The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced a new campaign called "Report, Don't Repost," aimed at reducing teen violence . Read what the campaign is all about.

➤ Former President Trump is considering visiting the U.S.-Mexico border as polls show him losing ground to Vice President Kamala Harris in Arizona. Is AZ an emerging problem for Trump?

➤ Today, you can expect it to be sunny with a high near 110 degrees. Expect it to be clear at night with a low near 88 degrees. Get the full forecast here .

How to make the best peanut butter no-bake cookies

This no-bake cookie recipe transforms seven ingredients into chewy, chocolaty perfection.

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We'd love your feedback about the AZ Briefing. Email us at karen.kurtz@arizonarepublic.com .

Today in history

Here are just some of the events on this date in the past.

• On this day in 1939: “The Wizard of Oz” premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Times said it “will unquestionably appeal to a worldwide audience,” writing that when Dorothy steps into Oz, “you are transported with her into a realm beyond the moon and in the sphere of the rainbows.”
• In 1960: After decades of forced labor and compulsory cash-crop farming, the Republic of the Congo declared independence from France. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent President Fulbert Youlou a congratulatory message: "It is with deep satisfaction that we welcome this historic event.”
• In 1961: Two days after putting up 30-plus miles of barbed wire to separate East and West Berlin, East Germany began replacing the wire with concrete. Troops with machine guns guarded the workers, a few of whom cried as they put up the pilings. The wall came to symbolize the Iron Curtain.
• In 1969: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened on a farm in Bethel, New York. Richie Havens was the first performer, rocketing into stardom as he played for close to three hours while other musicians were stuck in the equally legendary traffic.
• In 1971: President Richard Nixon declared his New Economic Policy, nicknamed the “Nixon Shock,” with an executive order freezing wages and prices for 90 days to address inflation. It was the first time the U.S. government had imposed wage and price controls since World War II.
• In 2021: With full U.S. troop withdrawal imminent, Afghanistan’s democratic government collapsed as Taliban leaders took control of Kabul. U.S. and NATO allies’ troops temporarily rushed back in to airlift their nationals to safety.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Briefing: Why monsoons are unpredictable; School board member's crude posts about Kamala Harris; Make your new favorite no-bake cookie