German tourists Michael Pickel, right, and his son Matthias, 12, cool off by sticking their hands in a fountain in New York, Thursday, July 21, 2011. Hot weather that has plagued the Plains for days spread eastward Thursday, blanketing several more states under a sizzling sun and excessive heat warnings that made people sick, shut down summer schools and spurred cities to offer cooling centers and free swimming. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)