LAS VEGAS – A record-breaking heat wave continued to grip the western United States on Tuesday, smashing records and endangering lives with little relief in sight. Approximately 162 million people — nearly one-half of the US population — were living in areas under active heat warnings, according to the National Weather Service.It said in a post on X the “dangerous heat” was expected to remain in the western part of the country for the rest of the week before moving eastward over the weekend, warning “the persistent and record-breaking heat is extremely dangerous to those without access…