August 22 top stories
It is August 22. Here are today’s top stories.
Biden visits Maui
President Biden visited Maui, Hawaii on Monday to survey the damage from the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history and to visit with residents who were impacted.
Biden told those in the town of Lahaina, which was destroyed, that “the entire country is here for you.” He promised that the town would be rebuilt.
The death toll has increased to 114 people. Only 27 have been identified so far. Officials said there are at least 850 people still missing and that it could take months to find and identify victims due to the massive levels of destruction.
USAToday said survivors of the wildfires are sleeping in hotel rooms paid by the federal government and that disaster relief organizations are providing thousands of meals a day.
Trump to surrender to Georgia authorities
Former President Donald Trump said he will be going to Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday to be arrested on charges of illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Trump is facing mob-style RICO charges for allegedly leading a criminal enterprise in Georgia and elsewhere to pressure elections officials to “find” enough votes to give Trump the victory over Joe Biden.
Trump’s bond was already set at $200,000 in advance of his surrender. A part of the agreement is that Trump is barred from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case. This deal includes social media posts and reposts of others’ posts.
This will be the fourth criminal case for Trump this year with the other cases in New York, Florida, and Washington D.C.
Trump is still the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency despite his legal troubles.
Trump said he would be skipping the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday night. He said it is because the public knows who he is.
California shop owner killed over Pride flag
On Friday night, a 66-year-old woman who owned a shop in the Los Angeles area was shot and killed by a man who made disparaging remarks about a Pride flag on display outside of the store.
The woman’s name was Lauri Carleton.
Police said the gunman fled on foot and when they tried to “make contact” with him, they shot and killed him. It is not known exactly what happened between the suspect and officers.
This who knew Carleton said she was a dedicated type of person who would work hard to help others.
California Gov. Newsom said the shooting is “absolutely horrific.” A film director named Paul Feig, who directed “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat” said Carleton was his friend and warned that anti-gay and anti-trans rhetoric is dangerous.
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Nurse gets 14 life sentences for murdering babies
Lucy Letby, the 33-year-old British nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies while working in a hospital’s neonatal unit, was sentenced to multiple “whole-life orders,” which basically means she will die in prison.
Letby intentionally caused babies to die by using her medical knowledge. She would use various methods to cause newborns’ health to collapse.
After the sentencing, a top law enforcement official said “nothing will bring back the babies who died or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all of the families over the years but I hope that the significant sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time.”
Sha’Carri Richardson wins 100m world title
American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson won the women’s 100-meter world championship in Hungary on Monday night.
Richardson is known for missing out on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 because of a positive marijuana test. Now with her world title, she is considered a top contender for a medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Richardson on Monday night beat top Jamaican sprinters Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price.
Spotless giraffe born at Tennessee Zoo
A zoo in Tennessee announced the birth of a giraffe that is spotless. An image shows that the baby giraffe has only brown fur on its body, similar to a horse. The baby is already six feet tall.
The zoo is a private, family-run zoo called the Brights Zoo.
Experts believe that this is the only spotless giraffe in the world. There was another spotless giraffe that was born in 1972 in Japan. Giraffes usually live for between 25 to 30 years.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
Maui: Biden visits Maui after wildfires, met with grief over relief efforts
Trump: https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-georgia-election-indictment-79dbb26a14b5a4ccfc1472d6d3eacd2b
Pride flag: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/21/california-shop-owner-killed-pride-flag/70640009007/
Nurse: https://news.sky.com/story/lucy-letby-will-die-in-prison-after-murdering-seven-babies-12944433
Sprinter: American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson wins world 100-meter title
Giraffe: https://people.com/rare-spotless-giraffe-born-tennessee-zoo-7693566