Friday, September 27, 2024
It is Friday, September 26, 2024. Here are today’s top stories.
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Helene strikes Florida Gulf Coast as Cat. 4 Hurricane
Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida around 11 p.m. last night as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds. At least 14 deaths are blamed on the hurricane. The first reported death when an overhead sign fell on a vehicle in the Tampa area. Fatalities have been reported in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina from trees falling on homes, car accidents, and two deaths by drownings. Authorities said the toll is likely to rise. Helene is currently a tropical storm over Georgia. Millions in the Southeast are without power and facing flood emergencies. In the Asheville, North Carolina region, over 100 people have been rescued from floods.
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2024-09-26-hurricane-helene-live-updates-florida-georgia
https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/hurricane-helene/?id=113931821
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Actress Maggie Smith dies at 89
Actress Maggie Smith, who had a long acting career including recent roles in “Downton Abbey” and the “Harry Potter” films, passed away at the age of 89. She won two Oscars, four Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and many other awards. She is considered one of the greatest British actresses. A representative for Smith’s family said she leaves behind two sons and five grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
https://apnews.com/article/actress-maggie-smith-dies-03a7b4143cc54b14bc7d9bca24ed1f9a
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Boar’s Head under law enforcement investigation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Boar’s Head processing plants nationwide are under a law enforcement investigation. A recently-shuttered Boar’s Head plant in Virginia has been linked to an outbreak of a listeria strain that killed 10 people and sent 59 to hospitals. The USDA said they “take very seriously matters of public health and corporate accountability.” A Boar’s Head spokesperson said the company does not comment on legal matters.
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Israel receives $8.7 billion military aid from U.S.
Reuters reported that Israel said it’s “secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the U.S. to support its ongoing military efforts.” $5.2 billion of that will go to air defense system like the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and to support the development of an advanced laser defense system. $3.5 billion is being used for “essential wartime” supplies.
Reuters, in another report, said that the Biden administration, with its clock ticking down, has struggled to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, stop the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, and seen the Israel-Hezbollah conflict flaring out.
Reuters said Biden has been reluctant to exercise much U.S. leverage — as Israel’s top arms supplier — to bend Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau to his will.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-diplomacy-mideast-falters-clock-ticks-down-biden-2024-09-26/
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Alabama executes man using nitrogen gas
Last night the state of Alabama executed a 59-year-old man using nitrogen gas. His name was Alan E. Miller and he was convicted of killing three men that he worked with because he believed they were spreading rumors about him. The execution method using nitrogen gas works by placing a mask that covers the entire face and pumping it with 100% nitrogen gas, which deprives a person of oxygen that is needed to survive. AP News said Miller shook and trembled on a gurney for about two minutes. There are critics of the nitrogen method, saying it is like torture. Miller’s last words were, “I didn’t do anything to be in here.” After he died, Alabama Gov. Ivey said “justice was finally served for these three victims…”
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/26/us/alan-eugene-miller-alabama-execution/index.html
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That is all the top stories for this week. Have a nice weekend and stay with the light.