March 2 top stories
It is March 2. Here are today’s top stories.
Parts of California under massive snow
California Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency in 13 countries in California that have endured severe winter weather. CNBC said, “unusual amounts of snowfall and strong winds across the state have damaged highways and roads and trapped some residents in their homes.”
Some of the most severely impacted areas are in the San Bernardino Mountains. Pictures show gigantic piles of snow that completely envelop homes and stores. There are many residents that are stuck at home due to impassable roads. California’s National Guard crews are going to the area to help locals.
The Yosemite National Park has shut down after getting 15 feet of snow in some areas.
FBI arrests man for bringing explosive device to airport
The FBI arrested a 40-year-old man named Mark Muffley in Pennsylvania after an explosive device was found in a piece of luggage that was checked at the Lehigh Valley International Airport on Monday.
Muffley was supposed to get on an Allegiant flight to Florida. The TSA said its baggage screening unit sounded an alarm when it detected something in the bag and that when a TSA officer inspected it, they found a possible explosive device.
The device had fuses and a powder that are commonly used in powerful fireworks. The bag also had a can of butane and a lighter.
The TSA used the airport’s public system to ask Muffley to come to the security desk, but he left the airport. A part of the airport was shut down.
The FBI arrested him at his home on Monday night and charged him with possession of an explosive device in an airport.
ABC News said authorities believed the device, although flammable, was not operational and was not built to explode during flight. There is an investigation to understand why Muffley packed these materials.
SpaceX rocket with crew of four lifts off to ISS
This morning, just after midnight, a SpaceX rocket carrying a crew of four lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center to send them to the International Space Station.
The crew is made up of two NASA astronauts, one astronaut from the United Arab Emirates, and one Russian cosmonaut.
The capsule they are in is expected to dock on the ISS on Friday and the crew will stay about six months on ISS.
Axios said it is SpaceX’s seventh crewed trip for NASA, which affirms the company as one of NASA’s most important partners.
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TikTok adding time limits to app
TikTok announced it would add features to try and limit how much time teens and children spend on the app. It will prompt those under 18 to enter a passcode to continue watching beyond 60 minutes.
For those under 13, a parent or guardian will need to set or put in a passcode for them to watch an additional 30 minutes.
In China, TikTok is limiting children under 14 to 40 minutes a day and they are blocked from the app from 10 pm to 6 am.
Axios said TikTok is one of the top most-downloaded apps in the world and that many are concerned about excessive internet use.
Updates on Greek train disaster
The death toll in the Greek passenger train collision with a freight train has increased to at least 46 people. Over 80 were injured. The majority of those who died were between the ages of 20 and 30.
Officials said the crash was due to human error and that both trains were running on the same track for 12 minutes. The passenger train was traveling at about 103 mph when it collided with the freight train. Several parts of the train burst into flames.
Greece’s transport minister resigned immediately after the crash and admitted that the country’s rail system is not up to modern standards. A group of railway employees held a strike today calling for more hires of staffers, better training, and better safety technology.
Harry and Meghan asked to give up Frogmore Cottage
The British royal family asked Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to give up Frogmore Cottage, which is a five-bedroom residence that was gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple spent over $3 million renovating it.
The Washington Post explained that the request comes ahead of the May coronation of King Charles III and ahead of a major government review of royal household finances. The cottage is technically owned by the king.
Prince Harry and Meghan have given up their royal privileges and are no longer “working royals” and live in California. But they stayed at the cottage when they visit Britain. It is not known if Harry and Meghan will go to Britain in May for the coronation.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-stopped-airport-explosive-concealed-checked-luggage/story?id=97562616
https://abc7.com/san-bernardino-mountains-snow-national-guard-county/12904034/
https://www.axios.com/2023/03/02/spacex-crew-launches-space-station
https://www.axios.com/2023/03/01/tiktok-teen-screentime-app-limit
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/02/greece-railway-disaster-infrastructure-causes/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/01/frogmore-cottage-harry-meghan-andrew/