October 11 top stories
It is October 11. Here are today’s top stories.
Biden on Hamas attacks: “Act of sheer evil”
President Biden said in an address yesterday afternoon that the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli civilians on Saturday was an “act of sheer evil.”
Biden said more than 1,000 Israelis were slaughtered and that at least 14 American citizens were among those killed.
The White House said there are 20 or more Americans who are considered missing and they may be held hostage by members of Hamas.
Biden said “We stand with Israel” and vowed to make sure that Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack.
ABC News said one of the 14 Americans killed is Hayim Katsman (32). He was found shot to death after Hamas terrorists burst into his apartment.
Neighborhoods in Gaza demolished
The Israeli military conducted a fourth straight night of airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip. “The Hill” said several neighborhoods were demolished and many Palestinians were forced out of their homes.
The Israeli military said it targeted bank branches used by Hamas, Hamas’ operational command centers, their storage facilities, and the Islamic University because it was used as a training camp.
The U.N. said at least 200,000 Gaza residents have been displaced so far. 9 U.N. staffers and about 1,000 Palestinian civilians were killed by airstrikes.
The head of Israel’s military said there would be a siege, that it would cut off all food, fuel, electricity, and other supplies from entering Gaza. There are also expectations that Israeli troops will move in to invade Gaza in a bid to root out members of Hamas.
Many international groups say they are concerned about Palestinian civilians who are in the middle of the conflict.
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Rep. George Santos gets 10 more federal charges
Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was charged with an additional 10 federal charges on top of his existing charges of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and lying to Congress. The new charges include identity theft and credit card fraud.
Federal prosecutors said Santos filed fraudulent fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission and repeatedly charged the credit cards of campaign contributors without authorization.
Santos already has a controversial reputation because he made up most of his resume and work experience when he was running for Congress. Now he has 23 federal charges.
He said he wouldn’t resign and would still run for reelection for his Long Island-based House seat.
School principal and dancing student controversy
In Walker, Louisiana, a high school principal is apologizing after he punished a 17-year-old student and questioned her religious beliefs after he saw a video on social media of the student dancing at an off-campus party.
The principal, Jason St. Pierre, called the student for a meeting and told her she would be removed from her position with the student government and that he wouldn’t recommend her for college scholarships. The principal also confronted the student about whether she was “living in the Lord’s way” and showed her Bible verses.
The student, Kaylee, said in an interview that she is on track to finish high school in December and that it was very hurtful for her to lose the potential to get two scholarships.
There was a strong reaction from the local community and on the internet in support of Kaylee and it reached national media. The school board said on Friday they have started an investigation.
On Sunday the principal said he has apologized to the student’s family, undid his previous disciplinary plans, admitted he was wrong to bring up the student's religious beliefs, and said he is requesting to take leave for the remainder of the school year.
Famed U.S. gymnast Mary Lou Retton in ICU
American gymnast Mary Lou Retton, who is best known for scoring a perfect 10 on the vault competition as a part of winning five medals in the 1984 Summer Olympics, is now “fighting for her life” in a hospital, according to her daughter.
Retton was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia and has been in the ICU at a hospital in Texas for more than a week. She is unable to breathe on her own. She is 55 years old.
Her daughter said she does not have health insurance and is asking for help with donations for the hospital bill.
People have donated over $100,000 to her crowdfunding site on Spotfund.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/4249540-9-un-staffers-killed-in-airstrikes-in-gaza/
https://www.axios.com/2023/10/10/george-santos-new-federal-charges-identity-theft
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/10/mary-lou-retton-hospital-pneumonia-olympic-gymnastics