Thursday, September 12, 2024
It is Thursday, September 12, 2024. Here are today’s top stories.
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SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn crew completes spacewalk
This early morning, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who paid for a private SpaceX trip, successfully completed a spacewalk when he exited a capsule in his spacesuit. He was able to look at Earth. He said, “Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” The capsule carried four private astronauts and all had to wear spacesuits because the capsule was opened and exposed to space. Another crew member did a spacewalk and after that, the capsule was closed and repressurized. The spacesuits could have future applications such as private astronauts doing repairs on satellites. NASA said today’s success represents an advancement towards the commercial space industry.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/science/spacex-polaris-dawn-astronauts-spacewalk.html
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Uber driver confesses to killing passenger
In Indianapolis, an Uber driver confessed to killing a 30-year-old woman and mother named Chanti Dixon after picking her up from work after 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. The driver’s name is Francisco Valadez (29). Police explained that Dixon was reported missing on Monday and her body was found in a wooded area with a gunshot wound. Police looked at Dixon’s cell phone data and saw that she ordered an Uber. When police figured out that Valadez was the driver, they did an interview with him. Police said he tried giving different stories before confessing to sexually assaulting Dixon, shooting her, and leaving her body behind. He was arrested and charged with murder. A spokesperson for Uber said Valadez is now banned from the platform and that their hearts are broken. Uber said the app does have an emergency button and 911 calling capabilities as well as GPS tracking and an ability to share your trips with others for safety reasons.
https://nypost.com/2024/09/12/us-news/uber-driver-allegedly-confessed-to-raping-killing-passenger/
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California man arrested for sparking wildfire
In California, a 32-year-old man who was suspected of starting a major wildfire was arrested on Tuesday. His name is Justin Halstenberg and he is accused of starting the Line Fire, which has burned over 35,000 acres near San Bernardino. Police did not yet explain how they believe the suspect started the fire, but said they used surveillance camera video and automatic license plate readers to identify vehicles near the area where the fire ignited. Police found evidence at the suspect’s home that matched with potential arson activity.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2njpp0r47o
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Jon Bon Jovi helped talk woman off ledge of bridge
Police in Nashville, Tennessee said musician Jon Bon Jovi helped to talk a distraught woman off the ledge of a bridge on Tuesday night. A surveillance video shows Bon Jovi and another person waking to a woman that was standing over the bridge’s railing. The two talked to the woman and she eventually climbed over the railing and embraced them. The three walked down the bridge and the woman was taken to get mental health care services. Nashville Police commended Bon Jovi and said “it takes all of us to help keep each other safe.”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/jon-bon-jovi-helps-woman-nashville-bridge/story
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Storm Francine updates
Category 2 Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana at 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The storm was downgraded to a tropical storm and is now a tropical depression spinning in the Memphis area. A police officer in Louisiana was injured when he was hit by a falling tree while trying to clear other downed trees. The officer was hospitalized but is expected to recover. There are no reports of storm-related fatalities, but several neighborhoods were flooded. About 26 people in southern Louisiana were rescued from floodwaters. There is a video of a man helping to pull a driver out of a flooded vehicle. Over 400,000 customers lost power in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Millions of people are under flood warnings due to heavy rainfall and possible tornadoes.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/live-blog/storm-francine-live-updates-rcna170764
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.