Tuesday, September 10
It is Tuesday, September 10. Here are today’s top stories.
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James Earl Jones passes away at 93
James Earl Jones, the movie actor who was known for his powerful voice, passed away on Monday morning at the age of 93. One of Jones’ best-known roles is Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise. When he was a child, he struggled with stuttering. He learned how to speak clearly by using poetry when he was in high school. He served in the military during the Korean War and after that, he found success on Broadway and won two Tony awards and reached massive appeal with television and film roles. In his death, he leaves behind a son.
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Culture/legendary-actor-james-earl-jones-dies-93/story
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Wildfires in California and Nevada
There are several large wildfires in California and Nevada that has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. One of the most serious is the Line Fire, which is in San Bernardino County. The other fire is the Davis Fire, which is south of Reno. Axios said there are wildfires also occurring in Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, and Washington. Two factors that are causing fires are excessive heat and gusty winds.
News videos show aircraft working to drop flame retardants on hilly and mountainous terrain. So far, there are no serious injuries or deaths among civilians, but three firefighters were injured and many homes and structures are threatened.
https://www.axios.com/2024/09/09/line-fire-california-nevada-wildfires
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SpaceX launches Polaris Dawn mission
SpaceX launched a rocket with a capsule that is carrying four private civilians in a mission called Polaris Dawn. It is expected to be a historic mission because the crew is all civilians and they plan to do a spacewalk at an altitude that is more than three times higher than the International Space Station. The spacewalk is scheduled for Thursday early morning. The crew will test new spacesuits and technologies that could be used for future missions to the moon and Mars. The crew is made up of a wealthy businessman named Jared Isaacman who is funding the mission, a retired Air Force colonel, and two SpaceX engineers.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacex-launches-private-mission-civilian-spacewalk-rcna168436
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American woman likely killed by IDF in West Bank
The Israeli military (IDF) said today that it is highly likely that its soldiers killed an American woman who was a part of a protest in the Palestinian region of West Bank last week that objected to the expansion of settlements. Her name was Aysenur Ezgi Eygi and she was 26. She recently graduated from the University of Washington. She died during Israeli military operations in the West Bank last Friday. The Israeli military said it seems like Eygi was unintentionally hit by soldiers who were aiming for a man who was throwing rocks. The U.S. government criticized Israel, saying the shooting was unjustified and called for changes in how the Israeli military conducts itself in the West Bank.
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Francine expected to hit Louisiana as Cat. 1 on Wednesday
Weather forecasters said Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strike the Louisiana coast as a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday (tomorrow) with wind speeds of around 90 mph. Landfall may happen Wednesday afternoon or evening. Forecasters warn of flooding rainfall, storm surge, and tornadoes. Those out there who live near the Louisiana coast and the Gulf Coast should be prepared for the storm.
https://www.axios.com/2024/09/10/hurricane-francine-louisiana-coast
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.