Flooding, extreme cold claim 14 lives in Kentucky as FEMA aid arrives
Winter storms over the weekend caused widespread flooding and power outages in Kentucky, increasing the death toll to 14. The majority of deaths have been linked to the flooding.
Kentucky’s dispatch system received thousands of calls for help as rising waters left people stranded or trapped.
Following a disaster declaration by Gov. Andy Beshear, FEMA began coordinating relief within the state.
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Winter storms swept through the nation over the weekend, leaving flood-stricken Kentucky without power and a death toll attributed to the weather events that continues to climb. The state’s death toll now sits at 14, the majority of which are a result of widespread flooding across the state.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday, Feb. 18, said that two more people, most likely experiencing homelessness, died from hypothermia.
Beshear urged residents to remain vigilant as dangerous weather conditions continue to affect communities. He said, “That should tell all of us that the weather conditions are as dangerous as that water is.”
State responds to mounting crisis
On Saturday, Feb. 15, Kentucky’s dispatch system fielded nearly 10,000 calls for assistance, with many residents stranded on washed-out roads or trapped in rising water. The Kentucky National Guard, alongside state police, conducted more than 800 response missions, evacuating 296 people in the process.
In the aftermath of the storm, Beshear noted significant damage to homes and businesses.
With additional storms forecasted, the state’s response efforts are now shifting to removing debris, clearing roads and delivering supplies to impacted communities. Beshear also urged residents to stay home, as arctic temperatures will likely complicate the recovery process.
Relief efforts underway across Kentucky
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun coordinating relief efforts in Kentucky after the governor declared a disaster emergency. The state has crews on standby to clear highways blocked by standing water, but snowplows cannot reach certain areas due to the flooding.
While most communities are still powered, over 1,500 homes remain without electricity.
As the storm system moves east, the National Weather Service has issued winter weather alerts for millions nationwide, from Kansas to North Carolina. The storm is expected to bring heavy winds and snow, further complicating recovery efforts.
Speculation grows for potential Harris running mate
President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic Party’s 2024 nominee on Sunday, July 21. Now, there is speculation surrounding who Harris will choose as her running mate if she locks down the nomination at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August.
Several names have been floated.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro quickly threw his support behind Harris after Biden’s announcement.
“The road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania — where this collective work began,” he posted on X. “I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States.”
The swing state governor noted that he has known Harris for more than two decades as they’ve both been prosecutors who have “fought for the people.”
Shapiro, who is Jewish, has been vocal in his public support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly
60-year-old Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a combat veteran and former astronaut, is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Kelly was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 2020 and then again in 2022.
“I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President @KamalaHarris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future,” Kelly posted to X on Sunday. “She has my support for the nomination, and [my wife] and I will do everything we can to elect her president of the United States.”
As transportation secretary, Buttigieg has overseen several of the government’s handling of transportation disasters, including the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, and global supply chain snarls related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
Another name that could appear beside Harris on the ticket is Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
A two-time Democratic governor in a red state, 46-year-old Beshear endorsed Harris as the party’s nominee Monday, July 22. In an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” he was asked about the possibility of becoming Harris’ running mate.
“Let me first say I love my job,” Gov. Beshear said. “I love serving the people of Kentucky. The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believed I could further help my people and to help this country.”
Biden calls for ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 2, 2023
President Biden responds to a heckler calling for a ceasefire to the war in the Middle East. And the American Cancer Society recommends more adults should get screened for lung cancer. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
President Biden calls for a ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war
The president made those comments on Wednesday night, Nov. 1, during a campaign fundraising event in Minneapolis when a heckler interrupted his speech, calling for a ceasefire.
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According to reports, the heckler identified herself as a rabbi, asking the president to explain what he meant by a pause. Biden replied that a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas is needed to give time to get the hostages out of Gaza.
The Biden administration has refused to call for a ceasefire since the conflict began, saying the U.S. would not tell Israel how to respond to Hamas’ terror attack.
In his response to the heckler, the president said, “The fact of the matter is that Hamas is a terrorist organization. A flat-out terrorist organization.”
The president said he has been working with both the Israeli Prime Minister and Egyptian President on sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza through the crossing with Egypt, becoming the first people to leave the territory since the fighting began.
Republican-led resolution to expel George Santos, R-N.Y., from the House fails
The push for his expulsion was organized by fellow New York Republicans, with Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., taking the lead. They say his past lies about his personal history and his slew of indictments including federal fraud charges make him unfit for office. Santos has maintained his innocence.
The resolution, which needed a two-thirds majority vote to pass, failed in a 179-213 vote with 19 members voting present.
Thirty-one Democrats joined 158 Republicans in voting against expelling Santos. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in a statement that he stands by the Constitution and expelling Santos now, who has not yet been criminally convicted, would set a dangerous precedent.
There have been bipartisan calls for Santos to resign after admitting to lying about his education and employment while on the campaign trail. Santos pleaded not guilty in court last week as he faces 23 counts of felony charges, including wire fraud, credit card fraud, identity theft and falsifying records. His trial is set for mid-September.
Santos is also being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, which said on Tuesday, Oct. 31, it will have an announcement on a course of action on Nov. 17.
11-story coal plant collapses in Kentucky; 1 worker dead
A state of emergency was declared in one Kentucky county on Wednesday, Nov. 1, after two workers became trapped following the collapse of a shutteredcoal preparation plant. Hours later, it was confirmed one of the workers had died.
First responders were able to locate and communicate with one of the men who was buried beneath tons of concrete and steel. Officials say that is the same worker who was confirmed dead hours later. The search for the second man is ongoing.
Governor Andy Beshear signed the state of emergency executive order to allow the mobilization of state resources in the county.
U.S. infant mortality rises for first time in two decades
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced the largest increase in the infant mortality rate in the U.S. in two decades. According to the report released Wednesday, Nov. 1, the infant mortality rate in the U.S. rose 3% in 2022 after declining for years, with researchers not yet sure if it’s the start of a future trend.
There was an increase in two of the leading causes of infant deaths: maternal complications and bacterial meningitis. Four states saw significant increases in the infant mortality rate:
Georgia
Iowa
Missouri
Texas
Medical experts speculating on reasons behind the jump suggest the rise in RSV and flu infections last year and locations with limited access to maternity care could be contributing factors.
The last year-over-year increase in the infant mortality rate occurred from 2001 to 2002.
‘Years since quitting’ no longer a factor in lung cancer screening guidelines
Based on the new guidelines published on Wednesday, Nov. 1, annual lung cancer screenings via a low-dose CT scan are now being recommended for current or past smokers aged 50 to 80, with at least a 20-pack-year history of smoking, meaning smoking one pack a day for 20 years or smoking two packs a day for 10 years.
The ACS estimates these changes, which will see nearly 5 million more people being eligible for screenings, will lead to the prevention of 21% more lung cancer deaths.
Severe weather continues to take hold over the United States during the week of July 16, with a tornado hitting a Pfizer plant in North Carolina and passengers on a Delta flight getting sick due to the Las Vegas heat. The tornado hit just after midday on Wednesday, July 20.
There were no serious reports of injury at the Pfizer plant, with all employees safely evacuated and accounted for. However, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone reported 50,000 pallets of medicine were “strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind.”
According to the Pfizer website, the North Carolina plan produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly 25% of all sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals. Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, said the damage “will likely lead to long-term shortages while Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuilds.”
While there were no injuries at the Pfizer plant, other parts of Nash County weren’t so lucky. The county reported 13 injuries and damage to 89 buildings.
The tornado at the Pfizer plant came as the rest of the country deals with searing heat and rising floodwaters. Days after Phoenix set a record for the longest streak of 110-degree days, torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky.
Meteorologists warned of a “life-threatening situation” in the communities of Mayfield and Wingo, Kentucky. Forecasters expected up to 10 inches of rain to fall on parts of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., declared a state of emergency Wednesday.
“Please pray for Mayfield and areas of Western Kentucky impacted by significant flooding,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement. “We’re working to assess the damage and respond. Just like every challenge we’ve faced, we will be there for all those affected. We will get through this together.”
In Las Vegas, at least one Delta passenger was taken to the hospital for heat-related illness after the plane sat on the tarmac for hours on Monday, July 17. Multiple passengers were treated on site.
“What an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out,” Krista Garvin, a field producer for Fox News who was on the flight, tweeted. “Paramedics are on now. I’ve seen a total of three people wheeled out so far. Oxygen tanks are being pulled out. They said to press your call button if you need medical assistance. Babies are screaming crying. They’re handing out sandwiches to the diabetics.”
@Delta what an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out. We are now being told you
Forecasters said little relief appears in sight from the heat and storms. Miami has endured a heat index of 100 degrees or more for weeks, with temperatures expected to rise this weekend.
Governor to pay $270K for pandemic church service ban: Media Miss
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., will have to pay three churchgoers over $270,000 over his in-person church service ban during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Randall Daniel, Theodore Roberts and Sally O’Boyle sued Gov. Beshear back in August of 2020.
“I know a lot of people who are outraged that the taxpayer is on the hook for Andy’s constitutional violation. I share this outrage, but this outrage must be aimed at Beshear,” Roberts tweeted Monday. “If the people of Kentucky want to quit being taxed to pay for these court judgments, Kentucky must elect a governor who will actually follow the constitution.”
Straight Arrow News aims to identify when stories are being underreported on either side of the political aisle and media landscape. This story is a Media Miss for center-oriented and left -leaning outlets, with most sources reporting it being right-leaning outlets, according to Ground.News.
In-person church services was one of the many divisive topics to come out of the pandemic. Those on the Right were generally supportive of keeping in-person services, and those on the Left were generally opposed. This dynamic would explain why a legal victory for those suing over a ban on in-person services would receive more coverage from the Right.
Multiple casualties in Louisville shooting, officer in critical condition
At least five people have been shot and killed and at least eight others are injured, including a police officer, after a mass shooting in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, April 10. Louisville Metro Police responded to what they called “an active aggressor” in the downtown area, just before 9 a.m. There were reports of a shooting at an Old National Bank building next to the Louisville Slugger Field.
Aerial video from the scene shows doors and windows of the bank shattered by gunfire.
When police arrived, there was reportedly a shootout with the suspect. Police believe the suspect had a connection to the bank as an active or former employee. Sources from the scene say two responding police officers were injured, one was shot in the head and is currently undergoing surgery. That officer is listed in critical condition.
Louisville police said the shooter was down and had been neutralized in a tweet following the shooting. The shooter is one of the five people dead.
The Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke at the scene and prayed for all of those involved.