Hurricane Helene spurred IV fluid shortage may delay surgeries for weeks
Hospital officials said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene may delay scheduled surgeries for weeks after the storm washed out nearby bridges and water seeped into the factory. Baxter International’s North Carolina plant reportedly supplies 60% of IV solutions nationwide and sterile water for surgeries.
Health systems report rationing fluids and giving some patients Gatorade or water to drink instead of IVs, and hospitals have postponed non-emergency surgeries.
The federal government and medical suppliers are working to ease the supply shortage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is temporarily importing fluids from other Baxter plants in other countries and is allowing some pharmacies to produce certain IV drugs in short supply.
The supply chain issue also comes at a time when hospitals expect to fill more beds with cold and flu patients.
However, supply experts are hopeful the situation will get better but cannot guarantee whether these moves will fix the shortage of supplies, adding that hospitals usually have extra supplies on-hand to handle planned and emergency surgeries.
The North Carolina plant has reportedly been thoroughly cleaned and employees are testing and repairing equipment. Baxter says it hopes to restart production in phases by the end of the year.
Israel has launched a new set of attacks on Hezbollah’s financial operations in Lebanon. And we’re learning more about a catastrophic failure on a dock at what was supposed to be an evening to celebrate culture. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Israeli officials said the organization held funds used to directly finance Hezbollah’s activities.
The National News Agency in Lebanon reported at least 11 strikes in southern Beirut targeting al-Qard al-Hassan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
⭕Overnight, the IAF conducted a series of targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut,…
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. recently sent to Israel is now in place and ready for use when needed. This comes as Israel prepares its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month. U.S. officials are investigating the apparent leak of two top-secret documents that show American spy agencies tracking possible Israeli preparations for that attack.
Trump works at PA McDonald’s; Harris spends birthday at GA churches
With just 15 days to go until Election Day, the campaign trail involved stops over the weekend at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s and Georgia churches.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump donned an apron Sunday, Oct. 20, joining McDonald’s workers at a location in suburban Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Trump chose McDonald’s as a campaign stop as he questions Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ account of working at a McDonald’s as a summer job during her college years.
Trump was on the fry station before heading over to the drive-thru window where he ended up holding an impromptu press conference with reporters.
Later, Trump held a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he spoke about his plans for the economy and called out Vice President Harris’ changing stances on fracking — but took time to wish her a happy birthday.
“By the way, it’s her 60th birthday, so I want to wish her a happy 60th birthday,” Trump said. “Happy birthday and many more. Happy birthday. I mean it. And I do mean it, actually.”
Trump then headed to Pittsburgh to attend the Steelers football game.
As for the vice president, Kamala Harris spent her 60th birthday visiting two churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area where she was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Stevie Wonder. Harris called on churchgoers to get out to vote.
Vice President Harris: Faith is a verb. It is something that manifests itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. Our strength is not based on who we beat down. It is based on who we lift up. That's not what we see from the other side in this election pic.twitter.com/zM3yjXpJ1r
“I say as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the gospel of Luke,” Harris said. “Because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. In this moment, our country is at a crossroads, and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. And now we ask a question, we face this question: what kind of country do we want to live in?”
On Monday, former President Trump will tour Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Pennsylvania.
Navy confirms deaths of 2 crew members after jet crashes in Washington
U.S. Navy officials have confirmed searchers found the remains of two crew members of a jet that crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington last week. They said the crew members will not be identified until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The jet carrying the two crew members went down during what the Navy said was a routine training flight last Tuesday, Oct. 15. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
7 people killed in gangway collapse on Georgia barrier island
Authorities in Georgia are investigating after seven people were killed when a gangway collapsed on one of the state’s barrier islands Saturday, Oct. 19. They were among hundreds of people on Sapelo Island for a celebration of Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life.
The aluminum gangway suffered structural failure as historic Sapelo Island hosted an event celebrating its Gullah Geechee history and culture. https://t.co/4CW2GRYcvH
The coroner said the victims were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s. Authorities said as many as 40 people were on the gangway and about 20 people fell into the water when it collapsed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.
A team of engineers and construction specialists is now investigating why it failed.
Millions of Cubans in the dark amid power grid collapse
As Cuba deals with major issues with its power grid, Hurricane Oscar made landfall Sunday before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Oscar is expected to bring heavy rain and damaging storm surge to parts of the country as millions are still without access to power and attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cuban electrical union said power had been restored to neighborhoods where more than 216,000 people live in the capital city of Havana, which is home to about 2 million people. However, by Sunday night, the power grid had collapsed again — the fourth time since Friday, Oct. 18.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing blackouts, many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Officials had initially said power would be restored by Monday or Tuesday, Oct. 22, but it’s likely the latest setback will delay that timeline.
It took five games and a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx for the Liberty to walk away with the title. Jonquel Jones was named the Finals MVP.
The Liberty had been only the original WNBA franchise without a championship, until now.
The big win also came on the same night we found out it would be the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Yankees in the World Series to decide the best in baseball. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
Dozens still missing in North Carolina weeks after Helene
Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., provided an update during the week of Oct. 13, on the ongoing recovery efforts in North Carolina following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Cooper announced that 81 people remained missing across the state.
Initially, a task force was formed to locate 92 unaccounted-for individuals. That number fluctuated, but Cooper recently revised it down to 81. The governor expressed gratitude to the teams involved in the search efforts and shared updates of broader relief initiatives.
As of this week, 77,000 people had applied for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and $99 million in relief funds had already be distributed. FEMA was also providing temporary housing for nearly 2,000 people displaced by the storm.
Cooper also addressed growing concerns about misinformation surrounding the recovery efforts. He made a public appeal to stop the spread of false information.
In his remarks, Cooper also criticized Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, R-N.C., the Republican gubernatorial candidate, for allegedly contributing to disinformation campaigns related to the recovery.
Cooper’s comments came as safety threats against FEMA workers escalated.
Over the weekend, a man in Rutherford County was arrested for allegedly threatening to harm FEMA personnel. The suspect, who had several firearms, was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
Despite the challenges, Gov. Cooper remained optimistic about the recovery process in the coastal state.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks until the presidential election, the candidates are blitzing battleground states and the airwaves with town halls. And in a possible blow to small businesses hoping to rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, one federal agency is running out of money. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, the candidates fielded questions on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in two different town hall settings.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a town hall in Detroit hosted by radio personality Charlamagne tha God as she looks to reach Black voters. During the town hall, the vice president said she believes slavery reparations should be studied.
Harris said while she is running for “president for everyone” she is “clear-eyed about the history and the disparities that exist for specific communities.”
The vice president also urged Black Americans not to sit out on Election Day.
Vice President Harris: Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for Black America. I'll tell you what it is. Project 2025 wants to implement stop-and-frisk. It wants to make it more difficult for workers to receive overtime pay. He wants to terminate the Constitution, which includes… pic.twitter.com/ZAQNgRkRyq
“The solutions that we all want are not going to happen in totality because of one election but here’s the thing: the things that we want and are prepared to fight for won’t happen if we’re not active and if we don’t participate,” she said. “We cannot allow circumstances to take us out the game because then basically what we’re saying is all those people who are obstructionist, who are standing in the way of change, they’re winning because they are convincing people that it can’t be done so take yourself out, don’t participate. Look at that circle, look at that vicious circle, then so let’s not fall for it.”
Meanwhile, Republican nominee former President Donald Trump participated in a Fox News town hall in Georgia moderated by host Harris Faulkner.
The town hall had an all-female audience, with the women posing questions to Trump on issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion. According to reports of the event, which will air later Wednesday, Oct. 16 on Fox News, Trump said some states are “too tough” when it comes to restrictions on abortion and those laws “are going to be redone.”
“The African American community and the Hispanic community are being devastated with the jobs, the numbers are down 6, 7, 8, 9%. They are going to work, and they’re saying, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not going to take you any more.’ People that have worked there and worked there well for years are now being told that they no longer have a job because they have illegal immigrants coming in and taking their job,” Trump said. “Any African American or Hispanic, and you know how well I’m doing there, that votes for Kamala, you got to have your head examined, because they are really screwing you.”
Early voting begins in Georgia with record turnout
Early voting has begun in the battleground state of Georgia and it’s already seeing a record turnout. Voting for the Nov. 5 presidential election started Tuesday and by the late afternoon, at least 252,000 voters had already cast ballots at early voting sites.
That’s nearly double the 136,000 who voted on the first day of early voting in the 2020 election, according to a top Georgia election official.
Also Tuesday, a judge blocked a new rule requiring Georgia Election Day ballots to be counted by hand after the close of voting. That ruling came just a day after the same judge ruled county election officials must certify election results by the deadline set in law.
Small Business Administration runs out of disaster relief funding
The Small Business administration has run out of funding for its disaster assistance loans right after the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That means much-needed financial assistance will be delayed for people applying for help right now.
After a disaster, the SBA provides loans to businesses and people who need them. The organization had warned it expected to run out of money by the end of the month.
Congress can approve more funding, but lawmakers are not set to reconvene until Nov. 12. The SBA administrator said in the meantime, people that need them should keep applying for the loans.
HURRICANE #MILTON SURVIVORS: Business owners and residents in declared disaster areas can now apply for SBA assistance.
Israel strikes Beirut despite U.S. opposition; vows to avoid nuclear sites in Iran
At least one Israeli air strike rocked a Beirut, Lebanon suburb early Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 people according to the Associated Press. The strike came just hours after a State Department spokesperson said the U.S. told its key ally it opposed the bombing campaign there in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the United Nations’ Human Rights Office called for an investigation into an Israeli air strike that happened on Monday which killed at least 21 people in northern Lebanon, saying it posed “real concerns” because it may have violated international laws governing war.
This comes as a Biden administration official said Israel has assured the U.S. it will not hit nuclear or oil sites when it retaliates against Iran for its missile barrage earlier this month.
However, that does not mean Israel will keep its word. In the past, the country’s track record of sticking to what it tells the U.S. has been mixed.
Just last month, U.S. officials were told by their Israeli counterparts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would welcome a U.S.- and French-led temporary cease-fire initiative in Lebanon, only for Israel to launch a massive airstrike that killed a Hezbollah leader two days later.
Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $15M in baby powder cancer case
A jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $15 million to a Connecticut man who says he developed a rare form of cancer after using the company’s baby powder for decades. The man says he contracted mesothelioma from inhaling the talc powder.
The jury also said Johnson & Johnson should pay additional punitive damages, which will be determined later by the judge overseeing the case.
After the ruling, Johnson & Johnson’s vice president of litigation said the company will be appealing the decision, saying “erroneous” rulings by the judge kept the jury from hearing critical facts about the case.
Tom Brady approved to become minority owner of Raiders
Tom Brady has been called many names: the GOAT, Super Bowl champion, and NFL commentator, to name a few. Now, he can add team owner to that list.
On Tuesday, NFL team owners voted to approve Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The former NFL quarterback said in a statement he is eager to contribute to the Raiders organization in any way.
Because of his new title, Brady faces some restrictions in his other role as a Fox broadcaster, including being barred from weekly production meetings with the players and coaches in the games he will cover.
Harris, Trump turn to PA with 3 weeks to go until Election Day
With exactly three weeks until Election Day, both candidates have their sights set on Pennsylvania. And NASA has launched its ambitious plan to visit the largest planet in our solar system in hopes of making a new discovery. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Harris, Trump turn to PA with 3 weeks to go until Election Day
With just three weeks until Election Day, the 2024 presidential candidates are focusing on the key battleground states — and none may be as important as Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took their message once again to the Keystone State on Monday, Oct. 14, each believing that if they win Pennsylvania, they will win the election.
Harris held a rally in the northwestern city of Erie, where Trump visited a few weeks ago. The vice president painted her opponent as a threat to American democracy, warning her supporters of what she calls the dangers of another Trump presidency.
“I believe so strongly that a second Trump term would be a huge risk for America and dangerous,” she said. “Donald Trump is increasingly unstable and unhinged, and he is out for unchecked power. That’s what he’s looking for.”
Harris also urged Pennsylvanians to get out to vote early as mail-in voting is now underway in the state.
Also Monday, former President Trump spoke during a town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He touched on claims he’s a threat to democracy.
“When they talk about a threat to democracy, how about where they take a candidate who won fair and square, they throw them out and they put up a woman who failed, was the first one to drop out of a field of 22 and got no votes?” he said. “And this is the person we’re running against. And she is not a smart woman. That’s true. And we cannot — we’ve had that for four years. We’re not going to have it for another four years.”
Trump cut his town hall short after two attendees required medical attention, with both the former president and moderator South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem commenting on the heat in the venue. Trump then requested music be played for the remainder of the event.
Trump will be back in Georgia on Tuesday as the focus on the battleground states intensifies.
Along with rallies, the candidates are continuing their media tour to reach voters. The vice president will take part in a town hall Tuesday, Oct. 15, hosted by the radio program “The Breakfast Club” and then she will appear on Fox News on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged a sit-in demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas. While none of the protesters got into the stock exchange, dozens did cross the security fence put in place by police.
A New York Police Department spokesperson said officers arrested 206 people.
Since the war in Gaza started just over a year ago, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost the entire population has been displaced, according to Gaza health officials.
North Carolina man arrested for allegedly threatening FEMA workers
Investigators in North Carolina arrested and charged a man with threatening to harm FEMA workers who were helping parts of the state devastated by Hurricane Helene.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, William Parsons, 44, is charged with “going armed to the terror of the public” — a misdemeanor.
In a statement, the sheriff said while initial reports indicated there was a group of armed militia members threatening FEMA workers, they found Parsons acted alone. Officials said he did have a handgun and a rifle in his possession when arrested.
The arrest followed misinformation and disinformation being spread about FEMA in the wake of the natural disaster and caused FEMA to change the way it was working to help people impacted by Helene because of concerns over workers’ safety.
NASA launches mission to find signs of life on Jupiter moon
The mission, dubbed Europa Clipper, started its long journey to Jupiter’s fourth largest moon on Monday. It’s expected to enter the planet’s orbit in 2030 after a flight of 1.8 billion miles.
Pair of giant pandas set to arrive at the National Zoo
Eleven months after the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Said goodbye to its giant pandas, two new ones are on their way. The pair of giant pandas have officially left a research facility in China and are set to be flown to D.C., according to Chinese officials.
It’s not yet clear when they’ll arrive. The zoo’s website still says new pandas will be coming by the end of the year, however, on Monday, the Zoo did announce it will be closed Tuesday for the safety of the pandas and staff.
The return of panda diplomacy between China and the U.S. has already seen a pair delivered to the San Diego Zoo with another promised to San Francisco.
2,471-pound pumpkin wins world championship
A 2,471-pound pumpkin won the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off Monday in Half Moon Bay, California, south of San Francisco, defeating its closest competitor by six pounds.
Certain FEMA operations in Ashe County, northeast of Asheville, were paused over the weekend of Oct. 12 out of an abundance of caution, according to the sheriff. The agency stopped in-person applications for aid in at least two different locations, but operations were expected to be back to normal on Monday, Oct. 14.
To the southeast of Asheville in Rutherford County, FEMA teams worked from fixed locations instead of going door-to-door after National Guard troops reported seeing “armed militia” threatening FEMA workers, according to The Washington Post.
FEMA said its search-and-rescue efforts will continue, but its disaster survivor assistance teams will continue to work at fixed locations and secure areas as a precaution while the agency assesses potential threat information.
Critical IV fluid manufacturing facility spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath
As the U.S. faces a shortage of IV fluid in the wake of Hurricane Helene, one major manufacturer was spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath. When Helene tore through North Carolina, it damaged Baxter International, a company that makes IV fluids which are critical for hospitals to fully function.
Baxter is the biggest supplier of IV bags in the country, so the hit was especially devastating, forcing hospitals to turn to other suppliers to fill the gap. One of those suppliers is B. Braun Medical in Daytona Beach. Before Hurricane Milton, the federal government helped the company move more than 60 truckloads, or about 1.5 million bags of IV solution to north Florida, where the storm’s impacts were minor.
Officials with Braun said the Daytona Beach facility was not seriously impacted by Milton and it reopened Friday, Oct. 11. The IV bags that it moved out of the storm’s path are also being returned to the facility.
Baxter started limiting customer orders after Helene. Hospitals also started conserving IV fluids and delaying some nonemergency surgeries that would require it. The Daytona Beach site is a key part of the plan to address the IV fluid shortage. Braun also said it is increasing production at its factory in Irvine, California.
At least 15 dead, 2.6 million without power after Hurricane Milton
The death toll from Hurricane Milton rises as millions are left without power in the storm’s aftermath. And one person is killed and 12 others rescued after a disaster during a tour of a Colorado mine. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
At least 8 dead, 2.6 million without power after Hurricane Milton
At least 15 people are dead (that number has risen since Unbiased Updates was recorded Friday morning, Oct. 11), and 2.6 million homes and businesses remain without power as Florida begins to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Milton roared across the state. It was the second devastating storm to batter the Sunshine State in less than two weeks.
Now a post-tropical cyclone, Milton is expected to continue to weaken over the next few days.
While Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast near Sarasota, most of the deaths reported have been in the eastern part of the state, where dozens of tornadoes have been reported. While the storm did not prove to be the worst-case scenario, rescuers have been very busy pulling and dragging hundreds of people from flooded areas to safety.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Joe Biden have both said in this case, warnings came early and often, spurring tens of thousands of people to evacuate and saving countless lives.
Still, the cleanup and recovery processes are expected to take weeks, if not months — especially in the areas that were also hit by Hurricane Helene just 13 days before Milton barreled in.
1 dead, 12 rescued after elevator malfunction at Colorado gold mine
In Colorado, 12 people are now safe after getting trapped at the bottom of a gold mine for six hours Thursday, Oct. 10. One person died after the elevator at the Mollie Kathleen Mine, a popular tourist attraction, experienced a mechanical problem 500 feet below the earth’s surface.
The 12 adults had access to water and were able to communicate with authorities via radio while trapped. As that group was stuck, rescuers were able to get to 11 other people who were riding the elevator and get them to safety.
The local sheriff said it is not yet known what caused the malfunction. An investigation is underway.
The incident happened during the final week of Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine‘s tourist season before it shuts down for the winter.
Chemical leak at Houston oil refinery kills 2, injures dozens more
Two people are dead and 35 more are injured after a chemical leak involving hydrogen sulfide, a potentially toxic gas, at an oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas — near Houston. Officials said a group was working on a flange Thursday when some kind of accident happened, and gas started leaking.
Emergency officials urged residents in the area to shelter in place after the incident, but this morning, that’s since been lifted after air monitoring showed no signs hazardous chemicals had gotten into the air.
Trump talks economic plan in Detroit; Obama rallies for Harris in PA
With just 25 days until Americans head to the polls, voters in two battleground states heard from two former presidents on Thursday. Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke to supporters in Detroit, Michigan while former President Barack Obama – stumped for Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
While delivering his economic address to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump spoke about his goal to revive the auto industry and bring a “rebirth” to Detroit. He then turned to international companies and his plan for them to open facilities in America.
“So, here is the deal that I will be offering to the world to companies outside of our world — big companies, powerful companies that have become powerful because we were stupid, we were stupid, we allowed them to come and raid and rape our country,” Trump said. “That’s what they did. ‘Oh, he used the word rape.’ That’s right, I used the word. They raped our country. The United States will give you the lowest taxes, the lowest energy cost, we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country in the world and it’s the best…But only if you make your products here in America. In other words, you get all of these assets, but you have to make your product here in America and you have to hire American workers.”
“Kamala is as prepared for the job as any nominee for president has ever been,” Obama said. “That’s who Kamala is.”
He added, “I’m sorry gentlemen; I’ve noticed this especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior of bullying and of putting people down is a sign of strength. I am here to tell you, that is not what real strength is. Real strength is about working hard and carrying a heavy load without complaining and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient. Real strength is about helping people who need it and standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves. That is what we should want for our daughters and for our sons and that is what I want to see in a president for the United States of America.”
Hezbollah official escapes during deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Lebanese authorities say Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Beirut killed 22 people and injured 117 others. Sources told Reuters a senior Hezbollah official, targeted by Israeli forces during the Thursday night strikes, was able to survive.
Israel has not commented on the attack.
The United Nations said its personnel is facing increasing danger in Lebanon as two U.N. peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at its main headquarters in the southern portion of the country. Israel issued a statement on that incident, saying its military operated “next to” the U.N.’s base and had instructed U.N. officials to remain in protected spaces before its troops opened fire.
Hezbollah operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near @UNIFIL_ posts.
The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.
IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base.…
The peacekeepers were said to be in good condition after being treated for their injuries.
Sports leagues come together to combat hate in America
In a sign of true sportsmanship, eight American sports leagues have come together to back a new campaign targeting hate in the U.S. It is an idea from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his foundation to combat antisemitism.
The initiative brought together the heads of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHK, NASCAR and others to come up with plans to curb hate of any kind in the country. The sports leaders are spending $50 million to get the word out.
The campaign, titled “Timeout Against Hate,” launched during Thursday night football on Oct. 10, with a commercial featuring legendary figures and current-day athletes from all sports speaking out against hate.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday, Oct. 10 into Friday, Oct. 11. The solar storm is currently a level 4 on a scale from 1 to 5, with the potential of reaching level 5.
The alert Wednesday, Oct. 9, came after an outburst from the sun was detected earlier in the week. NOAA said the storm could temporarily disrupt power and radio signals.
The agency has notified FEMA, as well as operators of the American power grid, power plants, and satellites to take precautions as parts of the nation continue to deal with devastating weather.
The solar storm could also produce colorful auroras across the country Thursday night, with the northern lights reaching as far south as Alabama.
Hurricane Milton brings tornadoes, flooding, power outages to Florida
Millions of homes and businesses are without power as Hurricane Milton barrels across Florida, bringing relentless rain and tremendous wind gusts. And Israel gets set to retaliate against Iran after its missile attack. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
Hurricane Milton brings tornadoes, flooding, power outages to Florida
Milton dropped about 16 inches of rain on St. Petersburg — a 1-in-1,000-year amount of rainfall for the area. In St. Lucie County, “multiple fatalities” have been reported from a tornado outbreak ahead of Milton. At least 27 tornadoes were reported.
In Tampa, there is flash flooding all over the city emergency services personnel told people to stay sheltered for the time being.
The National Weather Service has reported some residents in Pinellas County had to be rescued from flood waters as high as their waists after Hurricane Milton passed through.
In what one storm chaser called a “surreal” moment, Milton’s wicked winds tore the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the home field of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.
The stadium was not being used as a shelter, but according to the Tampa Bay Times, it was set up as “a staging site for workers” who arrived in the area to deal with the storm’s aftermath.
OMG. We all had a collected gasp when we saw this from our reporter. The fabric on the roof of Tropicana Field is shredded. #StPete#Miltonpic.twitter.com/36UKLO9cK6
Recovery efforts have started to get underway in Florida counties where Milton has already come and gone, but the state is still seeing heavy rains and whipping winds, in places such as heavily populated Orlando.
Biden promises Floridians ‘we’ve got your back’ after Milton
The Sunshine State has its work cut out for it when it comes to recovery with two storms to clean up after now. Many communities still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which hit about two weeks ago, are now forced to start the process over again, while others take it on for the first time.
This comes as questions increase about whether FEMA has enough staff and funding to respond to the storm. Wednesday night, President Joe Biden released a video statement promising the federal government will step in as needed, telling those in impacted states “we’ve got your back.”
“We’ve already approved emergency declarations for Florida,” Biden said. “We have thousands of federal personnel on the ground. We have staged and are ready to go — we have 20 million meals, 40 million liters of water. At my direction, the secretary of defense, [Lloyd] Austin, has pre-positioned search and rescue teams, helicopters and high-water vehicles as close to the storm as possible, so they’re ready to conduct lifesaving missions.”
FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell has also said the agency is prepared to support every state affected by the massive back-to-back storms.
Campaigns turn attention to swing states of Pennsylvania, Arizona
Election Day is just now 26 days away now, both campaigns turned their attention to pivotal swing states Wednesday.
Former President Donald Trump held two rallies in Pennsylvania, including in President Biden’s hometown Scranton. Later in a speech in Reading, he urged his supporters to turn out on Nov. 5.
“All I want is one thing — because we’re going to do this: you have to go out and vote,” he told supporters. “That’s all I want. You don’t even have to give us any money. That’s a pretty good deal, right? Just vote. Vote for all of us. You’re not voting for me. You’re voting for all of us. We’re going to save our country. It’s being run by incompetent people that have no idea what the hell they’re doing.”
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance also encouraged people to get out to vote early. Meanwhile the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, delivered a speech at an event for military and veterans’ families on the importance of this election.
“So, the issue isn’t people say we’re making everything political,” Walz said. “Look, it’s not about politics. It’s about basic human decency. It’s about leadership and character. It’s about delivering for those folks rather than spending all your time trying to tear people down and divide us. We need president Harris to be there to make sure you’re uniting us, to find solutions together, to work across the aisle.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Arizona Thursday, Oct. 10, and former President Trump will hold a rally there on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Israeli security cabinet to vote on Iran attack response
The Israeli security cabinet is set to vote Thursday on its response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack last week, according to CNN.
Israeli defense minister @yoavgallant: "Iran's attacks on us were aggressive but failed because they weren't accurate. (But) our attack (on Iran) will be lethal, accurate and mainly surprising, they won't understand what happened and how it happened. They'll see the consequences" pic.twitter.com/fyKSAGyFcC
Netanyahu has promised Iran will pay for the missile attack, while Tehran has said any retaliation would be met with destruction.
This all comes as Israel launched new strikes against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon Wednesday night.
The U.S. has said it supports Israel going after Iran-backed targets like Hezbollah and Hamas. The Biden administration has tried, unsuccessfully, to stop the conflict from escalating and has called on Israel not to hit Iranian nuclear sites.
Meanwhile, fears the U.S. will get pulled into a wider war in the region continue to grow.
The alert Wednesday came after an outburst from the sun was detected earlier in the week. NOAA said the storm could temporarily disrupt power and radio signals.
The agency has notified FEMA, as well as operators of the American power grid, power plants, and satellites to take precautions as parts of the nation continue to deal with devastating weather.
The solar storm could also produce colorful auroras across the country Thursday night, with the northern lights reaching as far south as Alabama.
Thursday, the fast-food chain is releasing its Chicken Big Mac nationwide, giving its flagship menu item a poultry version for all U.S. customers for the first time since the Big Mac’s debut in the late 1960s. The Chicken Big Mac is following a trend in the industry that puts more emphasis on chicken options.
According to the USDA, chicken consumption has been on the rise in the country over the past several decades, while beef consumption has decreased. McDonald’s itself has confirmed it sells more chicken products than beef.
McDonald’s says the original two-all-beef patty option of the Big Mac is not going away and the chicken version is only available for a limited time.
