Hurricane Maria ravages the Caribbean
Making landfall on Aug. 18, Hurricane Maria desolated the Caribbean with reported sustained winds of 155 mph. According to ABC News, as of Sept. 22, the hurricane had claimed the lives of 26 people, with the island of Dominica reporting 15 of those deaths. In Puerto Rico, extreme flooding took the lives of eight people in the town of Toa Baja and left 100 percent of the territory without power. Recent graphs predict that Maria will not hit U.S. mainland.
Graham-Cassidy health care bill will leave millions uninsured
According to NBC News, a new report projecting the effects of the Graham-Cassidy health care bill states that in 2026, approximately 21 million fewer Americans will have insurance. The new bill comes after several attempts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. Many prominent Republican figures have expressed their lack of confidence in the bill. According to CNN, Sen. John McCain expressed that, as of now, he will not, in “good conscience,” vote for the proposal without knowing the specifics of who it will affect and how.
New study reveals sea turtle populations on the rise
According to NBC News, a new study reveals that sea turtle population levels are increasing, no longer on the verge of extinction. Following years of active environmental protections, scientists found that in 60 chosen regions, the population of sea turtles was increasing in North and South America. Similar results were not seen in the Asian-Pacific region. The report was published in the journal, Science Advances.
Los Angeles faces Hepatitis A outbreak
According to ABC News, Los Angeles County public health officials declared an outbreak of Hepatitis A after recording five confirmed cases in the area. Los Angeles is one of three confirmed regions to see a significant increase in Hepatitis A infections this year. Community outreach teams and clinics are working to provide free vaccinations to the most at risk groups of people, the homeless and active drug users. The World Health Organization states the virus “can cause mild to severe illness” and is transmitted through food or water that has come into contact with feces.
North Korean leader calls President Trump deranged and unfit
Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, called President Trump “unfit”, a “rogue and a gangster” and a “mentally deranged US dotard” in a statement disseminated by the state’s news agency. According to Al Jazeera, the leader’s comments come in response to President Trump’s speech, given at the United Nations, in which he vowed to “totally destroy” the nation. Jong-un ended his statement by making his own vows promising that President Trump would “face results beyond his expectation.”
Angela Merkel elected for fourth term
As of Sept. 24, NPR reports that preliminary results of the German election show voters had elected to give Chancellor Angela Merkel a mandate for a fourth term in office. The win comes despite a highly-criticized 2015 policy which allowed the entry of more than a million asylum seekers into the country. The policy which she supported was widely contested by Germany’s citizens who feared for their safety and job security.
