Laura strikes Louisiana as a powerful hurricane
Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana last Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph. According to The New York Times, the storm left at least 880,00 residents without power and tens of thousands without potable water as the storm moved northwards throughout the day. Laura has resulted in at least six deaths from fallen trees, carbon monoxide poisoning and drowning. Additionally, a chemical plant caught on fire after a chlorine leak was started by storm damage, which created “thick smoke” necessitating residents to shelter in place.
Improvement in the fight against California’s wildfires
Hundreds of wildfires have burned over 2,000 square miles of land across California. However, cooler temperatures, humidity and an increase of equipment and personnel allowed for firefighters to gain ground in the fight against the fires raging in the northern regions of the state, according to AP News. On Thursday night, over 50,000 previously evacuated residents were given permission to return to their homes. The number of homes damaged could continue to rise as the fires progress and responders face difficulty accessing areas that are cut off due to blockages. Crews are continuing their efforts to restore power and water in order to allow for more evacuees to safely return to their residences.
The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African American man, survived being shot in the back at seven times at near point-blank range by an officer identified as Rusten Sheskey in Kenosha, WI, sparking protests and calls for justice. According to The Guardian, a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Justice stated that Sheskey fired while holding onto Blake’s shirt as he opened his car door and leaned in. An investigation found a knife in Blake’s car, although authorities did not state that Blake threatened anyone with the weapon. In the protests following, Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Illinois, has been accused of first-degree intentional homicide by killing two and injuring one with a semi-automatic rifle after calls for action to protect businesses were posted online.
Trump renominated for 2020 election at RNC
President Donald Trump received the Republican party’s formal nomination for the 2020 Presidential election at the opening day of the Republican National Convention last week. According to U.S. News and World Report, the convention, which was held in-person in Charlotte, NC with restricted proceedings, saw representatives from across the nation virtually on a screen to show their support for the nominee during the roll call.
