People are scrambling in North Carolina from devastating storm
Mayor Patrick Fitzsimmons found himself on Monday at the epicenter of a disaster zone in the US.
His town of Weaverville, North Carolina, had no electricity and no power. Only one grocery store was operational, utility poles had gone down, the town’s water plant had flooded and people had been without safe drinking water for four days, he told the BBC.
In the larger Buncombe County, where Weaverville is located, at least 35 people are dead and 600 are unaccounted for, a local CBS News affiliate reported.
Mr Fitzsimmons said the county set up a website where people can inquire about missing persons. Officials have so far received 11,000 requests.
Across the US south-east, millions of residents were thrown into chaos by storm Helene. It slammed into Florida as a category 4 hurricane on Thursday before barrelling across the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, leaving flooding, power loss and death in its wake.
In the days since the true scale of the destruction is coming into sharper relief as residents begin to return home to survey the damage.
At least 116 people have died nationwide, officials have said.
One of those people was Madison Shaw’s mother. “Her last words to me were… 'I love you, be safe. I'll see you later,’” the resident of Anderson, South Carolina told CBS News. “And I said, 'I love you. I'll see you later as well.'”
“I can't even describe it,” Ms Shaw told CBS News. “My mom was my best friend.”
A White House spokeswoman said on Monday that two million people are currently without power. President Joe Biden called the storm "history-making."
Some of the most dire reports are coming from North Carolina, where the state's governor Roy Cooper said that communities had been “wiped off the map” and that dozens of rescue teams had been deployed.
Buncombe County and the western corner of North Carolina endured some of the worst of Helene’s wrath.
The county includes Asheville, a city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains famed for its arts and music scene. Helene inundated the city with flood waters, drove people from their homes and left residents scrambling for basic resources. Trucks and trees smashed into buildings while downed power and telephone lines hung dangerously over the streets.
"Homes have been destroyed, flattened," said 21-year-old Josh Griffith who lives just outside of Asheville in the town of Leicester.
"When it hit, we watched semi-trucks and storage crates and dumpsters and propane tanks floating down the river just rushing through parking lots, destroying everything in its path,” he told the BBC.
The apartment he shares with his fiancée sits high up on a hill and was safe from any serious damage. But on Saturday afternoon, by then without power or food, they decided to make their escape, taking rain-drenched roads out to north-east Georgia.
At one point, Mr Griffith and his partner were forced to drive straight through flood water, 6 inches deep of running water on top of 6 inches deep of mud.
Emergency officials generally caution people against driving into flood waters of any depth during a storm.
"It was really scary," he said. "Any time you’re driving over rushing water like that, there’s a fear your tires might slide out from underneath you."
They made it out, stopping overnight in Georgia before driving back North Carolina, armed with food, water and supplies for their neighbours in Buncombe.
"People are just scrambling to get any resources they can," he said.
Source-BBC
Baseball legend Pete Rose dies at the age of 83
Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s hit king who then became a pariah for gambling on the game, has died at the age of 83, the medical examiner in Clark County, Nevada, confirmed to ABC News on Monday.
Rose was found at his home by a family member, according to the medical examiner. There were no signs of foul play. The coroner will investigate to determine cause and manner of death. The medical examiner told ABC News that Rose was not under the care of a doctor when he died, and the scene is being examined.
By the end of his 24-year career, 19 of which were with the Cincinnati Reds, Rose held the record for most career hits, as well as games played, plate appearances and at-bats. He was also a 17-time All-Star, the 1973 NL MVP and 1963 Rookie of the Year.
He also won three World Series -- two with Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" clubs in 1975 and 1976, and a third with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.
But Rose will always be remembered as much for being banned for life from MLB in 1989 over gambling on games while he was managing the Reds.
With Rose under suspicion, new MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti commissioned an investigation led by John Dowd, a lawyer with the Department of Justice, in April 1989. By June, the damning report was released, documenting at least 52 bets on Reds games in 1987. The bets totaled thousands of dollars per day, according to the Dowd Report.
Faced with few options, Rose voluntarily accepted placement on baseball's ineligible list in August 1989. Despite this, Rose continued to deny he ever gambled on his own team, until he admitted it in his 2004 autobiography My Prison Without Bars.
Two years after Rose was banned for life, the Baseball Hall of Fame ruled no one on the ineligible list would be allowed into the institution. The controversy over Rose's suspension and ban from the Hall of Fame has taken on a life of its own, becoming a subject sports fans often debate more than his legendary on-field exploits.
Rose petitioned the league to be removed from the list in 1992, 1998, 2003, 2015 and 2022 -- but either was rejected or received no response each time.
Rose never strayed far from baseball, despite being on the sport's ineligible list. His No. 14 was retired by the Reds and appeared on the sport's All-Century Team, as voted by fans, in 1999. The team was announced at that year's All-Star Game in Boston and Rose received a standing ovation.
Sing Sing actor exonerated 27 years after wrongful murder conviction
Sing Sing actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez has officially been cleared of the charges for which he was wrongfully imprisoned. He was acquitted of murder Monday morning, 27 years after he was convicted.
JJ was wrongfully convicted of killing a retired New York police detective in 1998 during the robbery of a gambling parlor in Harlem. Thought to be Tee, one of the robbers who had identified himself at the time, JJ was sentenced to 25 years to life, despite failing to match the description of the suspect and phone records that supported his alibi.
After nearly 24 years behind bars, JJ was granted clemency on Aug. 17, 2021, and released from the Sing Sing on Sept. 9, 2021. An investigation later revealed his DNA didn't match Tee's DNA.
JJ received an apology from President Joe Biden in 2022 but could not visit with him in person because he didn't have a travel pass.
“It’s a lot deeper than discrimination. It comes down to diminishing a person’s human dignity. I’m getting a part of my dignity back,” Velazquez said, per Variety. "There’s nothing that they can do to give me back the 24 years I lost, and all of the tribulations to incur as a result. There’s a spirit of vindication, but there’s still a lot of trauma that’s unaddressed — that the system refuses to address.”
Now a criminal legal reform activist and founding member of the education initiative Voices From Within, JJ stars alongside Clarence Maclin and Colman Domingo in Sing Sing, a movie about a wrongfully convicted man who finds purpose through the prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts program.
He says he'd like to act more in the future.
Source-ABC
New Border Force Bill Approved to Strengthen TCI’s Defence
The House of Assembly passed the Border Force Bill on 26th September 2024, significantly strengthening the Turks and Caicos Islands’ border security measures. The bill establishes the legal framework for the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Border Force, sending a clear message that we are prepared to take decisive action to protect our borders and nation’s sovereignty.
Border Force, under the strategic leadership of the Director General, combines the work and resources of the Customs Department and Immigration Department to create a unified border control agency. With an operating budget of over $19 million with over $13 million in capital and a workforce of approximately 180 dedicated personnel, Border Force bolsters TCI’s response to immigration and customs threats.
The department has three key operational divisions, each led by a director: ports operations, inland operations, and services. Divisions are staffed by officers with specialised skills, ensuring we have the right people at the right place.
The Border Force mission is clear: to secure our nation's borders, control migration, and protect our national interests while facilitating legitimate trade and travel. Border Force will be more powerful than its predecessors, enabling it to deliver on tougher priorities such as reducing the size of the unlawful population, enhancing border security, and modernising and professionalising border operations. To do this Border Force will be equipped with enhanced capabilities, including:
Frontline officers will be granted cross-conferred powers, building on their existing police-like authority.
The latest in border security technology will be deployed to improve screening capabilities and detect potential threats.
Intelligence gathering and analysis will guide resource allocation, enabling Border Force to target high-risk individuals and activities.
Border Force officers will receive ongoing training to ensure they are equipped to handle evolving security challenges and maintain the highest standards of professionalism.
This integration of customs and immigration functions has already begun at key points of entry in Providenciales and North Caicos. Cross-training of officers in Grand Turk and South Caicos is underway to prepare them to provide a unified service. This initial phase represents a significant step forward, and Border Force is committed to extending the integration process across all areas by October 2024.
Honourable Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, states, “The passing of the Border Force Bill sends a clear message to those who dare to breach our borders: we will not tolerate your illegal activities. Border Force, as a unified authority, is our new gatekeeper. The public will notice the immediate impact of this reform. They will see improved accountability and border security measures. Let the increased presence of our Border Force officers in a single uniform serve as a visible reminder of the government's commitment to security”.
Fraud charges laid against Tessa Malcolm
Detectives of the Financial Crime Unit have charged the former Chief Financial Officer of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP).
TESSA BEEN MALCOLM, 41, faces the following charges:
One count of Theft; One count of False Accounting and One count of the Use of Criminal Property.
Mrs Malcolm was charged today and granted $50,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in the Magistrate's Court on October 8, 2024.
The charges against Mrs Malcolm stem from a report lodged in August 2022.
TCI COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNVEILS NEW STUDENT LOUNGE AT ITS GRAND TURK CAMPUS
The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) announces the official opening of its brand-new Student Lounge at the Grand Turk Campus. The event took place on Wednesday, September 26, on the campus grounds and was attended by distinguished guests, staff, students, and community members.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was graced by the Honourable Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, who, in her remarks, applauded the leadership and vision that have been steering the College toward transformative changes. "Leadership makes a difference in any institution," she stated, alluding to the positive strides TCICC is making toward creating a more engaging and enriching environment for its students.
Other notable attendees included Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chair of the TCICC’s Board of Governors; Dr. Candice Williams, President of TCICC; Dr. Hubert Fulford, Former President of TCICC; Reverend Frednor Toussaint, who dedicated the building; as well as Heath and Tamika Francis, the talented designers of the new lounge. The presence of past and present Guild Presidents, the Guild Vice President, staff, and students further highlighted the significance of this breakthrough in the College’s journey toward enhancing the student experience.
In her inspiring address, Dr. Williams expressed her immense pride in the launch of the Student Lounge, emphasizing its role as a critical element in fostering an inclusive and vibrant student community. "Today marks yet another milestone in our journey toward fulfilling the College’s vision of becoming the first choice for education and training in the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond," she remarked. "This lounge is a testament to our commitment to creating an environment where students can not only learn but thrive."
The new Student Lounge is designed to be more than just a relaxation space; it embodies TCICC's core values of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration. The facility features a study room, office space for the Student Guild President, a gaming area equipped for dart and pool enthusiasts, a cozy couch area, televisions, a reading nook, collaborative spaces for group work, and a kitchenette. The lounge offers students an ideal environment to connect, collaborate, and unwind in between classes.
Ms. Saphina Blaise, Former President of the Guild, shared her heartfelt sentiments about this achievement: "To stand here today and witness that our voices did not fall on deaf ears fills me with gratitude." Her words captured the spirit of the event, which was a celebration not just of physical space but of the unity and collaboration that it represents.
As a key highlight of the College’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience, the Student Lounge stands as a symbol of TCICC’s dedication to supporting its students' academic and personal growth. "The student experience is at the heart of what makes a college valuable," said Dr. Williams. "We believe that spaces like this lounge are key to creating enriching, empowering, and memorable experiences."
As the students began to enjoy their new space, Dr. Williams urged them to take pride in and ownership of the lounge. "May this lounge be a source of inspiration, relaxation, and pride. Enjoy it, cherish it, and let it remind you that TCICC is committed to supporting you in every way as you reach for your dreams."
US still hoping for “diplomatic solution” as tension rises in Middle East
U.S. officials are voicing concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East amid intensifying fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
“The tensions are much higher now than they were even just a few days ago,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told ABC’s This Week. “We certainly (have) been monitoring reports of strikes back and forth across that border. But all that does is underscore for us how important it is to try to find a diplomatic solution.”
The Pentagon told reporters Monday that "a small number" of additional U.S. forces are headed to the region "out of an abundance of caution." This would be in addition to some 40,000 troops already in the Middle East. A spokesperson wouldn’t go into detail, citing operational security.
Source-ABC
Israel hits 1,300 targets in expanded Lebanon strike campaign against Hezbollah
The Israeli military expanded its Lebanon campaign with hundreds of airstrikes on Monday, as the long-simmering border conflict with Hezbollah threatened to explode into a larger war.
Dozens of Israeli warplanes struck more than 1,300 targets in southern Lebanon on Monday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
At least 492 people were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in the ongoing strikes, among them women, children and medical personnel, the Lebanon Ministry of Public Health said. Of those killed, 35 were children and 58 were women, the ministry said.
Israel also said it launched a targeted strike in Beirut. At least six people were injured in that airstrike on a residential building in Bir al-Abd, a southern suburb of Beirut, according to Lebanese state media.
Hezbollah officials said senior commander Ali Karaki, who Israeli sources confirmed was the target of the Beirut strike, survived the attack.
Source-ABC
Biden calls rate cut "an important day for the country"
President Joe Biden on Thursday called the Federal Reserve's rate cut the day before an “important signal” from the Fed to Americans that inflation is cooling, but he cautioned that it “doesn’t mean the work is done” to improve the economy.
In remarks on Thursday at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Biden said, “Yesterday was an important day for the country.”
“Two and a half years after the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates, it announced that it began lowering interest rates," Biden said. "I think it's good news for consumers, and that means the cost of buying a home, a car, and so much more would be going down. And it's good news in my view, for the overall economy.”
Source-ABC
WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS
GENERAL SITUATION: A weak surface high pressure continues to support light to gentle winds across the islands, while an upper-level trough is generating shower and thunderstorm activity in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands today.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. THE PUBLIC IS URGED TO STAY HYDRATED AND AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE DURING PEAK SUNSHINE HOURS.
WEATHER: Partly sunny in the morning, becoming partly cloudy with a very slight chance of showers in the afternoon (mainly over Providenciales and North Caicos). Chance of rain is 10 percent. Partly cloudy with a very slight chance of showers or very isolated thunderstorm tonight. Chance of rain is 10 percent.
WINDS: East to southeast at 5 to 10 knots
SEAS: 2 to 4 feet
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 92°F 33°C HEAT INDEX 106°F 41°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 81°F 27°C
SUNSET: 06:46 PM
NEXT LOW TIDE: 05:11 PM (0.7 FT)
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 10:58 PM (2.3 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: The surface high pressure will gradually weaken, while the upper-level trough gradually shifts eastwards across the Turks and Caicos Islands, maintaining chances of shower and thunderstorm activity in the forecast over the weekend.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: Isolated showers possible during the day. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. A very slight chance of showers at night. Partly cloudy, with a low around 81. Chance of rain is 10 percent.
WINDS: Southeasterly at 5 to 10 knots in the morning, becoming variable at 5 knots or less in the afternoon.
SEAS: 2 to 4 feet
SUNRISE: 06:37 AM
SUNSET: 06:45 PM
LOW TIDE: 05:09 AM (0.3 FT) 06:08 PM (0.7 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 11:38 AM (3.0 FT) 11:47 PM (2.3 FT)
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: Isolated showers possible during the day. Partly cloudy, with a high near 91. A very slight chance of showers or an isolated thunderstorm at night. Partly cloudy, with a low around 80. Chance of rain is 10 percent.
WINDS: East to southeast at 5 to 10 knots in the morning, becoming variable at 5 knots or less in the afternoon.
SEAS: 2 to 4 feet
SUNRISE: 06:37 AM
SUNSET: 06:44 PM
LOW TIDE: 05:57 AM (0.3 FT) 07:06 PM (1.0 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 12:32 PM (3.0 FT)
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK:
1. Central Subtropical Atlantic (Remnants of Gordon): An area of low pressure, associated with the remnants of Gordon, is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms more than a thousand miles southwest of the Azores. This system has a low chance of tropical cyclone formation through the next seven days.
2. Central and Western Subtropical Atlantic (AL96): Shower activity associated with an area of low pressure located about 650 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands has changed little in organization over the past several hours. This system has a low chance of formation through the next seven days.
3. Northwestern Caribbean Sea and Southern Gulf of Mexico: A broad area of low pressure could form by the early to middle part of next week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. There is a medium chance of tropical cyclone formation through the next seven days.