Hundreds of schools are closed this morning in the Northeast and hundreds of flights are delayed as several feet of snow drop in the region. This story and more highlight your daily rundown for Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
Nor’easter drops feet of snow
It’s the first nor’easter of the year. A strong storm system blowing in from the northeast has dropped as much as three feet of snow. Hundreds of thousands of people are without power as strong winds snapped trees and power lines throughout the northeast.
Residents in New England have been largely impacted and today will continue to see strong winds that could lead to more power outages and flight delays. More than 6,000 flights have either been delayed or canceled in the region.
Prosecutor in Baldwin case resigns
A special prosecutor in the fatal “Rust” movie set shooting has stepped down. Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor in the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin, made the decision to remove herself from the case after Baldwin’s legal team said her participation was unconstitutional.
Reeb is not only a prosecutor, but also a New Mexico state representative. Last month Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion to remove the special prosecutor, citing New Mexico’s separation of powers statute and calling the dual roles a conflict.
In a statement, Reeb said the best way to ensure justice is to remove herself as any distraction so the prosecution can focus on evidence and facts.
In the statement, she said Baldwin showed a complete disregard for basic protocols. Baldwin pleaded not guilty last month. He, along with a weapons supervisor on set, are facing 18 months in prison if convicted.
Aviation leaders hold safety summit
Following a series of close calls involving commercial flights, aviation leaders are meeting today to discuss the incidents and work to identify risks in flight safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration said while this is the safest period in aviation history, recent events have reminded them not to become complacent. FAA officials said it was time to look at the data and ask hard questions.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board will be at the summit. Buttigieg said he is looking to identify additional steps needed to reduce risks associated with air travel.
Mid-size SUVs fail crash test
The safety of mid-size SUVs were put to a crash test, and nearly half of them missed the mark in rear-seat safety. Of 13 SUVs, all of them earned good ratings for driver protection. But when it came to backseat safety, six of the 13 scored in the poor category. That is the lowest safety rating. The test simulated a 40-mile-per hour front-end crash.
There was a test dummy about the size of a 12-year-old in the backseat. After impact, the dummy showed marks of injury that were too high on the chest. High levels of head and neck forces were also recorded.
The mid-size SUV safety test was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute said the risk of a fatal injury is 46% higher in the backseat compared to the front where improved restraint technology is more commonly found.
In December, the institute tested small SUVs. Nine of the 15 earned its lowest safety rating.
Alzheimer’s cases to double in 20 years
According to a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine seniors in the U.S. is living with Alzheimer’s disease. And those numbers are projected to double over the next two decades.
Treatments for the disease are taking promising steps forward. But the association says baby boomers and doctors are not discussing critical memory concerns. The association says by not discussing risks of Alzheimer’s, patients lose out on early intervention and potential trials for treatment.
The new report also estimates more than 11 million caregivers are providing unpaid care in the U.S.
Though there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are currently 140 therapies being tested aimed at slowing its progression.
Penguins have cataracts removed
Six penguins at a Singapore zoo underwent eye surgery to remove their cataracts, in what is believed to be the world’s first procedure to improve penguins vision.
The affected penguins were unable to see things close up and had cloudiness in their eyes. The cataracts were safely removed from all six penguins who have already made a full recovery. A veterinarian who took part in the surgeries called it a milestone in veterinary medicine.
