Boeing said it will work with the airlines to complete these inspections. Alaska and United Airlines, which have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights daily, said they expect to have some of the planes back in service by this weekend.
At the same time, the FAA is not allowing Boeing to expand production of the 737 Max jets.
“However, let me be clear: This won’t be back to business as usual for Boeing” said Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator. “We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved.”
The FAA said that the halt is needed to ensure accountability by Boeing, adding that it will not agree to any requests for expansion until Boeing resolves quality control issues. A delay that experts said is rippling across the industry already.
“We don’t put planes in the air that we don’t have 100% confidence in,” Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said.
According to a Reuters report, Southwest airlines has already changed its 2024 fleet plans due to supply-chain challenges and certification requirements that Boeing is facing. Southwest, a loyal Boeing customer, is expecting to receive 79 jets from Boeing in 2024, down from earlier projections of 85.
Alabama set to conduct first nitrogen gas execution in U.S.: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 25, 2024
Alabama is set to conduct the first execution of a death row inmate by nitrogen gas in U.S. history. And the FAA halts Boeing from expanding its production on certain planes following the Alaska Airlines midair scare. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Jan 25, 2024.
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Alabama to proceed with first nitrogen gas execution in the U.S.
The first execution of a death row inmate by nitrogen gas is expected to take place within hours in Alabama after the Supreme Court declined to halt the inmate’s request to pause the execution. The court did not explain its ruling on Wednesday, Jan. 24, as the justices did not side with Kenneth Smith and his attorneys.
Smith’s legal team was looking for more time to argue that the state trying to execute him for a second time would be unconstitutional, falling under the category of cruel and unusual punishment. An appeals court also declined to halt the execution.
Execution by nitrogen gas is only approved in three states: Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. But Alabama is the only state to outline its protocol so far, saying it will use a mask to deliver the nitrogen.
Critics of the new method include the United Nations, whose Human Rights Office said it “could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under international human rights law.” The Alabama Attorney’s General office claimed the use of nitrogen gas is the “most painless and humane method of execution known to man.”
Ohio bans gender-affirming care for minors
Despite a veto from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Republican-dominated senate voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors and bar transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams. In a senate vote to override DeWine’s veto, the law passed and bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricts mental health care for transgender patients under 18. The law also bars transgender girls and women from joining girls’ and women’s sports teams from K through 12 and collegiate sports.
The law is expected to go into effect in 90 days, after it was pushed through in a 24-8 vote in the state senate. One Republican voted against the measure. While Gov. DeWine vetoed the measure, citing government overreach, he did sign an executive order in early January banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors, even though medical professionals have insisted those surgeries aren’t happening in the state.
“This choice is clear. Joe Biden bet on the American worker while Donald Trump blamed the American worker,” UAW President Shawn Fain said.
In 2023, the UAW orchestrated a massive walk-out during negotiations with Detroit’s Big Three automakers for better wages. The months-long strike ended with historic deals signed by the union, and President Biden became the first modern-day president to hit a picket line in a show of support for the American worker.
This is why Fain said the choice is clear, calling former President Donald Trump a “scab,” and added that he is a billionaire who does not represent the American worker; he is the type of “company man trying to squeeze the American worker.”
UAW’s endorsement is a big win for Biden as he looks to garner more support from working-class Americans. The UAW also endorsed Biden during the 2020 election.
U.N.’s top court to make initial ruling in Israel genocide case
Should the 17-judge panel grant South Africa’s requests, it’s unclear if Israel will comply with the court’s order. While rulings by the court are legally binding, there is no way to enforce them.
Israel has called the genocide allegations “grossly distorted,” saying the country has a right to defend itself and it is fighting Hamas, not Palestinian civilians. The United States has called South Africa’s case meritless.
FAA approves path for grounded Boeing jets to return after panel incident
Boeing said it will work with the airlines to complete these inspections. Alaska and United Airlines, which have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights consistently, said they expect to have some of the planes back in service by this weekend. At the same time, the FAA is not allowing Boeing to expand production of the 737 Max jets.
The FAA said that the halt is needed to ensure accountability by Boeing, adding that it will not agree to any requests for expansion until Boeing resolves quality control issues.
Jon Stewart returning to host ‘The Daily Show’ on Mondays
This time around, Stewart will only be on Monday nights and only throughout the 2024 presidential election cycle. Stewart most recently hosted a show on Apple TV+, but it was canceled after two seasons following reports of conflict between Stewart and Apple over its coverage of China and artificial intelligence.
Along with part-time hosting duties, Stewart will also serve as executive producer for every episode of “The Daily Show” through 2025.
SpaceX’s Starship, intended for lunar missions, launched from Boca Chica, Texas on Saturday, Nov. 18, but the launch was deemed a failure as the Super Heavy booster exploded over the Gulf of Mexico after detachment. Minutes later, the core Starship continued into space before exploding. SpaceX officials suggest that the ship’s self-destruct system was likely responsible for its destruction over the Gulf of Mexico.
Associated Press
SpaceX mission control lost contact with the craft after nearly eight minutes. This launch was the second attempt to fly Starship atop its Super Heavy rocket booster, following an April attempt that ended in failure about four minutes after takeoff with an explosion.
In contrast to the previous April attempt, all 33 booster engines functioned. The booster also separated smoothly from the spaceship before exploding, achieving an altitude of 92 miles.
The mission aimed to launch the 400-foot Starship from Texas, reaching space but falling short of orbit, and then re-entering Earth’s atmosphere for a splashdown off the coast of Hawaii. Originally scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17, the launch was delayed by a day due to a last-minute exchange of flight-control hardware.
SpaceX was awarded a nearly $3 billion contract with NASA in 2021 to bring two astronauts to the moon’s surface. NASA’s first Artemis mission moon landing is scheduled for 2025.
SpaceX has a history of facing catastrophic failures with its rocket systems. The company’s first rocket, Falcon 1, experienced failures in three out of five launches. In the development of Falcon 9, SpaceX faced four flight failures before successfully achieving the separation of different rocket stages without destruction.
Falcon 9 is now SpaceX’s workhorse taking satellites and astronauts to orbit. It has successfully launched 247 times and relaunched 207 times. It is the world’s first reusable rocket.
Evolution of drone tech used by police raises privacy concerns
Police using the technology call it “revolutionary,” allowing them to get eyes on a potential scene before patrol officers can get there.
However, law enforcement’s excitement about the technology to implement more drones as first responder programs raises concerns with civil liberty advocates. These advocates worry that the continued evolution in drone technology without proper oversight will result in the U.S. becoming a surveillance state.
“It is a very powerful surveillance technology, and we just need to put in place some good basic rules to ensure we can enjoy the benefits of the technology without having to worry that from the moment you walk out of your front door until you get home at night some invisible eye in the sky is tracking your every move,” Stanley said in 2013.
We’re very concerned that we may be moving toward a future where we find ourselves constantly scanning the skies, seeing drones overhead, and feeling like the eyes of law enforcement are always upon us.
Jay Stanley, ACLU Senior Policy Analyst
Now, in 2023, Stanley’s concerns are still pressing. In a July ACLU paper, Stanley said with Federal Aviation Administration regulations changing to allow first responders to fly drones from anywhere and more agencies implementing drones as first responders programs, privacy concerns are more significant than ever.
Paladin is addressing the privacy and surveillance concerns head-on. According to CEO Divy Shrivastava, the company’s technology employed by law enforcement has built-in privacy protections.
Paladin’s software keeps the drone’s camera pointed at the horizon until it reaches a scene to avoid unnecessary privacy intrusions, and everything the drone sees is logged and recorded. Law enforcement agencies have also taken steps to maintain transparency. Some police departments have made all drone flight paths public information.
Police also said the fast-acting drones can give ground units critical information about a situation before arriving, which can help de-escalate situations.
It is not just law enforcement benefitting from the evolution in drone tech. Fire departments are implementing drones as first responder programs to reduce response times and help identify where resources should be deployed to most effectively fight fires.
Paladin also hopes to use its software in other industries like agriculture.
Report: FAA investigating pilots over suspected falsified health records
According to an exclusive Washington Post report, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating nearly 5,000 pilots who are suspected of falsifying their mental health records to hide that they were receiving benefits for conditions that could bar them for flying. The roughly 4,800 pilots under investigation are all military veterans.
The pilots were suspected of failing to report disability benefits they were receiving from Veterans Affairs (VA) as required by law. According to an FAA spokesperson, the administration has closed about half the cases it was investigating. The FAA has ordered about 60 pilots to stop flying on an emergency basis while their records are reviewed.
While pilots must pass regular health exam, the FAA relies on pilots to self-report conditions that can otherwise be difficult to detect, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. According to physicians who spoke to the Post, some veteran pilots minimize their ailments to the FAA so they can keep flying but exaggerate them to VA to maximize their disability payments.
“There are people out there who I think are trying to play both sides of the game,” aviation medical examiner Jerome Limoge said. “They’re being encouraged by VA to claim everything. Some of it is almost stolen valor.”
The FAA investigation has already faced heavy scrutiny for several reasons. The FAA used VA records for its investigation, leading to concerns about how that information was accessed and used.
Critics also accused the FAA of targeting veterans with its investigation, saying non-veteran pilots also falsify health records. One aviation law attorney told the Post it’s an open secret that “probably greater than 85% of pilots are lying on their medial forms.”
According to the Post, investigators discovered inconsistencies between VA and FAA databases more than two years ago. Despite this, the FAA has kept the investigation mainly a secret from the public until now.
Russia targets Ukrainian port after pulling out of grain deal: July 18 rundown
A key Ukrainian port city used for grain export was attacked by Russia. And a United plane loses an emergency slide mid-flight. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Russia targets Odesa after suspending grain deal
Russia targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa after pulling out of its grain deal with the country. On Tuesday, Russia launched six cruise missiles and 25 exploding drones, all of which were shot down. But the debris and shock waves damaged port facilities and residential buildings. One person was injured.
This incident follows an apparent attack by Ukraine on a bridge in Crimea. Ukraine attempted another drone attack on Crimea on Tuesday, but it was stopped by Russian defense forces.
Western officials denounced Russia’s decision to suspend its grain deal on Monday. The Kremlin said the deal would be suspended until restrictions on Russian exports were lifted.
“Russia’s decision to resume its effective blockade of Ukrainian ports and prevent this grain from getting to markets will harm people all over the world,” said National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby. “Indeed, we are already seeing a spike in global wheat, corn and soybean prices just today as a result of Russia’s suspension. We urge the government of Russia to immediately reverse its decision.”
First pretrial conference in Trump case
The first pretrial conference in the criminal case against former president Donald Trump concerning the mishandling of classified documents begins July 18. U.S. district court judge Aileen Cannon will decide on how classified information will be handled in the case.
The date of the trial could also be announced. While prosecutors have proposed the trial to begin in December, Trump’s lawyers have suggested it be postponed until after the 2024 presidential election since the former president is seeking another run in the White House.
Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta, have pleaded not guilty to an indictment that accused them of storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and trying to hide them from the government.
The summer heat wave had been deadly. There were 12 heat-related deaths in the first week of July in Phoenix and 55 heat-related deaths since the start of the summer. And it’s only getting worse. Temperatures are forecast to be 115 degrees or above through July 23.
Greece wildfires tear through coastal communities
Wildfires in Greece, which are common in the summer, have forced thousands of residents to leave their homes. Two large blazes are tearing through coastal communities and a seaside resort area has been evacuated.
FDA approves RSV drug for infants
The FDA has approved the first long-acting drug to protect infants and toddlers from the respiratory virus known as RSV. The antibody preventive therapy, called Beyfortus, was approved Monday for children up to 2-years-old who are vulnerable to severe RSV.
The drug will reportedly be available in the United States before the upcoming cold season. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.
Emergency slide on United plane accidentally deploys
An emergency evacuation slide from a United Airlines plane fell off mid-flight on its way to the Chicago O’hare International Airport. The slide was found in a nearby neighborhood in someone’s backyard. Maintenance workers noticed the slide was missing and reported it to the FAA. The flight had just arrived from switzerland. The FAA is investigating how the emergency landing device was deployed.
Australian man and dog survive 3 months lost at sea
An Australian sailor, Timothy Shaddock, became lost at sea after a storm damaged his boat and wiped out his electronics. Shaddock said he and his dog survived on raw fish and rain water for nearly 100 days. A Mexican fishing boat found Shaddock’s vessel 1,200 miles offshore.
5 dead, hundreds of flights affected by Northeast storms, flooding
For the second time in a week, storms in the Northeast led to deadly flooding and travel headaches. According to FlightAware, more than 1,700 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled on Sunday, July 16. Nearly 10,000 more flights were delayed. Airports with the most cancellations included:
Newark Liberty International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
LaGuardia Airport
Boston Logan International Airport
“Slow-moving t-storms will cause delays this AM into early PM in the Northeast, Midwest & Southeast,” the Federal Aviation Administration tweeted Sunday morning. “Check your flight with your airline before you head to airports in Boston, New York, Philly, DC, Southern & Central Florida, Atlanta, & Charlotte.”
The Northeast flight cancellations due to storms came a day after flash flooding claimed at least five lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Torrential rains occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, sweeping away several cars. In addition to the five dead, two children, a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister remained missing heading into Monday, July 17.
“I want Bucks County to know that we are here with you. We are praying with you. And we will continue to do everything in our power to lift you up,” Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said Sunday. “We have your backs and we will be here as long as it takes to make sure Bucks County gets back up on its feet.”
In addition to the Pennsylvania flooding, other parts of the Northeast experienced heavy rain, storms and power outages, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.
“This is possibly our new normal. This is the kind of weather that even what should normally be a beautiful beach going Sunday in July can turn into a devastating catastrophe because of Mother Nature. And so we’re still in recovery phase from last week’s storms,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said Sunday. “We’ve already estimated over $50 million worth of damage from that two day event just last week. And as I said, I surveyed the damage personally. It is, it has left so many business owners and families and homeowners just in a state of shock.”
Russia halts grain flow, deadly storms pummel Northeast: July 17 rundown
Russia announced it is pulling out of the Ukrainian grain agreement, and severe storms pummeled the Northeast. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Monday, July 17, 2023.
Russia pulls out of Ukrainian grain deal
Russia has announced it has halted its deal to allow grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The deal was struck in 2022, after Russia had begun its invasion of Ukraine, in order to avoid a global food crisis.
The announcement came just hours after a section of the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s mainland exploded. Russia blamed the explosion on Ukraine, calling it a terrorist act.
Two people were killed and another was injured. While the Ukrainian military suggested the attack could’ve been Russian provocation, Ukrainian media said Ukraine’s security service used sea drones to blow up the portion of the bridge.
This is the second time the bridge has been targeted in recent months. Ukraine was behind another bombing last October.
Crimea serves as a major hub for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Access to the bridge is vital for Russian supplies.
More than 10,000 flights disrupted by severe storms
More than 10,000 flights were disrupted by severe weather across the northeastern United States. More than 2,500 flights have been canceled and nearly 8,000 more delayed, according to flight tracking data.
Jetblue has been significantly impacted, with 27% of its flights canceled and 43% delayed. The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement that said slow-moving thunderstorms were to blame.
5 dead, 2 missing in Pennsylvania flash flooding
Severe storms also created deadly flood waters in Pennsylvania over the weekend. In Bucks County, just outside Philadelphia, eleven cars were surrounded by fast-moving water that was five-feet deep.
Five people died after getting caught in flash flooding. One of the people who died was a mother. Her baby and toddler are still missing.
Over the last month, some parts of the Northeast have seen triple their average rainfall.
“This is possibly our new normal,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said Sunday, July 16. “This is the kind of weather that even what should normally be a beautiful beach going Sunday in July can turn into a devastating catastrophe because of mother nature.”
Suspect in Georgia mass shooting killed
A mass shooting in Georgia ended with four people killed and the suspected gunman dead following a shootout with police. Authorities say officers were able to track down 40-year-old Andre L. Longmore Sunday, one day after the deadly rampage.
Three officers were wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The injured officers are expected to recover.
The mass shooting took place in the community of Hampton, about 40 miles south of Atlanta. The names of the victims have not been released. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
AAA pulls back Florida coverage amid hurricane season
Right in the midst of hurricane season, some Florida residents have been dropped from their insurance companies. Big-name insurance companies like AIG, All State and State Farm have stopped taking on new customers in certain high-risk states like Florida and California.
Last week, Farmers Insurance announced it was pulling out of the Sunshine State. Days later, AAA said they were following suit by not renewing home or auto insurance policies for some of its Florida residents.
More trouble at Twitter
In a reply responding to business advice, Twitter owner Elon Musk revealed that the social media company is losing cash because of a 50% drop in advertising, as well as a heavy debt load. Musk added that Twitter needs to reach a positive cash flow before the company has “the luxury of anything else.”
Musk, who acquired Twitter last fall in a $44 billion deal, stepped down as the company’s CEO in May. Earlier in July, Twitter got some new competition in the form of Meta’s platform called Threads.
In its first week, Threads reached 100 million downloads. Twitter responded by threatening legal action against Meta.
Russia attempts to move on from Wagner Group revolt: June 26 rundown
The Wagner Group staged a revolt against Russia, and a bridge collapse in Montana sent a hazardous freight train into a river. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Monday, June 26, 2023.
Dust settles in Russia following Wagner group revolt
Russia’s defense minister made his first public appearance since a mercenary group fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine turned on Russia. Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his mercenaries to march on Moscow Saturday. The Wagner Group was even able to take over a Russian city before a deal with Russia’s government to end the revolt was reached less than 24 hours later.
Under the deal, Prigozhin will move to Belarus. Neither he nor his Wagner Group mercenaries will be prosecuted.
Some analysts called the revolt the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than 20 years in power. They added it may create a whole new dynamic regarding the war in Ukraine.
“The fact that this deal appears to have given Prigozhin a sort of free pardon to retire into Belarus and that the Wagner mercenaries will be absorbed into regular Russian army is perhaps a surprise, but it’s also why I think this saga isn’t finally over,” former UK ambassador to the UN Sir Mark Lyall Grant said Sunday, June 25. “Because I find it very hard to believe that Prigozhin will have a quiet peaceful retirement in Belarus.”
North Koreans rally against the United States
More than 120,000 people in North Korea took part in a massive anti-U.S. rally. The rally came as the country observed the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
The war was triggered by a North Korean surprise attack. However, the North continues to blame the U.S. for provoking the war.
The weekend rally came at a time of swelling North Korean nationalism, as the country boasts an expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Since 2022, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has fired more than 100 missiles to test the country’s ability to conduct nuclear strikes on the U.S. and South Korea.
Hazardous train plunges into river after bridge collapse
A bridge over the Yellowstone River collapsed in Montana, causing a freight train carrying hazardous materials to plunge into the water below. The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur.
Officials temporarily shut down drinking water intakes downstream. Small communities use reservoirs full of treated water from the Yellowstone River. All water treatment plants have since resumed operations.
The cause of the bridge’s collapse is under investigation. The river had been full with recent heavy rains, but it’s unclear if that was a factor.
Tornadoes in the Midwest, extreme heat in the South
Video captured a fast-moving tornado as it tore through residential buildings just south of Indianapolis. At least one person died and about a dozen homes were damaged in the storm system. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power overnight Sunday and into Monday morning.
A destructive tornado ripped through buildings in Indiana, as a powerful storm ravaged several counties south of Indianapolis, leaving at least one dead and another injured, officials said. https://t.co/SHDGenGTFRpic.twitter.com/shITg7yjgw
In Minnesota and North Dakota, there were reports of as many as 18 tornadoes.
Meanwhile in the South, tens of millions of Americans are under excessive heat warnings. In Texas, temperatures remain in the triple digits. The Central Plains is expected to experience a similar heat wave later this week.
D.C. airports ground flights over air traffic control issue
Flights at Washington D.C.’s two major airports were paused Sunday evening for about an hour. There was a problem at a major air traffic control facility on site.
Operations were restarted after repairs to a communications power panel were made. The Federal Aviation Administration offered no further details on what caused the need for repairs.
A San Antonio airport employee was ingested into the engine of a Delta airplane on Friday, June 26. This is the second type of this incident in six months after another crew worker was ingested into a plane at an Alabama airport on Dec. 31, 2022.
Ford vehicles under investigation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Ford vehicles that could roll away even when placed in park. In 2022, Ford recalled nearly 300,000 Explorer SUVs and added a software update to fix the glitch.
NHTSA said its received complaints even after repairs were made. One complaint came from a driver who struck a utility pole. The driver said their car would slam to a complete stop at speeds of up to 30 to 40 miles per hour.
The original recall covered certain 2020 through 2022 Explorer models. Ford said they are working with NHTSA to resolve the matter.
