Massive flooding in Spain kills dozens, leaves path of destruction
Catastrophic flooding in Spain washed out towns and turned streets into deadly rivers. Authorities said the flash flooding killed at least 95 people across the southeastern part of the country and the death toll is expected to rise.
Rainstorms pounded towns on Tuesday, Oct. 29, into Wednesday, Oct. 30. The rain prompted water rescues during reportedly the worst flooding the country has seen in decades.
Helicopter crews lifted people to safety and first responders used rubber boats to reach some drivers trapped in their vehicles. In the aftermath of the rains, dozens of cars were left strewn and piled on one another.
Rescue and recovery efforts are underway with the Spanish government mobilizing 1,100 soldiers to help with search-and-rescue missions. Spain’s central government has also set up a crisis committee to organize life-saving efforts.
Meanwhile, the torrential rain disrupted transportation including buses, trains and some flights. Officials said flights have resumed on Wednesday, Oct. 30, but warned that some high-speed rail operations could take days to restore.
Additionally, officials say thousands of people still remain without power due to downed powerlines, trees and debris.
Spain’s national weather service reported it rained more in eight hours in the town of Valencia than it had in the past 20 months, calling the washout “extraordinary.”
Spain’s government has declared three days of mourning for the devastating natural disaster. The period of mourning starts on Thursday, Oct. 31.
Florida officials put out warning over scammers impersonating FEMA agents
As thousands of people look to rebuild their lives after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida officials are putting out a warning about scammers impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials. Sarasota County’s emergency management chief announced on Thursday, Oct. 17, that imposters with fake FEMA badges were asking residents for their bank account information.
The agency advises individuals to never give out their bank account information nor give cash to anyone claiming to be a FEMA agent.
FEMA also notes that natural disaster survivors should be aware of online scammers. The agency advised people to avoid sharing personal or financial information online, as well as following links promising offers for FEMA disaster assistance.
FEMA maintains it does not “endorse any commercial business, products or services.”
If a person has any concerns about potential scams, the agency advises people to call local law enforcement or report any suspicious or fraudulent activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s website.
Insurance analysts estimate recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton could soar past $100 billion.
Tampa Bay Rays seek new home stadium for 2025 season
The Tampa Bay Rays may be forced to find a temporary home stadium for the 2025 season. Their regular stadium, Tropicana Field, may not be ready in time for the Rays’ season opener against the Colorado Rockies on March 27, 2025, according to Tampa Bay Times.
Hurricane Milton caused critical damage to the stadium’s roof, which was shredded by high winds. This exposure led to extensive water damage inside the stadium.
Officials are currently evaluating the full extent of the damage. A complete engineering audit is underway, and a significant insurance claim is expected, but both will further delay the recovery process.
As of now, the Rays’ plans for the start of the season remain unclear. Several minor league ballparks in the region could serve as temporary homes, though most of these do not have roofs – an essential feature for the Rays, given the area’s frequent rain and intense summer heat.
Some have suggested the team reconsider the “Sister City Plan,” an idea proposed in 2022 that would have seen the Rays split their home games between Tampa Bay and Montreal. Though the plan was shelved by MLB, it has resurfaced as a potential solution.
Another option under consideration is sharing Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the Miami Marlins, but that could present scheduling conflicts between the two teams.
At this point, the Rays have not made an official decision regarding where they will play the 2025 season opener.
Dozens still missing in North Carolina weeks after Helene
Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., provided an update during the week of Oct. 13, on the ongoing recovery efforts in North Carolina following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Cooper announced that 81 people remained missing across the state.
Initially, a task force was formed to locate 92 unaccounted-for individuals. That number fluctuated, but Cooper recently revised it down to 81. The governor expressed gratitude to the teams involved in the search efforts and shared updates of broader relief initiatives.
As of this week, 77,000 people had applied for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and $99 million in relief funds had already be distributed. FEMA was also providing temporary housing for nearly 2,000 people displaced by the storm.
Cooper also addressed growing concerns about misinformation surrounding the recovery efforts. He made a public appeal to stop the spread of false information.
In his remarks, Cooper also criticized Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, R-N.C., the Republican gubernatorial candidate, for allegedly contributing to disinformation campaigns related to the recovery.
Cooper’s comments came as safety threats against FEMA workers escalated.
Over the weekend, a man in Rutherford County was arrested for allegedly threatening to harm FEMA personnel. The suspect, who had several firearms, was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
Despite the challenges, Gov. Cooper remained optimistic about the recovery process in the coastal state.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks until the presidential election, the candidates are blitzing battleground states and the airwaves with town halls. And in a possible blow to small businesses hoping to rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, one federal agency is running out of money. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Harris, Trump field questions during town halls as Election Day nears
With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, the candidates fielded questions on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in two different town hall settings.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a town hall in Detroit hosted by radio personality Charlamagne tha God as she looks to reach Black voters. During the town hall, the vice president said she believes slavery reparations should be studied.
Harris said while she is running for “president for everyone” she is “clear-eyed about the history and the disparities that exist for specific communities.”
The vice president also urged Black Americans not to sit out on Election Day.
Vice President Harris: Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for Black America. I'll tell you what it is. Project 2025 wants to implement stop-and-frisk. It wants to make it more difficult for workers to receive overtime pay. He wants to terminate the Constitution, which includes… pic.twitter.com/ZAQNgRkRyq
“The solutions that we all want are not going to happen in totality because of one election but here’s the thing: the things that we want and are prepared to fight for won’t happen if we’re not active and if we don’t participate,” she said. “We cannot allow circumstances to take us out the game because then basically what we’re saying is all those people who are obstructionist, who are standing in the way of change, they’re winning because they are convincing people that it can’t be done so take yourself out, don’t participate. Look at that circle, look at that vicious circle, then so let’s not fall for it.”
Meanwhile, Republican nominee former President Donald Trump participated in a Fox News town hall in Georgia moderated by host Harris Faulkner.
The town hall had an all-female audience, with the women posing questions to Trump on issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion. According to reports of the event, which will air later Wednesday, Oct. 16 on Fox News, Trump said some states are “too tough” when it comes to restrictions on abortion and those laws “are going to be redone.”
“The African American community and the Hispanic community are being devastated with the jobs, the numbers are down 6, 7, 8, 9%. They are going to work, and they’re saying, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not going to take you any more.’ People that have worked there and worked there well for years are now being told that they no longer have a job because they have illegal immigrants coming in and taking their job,” Trump said. “Any African American or Hispanic, and you know how well I’m doing there, that votes for Kamala, you got to have your head examined, because they are really screwing you.”
Early voting begins in Georgia with record turnout
Early voting has begun in the battleground state of Georgia and it’s already seeing a record turnout. Voting for the Nov. 5 presidential election started Tuesday and by the late afternoon, at least 252,000 voters had already cast ballots at early voting sites.
That’s nearly double the 136,000 who voted on the first day of early voting in the 2020 election, according to a top Georgia election official.
Also Tuesday, a judge blocked a new rule requiring Georgia Election Day ballots to be counted by hand after the close of voting. That ruling came just a day after the same judge ruled county election officials must certify election results by the deadline set in law.
Small Business Administration runs out of disaster relief funding
The Small Business administration has run out of funding for its disaster assistance loans right after the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That means much-needed financial assistance will be delayed for people applying for help right now.
After a disaster, the SBA provides loans to businesses and people who need them. The organization had warned it expected to run out of money by the end of the month.
Congress can approve more funding, but lawmakers are not set to reconvene until Nov. 12. The SBA administrator said in the meantime, people that need them should keep applying for the loans.
HURRICANE #MILTON SURVIVORS: Business owners and residents in declared disaster areas can now apply for SBA assistance.
Israel strikes Beirut despite U.S. opposition; vows to avoid nuclear sites in Iran
At least one Israeli air strike rocked a Beirut, Lebanon suburb early Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 people according to the Associated Press. The strike came just hours after a State Department spokesperson said the U.S. told its key ally it opposed the bombing campaign there in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the United Nations’ Human Rights Office called for an investigation into an Israeli air strike that happened on Monday which killed at least 21 people in northern Lebanon, saying it posed “real concerns” because it may have violated international laws governing war.
This comes as a Biden administration official said Israel has assured the U.S. it will not hit nuclear or oil sites when it retaliates against Iran for its missile barrage earlier this month.
However, that does not mean Israel will keep its word. In the past, the country’s track record of sticking to what it tells the U.S. has been mixed.
Just last month, U.S. officials were told by their Israeli counterparts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would welcome a U.S.- and French-led temporary cease-fire initiative in Lebanon, only for Israel to launch a massive airstrike that killed a Hezbollah leader two days later.
Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $15M in baby powder cancer case
A jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $15 million to a Connecticut man who says he developed a rare form of cancer after using the company’s baby powder for decades. The man says he contracted mesothelioma from inhaling the talc powder.
The jury also said Johnson & Johnson should pay additional punitive damages, which will be determined later by the judge overseeing the case.
After the ruling, Johnson & Johnson’s vice president of litigation said the company will be appealing the decision, saying “erroneous” rulings by the judge kept the jury from hearing critical facts about the case.
Tom Brady approved to become minority owner of Raiders
Tom Brady has been called many names: the GOAT, Super Bowl champion, and NFL commentator, to name a few. Now, he can add team owner to that list.
On Tuesday, NFL team owners voted to approve Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The former NFL quarterback said in a statement he is eager to contribute to the Raiders organization in any way.
Because of his new title, Brady faces some restrictions in his other role as a Fox broadcaster, including being barred from weekly production meetings with the players and coaches in the games he will cover.
Harris, Trump turn to PA with 3 weeks to go until Election Day
With exactly three weeks until Election Day, both candidates have their sights set on Pennsylvania. And NASA has launched its ambitious plan to visit the largest planet in our solar system in hopes of making a new discovery. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Harris, Trump turn to PA with 3 weeks to go until Election Day
With just three weeks until Election Day, the 2024 presidential candidates are focusing on the key battleground states — and none may be as important as Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took their message once again to the Keystone State on Monday, Oct. 14, each believing that if they win Pennsylvania, they will win the election.
Harris held a rally in the northwestern city of Erie, where Trump visited a few weeks ago. The vice president painted her opponent as a threat to American democracy, warning her supporters of what she calls the dangers of another Trump presidency.
“I believe so strongly that a second Trump term would be a huge risk for America and dangerous,” she said. “Donald Trump is increasingly unstable and unhinged, and he is out for unchecked power. That’s what he’s looking for.”
Harris also urged Pennsylvanians to get out to vote early as mail-in voting is now underway in the state.
Also Monday, former President Trump spoke during a town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He touched on claims he’s a threat to democracy.
“When they talk about a threat to democracy, how about where they take a candidate who won fair and square, they throw them out and they put up a woman who failed, was the first one to drop out of a field of 22 and got no votes?” he said. “And this is the person we’re running against. And she is not a smart woman. That’s true. And we cannot — we’ve had that for four years. We’re not going to have it for another four years.”
Trump cut his town hall short after two attendees required medical attention, with both the former president and moderator South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem commenting on the heat in the venue. Trump then requested music be played for the remainder of the event.
Trump will be back in Georgia on Tuesday as the focus on the battleground states intensifies.
Along with rallies, the candidates are continuing their media tour to reach voters. The vice president will take part in a town hall Tuesday, Oct. 15, hosted by the radio program “The Breakfast Club” and then she will appear on Fox News on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged a sit-in demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas. While none of the protesters got into the stock exchange, dozens did cross the security fence put in place by police.
A New York Police Department spokesperson said officers arrested 206 people.
Since the war in Gaza started just over a year ago, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost the entire population has been displaced, according to Gaza health officials.
North Carolina man arrested for allegedly threatening FEMA workers
Investigators in North Carolina arrested and charged a man with threatening to harm FEMA workers who were helping parts of the state devastated by Hurricane Helene.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, William Parsons, 44, is charged with “going armed to the terror of the public” — a misdemeanor.
In a statement, the sheriff said while initial reports indicated there was a group of armed militia members threatening FEMA workers, they found Parsons acted alone. Officials said he did have a handgun and a rifle in his possession when arrested.
The arrest followed misinformation and disinformation being spread about FEMA in the wake of the natural disaster and caused FEMA to change the way it was working to help people impacted by Helene because of concerns over workers’ safety.
NASA launches mission to find signs of life on Jupiter moon
The mission, dubbed Europa Clipper, started its long journey to Jupiter’s fourth largest moon on Monday. It’s expected to enter the planet’s orbit in 2030 after a flight of 1.8 billion miles.
Pair of giant pandas set to arrive at the National Zoo
Eleven months after the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Said goodbye to its giant pandas, two new ones are on their way. The pair of giant pandas have officially left a research facility in China and are set to be flown to D.C., according to Chinese officials.
It’s not yet clear when they’ll arrive. The zoo’s website still says new pandas will be coming by the end of the year, however, on Monday, the Zoo did announce it will be closed Tuesday for the safety of the pandas and staff.
The return of panda diplomacy between China and the U.S. has already seen a pair delivered to the San Diego Zoo with another promised to San Francisco.
2,471-pound pumpkin wins world championship
A 2,471-pound pumpkin won the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off Monday in Half Moon Bay, California, south of San Francisco, defeating its closest competitor by six pounds.
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
The United States is sending troops and an anti-missile system to Israel. And an incredible landing has SpaceX cheering and thinking about future missions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
Iran has now warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel.
“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X.
This comes as Israel said at least four of its soldiers were killed in a drone attack by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah Sunday, Oct. 13. At least 60 other people were injured in the attack on an army base in central Israel, including seven soldiers.
http://twitter.com/IDF/status/1845719319449145830
Hezbollah said the attack was in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut last week that left 22 people dead.
An attack this deadly in Israel is unusual. Its advanced air defense systems usually spot a threat well beforehand. Israel has said it’s investigating how the drone entered the country without triggering an alert.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes left at least 40 people dead in Gaza Sunday, including 13 children, according to local officials. One of those strikes was at a hospital in central Gaza, where thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering.
The Israeli military said it was a precise strike on a Hamas command center “embedded inside a compound that previously served as the ‘Shuhadah Al-Aqsa’ hospital.” Israel’s military also said it took steps to limit harm to civilians in the attack.
Authorities said the Nevada man had a shotgun, a loaded handgun, ammunition and several fake passports with him when he was stopped near where the rally was being held in Coachella.
Deputies assigned to the rally said they stopped the 49-year-old suspect as he was driving an unregistered vehicle with a “homemade” license plate. They said the man claimed to be a journalist.
The man passed an outer security boundary before being stopped at an inner perimeter, patrolled by local deputies. Authorities said former President Trump was not yet at the rally when the arrest happened, and he was “not in any danger.”
The suspect has since been released on $5,000 bail. Court records show his next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 2.
Biden approves $612 million to support Florida’s hurricane-ravaged communities
As hundreds of thousands remain without power and flooding continues to be an issue, President Biden visited Florida on Sunday for the second time in less than a week. This time it was to get a firsthand look at communities ravaged by Hurricane Milton.
On Saturday, Biden approved a disaster declaration to give federal funding to people affected by Milton, including grants for temporary housing, home repairs and loans. Biden said more than 250,000 Floridians have already registered for help, which he said was “the most in a single day ever in the history of this country.”
Trial begins in mysterious murders of 2 Indiana teenagers
Investigators arrested Allen in 2022 in connection to the deaths of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams, five years after the girls disappeared while walking on a trail in the town of Delphi near an abandoned bridge. Searchers found their bodies a day later.
SpaceX pulled off an incredible feat on Sunday, successfully launching its fifth test flight of its unmanned Starship spacecraft. However, it was the return of the Super Heavy rocket booster that wowed the crowd, as well as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
For the first time, after breaking off from the Starship, the 232-foot-tall booster returned to Earth but didn’t land in the ocean like the spacecraft would. Instead, it returned to the Texas launch pad, caught by two mechanical arms which SpaceX calls “chopsticks.”
Elon Musk called the moment a “big step towards making life multiplanetary.”
SpaceX is hoping its Starship system will one day take people to the moon and Mars — with plans to use the capsule to transport NASA astronauts to the moon as soon as 2026.
‘Game of Thrones’ Iron Throne sells for $1.49 million
One “Game of Thrones” fan is sitting pretty, or at least powerfully, after taking the iconic “Iron Throne.” Unlike the characters in the HBO drama, the winner didn’t have to go through eight seasons of fighting, just a six-minute bidding war and $1.5 million.
This 310-pound plastic version of the throne was used during promotional and touring events for the series.
In total, Heritage auctions said its three-day auction in Dallas raked in more than $21 million dollars, making it the company’s second biggest entertainment event ever — behind the $22.8 million record set in 2011 by the Debbie Reynolds sale.
As fires spread to around 100,000 acres in Wyoming, conspiracy theories grow
Around a thousand firefighters are battling a pair of wildfires in Wyoming with an estimated 100,000 acres burning as of Wednesday, Oct. 9. Officials say the fires were sparked by lightning strikes, but as fast as flames have spread so have the conspiracy theories.
Some social media users have floated unproven claims suggesting a connection between the elk fire’s growth and lithium deposits, alleging global leaders are starting the fires on purpose to clear out the land for lithium mining.
Wyoming recently announced lithium discoveries in Natrona County. However, Bighorn National Forest, where the elk fire is burning, is far from that site. Experts also note that hot, dry and windy conditions have fueled the fires as crews fight to stop their spread.
Evacuations have been ordered across several counties and U.S. Highway 14, one of the main roads in the state, was shut down.
The state of Wyoming is further taking action to protect livestock and getting emergency funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help with agricultural recovery.
Residents also took to social media this week, expressing frustration over lack of media coverage. They note that news outlets are caught up in Hurricane Helene recovery and Hurricane Milton.
DeSantis vows to punish those who neglected pets as hurricane approached
As Hurricane Milton was nearing landfall, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., took aim at bad dog owners. DeSantis vowed to punish those pet owners who left their canines tied up as the storm made its way to the coastline.
DeSantis responded to a video posted on social media on Wednesday, Oct. 9, by the Florida State Patrol showing troopers rescuing a dog tied up next to the highway in the Tampa Bay area.
The governor thanked the troopers, and wrote on the social media platform X, “It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle an oncoming storm. FL. will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”
In Florida, abandoning a pet is a misdemeanor but repeat animal cruelty offenders can receive jail time.
Nearly 6 million people are reportedly under mandatory evacuation orders in Florida. President Joe Biden urged residents to heed the warnings from local officials and said it could be the worst storm to hit the Sunshine State in more than 100 years.
FEMA is spending billions a year on decades-old disasters
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is still spending billions of dollars on storms that happened more than a decade ago, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma which occurred in 2005. The long-term projects use money from the Disaster Relief Fund as the agency manages more than 100 active disaster declarations.
FEMA’s most recent Disaster Relief Fund Report to Congress revealed that in fiscal year 2024, the agency spent $53 million on the 2005 hurricane season, $375 million on SuperStorm Sandy which hit New Jersey and New York in 2012, and $12.5 billion on Hurricane Maria which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017.
There were billions more spent on wildfires, winter storms and floods. In total, FEMA spent $47 billion in fiscal year 2024 on approximately 35 disasters from years past.
The money is spent on public assistance, individual assistance, administration and mitigation for future events. A 2023 FEMA report outlined why it has a Disaster Readiness and Support account within the Disaster Relief Fund.
“DRS funding enables FEMA to be more proactive and to provide a robust readiness posture to respond to large-scale, complex, presidentially declared major disasters instead of waiting for disasters to occur and then reacting with costlier and less efficient response actions,” the report stated.
While FEMA spends extraordinary sums on disasters dating back nearly 20 years, it always keeps a reserve so it can send rescue teams and supplies to ongoing emergencies.
“The biggest tool we have is what we call immediate needs funding, and we keep a reserve within our disaster relief fund to make sure that I can always cover these life saving activities like we’re seeing right now,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters.
In fact, last August Criswell said that she paused approximately $8 billion in spending on previous disasters to ensure the agency has the money it needs for the current hurricane season.
Congress then gave her permission to use $20 billion from fiscal year 2025 funding, which she used to respond to Hurricane Helene and reimburse communities whose projects were paused.
“I have over a hundred open disasters across the United States for recovery, and I need to continue to be able to reimburse these communities for their recovery projects as well as sustain the response that we’re seeing right now,” Criswell said.
Criswell also put in a $9 billion supplemental funding request to Congress earlier this year which she said still stands. After it has a better understanding of how much these recent disasters will cost, FEMA will ask for additional money on top of that.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story and video stated that FEMA spent $53 billion dollars on the 2005 hurricane season in FY 2024. The agency spent $53 million dollars. Straight Arrow News deeply regrets this error.
