Low visibility due to a dust storm in Illinois caused a deadly highway pileup of dozens of cars. And writers in Hollywood are officially on strike. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Dust storm creates 80-car pileup
A dust storm in Illinois created an 80 car pileup on a major highway. Six people are dead following the crashes and dozens more were sent to the hospital. The heavy dust filled the skies and blocked visibility, creating a major hazard on Interstate 55 near Springfield, Illinois.
According to state police, the rare and thick dust storm is said to have been caused by high winds blowing up dirt from nearby farms.
In the midst of the pile up, multiple 18-wheelers caught fire in the collisions. There was a roughly two-mile stretch of cars wrecked alongside both directions of the highway. Crews worked to clear the wreckage as the air quality improved.
Texas shooting suspect previously deported
The suspect accused of shooting and killing five neighbors in a Texas community, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, is a Mexican national. He was previously deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement four times. Each time, he illegally returned to the U.S.
According to reports, Oropesa has been deported four times from Texas back to Mexico. Twice in 2009, in 2012, and 2016. Oropesa also served jail time for driving while intoxicated 11 years ago in a neighboring Texas county.
The man is accused of murdering five neighbors, ranging from 9 to 31 years of age, in a North Houston suburb. Oropesa is still on the run from authorities. There is an $80,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
Missing teens among 7 found dead
A search for two missing teens in Oklahoma is now over after the sheriff’s department uncovered seven bodies on a rural property about an hour south of Tulsa. Medical examiners are still trying to identify and confirm the remains found, but authorities have called off the search for 14-year-old Ivy Webster and 16-year-old Brittany Brewer.
The two were last seen traveling with Jesse McFadden, a registered sex offender, whose body was also believed to have been found on the Oklahoma property. It’s unknown at this time who the other four sets of remains on the property belong to.
McFadden was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in 2020. He was supposed to stand trial on May 1 on charges of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography.
Potential default on nation’s debt one month away
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning Congress there is only about one month left before the U.S. could default on its debt if no action is taken by lawmakers to raise the debt ceiling. Yellen shared the updated deadline of June 1 on Monday, May 1, and is urging lawmakers not to wait until the last minute or there could be repercussions felt in the U.S. economy.
In a letter to lawmakers, Yellen said that waiting until the last minute can cause serious harm to the economy. House Republicans passed a bill last week to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts. But that’s expected to go nowhere in the Senate.
Epidemic of loneliness and isolation
The U.S. Surgeon General has released a new advisory, calling attention to a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in the United States.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said lacking connection increases the risk for premature death to more than 60%. He says that carries the same weight as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
The report cites research showing that approximately half of U.S. adults experience loneliness daily. That research was conducted before the pandemic. A lack of social connection has also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and dementia, according to the study.
The surgeon general‘s report lays out guidance to increase social connection within the workplace and local communities. It’s a strategy that has never been implemented in the U.S. before.
Hollywood writers strike, TV production to slow
Thousands of writers in Hollywood are officially on strike. This marks the first major walkout in 15 years. The strike is likely to shut down production on some top television shows, streaming series, and potentially some films.
Some impacts will be immediately clear, like late-night shows going dark.
American Airlines pilots authorize strike
Some 15,000 American Airlines pilots have authorized a strike mandate. This means if their contract negotiations fail, a strike is possible. The threat carries extra weight this time of year as airlines prepare for a busy summer travel season.
Pilots are asking for better pay and better scheduling in their contract negotiations.