News Roundup 10/07/20
Hurricane Delta on it way to US Gulf Coast
Hurricane Delta made landfall Wednesday morning, devastating Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with wind speed at 105 mph. Over the course of the next few days, the Category 2 storm is expected to move towards the US Gulf Coast. As the storm moves back over open water, it is expected that the hurricane will strengthen and emerge over the Louisiana coast as a Category 3 hurricane. A hurricane watch was administered to parts of Louisiana, such as New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, and Texas, including Houston and Galveston Bay. Delta will be the 10th named storm to pass through the US this year, setting a record of the most storms the country has seen since 2005.
Source: CNN
Johnny Nash, American reggae and pop singer, dies at 80
Johnny Nash, known primarily for his 1972 chart-topping hit, “I Can See Clearly Now,” died in his Houston home on Oct. 6. A cause of death has not been specified. Nash was a singer-songwriter, record-label owner and an actor. His contributions to mainstream reggae music are far and wide. In the 1960's, he and Danny Sims formed JAD Records. Together, they signed Bob Marley, The Wailers and Peter Tosh. Nash’s reggae-influenced “I Can See Clearly Now” secured a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and maintained that spot for four weeks in November of 1972. He is also known well for his cover of Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up,” and one of his first big pop hits, “Hold Me Tight.” Reggae star, Jimmy Cliff, recorded a cover of “I Can See Clearly Now,” for the soundtrack of 1993 movie Cool Runnings and the song resurfaced again onto Billboard charts.
Source: Deadline
President Trump halts COVID relief discussions until after election
On Oct. 6, President Donald Trump announced an end to any COVID-19 relief related negotiations with Democrats. He declared that he would be delaying action until after the election, against warnings from the Federal Reserve about the deteriorating state of the economy. He tweeted:
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,”
A few hours later, he tweeted again, directed at Congress, to send him a “Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200).” He also called on Congress to approve $25 billion funding for airlines, and $135 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to assist small businesses. He tweeted once more, “I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy?”
Source: Associated Press
Update on President Trump's Health, After His Positive Diagnosis
Friday evening, President Donald Trump announced that he and First Lady, Melania Trump, had both tested positive for COVID-19. He was hospitalized and three days later, flew back to the White House upon being discharged. Since then, the number of White House personnel who have also tested positive for the virus has increased. However, today it was announced via memo from one of his doctors, Dr. Sean Conley, that President Trump has been “symptom-free” for more than 24 hours, as he continues his treatment at the White House. According to this memo, President Trump has also been “fever-free for more than 4 days.” Trump has taken multiple treatments since testing positive, such as steroid dexamethasone, the antiviral therapy remdesivir and an antibody cocktail from Regeneron.
Source: CNBC
Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, posts $1 Million bail and is released from jail
Derek Chauvin, charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter for the murder of George Floyd, has been released from jail after posting a $1 million bond. Chauvin had remained at Oak Park Heights Prison since May 31, following the death of George Floyd on May 25. Floyd was arrested and kept in handcuffs, as Chauvin kept him pinned to the ground, with his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd said that he could not breathe, and he was killed under the pressure of Chauvin’s knee. The three other officers present on the scene, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, are charged with aiding and abetting. They posted bail amount of $750,000 and have been freed pending trial. All four men will face trial together in March 2021.
Source: Fox News