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☆ First Drought, Then Flood. Can the West Learn to Live Between Extremes?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Brooke Jarvis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Since New Year’s, storm after storm had pummeled the state, dropping epic quantities of water and snow. Houses and farms and dairies flooded, and people were using excavators to hastily build earthen dikes around their properties. In a valley where powerful interests had long jockeyed for access to water, the arguments were now about who would bear the flood. A froth of brown storm water started to spread toward the houses. Had someone intentionally cut the levee, jeopardizing Allensworth, not to mention someone else’s farm, to save his own?

Persons: Deanna Jackson, Gonzales, Ruben Guerrero, Floodwater, Jack Mitchell, Allensworth, ” Guerrero, ”, Kiara Rendon, Denise Kadara, Allen Allensworth, Kadara, Rendon Organizations: Cal Fire, Navy Locations: Year’s, Tulare, Allensworth, ”, California, farmworkers

☆ Lake Maggiore: All passengers on boat that sank on Italy lake had worked for security or defense services
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The 16-meter (52-foot) houseboat had been carrying 23 people at overcapacity when an apparent waterspout struck nearby, causing it to capsize on Sunday evening, CNN affiliate Sky Tg24 reported. Some of the party managed to swim ashore and others were rescued by nearby boats, according Sky Tg24, adding that, although five were taken to the hospital, none of the survivors sustained any serious injuries. There were 13 Israeli and 8 Italian passengers on board at the time the boat sank, while the victims were two men and two women. Italian authorities are seen inspecting the tourist boat that capsized and sank on Lake Maggiore. Passengers had been reportedly celebrating a birthday party when the boat, traveling between the Italian towns of Lisanza and Dormelletto, capsized, according to Sky Tg24.

Persons: Barnobi, Claudio Alonzi, Erez Shimoni, Anna Bozhkova, Shutterstock, ”, Shimoni Organizations: CNN, Sky, Authorities, Passengers Locations: Italy’s Lake Maggiore, overcapacity, Lake Maggiore, Puricelli, Israel, Maggiore, Italy, Switzerland, Lisanza

☆ Dollar General investors vote to probe worker safety, after years of employee complaints
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dollar General stores have been cited by OSHA and local authorities for safety hazards for years. OSHA has called Dollar General a "severe violator"David Williams, an employee at a Dollar General store, said he and his colleagues at other locations go to work scared of the dangers that they will encounter there. Safety hazards at Dollar General stores have also gotten the attention of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, which has proposed fines on Dollar General of $21 million since 2017. The company's violations are severe and frequent enough that Dollar General earned a "severe violator" designation from OSHA in March. The proposal's passage marks a win for Dollar General workers, Mary Beth Gallagher, director of engagement at Domini Impact Investments, said in a statement.

Persons: —, David Williams, Williams, Mary Beth Gallagher, Gallagher, Alex Bitter Organizations: OSHA, Service, Shareholders, Dollar, US, Equity Fund, CNN, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Impact Locations: Goodlettsville , Tennessee, Mexico

CNN —Two Italian secret service agents and a retired member of Israel’s security forces were among the four victims from Sunday’s fatal boat accident on Lake Maggiore, northern Italy. The Italian victims were named as Tiziana Barnobi, 53, and Claudio Alonzi, 62, a delegate of Italy’s secret service confirmed, while a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry identified the Israeli victim as Shimoni Erez, 60. Vigili Del Fuoco/APSome of the party managed to swim to the shore, according Sky Tg24, adding that, although five were taken to the hospital, none of the survivors sustained any serious injuries. A delegate of the Italian secret service issued a public condolence “sharing closeness and pain for the tragic event to the families of the victims.”Italy’s military police, the Carabinieri, are assisting with the investigation, the prosecutor’s office told CNN. Passengers had been reportedly celebrating a birthday party when the boat, traveling between the Italian towns of Lisanza and Dormelletto, capsized, according to Sky Tg24.

☆ Hiroshima G7 marks costs of war and welcomes Ukraine's Zelenskiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands during the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan May 20, 2023. Zelenskiy will receive a hero's welcome during the closing day of the G7 summit hosted in Hiroshima, Japan, where leaders debated how to respond to a conflict that many expect only to escalate after nearly 15 months of fighting. On Sunday, Japan and South Korea, two of China's wealthiest neighbours, will highlight their improved ties with a joint meeting. But Zelenskiy has pushed the countries to go further on both economic and military measures. "Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine," Zelenskiy said on Twitter as he arrived in Hiroshima.

LAKE CHARLES, La., May 18 (Reuters) - In Washington, Republican U.S. Representative Clay Higgins has been a vocal advocate for spending cuts. As a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, Higgins was an early advocate for dramatic spending cuts, many of which ended up in the House bill. He hopes the spending cuts backed by Higgins won't affect local efforts to provide affordable housing. When it comes to spending, Higgins has been a solid "no" in Washington. For some local residents, Higgins' push for spending cuts in the face of so much need remains incomprehensible.

☆ TikTok users are fawning over dollar stores, sharing videos of shopping hauls and cheap finds from Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dollar General and Dollar Tree shoppers are posting haul videos on TikTok. On TikTok, regular shoppers at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and other dollar stores garner millions of views by posting videos of their weekly store purchases. Typical haul videos feature high-end or visually appealing products, but dollar store haul videos tend to feature household items. Compared to some of the largest accounts posting haul videos, the dollar store chains themselves have modest followings on TikTok. Dollar General had 25,200 followers as of Monday morning, while Dollar Tree had 49,600.

☆ Dollar General's troubles have snowballed into cluttered aisles and stores forced to close by fire marshals. Employees tell us what went wrong.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Current and former employees who spoke to Insider say clutter at Dollar General stores has gotten worse over the last few years. The clutter is one of the reasons that the Department of Labor labeled Dollar General a "severe violator" in March. In January, a Dollar General clerk was charged with manslaughter after police said he shot and killed an armed robber. Despite the problems on the ground, Dollar General continues to earn positive feedback from analysts on Wall Street. Do you work or shop at a Dollar General store or have a story to share?

☆ Possible meteorite crashes through the roof of a New Jersey home, lands in bedroom still warm
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A grapefruit-sized metallic object fell through the roof of a New Jersey home and dented the floor. Police who responded to the incident in Hopewell, New Jersey, believe the falling object may be a meteorite, possibly from the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which peaked this weekend. The offending falling object, beside a dent it cracked in the hardwood floor. It's rare for these falling space rocks to hit buildings or people. He added that this falling object could be as old as the solar system: 4 to 5 billion years old.

Koume, a 5-year-old mongrel, was handed an official letter of appreciation by local fire officials at a special ceremony last month for her valiant work at a horse riding club in Wakaba-ku, Chiba City. According to the horse riding club, a man in his fifties collapsed at the riding park on February 25. Koume, a usually placid pup, raised the alarm with her barks which then allowed people to rush to the man’s aid. “Koume is usually quiet and barks only under rare circumstances,” Yuna Maruo, a 23-year-old riding instructor who took part in saving the man that day, said. “But when an emergency arises, Koume does bark.”The Wakaba Fire Department said life saving treatment can be given to heart attack victims if people are alert to “the slightest change.”The appreciation letter given to Koume by Wakaba Fire Department to recognize her life-saving effort.

Federal worker safety inspections have alleged poor maintenance or a lack of safety training at some Tyson plants where ammonia leaks injured workers. CNN interviewed eleven current or former Tyson workers across three different plants who experienced ammonia leaks. !”A safety sign hangs on a fence at a Tyson plant in Hope, Arkansas, in March 2023. Still, some Tyson workers who lived through ammonia leaks said they wished more had been done to protect them. That means that the data doesn’t necessarily cover Tyson plants or other meat facilities that hold smaller amounts of ammonia.

☆ Why GM is killing the Chevy Bolt — America's cheapest EV — amid record sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In this article GM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA Chevrolet Bolt EUV on display at the New York Auto Show, April 13, 2022. Scott Mlyn | CNBCDETROIT — After years of lackluster performance and a fire-provoked recall, the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV was finally gaining traction for General Motors . The Bolt EV would start at $26,595, followed by the Bolt EUV at $28,195. A 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV caught fire at a home in Cherokee County, Georgia on Sept. 13, 2021, according to the local fire department. Cherokee County Fire DepartmentStill, GM touted the Bolt EV as proof of the concept for its electric-powered future.

April 27 (Reuters) - As wildfire season approaches, U.S. officials along the West Coast are working hard to mitigate risks with prescribed burns, while a widespread educational campaign is underway to create buffers around fire-prone homes. In Washington state, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hillary Franz is working on reversing negative perceptions surrounding prescribed fires. The test fires were lit ahead of a full prescribed burn. "It's a frustrating emotional roller coaster," said Stenbeck, standing on top of Bogg's Pit, the DNR-owned land that has been the focus of a prescribed burn since late last year. "It's important that people make sure there is space between their vegetated fuel and their homes ... once we have a wildfire, embers move quickly.

☆ Ford F-150 Lightning fire footage highlights a growing EV risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

EV fires have become a growing concern as automakers push to increase sales of electric vehicles and meet tightening emissions standards. An electric Ford F-150 Lightning caught fire on Feb. 4, 2023 due to a battery issue traced back to one of the automaker's suppliers. A bill that requires them to complete a training program about the risk of electric vehicle fires passed unanimously this year. There's also the risk of reignition: Lithium-ion battery fires can re-engage weeks later with little to no warning. An electric Ford F-150 Lightning caught fire on Feb. 4, 2023 due to a battery issue traced back to one of the automaker's suppliers.

☆ Opinion: Don't count DeSantis out yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Patrick T. Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A third Trump presidential nomination would indicate that Republican primary voters may prefer style over substance. But if they are serious about not just making liberals mad but advancing actual policy, GOP voters should consider other names, starting with the Florida governor. Recognizing key figures and institutions on the right in this way suggests a DeSantis administration would be serious about delivering on conservative principles. In short, DeSantis offers Republicans a glimpse into what a successful conservative approach to governing could look like. If GOP voters decide their primary operating principle is to enrage the media and “own the libs,” they will nominate Trump.

☆ U.S. opens safety probe into Tesla that struck student in North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowWASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. safety authorities said on Friday they are investigating whether an advanced driver assistance system was in use when a Tesla struck a 17-year-old student that exited a school bus in North Carolina. NHTSA said Tesla's advanced driver assistance systems were suspected of being in use in the North Carolina crash. The agency has ruled out Tesla Autopilot use in three other special crash investigations. The local fire department said a Tesla struck one of its fire trucks and the Tesla driver was pronounced dead at the scene. In June, NHTSA upgraded to an engineering analysis its defect probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with driver assistance system Autopilot that involves crashes with parked emergency vehicles including fire trucks.

☆ Palestinians accuse settlers of arson, Israel says electrical fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Ali Sawafta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Firefighters work at a Palestinian house which Palestinians say was attacked by Israeli settlers near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 26, 2023. A Sinjel resident who requested anonymity told Reuters he saw cars whose occupants he recognised as Jewish settlers nearby minutes before the incident. Most countries deem the settlements, which take up land Palestinians seek for a state, illegal. That sparked a revenge rampage by settlers in which a Palestinian was killed and properties torched. In overnight West Bank raids, Israeli forces arrested three suspected militants, the army said on Sunday.

☆ A TikTok ban is inevitable and that spells trouble for US stocks, Gene Munster says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A TikTok ban is bound to happen eventually, according to Deepwater's Gene Munster. A ban could spell trouble for US stocks with business in China, which might retaliate. Munster predicted the Biden administration could allow TikTok to stay this year, in order to quell escalating tensions between the US and China. And while a TikTok ban initially seems like a positive for US rivals like Meta's Reels, the House committee showed a large concern over the app's addictiveness and its consequences on teen mental health. "When TikTok gets banned I think Meta will come back into the spotlight and have to answer the same questions that TikTok was asked."

☆ The mystery of MH370 remains 9 years later — here are all the theories, dead ends, and unanswered questions from the most bizarre airline disaster of the century
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The theories so farA new Netflix documentary about the plane, "MH370: The Plane That Disappeared," was released in March 2023. The show's director called the plane's disappearance "the greatest aviation mystery of all time." But the July 2018 report had offered evidence against the idea that it was a deliberate act by the crew. But Australia's former prime minister, Tony Abbott, said in 2020 that the plane's disappearance was "almost certainly murder-suicide by the pilot." But the 2018 report said there was no technology on the plane that would allow control to be taken from the pilots remotely.

☆ Explosion kills 15 in crowded market in Bangladesh capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Firefighters and rescue workers are seen on the site of an explosion in a multi storey building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainDHAKA, March 7 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in an explosion in a crowded market area in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Tuesday, a local fire service official said. A bus standing on the opposite side of the building was also damaged in the blast," fire service official Dinomoni Sharma said. It follows the death of three people in an explosion in Dhaka on SundayOn Sunday, three were killed in a suspected gas explosion in Dhaka. On Saturday, seven people were killed and several injured when a fire broke out following an explosion at an oxygen plant in southeastern Bangladesh.

☆ I'm an EPA worker who's responded to more than 100 toxic spills and chemical fires, and I'll never forget one that got my adrenaline going
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kelly worked on disasters like the BP oil spill and lead drinking-water crisis in Flint, Michigan. I'm one of the 220 emergency responders that the EPA has across the country who's on call when there's a major oil spill or chemical fire, like after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. There are also smaller events, like fires at oil refineries and paper mills and hazardous waste left behind by mines. EPA on-scene coordinators sample air, water, and buildings for toxic chemicals to determine public-health risks. Brian KellyThe EPA issues an enforcement order to the companies responsible for a spill or fire to take over the cleanup.

☆ Dollar General's stores are so overrun with merchandise that fire marshals are closing them
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Dollar General stores have temporarily closed because they are overcrowded with goods. But some Dollar General stores appear to be unloading truck deliveries directly onto sales floors. Insider identified the stores using local media reports, interviews with local officials, and public records of Dollar General store inspections. Dollar General stores with too much inventory sitting in the aisles can violate fire safety codesIn Pittsylvania County, located in Southern Virginia, county officials ordered two Dollar General stores to close temporarily last fall. But the county still hears from customers about how packed Dollar General stores in Pittsylvania are, he added.

☆ Video shows Trump telling a McDonald's employee he knows the menu 'better than anyone in here'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Donald Trump visited a McDonald's in East Palestine, Ohio, on Wednesday. Upon ordering, Trump tells a McDonald's worker he knows the menu "better than anyone in here." he tells them, before saying: "So, I know this menu better than you do. You can watch the full video here:The former president's love of fast food — especially McDonald's — has been well-documented. Trump loves to eat fast food in part because of a "longtime fear" of being poisoned, journalist Michael Wolff wrote in his book "Fire and Fury."

☆ Passengers took a 16-hour flight to nowhere after their plane to New York U-turned because of an electrical fire at JFK Airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A flight to New York headed back to New Zealand because of an electrical fire at JFK Airport. An electrical failure in the terminal caused an outage and a "small isolated fire," per JFK Airport. Passengers were rebooked onto the next available flight to JFK Airport, the spokesperson added. The power outage at JFK Airport also caused other flights to divert to their departure airports on Thursday. These included two ITA Airways flights from Milan and Rome, and a Korean Air flight from Seoul, per FlightAware.

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