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☆ Tornadoes Kill at Least 4 Across the South
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

States across the South were assessing storm damage on Friday after a series of tornadoes swept across the region, leaving at least four people dead, including three in Texas, the authorities said. He told CNN that one person died in the trailer park and two others died downtown, and that one person was missing. About 200 homes and the town firehouse were destroyed, and infrared-equipped drones were surveying the damage, he said. Officials in Perryton, about 115 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Perryton Fire Department said on Facebook late Thursday that the fire station “took a direct hit,” but that its trucks and ambulances were still operable.

Persons: Paul Dutcher, “ Organizations: Texas Panhandle, NBC News, CNN, Fire, Facebook Locations: Texas, Perryton, Amarillo , Texas

☆ Actor Treat Williams killed while riding motorcycle in Vermont, agent says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 12 (Reuters) - The actor Treat Williams, known for his roles in Hair and Everwood, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Monday, his longtime agent said. Barry McPherson, Williams' agent for 15 years, confirmed that the actor was killed when the motorcycle he was driving was involved in an accident with a car in Dorset, Vermont. People magazine, citing Jacob Gribble, the fire chief in Dorset, reported the accident took place when a car turned into Williams on Route 30. Gribble told the magazine that Williams was the only person hurt in the accident, and that he had been airlifted to a hospital in Ticonderoga, New York. Williams' break-out role was for the 1979 movie Hair, based on the Broadway musical.

Persons: Treat Williams, Barry McPherson, Williams, Jacob Gribble, Gribble, Brad Brooks, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Thomson Locations: Dorset , Vermont, Dorset, Williams, Ticonderoga , New York, Everwood, New York City, Colorado, Lubbock , Texas

☆ One Dead After Boat Capsizes on Underground Cave Tour, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ed Shanahan | Lola Fadulu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One person died and more than a dozen others had to be rescued after a tour boat capsized Monday morning while carrying passengers through an underground cavern in western New York, prompting an all-out rescue effort, officials said. Twenty-nine people were on board when the boat tipped over at the Lockport Cave in Lockport, N.Y., Luca Quagliano, Lockport’s fire chief, said at a news conference. Emergency workers rescued 16 people from the water, Chief Quagliano said; the rest were able to get to safety on their own. In addition to the person who died, eleven people were hospitalized with minor injuries after being pulled from the water, Chief Quagliano said. The city’s police and fire departments and other public safety agencies immediately began rescue efforts, officials said.

Persons: Luca Quagliano, Quagliano, capsizing Locations: New York, Lockport, N.Y, Niagara Falls

☆ I'm a female firefighter who had to work twice as hard for the same opportunities given more readily to men
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Melissa Petro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Even though I work hard to keep my physical fitness a priority, I'm a smaller person. But in the beginning, I pushed myself and worked especially hard for the same opportunities more readily given to men. As a volunteer, the job responsibilities are the same as a paid deputy fire chief. Being a firefighter takes a lot of hard work and hard hoursBut all of that effort you put in makes it that much more rewarding. He's been a volunteer firefighter for 23 years, and he got hired to a full-time career position almost 18 years ago (so he is a paid firefighter as a day job and a volunteer firefighter on his days off).

Persons: Justine Mabey, —, I've, I'm, isn't, it's, We've, He's Organizations: Service Locations: Nova Scotia, Canada

[1/2] A view of a collapsed apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, U.S.,May 28, 2023 this picture obtained from social media. Twitter @JohnBlunk/via REUTERSMay 29 (Reuters) - Search and rescue teams working throughout the night rescued an eighth victim from an apartment building that collapsed in Davenport, Iowa, officials said on Monday. The city's mayor and fire chief told reporters they believe the incident will end without any fatalities. With the help of six rescue dogs, first responders pulled an eighth person from the building overnight who was being treated at the hospital, Mayor Mike Matson said at a Monday morning briefing. The four corners of the building remained standing, but a section of the building a couple of apartments wide collapsed on one side, leaving support beams dangling from upper floors and a pile of rubble below.

TORONTO, May 8 (Reuters) - Canada's oil and gas producers shut down some production after Alberta was hit by an unprecedented wildfire season, although rain and cooler weather are expected to bring some relief on Monday. Canada is home to the world's third-largest reserves, and most of these are in northern Alberta's vast oil sands. NuVista Energy (NVA.TO) said on Monday it had temporarily shut in about 40,000 boepd as a precaution. In neighboring British Columbia, several communities remained under evacuation orders after heavy rain last week and flood warnings stayed in place. ($1 = 1.3319 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Texas congressman says people who think 'prayers aren't cutting it' as a solution to gun violence 'don't believe in an almighty god who is absolutely in control of our lives.' 9 people died in a mass
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At least nine people were killed after a mass shooting at an Allen, Texas, mall on Saturday. Rep. Keith Self told CNN that prayer is "powerful" for families devastated by mass shootings. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. During an interview with CNN, Rep. Keith Self called for prayer in light of the mass shooting, which included injured victims as young as 5 years old. When a CNN reporter asked what his response was to people who feel "prayers aren't cutting it," the congressman said, "Well, those are people that don't believe in an almighty god who is absolutely in control of our lives."

Inside the sprawling complex in suburban Allen, employees, shoppers and families with young children bolted to take cover in storage areas or back hallways, witnesses told CNN. The gunman was killed by an Allen Police Department officer who was at the mall on an unrelated call, police said. One witness, Kingsley Ezeh, told CNN he was walking inside the mall when people behind him suddenly began running. Emergency vehicles line the entrance to the Allen Premium Outlets where a shooting took place on May 6, 2023 in Allen, Texas. The shooting was deeply disturbing, said Fatburger employee Tiffany Gipson, who told CNN she and other customers hid in a hallway behind their mall restaurant.

☆ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said 'mental illness, drugs, and evil forces' are to blame for Texas mall shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed "mental illness, drugs, and evil forces" for the Texas mall shooting. The congresswoman repeated right-wing talking points that link antidepressants to mass shootings. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 7, 2023She doubled down on the claims that mental health and drug addiction were to blame for mass shootings. The Georgia Republican repeated the right-wing talking point that links antidepressants to mass shootings. The Texas mall shooting suspect, who also died, has not yet been named, and it is unclear whether he suffered from mental health issues or drug addiction.

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.

☆ Tornado Strikes Near Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Lauren Mccarthy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A severe storm system that spawned tornadoes tore through an area near Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Saturday, damaging homes and flipping cars, according to officials and witness accounts. James Ippolito, the deputy fire chief in Palm Beach Gardens, which is about a dozen miles north of West Palm Beach, said the area had been hit by a storm that left a man trapped between a boat and a concrete piling. The man had been transported to a hospital and was in stable condition, he said. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department asked the public to avoid an area east of the Intracoastal Waterway “due to storm damage” and because roads were blocked. The village of North Palm Beach said on Twitter that police officers, fire rescue teams and staff members from the Public Works Department were checking the area “after a tornado touched down around 5:45 p.m.”

Kids in Hammond, Indiana, are forced to climb over and through stopped trains block their way to school. Jamie Kelter Davis for ProPublicaState lawmakers have tried to curb blocked crossings by restricting the lengths of trains. Spielmaker, the Norfolk Southern spokesperson, said: "We work with first responders on a daily basis to assist however we can. A favorable court opinion could allow other states to finally enforce their laws on blocked crossings. Among those who hope to voice their concerns about the blocked crossings are rail workers themselves who worry about the kids.

☆ 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.

☆ Indiana industrial fire nearly extinguished but smoke still poses danger
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 12 (Reuters) - A raging industrial fire in eastern Indiana is expected to be almost entirely extinguished by Thursday evening or Friday morning, officials said, after days of thick smoke shut down schools and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. Firefighters have successfully prevented the flames from spreading beyond the property, and about 90% of the fire is out. But the smoke contains particulate matter, which can cause respiratory and other health problems. Officials again warned residents who smell or see smoke to shelter in place, keeping windows and doors shut and turning off their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. "I'm exaggerating, of course, but don't discount the seriousness of the smoke."

☆ Fact Check-No evidence video shows electric buses bursting into flames
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video showing buses that caught fire after a nearby pallet yard ignited in Compton, California in 2021 is circulating with claims suggesting the clip shows electric buses, but Reuters found no evidence that the buses were electric and a spokesperson for the Compton Fire Department said they were diesel vehicles. Part of the superimposed text in the video reads: "Electric bus sets on fire”. Reuters found no media reports describing the buses affected by the fire as electric vehicles. A trade publication, Outlet Bus & Motorcoach News, reported that the bus yard that caught fire was operated by company TLC Luxury Transportation (here). Reuters found no evidence that the buses that caught fire in this clip were electric vehicles.

☆ Authorities search for more victims after tornado pummels Arkansas
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Liliana Salgado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, April 1 (Reuters) - Arkansas first responders on Saturday will sift through debris for more possible victims after a fierce tornado sliced through the Little Rock area and northeastern part of the state, killing at least two people and injuring dozens of others. Two fatalities in Arkansas were reported in Wynne, about 100 miles (160 km) east of Little Rock, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Friday night. One person was killed and more than 50 people hospitalized in North Little Rock, Pulaski County spokeswoman Madeline Roberts told the Washington Post. Although more than 30 people were taken to hospital in the Little Rock area, none had died as of Friday night, said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., who added that the count remained imprecise. [1/9] A view of destroyed buildings following the tornado in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S., March 31, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media.

☆ California braces for next bout of heavy rain, snow and high winds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

High-wind warnings and advisories were posted for a vast region stretching from the Mexico border through Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay area. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an excessive- rainfall notice for much of the Southern California coast, warning of an at least a 40% chance of showers exceeding flash-flood conditions. Heavy showers began drenching the Los Angeles region before dawn and triggered some street flooding but tapered off by early afternoon. Up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain was expected in coastal regions and valleys of Southern California, and as much as 6 inches in lower mountains and foothills, the NWS said. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles.

☆ 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.

☆ Videos show Ohio politicians gingerly sipping tap water near chemical train crash, hoping to convince locals to start drinking it again
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Videos show several Ohio politicians gingerly sipping on tap water near a toxic train derailment. "I'll tell you, we believe in science, so we don't feel like we're being your guinea pig," Regan told Carolyn Brown, whose house they were in. "But we don't mind proving to you that we believe the water is safe," Regan continued. "That's pretty good water," Regan said after drinking from a red plastic cup. "You just saw us all drink a glass of water, our municipal water system here in East Palestine is safe.

East Palestine, Ohio CNN —Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw defended his company’s actions since the disaster caused by the derailment of one of its trains in East Palestine, Ohio, and promised the railroad will pay for the cleanup. “Norfolk Southern is committed to the community and citizens of East Palestine,” Shaw told CNN Tuesday. “From day one I’ve made the commitment that Norfolk Southern is going to remediate the site,” Shaw said. Norfolk Southern “started as soon as the derailment occurred,” he said. If folks in this community want bottled water, they’re going to get it.”

☆ Memphis Police Department fires 6th officer involved in Tyre Nichols beating death
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Memphis Police Department fired a sixth officer involved in Tyre Nichols' death. Five Memphis officers have already been fired and charged with second-degree murder in Nichols' death. Hemphill was the third officer at a traffic stop that preceded the violent arrest but was not where Nichols was beaten. Also Friday, a Tennessee board suspended the emergency medical technician licenses of two former Memphis Fire Department employees for failing to render critical care. The department has said she remained in the engine with the driver during the response to Nichols' beating Jan. 7.

☆ Memphis fires two EMTs who responded to police beating of Tyre Nichols
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 30 (Reuters) - The Memphis Fire Department on Monday said it had fired two emergency medical technicians and an emergency vehicle driver who responded to the brutal police beating of Tyre Nichols, saying an investigation had found they failed to provide adequate medical care. Nichols, 29, arrived at a hospital in critical condition after several officers punched and kicked him and hit him with a baton, and died three days later from his injuries. EMTs Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge "failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment" upon seeing the injured Nichols a few minutes after police had stopped beating him, Fire Chief Gina Sweat said in a statement. Michelle Whitaker, a lieutenant in the fire department, drove them to the scene and remained in the vehicle after arriving. Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Southwest, which also reported a loss in the fourth quarter, estimates a revenue hit of between $300 million and $350 million in the first quarter. A Southwest Airlines jetliner departs from Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., December 27, 2022. He said while a recessionary economic environment tends to make companies de-prioritize spending on technology, Southwest cannot afford to do that. The meltdown led to an adjusted loss of $226 million, or 38 cents a share, in the quarter through December, robbing it of the gains from booming holiday travel demand. Rival carriers United Airlines (UAL.O) and Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) American Airlines (AAL.O) have all reported higher-than-expected earnings for the quarter.

Southwest, which also reported a loss in the fourth quarter, said it expects a revenue hit of between $300 million and $350 million in the first quarter. "Thus far in January 2023, the company has experienced an increase in flight cancellations and a deceleration in bookings, primarily for January and February 2023," Southwest said. The meltdown led to an adjusted loss of $226 million, or 38 cents a share, in the quarter through December, robbing it of the gains from booming holiday travel demand. Rival carriers United Airlines (UAL.O) and Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) American Airlines (AAL.O) have all reported higher-than-expected earnings for the quarter. For 2023, Southwest has forecast "solid profits" with year-over-year margin expansion.

☆ Southwest Airlines forecasts first-quarter loss on cancellations impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kannaki Deka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Southwest, which also reported a loss in the fourth quarter, said it expects a revenue hit of between $300 million and $350 million in the first quarter. "Thus far in January 2023, the company has experienced an increase in flight cancellations and a deceleration in bookings, primarily for January and February 2023," Southwest said. Operating revenue for the March quarter, when travel demand tends to slow, is expected to rise 20% to 24% year-over-year. On the other hand, expenses surged nearly 30% to $6.56 billion, in part due to the impact from cancellations. For 2023, Southwest has forecast "solid profits" with year-over-year margin expansion.

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