Officials in California, Oregon and Colorado are battling a series of wildfires that have collectively torched about 100,000 acres — and things could get worse this weekend with intense heat set to descend on much of the US. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for areas affected by the Lake Fire and Ranch2 Fire in Los…… MORE
Newly released police bodycam footage from the fatal arrest of George Floyd shows a crowd of bystanders becoming increasingly upset as police hold down the 46-year-old Black man, pleading with officers to get off of him and check his pulse. The video from the body camera of former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao was released…… MORE
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced a five-point strategy to combat looting in the city’s business district that includes social media monitoring, speeding up police response and “robust” prosecution. The new plan comes days after looters hit several downtown businesses on the Magnificent Mile shopping area, stealing property and causing extensive damage. More than 100…… MORE
When the box truck collided with the school bus, it left the back of the bus crumpled like a piece of paper. But what happened next was remarkable. The driver of the truck jumped out, helped pull students out, then collapsed, authorities said. He later died. “He must’ve been running on adrenaline, and his body…… MORE
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Friday that she’s requesting a federal disaster declaration, days after storms brought hurricane-force winds to the state. A line of severe storms ripped through the Midwest on Monday, leaving homes destroyed, over a million customers without power in Iowa and Illinois and millions of acres of farmland damaged, officials said.…… MORE
Jellyfish larvae commonly known as “sea lice” are invading south New Jersey beaches, all thanks to Tropical Storm Isaias. Environmental officials think that Isaias pushed larvae up from Florida, since stinging jellyfish don’t usually appear on New Jersey beaches until late summer, when the water gets warmer. The microscopic “sea lice” are known for causing…… MORE
A now-fired Minneapolis police officer told federal investigators looking into the death of George Floyd that a call for backup from one of the officers on the scene sounded “like it was urgent,” according to a video of the interview released Friday. Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao responded on May 25 to the scene where…… MORE
Phoenix police are investigating the death of a man who struggled with officers before being detained on August 4, a statement from the police department said. Ramon Timothy Lopez, 28, was seen “looking into vehicles and making obscene gestures” in a Phoenix shopping center, police say. When the first officer responded around 10:20 a.m., Lopez…… MORE
The University of Oregon is covering the controversial murals that have decorated the halls of its largest library after years of protest over the murals’ racist language and portrayal of Indigenous people. The university made the announcement Wednesday, saying the move was in part an acknowledgment of the larger conversations occurring about racism in the…… MORE
Are parents really supposed to be reassured by all this talk about “mild” cases of Covid-19 in children? What about the unfortunate “few” youngsters who have died or come down with a strange and severe associated illness? No parent wants to take the odds that their child might be the exception to the rule. “We’ve…… MORE
