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In case you missed it, the United States Vice Presidential Debate took place on Tuesday night, with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against Republican nominee JD Vance in an intense debate. Look out for a deep dive article by Mihir Gupta coming later this week on the political event. Thousands of port workers across the United States are beginning a strike, which could have a serious effect on the country's economy. Shipping is a crucial industry across the world, as it allows large amounts of goods to be easily transported across oceans, and is much more efficient than air freight. However, it is particularly important for the United States, which is distanced from many of the countries it imports goods from, such as China, Japan, and numerous European countries. Unfortunately for the industry, a massive strike is taking place, and it could greatly unsettle the import/export business of the US. Starting at 12:00 am ET on Tuesday, over 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) went on strike across the US's eastern and Gulf ports, stretching across an area from Maine to Texas, which also includes major port cities like New York and Newark. Those two ports alone handle over half of all container-shipped goods in the US. East Coast ports primarily handle clothing and other worn items, car parts, and various foods. According to Oxford Economics, this strike could end up costing the US economy $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion each week, as industries related to shipping will also be affected. The United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, is working on negotiating with the ILA, but they will need to come to a quick resolution. USMX has offered a 50% increase in pay for all of the union members, but they have not begun official negotiations yet. The entire reason the ILA is on strike is due to inflation-- while their wages have increased 11% to $39 an hour, inflation has increased 24% in that time period, leading to financial problems for port workers. The reason why the issue needs to be sorted out quickly is because this strike will not just affect the lives of port workers, but almost all Americans. The trucking and warehouse industry is also taking a hit, as they depend on cargo and shipping to supply them with the materials that they need to distribute amongst the people. Meanwhile, the strike could last days, weeks, or even months. If the strike does last for a considerably long period of time, consumers could be facing price hikes, which would bring back memories of inflation at its peak. Thankfully, a drastic increase in inflation is not expected, but consumers can expect temporary price increases if the strike lasts multiple weeks. Supply chain problems could lead to shortages of clothing, car parts, furniture, alcoholic beverages, wood, coffee, sugar, and perishable items-- according to the Census Bureau, 80% of US coffee and 75% of bananas arrive through East Coast ports. The food industry will not be terribly affected because of the fact that much of US food is produced within the country, but prices of perishable items could begin rising as soon as next week-- fruits and vegetables only last a little while on shelves before going bad, some even sooner. There is a bright side, though: due to the incoming holiday season, many warehouses and stores have already stocked up on fall and winter's most popular goods. In addition, other stores have also been stocking up due to the fact that this strike had been predicted months ago. While goods are being diverted to the West Coast for the time being, those ports could soon overflow, leading to extra goods being shipped to other ports in Canada and Mexico. Unfortunately, it could take some time to reach a resolution, and that could cost the US economy, American consumers, and workers in industries supported by shipping. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Due to the thousands of offshore islands it occupies, Canada has the largest coastline in the world. In fact, it is a staggering 151,019 miles, which is over double the second-longest coastline-- Norway at a mere 62,765 miles. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I never ask a man what his business is, for it never interests me. What I ask him about are his thoughts and dreams . (H.P. Lovecraft) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fret (verb)- To fret is to worry or be concerned. In a Sentence: I was sure we wouldn’t get there in time, but they told me not to fret .

The United States Vice Presidential Debate took place last night, with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against Republican nominee JD Vance in an intense debate. Look out for a deep dive article by Mihir Gupta coming later this week on the political event. Iran fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel yesterday as the tension between the two Middle Eastern powers finally snapped, and it could break out into an all-out war across the region. Earlier on Tuesday, the United States had warned Israel of a possible incoming attack from Iran, and that attack finally came on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of missiles were fired from Iran towards Israel, sparking air raid sirens across the country. Thousands of people were forced into underground shelters, and meetings were initially restricted for a short period of time until the attack had come to an end. Israel's intricate defense system, along with the help of the US Navy, took down most of the missiles, avoiding major damage. Nonetheless, several missiles were not intercepted, leading to large explosions on the ground. One person, a Palestinian, was killed in the West Bank after being hit by falling debris from a missile explosion, but there were no other fatalities from the strikes. However, just before the strikes on Israel, a shooting took place in Tel Aviv, Israel's second-most populous city. Six people were killed and at least 17 others were injured after two gunmen fired into a crowd at a train station in the city. The gunmen have been considered as terrorists and were killed on the spot by local police. Later, soon after the missiles struck Israel, they quickly responded with multiple strikes on Hezbollah operations centers in Beirut, adding onto the damage they had done earlier in the day; on Tuesday afternoon, several strikes hit southern Lebanon before the Iranian missiles were launched, killing 55 people and injuring over 150 others. This comes just after Israel began a ground invasion of Lebanon on Tuesday morning following extreme tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed organization centered in Lebanon. Hezbollah supports Hamas in their war against Israel in Gaza, which is what began the initial conflict between the two. After Israel and Hezbollah traded fire, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrallah was killed in a recent airstrike on the organization's primary headquarters in Beirut, sparking yesterday's attacks. In addition, tensions between Israel and Iran have been rising recently, ever since the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike on Tehran, the capital of Iran. Israel has promised these attacks will not go unnoticed, and they have confirmed that a strong response is on the way. While the United States has said that they are working to find a peaceful solution before the conflict breaks out into an all-out Middle Eastern war, they have also stated that they strongly support Israel in this fight against Iran, and will take necessary action to defend the country from incoming attacks if needed. Over 40,000 US troops are currently stationed in the area, and the Pentagon has stated that they plan to send thousands more in the coming days. The entire world is now waiting and watching until Israel executes their response to Iran's strikes, which is sure to be a massive retaliation. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While the Nile River is well-known as the world's longest river, at 4,132 miles long, do you know the world's shortest river? The Roe River, located next to the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana, is a mere 201 feet-- it has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest river in the world. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Patience and silence are two powerful energies. Patience makes you mentally strong. Silence makes you emotionally strong. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Chthonic (adj)- Chthonic means "of or relating to the underworld." It is used as a synonym of infernal . In a Sentence: Cleo compared entering her brother's basement bedroom to a descent into chthonic regions: it was dark and odd-smelling, and she was a little frightened of what she might find there.

Locals have been allowed to return to their homes after a serious fire broke out at the BioLab in Conyers, a town in eastern Georgia, sending hazardous chemical smoke into the area around it. Officials stated that a sprinkler had malfunctioned around 5 am on Sunday morning, sparking a fire on the roof after it sprayed onto a "water-reactive chemical." The fire soon spread, sending a thick, dark plume of chemical smoke into the air. The plume could be seen for miles, and residents in the area soon reported a strange, toxic smell outside along with hazy visibility. Within a few hours, the smell had spread to the city of Atlanta, which is located around 25 miles west of Conyers. BioLab, which is owned by KIK Consumer Products, produces swimming pool and spa care products, including water testing kits and chemicals for pool and spa care. Some of their brands include BioGuard and SpaGuard, and some of their biggest products include SeaKlear and AquaPill. Due to the fact that these products are for pool and spa care, many of them contain chlorine, a chemical that can be extremely dangerous to health if breathed in. Extremely poor air quality because of the smoke and chlorine gas forced much of northern Rockdale County, east of downtown Atlanta, to evacuate from their homes, and schools throughout the area halted all extracurricular activities and outside play on Monday. Over 90,000 people were given the order to shelter in place, turn off air conditioning, and stay inside, as breathing in chlorine can lead to severe bouts of coughing, irritation in the nose and eyes, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and a painful burning feeling in the chest. Around 4 pm on Sunday, the fire came under control after firefighters battled the flames for hours, but officials say the plume and the haze could linger for days. While the fire was initially put out, it reignited in the middle of the day and caused the roof of the facility to collapse completely. However, the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders have been lifted after readings from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) devices showed regular chlorine levels. The water supply was also tested for chemicals and is being considered safe. Unfortunately, this is not the first time an incident like this has occurred at BioLab. The facility was constructed in 1973 and previous incidents involving water-reactive chemicals also occurred in 2004 and 2020, and additional fires also occurred at the plant in 2015 and 2016. In 2004, a sprinkler malfunction similar to Sunday's incident caused a massive fire at the plant, with the plume of chlorine gas and smoke covering over 10 miles. Nine people were sent to the hospital after experiencing severe symptoms of chlorine inhalation. In 2020, winds from a hurricane damaged the roof, allowing rainwater to fall into the complex and come into contact with the water-reactive chemicals. The fire caused complete closures of Interstate 20, the primary highway running through the area, and nine firefighters were sent to the hospital after inhaling chlorine gas. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): A desert is technically any large, dry area that receives minimal precipitation. Due to this, while the Sahara Desert is well-known for being hot and arid, the world's largest desert is actually Antarctica. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you decide to master something, you start with the things that are broken in it. (Grant Cardone) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tribulation (noun)- Tribulation , which is often used in the phrase "trials and tribulations," refers to an experience that causes suffering. It can also mean "unhappiness, pain, or suffering." In a Sentence: The new graduate knew that the journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur would come with some trials and tribulations .

151 people are dead and at least 56 others are missing after days of heavy rain across Nepal, and that number is expected to rise in the coming days. Over a foot of rain fell in some areas around the country, and Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal was particularly hard-hit. The heavy rain sparked dangerous landslides in multiple towns, including one that killed over 35 people after it wiped out numerous vehicles and another at a sports training center that killed six soccer players. A large portion of Kathmandu, along with many other populated regions of Nepal, is haphazardly constructed between the steep mountains of the Himalayas. This causes stormwater to drain into the valleys between the mountains, which is where towns are located. Due to Kathmandu's poor water management system, large amounts of water quickly pile up in low-lying areas around the city. One house in the town of Bhaktapur, located east of Kathmandu, collapsed completely, killing five people. The Bagmati River, which also flows straight through the center of Kathmandu, reached levels several feet above normal, flooding homes and businesses around it. Many citizens have lost their homes, personal belongings, cars, and even family members. Thankfully, the heavy rain is coming to an end, but it will take some time for water levels to completely recede. Crews are still working to save citizens who have been trapped in their homes or carried away by the raging currents-- over 3,600 people have been rescued over the past few days. At least 10,000 police officers have joined the rescue efforts, along with locals and soldiers in the army. Sadly, a large number of people are still missing, and officials expect death tolls to rise in the coming days. Hundreds of people are killed each year by torrential rains in the region, but rapid urbanization and haphazard construction are leading to more poorly built homes and drainage systems that exacerbate the effects of heavy rain. Unfortunately, climate change will only make those rains more frequent and more intense, as weather patterns are substantially affected by changing temperatures. Upcoming Events this week: International Translation Day (Monday, September 30) International Day of Older Persons (Tuesday, October 1) International Day of Non-Violence (Wednesday, October 2) Rosh Hashanah Begins (Wednesday, October 2) ICC Women's T20 World Cup Begins (Thursday, October 3) World Space Week Begins (Friday, October 4) Rosh Hashanah Ends (Friday, October 4) World Teachers' Day (Saturday, October 5) Rugby League Finals (Sunday, October 6) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While the Mississippi River is well-known, the Missouri River is actually longer than the Mississippi. In fact, since the Missouri River was discovered later, it is considered a tributary of the Mississippi even though it is longer. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn’t change the heart of others-- it only changes yours . (Shannon L. Alder) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Feckless (adj)- Feckless describes people or things that are weak or ineffective. In a Sentence: The agency’s response to the dramatic increase in air pollution was well-intentioned but ultimately feckless .

Hassan Nazrallah, Hezbollah's primary leader, was killed on Friday in a round of Israeli airstrikes that has heavily affected to Lebanon and its people. Israel has been striking Lebanon for the entire week, aiming to obliterate Hezbollah just as they are trying to bring down Hamas in Gaza. It began with Israel's pager attacks around two weeks ago, which killed scores of people and injured thousands of others. This week, Israel has repeatedly struck Hezbollah bases across Lebanon, primarily in the country's densely-populated capital of Beirutwhich is home to around 2.5 million people. Hundreds of people are dead, and many citizens are sleeping on the streets in fear that their homes will be bombed. Many others have already lost their homes to Israel's attacks, and now have nowhere to go. Some residents reported that they were contemplating a temporary move to Syria until the fighting comes to a stop, but they were scared of being hit by airstrikes. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the airstrikes, which have primarily impacted the southern portion of Beirut where Hezbollah is headquartered. Hezbollah attempted to respond with multiple strikes on Israel this past week, but they did minimal damage, and many were intercepted. Then, on Friday, Israel conducted a massive bombing of Hezbollah's primary operations center in Beirut, located under several residential buildings. The dangerous blast killed many innocent locals as well as numerous Hezbollah operatives, one of which was the Iran-backed group's chief, Hassan Nazrallah. While Israel warned residents ahead of the attack, they did not give locals enough time to evacuate before Israel's strikes hit the buildings. Hezbollah aimed missile launchers towards Israel's northern region after the attack, prompting air raid sirens to go off across the area, but Israeli fighter jets were able to take out most of the launchers before they fired. Nazrallah's death is sure to stir things up in Hezbollah, and they will now begin the search within the organization to find a new leader. However, Israel has identified that this is the prime time to strike again and take out Hezbollah once and for all-- it seems that Israel may be planning a brief ground invasion into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah, as they have moved a large number of troops to the Israel-Lebanon border in recent days. Iran may interfere with those plans, though, as they strongly support Hezbollah and other groups like Hamas-- Iran could supply Hezbollah with the necessary weapons to fiercely respond to Israel's attacks, which could turn the conflict into an all out-war. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Hawaii is made up of 137 islands, including atolls and islets, but there are eight main islands: Ni'ihau, Kauai, O'ahu, Lanai, Moloka'i, Kaho'olawe, Maui, and the Big Island. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. (Laura Ingalls Wilder) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Avatar (noun)- An avatar is an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents, and can be manipulated by, a computer user. Avatar can also refer to the embodiment of something (such as a concept or philosophy) often in a person, or to an incarnation of a deity—especially a Hindu deity, such as Vishnu. In a Sentence: Before they started playing the game, Maeve and Sanaa customized their avatars .

New Travel article: Swiss Airlines are being forced to rebalance all of their Airbus A330 planes for a very strange reason. You can check out the full article here . The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is threatening to turn into an all-out war across the region as tensions escalate after Israel's pager attacks. The tensions first spiked when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) executed a master plan in Lebanon, with almost every pager belonging to a Hezbollah operative instantly detonating. The first round of explosions began on Tuesday after pagers all over Lebanon blew up as part of Israel's complex plan. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nazrallah planned for the organization to go very low-tech, as it would allow them to avoid being tracked by Israel. Then, Israel hatched a plan and inserted small explosives into each pager, and the pagers spontaneously combusted after they sent the trigger message. You can read more into their elaborate scheme here . The attack killed at least 12 people, including two young children, and injured over 2,800 others. Later in the week, on Wednesday, another round of explosions rocked Lebanon, coming from other low-tech devices like radios, walkie-talkies and solar panels. The second wave of attacks killed at least 20 people and injured 450 others, making the latest round even more dangerous than the first. The explosion of regular household devices has created a large amount of paranoia amongst locals, and devices are now being kept far away from people out of fear that an explosion could take place at any second-- the devices have become literal ticking time bombs. The second round of attacks only caused tensions to increase even more. On Friday, Israel launched numerous strikes towards Lebanon's capital of Beirut, killing at least 45 people, several of which were Hezbollah members. Unfortunately, 30 of the victims were civilians living in the city, and any survivors had their homes turned into rubble and dirt in seconds. Then, both sides snapped, bombarding each other with missiles over the weekend. Israel claimed that Hezbollah had launched over 150 rockets toward its territory on Saturday night, damaging structures across the northern portion of the country. Citizens were forced into bomb shelters, schools closed down, and medical operations are being moved underground to protect from incoming attacks. According to the BBC, Israel responded by striking thousands of Hezbollah's rocket launchers, doing loads of damage to the Iran-backed organization. Locals, experts, the United Nations, the European Union, and other governments all fear that this conflict could rapidly escalate into a full-blown war, as Hezbollah strongly supports Hamas in Gaza and Israel is not afraid to back down from a fight. However, a situation like that would certainly have a major impact on the civilian population of Lebanon, as it has done to Gaza-- over 41,400 people have been killed in the Israel-Hamas War, and a total of 1.7 million people have been displaced. Foreign governments like the United States are now urging their citizens to get out of Lebanon as fast as possible, as the conflict could become a war at any time. Upcoming Events this week: International Day of Sign Languages (Monday, September 23) World Maritime Day (Thursday, September 26) International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Thursday, September 26) World Tourism Day (Friday, September 27) International Day for Universal Access to Information (Saturday, September 28) Australian Football Grand Final (Saturday, September 28) International Day for Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (Sunday, September 29) UCI Road World Championships End (Sunday, September 29) Presidents Cup Ends (Sunday, September 29) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): February is the rarest birth month, while September is the most common. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don't waste your time chasing butterflies. Fix your garden, and the butterflies will come. (Mario Quintana) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Heinous (adj)- Heinous describes things—such as acts, deeds, or crimes—that are hatefully or shockingly evil, or in other words, deserving of hate or contempt. In a Sentence: The former dictator will stand trial for the role he played in his government’s heinous treatment of political dissidents.

The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 44, and it is expected to jump even more in the coming days. Helene made landfall as a dangerous Category 4 storm on Thursday, wreaking havoc across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. To read more about Helene's landfall, click here . 44 people were killed after the hurricane's 140 mph winds blew down trees, power lines, and billboards, and cars were completely submerged by the 20+ feet of storm surge that hit the Florida coast, and homes were inundated after it dropped over 10 inches of rain in parts of Florida and Georgia. In fact, the city of Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, received a staggering total of 11.12 inches of rain in two days, shattering the city's record for the most rain in 48 hours. The records, dating back to 1878, state that this precipitation was the worst in the city's history, with the next-worst being 9.59 inches in 1886. The storm also did a lot of damage in more mountainous areas like western North Carolina, where part of the Appalachian Mountain range is located. The heavy rain pooled into temporary lakes at the lowest point in an area, and towns were also struck by mudslides as the extreme precipitation loosened the already-saturated ground. Many roads in urban areas are under multiple feet of water, and other areas have been completely flooded by rain or rivers bursting their banks. Several hospitals were also forced to close in southern Georgia, and numerous roads were shut down because of toppled trees, fallen power lines, and other debris. Tornadoes also struck some small towns, including one in southern Georgia that killed two people in a mobile home, and another tornado in North Carolina injured four people. Millions of people are still out of power across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. However, rescue and power crews are trying their best to save citizens, drain standing water, and restore power as quickly as possible. Thousands of rescues have already taken place, and emergency services have received hundreds of phone calls in just a few hours in some places. It is a dangerous job, though. Two firefighters were killed in South Carolina and another firefighter was killed in Georgia after trees fell on their fire trucks. The storm is currently a weak post-tropical cyclone over Kentucky, and it is dousing the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys with the last of its rain. The precipitation has ended for hard-hit states like Florida and Georgia, though, and the tough cleanup will now begin to recover from this devastating storm. Unfortunately, events like Helene will only become more common as the burning of fossil fuels exacerbates climate change, creating stronger, more frequent hurricanes. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, blood, bones, or eyes (except for the dangerous box jellyfish, which has 24 eyes). Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The greatest gift that human beings possess is curiosity. (Kenneth Clark) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Lucid (adj)- If somethin g written, spoken, or otherwise communicated is described as lucid, it is very clear and easy to understand. A person described as lucid is able to think clearly. Lucid is also used to describe things that are luminous, or that are visually transparent. In a Sentence: The film conveyed a lucid message that was hard to misinterpret.

We apologize for publishing this article late due to a scheduling issue. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend yesterday as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of 140 mph and heavy rain, along with over 20 feet of storm surge in some areas. Helene made landfall east of the original projection but within the cone of its expected track, with the eye of the storm passing over Taylor County at around 11:10 pm last night. The storm formed as a tropical storm on Tuesday, moving northwest towards Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and brushed Cancún before entering the Gulf of Mexico. The system had been an area of interest for possible development for days, and it has finally formed after moving over warm waters. You can read more into the initial development of Helene here . Helene then rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing from a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph as it brushed western Florida. The eastern side of the hurricane battered Tampa and St. Petersburg for hours as it approached the Florida Panhandle, bringing storm surge of 6-8 feet to the entire area. As it came closer to the Big Bend, it began to slightly shift east as it continued to intensify, changing its primary target from the state capital of Tallahassee to the smaller town of Perry. Various watches and warnings were put into place across the region, including river flood warnings in some parts of Florida, flood watches across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia, hurricane warnings across the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia, tropical storm warnings across the rest of Florida and Georgia, and more. A state of emergency was also declared in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama by their respective governors before Helene arrived, allowing forces to mobilize and prepare ahead of time so that they can jump straight into action after the storm passes. US President Joe Biden also secured additional funding for Florida to help them recover from the initial severe effects of Helene. Last night, the system raged onto land as a as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of over 140 mph along with heavy rain, and storm surge was also a massive danger. The record-breaking storm surge reached over 20 feet in some areas, instantly inundating entire islands of homes. Pictures taken from cameras mounted on the roofs of evacuated houses showed water levels just below the location of where the photo was taken, showing the dramatic scale of the storm surge. This, coupled with heavy rain and winds, has knocked out power and wreaked havoc across the entire area. Rivers have also burst their banks due to the heavy rainfall, inundating areas farther inland. Unfortunately, Helene is striking the exact same area that was devastated by Hurricane Idalia (made landfall as Category 3) last year and was also hit hard by Hurricane Debby (made landfall as Category 1) earlier this year. Also, the storm did not just affect the area around it-- its impacts stretched far and wide. Helene itself a massive storm, with its outer bands reaching over 100 miles in each direction. Hurricane-force winds only stretched about 20-30 miles outside of the eye, but tropical storm-force winds were felt over 100 miles in all directions. Also, because Helene is a larger storm, that allows it to travel farther inland without weakening as fast as a smaller hurricane. Its size makes Helene worse than Idalia from last year, which was also a major hurricane but much smaller. In fact, Helene's size is relatively similar to the size of the catastrophic Hurricane Irma, which struck eastern Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in 2017. Trees and power lines were knocked down across the Southeast by Helene's strong winds-- over 1 million people are still out of power in Florida alone, and hundreds of thousands of people lost power in Georgia as well. Several people were also killed by the hurricane, including two people who died when a reported tornado hit their mobile home and another person who died in their car near Tampa after they were crushed by a billboard. Thousands of Floridians were forced to evacuate ahead of the storm due to the severe conditions arriving with Helene, but many residents refused to leave. Because of this, during the storm, the sheriff's office of Taylor County, where the storm made landfall, told residents that did not evacuate to write their name, birthday, and other important information on their arm or leg so that they could be identified in case of an emergency. However, the hurricane isn't just impacting Florida. After pummeling the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane rapidly moved into southern Georgia, traveling northward towards the state capital of Atlanta, which is home to around 6 million people. The storm (as of 7 am Eastern Time) is currently pummeling the Atlanta metro area with heavy rain and strong winds of over 65 mph, and it is still forecast to move on into Tennessee and Kentucky, dumping even more rain over the Appalachian Mountains and the Ohio Valley. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Many countries actually have more than one capital. For example, South Africa has three: Bloemfontein, Pretoria, and Cape Town; Bolivia has two, La Paz and Sucre; and the Netherlands has two: Amsterdam and The Hague. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You can love what you see in the mirror, but you can’t self-esteem your way out of the way the world treats you. (Gabrielle Union) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Deter (verb)- To deter someone is to discourage or prevent them from acting. To deter a thing is to stop or limit it. In a Sentence: The heavy fines aim to deter people from dumping garbage here.

Hurricane John is expected to make another landfall in southern Mexico later today after battering the region with heavy rain and strong winds for the past few days. John began as a weak tropical depression over the weekend off the coast, and was originally expected to make landfall as a weak tropical storm. However, the system slowly drifted northward over extremely warm waters, causing it to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 hurricane packing winds of over 120 mph and heavy rain. John made landfall on Monday night in the southern state of Guerrero, slowly moving westward over the region. The storm also passed directly over the city of Acapulco, a coastal tourist destination that is home to around 850,000 people, bringing landslides to the mountainous region. Guerrero is where the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range meets the sea, so landslides and mudslides are common after heavy rainfall. Roofs were blown completely off of some houses, and numerous trees fell and blocked roads all over the state. The storm dumped totals of over a foot of rain in some areas, and more is expected. After making landfall, John drifted west over Acapulco, greatly weakening along the way. By the time it eventually moved back out into the sea, the system was a mere tropical depression, carrying meager winds of 35 mph. However, the rain still made an impact in Guerrero and the states around it. In total, around 60,000 people are out of power and at least three people are dead due to the dangerous landslides. Now, John has restrengthened into a hurricane once again, and is heading towards the neighboring state of Michoacán with winds of 75 mph and more intense rainfall. More mudslides and landslides are expected, but the system should finally fizzle out after making landfall in Michoacán as winds will carry it farther into the mountains, avoiding restrengthening of the storm. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While 68% of Earth's landmass is in the northern hemisphere, a staggering 90% of the world's population lives in it. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails. (Indian Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ilk (noun)- Ilk is a noun that means "sort" or "kind." It is usually used in short phrases with and or of , as in "and that ilk" and "of their ilk." In a Sentence: The hole beneath the stairs of the cabin's porch allows in squirrels, woodchucks, and other creatures of that ilk .

Helene has formed in the Caribbean, and it is now a dangerous, rapidly intensifying hurricane racing toward Florida. The storm formed as a tropical storm yesterday, moving northwest towards Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and brushed Cancún before entering the Gulf of Mexico. The system had been an area of interest for possible development for days, and it has finally formed after moving over warm waters. It is now in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, west of Cuba, and is delivering rain to both regions. Helene's winds have strengthened to over 75 mph with gusts of over 90 mph, and more intensification is expected. Hurricane Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it quickly moves north through the eastern Gulf, putting the storm on track for a Thursday landfall in the Florida Panhandle. Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have been hitting over 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) recently, which is prime condition for a storm to form and strengthen. Current forecasts expect Helene to be a major hurricane of Category 3 intensity by the time it reaches the Florida coastline, packing winds of over 120 mph, life-threatening rain, and dangerous storm surge. In fact, no model in the history of the National Weather Service has ever showed a hurricane intensifying from a tropical depression to a major hurricane this quickly-- according to their forecasts, it would take under 60 hours for Helene's winds to strengthen from 35 mph to 120 mph. After making landfall, it will quickly pass through Florida's thin panhandle before entering southern Georgia, where it will dump heavy rain for several days as it weakens. Forecasts expect a weakened Helene to travel through the Atlanta area, which is the state of Georgia's largest city and is home to around 6 million people. Then, as a tropical depression, it will deliver more rain to Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Ohio Valley, but it should fizzle out relatively swiftly as it moves farther and farther away from the warm waters of the Gulf. Florida and Georgia are already preparing for Helene's impacts-- flood and hurricane watches are already in place. Flood watches are in place across western Florida, the Panhandle, and almost all of Georgia, and also extend into parts of Tennessee and North Carolina. Hurricane warnings are place across Florida's Big Bend region, where Helene is expected to make landfall, and tropical storm warnings are also in effect for much of southern Florida. Meanwhile, the less severe tropical storm watch is in place across eastern Georgia and Florida along the Atlantic coastline, while tropical weather statements, which warn of possible tropical storm conditions coming soon, have taken effect across almost all of Florida and southern Georgia. The region will now brace for the heavy rain, strong winds, and serious storm surge from Helene heading their way, but they will need to prepare quickly-- the storm is moving and intensifying at a rapid pace. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The first traffic signal was created by William Potts in 1920-- it was the first-ever tricolor, four-directional traffic signal, helping drivers stay safe at intersections. The first four-directional traffic light was installed at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Fort Street in Detroit, Michigan. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I feel like money makes you more of who you already are. (Sara Blakely) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jerkwater (adj)- Jerkwater means “remote and unimportant.” It is often used to describe a small town, village, etc., that is out in the country far from cities. Jerkwater can also mean “trivial.” In a Sentence: I grew up in a jerkwater town in the middle of nowhere.