The astronauts stuck at the International Space Station without a ride home may be staying even longer. Ernesto is now a hurricane and growing stronger. And should a church be demolished after a mass shooting? |
👋Howdy! Laura Davis here. It's time for Wednesday's news. Let's ride! |
But first: What's big, green and 150 million years old? 🦖 Gnatalie, of course! Gnatalie is a gigantic dinosaur that will soon be on display – one-of-a-kind green bones and all. |
Floating and waiting on the space station |
It was supposed to be little more than a week in orbit. But more than two months after they docked at the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are still up in space. As the days tick by, officials still haven't figured out the best way to get the pair back on the ground. |
What happened: After Wilmore and Williams made it to the space station in early June in a Boeing Starliner capsule, engineers discovered helium leaks and other problems with the craft that have delayed its return to Earth. |
What's going on now: NASA officials said Wednesday that mission operators continue to evaluate whether the Starliner is capable of safely making the return trip, but are exploring other ways to get them back. 🚀 Here's what we know. | NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts (from top) Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. NASA/AFP via Getty Images |
Ernesto floods Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |
Unleashing torrential rain and damaging winds that triggered flash flood warnings and cut power to half of Puerto Rico, Ernesto intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday as it churned through warm waters. |
What to know: More than 730,000 utility customers in Puerto Rico – almost exactly half the total − were out of power. All told, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands could see widespread rainfall of up to 6 inches, while the total for southeastern Puerto Rico could climb to as much as 8 to 10 inches. As of 2 p.m. EDT, Ernesto was located 225 miles northwest of San Juan with sustained winds of 75 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. | A warning sign reading "Danger, No Swimming" under a red flag indicating unsafe conditions, are seen on the beach in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, on August 13, 2024. JAYDEE LEE SERRANO, AFP via Getty Images |
Inflation keeping its cool |
Consumer prices rose a modest 2.9% in the 12 months through July, the Labor Department reported Wednesday in its consumer price index, an annual rate that suggests the historic inflation surge of 2022 continues to ease. |
The trend so far: The annual inflation rate hadn't dipped below 3% since March 2021. Inflation has gently declined this summer, following a brief spike in spring. |
By the numbers: Food prices were up 2.2% on the year. Energy prices were up 1.1%, and gasoline prices were down. Much larger price gains came in transportation services (8.8%) and shelter (5.1%). 👀 A look at what it means for your wallet. |
What to do after a mass shooting in a sanctuary? |
In 2017, a gunman killed more than two dozen worshippers during a Texas church service. This week, after a legal battle over its fate, the First Baptist Church – one of a growing number of religious sites across the country struck by deadly violence – was demolished. In the wake of tragedies at such places, communities are often faced with difficult decisions about whether to reopen their doors and how best to honor victims. Some want the physical space to remember – but others would rather forget. ✍️ Keep reading: How should congregations process tragedy? | | | | The announcement follows an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries. | | | | Kamala Harris is ahead or tied with Donald Trump in six of seven battleground states, according to a new survey by the Cook Political Report. | | | | The wholesale value of the seizure is approximately $3.2 million, the DEA said, calling it the "largest meth seizure we've ever had here." | | | | Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter has filed a countersuit against Dream singer Melissa Schuman, who accused him of sexual assault. | | | | Kamala Harris' campaign has been pushing out Google ads with altered news article headlines, something Google called "fairly common." | | | | Usher postponed his tour opener hours before he was set to take the stage in Atlanta, in order "to give my body a second to rest and heal," he said. | | | | Some speakers at a county board meeting in Springfield, Illinois, on Tuesday derided members for not speaking up more for Sonya Massey. | | | | Auckland officials found each piece of candy contained potentially lethal amounts of meth. | | | | The Jonesboro Police Department said it had fired Joseph Harris, after video showed him allegedly beating a man handcuffed in the back of a patrol car. | | | | Mars Inc. is set to acquire snack maker Kellanova, responsible for Pringles, Eggos, and Cheez-Its, in a $36 billion dollar deal. | | | | | | | Brighten your day with one of our games. | | | | | |
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