1 US Braces For Dorian’s Impact
As the Bahamas continue to survey the damage from Dorian’s pummeling over the weekend, the United States is bracing for her wrath. If there’s good news for Americans, it’s that forecasters seem pretty positive that Dorian won’t make landfall. Still, there’s plenty of rain on tap for everyone from Florida on up to Virginia – and in some areas, mandatory evacuations. Given what’s been confirmed by Bahamian officials, there is serious cause for concern. At last check, authorities have tallied five dead and Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis calls the destruction "unprecedented and extensive," and says that the many homes and businesses are completely destroyed with extraordinary an amount remaining. This as the islands are still being lashed with outer bands and the now-category three hurricane continues its slow march north.
2 Officials Confirm Dozens Dead In Horrific CA Boat Fire
The death toll continues to climb after a massive boat fire off the Southern California coast early yesterday. Officials are confirming that at least 25 people are dead – as their bodies have been recovered. Sadly, nine others remain unaccounted for after the incident off Santa Cruz Island. In all, more than three-dozen people were on board the diving vessel at the time. Apparently, most of them were sleeping below deck when the fire broke out, and while there is no indication of how the fire started, the already devastating loss is made worse by the fact that the vessel Conception was just 20-yards from shore – and sank in 64-feet of water. Details are still sketchy, but we do know that authorities received a mayday call and the Coast Guard was called to the scene about 3:15am PT. It seems the crew of five, who were on the bridge when the blaze began jumped overboard - they were picked up by good Samaritans. The shell of the boat later sank as crews tried to put the fire out. The investigation continues.
3 Texas Shooter Had Just Been Fired, Called Law Enforcement Before Rampage
Law enforcement is releasing a possible motive in a West Texas shooting spree, which left seven dead and more than 20 injured over the weekend – Odessa police say the suspect had been fired from his job just hours before opening fire on multiple people while driving on an interstate. Apparently, as soon as he was let go, the boss call police...and so did the shooter himself. The man – later identified as 36-year-ol Seth Aaron Ator - is also accused of hijacking a USPS mail van and killed the carrier. As he drove down the road firing indiscriminately, the shooter ultimately died during a shootout with police outside a movie theater. It is not known how he obtained the rifle used in the shooting, federal and state agencies were “aggressively investigating” how he acquired it. President Trump is responding to the incident saying he's still having conversations with Congress about measures to stem gun violence. Saying that stricter background checks wouldn't have stopped mass shootings over the past several years, the President went on to say that a lot of people are still talking about gun violence and "that's irrespective of what happened yesterday in Texas." Trump again stated that he believes gun violence is a mental health issue.