Maui wildfires update: The search for the dead in the Maui wildfires continued with at least 93 reported killed and hundreds still missing. More than 1,800 homes and structures were destroyed and thousands are in emergency shelters. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier warned the death toll probably would rise. A class-action lawsuit was filed against the Hawaiian utility companies alleging that their downed power lines were responsible for starting the fires.
House Democrat suggests Biden “pass the torch”: Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) called on President Biden to step down from his re-election bid. Speaking on NBC”™s “Meet the Press,” Phillips stated, “People want to turn the page. I think that”™s fair to say. As a Democrat, I adore Joe Biden. He saved this country. He can cement his legacy. My real call to action right now is not about me. The call to action is to ask the president to pass the torch.” Phillips added that his call was not based on the president”™s age and health or the scandals related to his son Hunter Biden, but because of his “historically low approval numbers, noting that “about 55% of Democrats would like to see an alternative.”
Japan braces for typhoon: Japanese government officials are warning residents that the nation will be hit by a typhoon this week that could bring up to 20 inches of rain in 24 hours. The Japan Times reported Typhoon Lan is expected to make landfall Tuesday on the island of Honshu near Osaka, the country”™s second largest metropolitan area. The typhoon comes in the midst of Japan”™s Bon holiday week, where millions of people travel to their hometowns. Japan Airlines canceled 19 domestic flights scheduled for today because of the weather warnings, while Central Japan Railway and West Japan Railway warned the typhoon could force them to halt operations completely on Tuesday.
Jack Lew for Jerusalem?: Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is the leading candidate to become the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to an Axios report sourced from “three people familiar with the matter.” He would replace Tom Nides, who stepped down last month amid tensions between the Biden Administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter”™s controversial judicial overhaul. Lew, a former Citigroup executive, worked with Netanyahu before during his years as the Treasury and in his earlier work as deputy secretary of state and White House chief of staff.
“Barbie” dominates, “Demeter” disappoints: “Barbie” continued to reign at the box office for the fourth consecutive weekend, scoring $33.7 million in U.S. ticket sales to hold its position as the nation”™s most popular movie release. Also for the fourth straight week, “Oppenheimer” ranked in second place ”“ the film earned $18.8 million over the weekend. The new release “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” quickly sank upon hitting theaters ”“ the horror film inspired by a chapter from Bram Stoker”™s “Dracula” brought in a weak $6.5 million.
“Fantasticks” co-creator Tom Jones dies: Tom Jones, who wrote the book and lyrics for “The Fantasticks,” died at the age of 95 at his home in Sharon, Connecticut. Jones teamed with composer Harvey Schmidt on “The Fantasticks,” which opened Off-Broadway in 1960 and ran for more than 17,000 performances before closing in 2002 as the longest-running musical in U.S. history. Jones and Schmidt also collaborated on the popular Broadway musicals “110 in the Shade” and “I Do! I Do!”
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
