Tropical Storm Hilary:Â There doesn’t appear to be major damage from the earthquake that hit a wide area of southern California yesterday just as the effects of Tropical Storm Hilary were being to be felt. Hilary is the first tropical storm to hit California in 84 years. A new record for one-day rainfall was set in San Diego, where schools are closed today and tomorrow. In Los Angeles County, schools will be closed today because of the rainfall. Some areas received six months worth of rain yesterday.
Bidens visit Maui:Â President and Mrs. Biden who have been vacationing in South Lake Tahoe, California, visit Maui today. More than 1,000 federal personnel are on the ground there working with local agencies in the recovery from the fires. As of Monday morning, the known death toll from the fires on Maui stood at 114, with approximately 1,000 people still unaccounted for.
Trump to skip debate:Â Donald Trump says that he will not appear in the Republican Presidential Primary debate scheduled to take place Wednesday that is being hosted by Fox News. Trump and Fox have been at odds recently over Fox’s reporting about Trump that identified some of the things he has said as not being the truth. While the debate is taking place, a newly-recorded interview Trump did with former Tucker Carlson, the fired former Fox host, will be played on Carlson’s internet streaming site.
Canadian military fighting fires:Â Canada is sending military units to help fight the wildfires ravaging British Columbia. More than 35,000 people are under evacuation orders as fires continue to spread. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that equipment has been stolen from firefighters and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have made arrests of people caught with stolen gear.
Killing Ethiopians:Â A report from the group Human Rights Watch alleges that Saudi Arabian border guards have killed at least hundreds and possibly thousands of Ethiopians trying to enter Saudi Arabia from Yemen. Human Rights Watch says the Saudi guards fired machine guns and mortars at the Ethiopians who were trying to escape from the civil war that has been going on in the northern part of their country.
National Cinema Day:Â The National Association of Theater Owners today announced that this Sunday, Aug. 27, will be the second National Cinema Day, with an estimated 3,000 theaters nationwide offering movie tickets for $4. When the first event was held last September with $3 tickets, more than eight million people went to the movies. The theater owners’ group said the average regular ticket price in the U.S. last year was $10.53.
