Hurricane Beryl: Hurricane Beryl has lost a little strength and was back to Category 4 status this morning. The storm was expected to create what’s described as a life-threatening storm surge affecting Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. At least seven people have been killed so far by the storm in the Caribbean. Storm bands from Beryl were reaching as far out as Haiti as of this morning.
New poll: A CNN poll today reveals that voters would select Donald Trump over both President Biden and Vice President Harris. The CNN poll shows that Trump leads Biden by six points, 49% to 43%. In a matchup with Harris, Trump would pull 47% compared with 45% for Harris. Both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would receive 43% of the vote compared with Trump’s 48%. according to CNN’s poll.
Biden’s candidacy: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that President Biden needs to participate in numerous televised interviews to allow people to see for themselves his abilities to serve in another term as president. She said it is legitimate for people to want to find out whether his poor performance in last week’s debate was an anomaly. Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas has become the first member of Congress to call for Biden to step aside and allow someone else to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
Biden’s explanation: President Biden is reported to have told guests at a fundraising event in Virginia last night that his poor performance in the debate was a result of jet lag from his recent travels. He also said he almost fell asleep on-stage during the debate. Biden had made overseas trips but that travel took place about two weeks before the debate. The White House had said while the debate was in progress that Biden had a cold. During the fundraiser, Biden did not mention having a cold during the debate.
Stampede: Authorities in India say 121 people were killed in a stampede at a Hindu religious event that was attended by 250,000 people. The event was authorized to have no more than 80,000 people in attendance. The stampede began at the end of the event when the crowd rushed forward because people wanted to touch the preacher who had just finished speaking. India’s government says it will investigate why so many people were allowed at the event and how the organizers had conducted the event.
Travel: AAA projects 70.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday travel period. It would be a 5% increase over last year and 8% more than in 2019. AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car, up 2.8 million from last year. AAA points out that gas prices are lower than last year when the national average was $3.53. AAA says prices at the pump likely will remain relatively stable until after Labor Day.
