Yazılar

Hurricane Helene Leaves Over 90 Dead, Widespread Destruction Across Southeastern U.S.

/in /tarafından

The Southeastern United States is facing a massive cleanup and recovery operation after Hurricane Helene ravaged the region, leaving at least 90 people dead and causing widespread damage. The storm, which brought powerful winds, torrential rain, and destructive storm surges, impacted states from Florida to Virginia, knocking out power for millions, washing away roads and bridges, and causing severe flooding.

As of Sunday, officials in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia confirmed 90 fatalities, with fears that more bodies could be discovered as search and rescue efforts continue. Buncombe County in North Carolina was hit particularly hard, with 30 confirmed deaths. County Manager Avril Pinder has requested emergency food and water, as parts of Asheville remain submerged. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the event as a catastrophe of “historic proportions,” with many in western North Carolina claiming they’ve never experienced such destruction.

Across the region, around 2.7 million people were left without power, though that number had decreased by 40% from Friday’s peak. Major infrastructure damage has delayed recovery efforts, and in Flat Rock, North Carolina, residents queued for hours for gas amidst widespread blackouts.

In South Carolina, 25 deaths were reported, Georgia had 17, and Florida confirmed 11 fatalities. President Joe Biden plans to visit the devastated areas later in the week to offer federal recovery assistance after declaring major disasters in several states. He referred to the damage as “stunning,” pledging long-term support.

Hurricane Helene first made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Thursday, causing extensive damage. Coastal areas, including Horseshoe Beach, saw entire homes destroyed. Charlene Huggins, a resident of Horseshoe Beach, returned to the remains of her family’s home, which had housed five generations. “It just breaks your heart,” she said, holding a treasured family heirloom.

Further along the coast in Steinhatchee, an eight to 10-foot storm surge pushed mobile homes from their foundations, with some areas experiencing surges up to 15 feet. Residents of the small fishing community Spring Warrior Fish Camp were still waiting for emergency aid as they began to sift through the wreckage. David Hall, a local hotel owner, expressed the isolation many feel, saying, “No one thinks of us back here.”

In neighboring Keaton Beach, Kristin Macqueen helped friends salvage what they could after their home was destroyed. “It’s complete devastation,” she said. “Houses have just been ripped off their slabs.”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump plans to visit Valdosta, Georgia, to assess the damage and assist with relief efforts.

Kamala Harris Gains Ground Over Donald Trump in Latest Polls

/in /tarafından

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points in an NBC News poll released on Sunday, as voters show increasing favorability toward her since she became the Democratic presidential nominee. According to the survey, 48% of 1,000 registered voters now view Harris positively, compared to 32% in July, marking the largest improvement in politician ratings since President George W. Bush’s favorability surged after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

In contrast, 40% of respondents expressed positive views of Trump, up slightly from 38% in July. The NBC poll, conducted from September 13 to 17, carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

A separate CBS News poll also shows Harris leading Trump, though by a narrower margin of 4 percentage points (52% to 48%) among likely voters. The CBS poll, conducted from September 18 to 20, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

These results align with other recent national polls, including one by Reuters/Ipsos, which indicate a close contest as the November 5 election approaches. However, while national polls offer insight into voter sentiment, the state-by-state Electoral College ultimately decides the presidency, with key battleground states likely playing a decisive role.

Trump, 78, is making his third bid for the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020. He continues to falsely claim widespread voter fraud and faces multiple federal and state criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Harris, 59, is a former U.S. senator and prosecutor who currently serves as vice president under Biden. If elected, she would become the first female president in the nation’s history.

According to Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, Harris has successfully shifted the narrative of the race. “She’s been able to change this from a race that was a referendum on Joe Biden to a race that is a referendum on Donald Trump,” Walter told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The CBS poll also found Harris gaining 2 percentage points from a previous 50-50 tie in August, buoyed by her strong performance in the September 10 debate and improving economic conditions.

Secret Service Investigates Elon Musk’s Post on Biden and Harris

/in /tarafından

The U.S. Secret Service has acknowledged its awareness of a now-deleted social media post by Elon Musk, in which he suggested that “no one is even trying” to assassinate President Joe Biden or Vice-President Kamala Harris. The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), was later removed by Musk, who claimed it was intended as a joke.

The controversial post came shortly after an alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida. Musk, a known ally of Trump, has recently expressed support for the former president, even stating that Trump plans to enlist him to lead a “government efficiency commission” if re-elected.

The post, which included a raised eyebrow emoji, sparked outrage from many X users, who accused Musk of inciting violence against the current president and vice president. The White House condemned the remark, calling the rhetoric “irresponsible” and emphasizing that violence should never be encouraged or joked about. “There should be no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,” the statement added.

The Secret Service, while not commenting on specific cases, affirmed that it investigates all threats against its protectees. In response to the backlash, Musk explained that what might have been humorous in a personal context didn’t translate well on social media. He tweeted, “Turns out that jokes are way less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is in plain text.”

Musk’s post is part of a broader pattern of controversial remarks, as he continues to voice criticism of Biden and Harris while showing public support for Trump. His endorsement of Trump followed a separate assassination attempt on the former president in July, during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was injured and an attendee was killed.