As headlines depicting escalated conflicts, climate changes, and economic uncertainty increase, it’s easy to become discouraged about progress being made around us. Yet progress is being made everywhere from groundbreaking medical breakthroughs to environmental victories that don’t always make headlines – including artificial intelligence becoming more accurate at diagnosing disease faster, while bubble barriers intercept plastic waste before it enters our oceans.
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Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico remains devastated three years later due to Hurricane Maria’s devastation, with residents experiencing food and water shortages, public health outbreaks, generators running out of fuel, flooding homes and no access to banking services.
The storm devastated poor communities disproportionately, particularly those living in rural and hard-to-reach mountain towns. Some are still waiting for power and clean drinking water; World Vision staff in the region are working to address these concerns by providing household water filtration systems as well as mobile filters for community members.
Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Puerto Rico
A wooden skiff thought to have been carrying immigrants from the Dominican Republic capsized in shark-infested waters off Hispaniola – shared between Puerto Rico and Haiti – with only one survivor being discovered.
An American Customs and Border Protection helicopter spotted an overturned boat about 11 miles northeast of Desecheo Island off the west coast of US territory.
Air Station Borinquen’s MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew successfully rescued two individuals, who were then brought to Nagua on the northeast coast of Borinquen for safety. Meanwhile, search efforts are currently under way for any further passengers of their boat that may still be present onboard.
NBA Asks Teams to Turn Over Documents
The NBA has requested teams turn over employee phones as part of an investigation into illegal gambling and sports rigging activities, according to Joe Vardon, Mike Vorkunov and Sam Amick of The Athletic. According to them, Los Angeles Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims voluntarily offered their cellphones for review by investigators.
Damon Jones has been accused of selling private injury information about two Los Angeles Lakers players to gamblers, specifically LeBron James not playing in an upcoming February 9 match-up against Milwaukee and an Oklahoma City game scheduled for January 15, 2024.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
Bill de Blasio became mayor in 2013, when New York was in dire straits. His promises of taxing upper class New Yorkers to expand pre-K education, compelling developers to build affordable housing, and reining in one of America’s most powerful police departments was welcomed with open arms.
As he prepares to leave office, his legacy has become tarnished by a rebellion at City Hall and coronavirus crisis as well as a growing list of mistakes and conflicts. He has battled progressive activists as well as police unions over issues of fairness; alienated members of staff within his administration; even some close advisers have grown frustrated.
Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra’s Death
New York fashion designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33 years old and docked at Montauk Yacht Club’s exclusive Montauk Yacht Club around midnight on August 5 was discovered unconscious on a boat docked there around midnight and subsequently declared dead by first responders. Good Samaritans attempted CPR but it proved futile – first responders had already declared her deceased.
Police believe Carlow-native May overdosed on designer drugs; the results of a full toxicology and histology test are currently pending. Her family may hire a private investigator in order to ensure a thorough investigation.
hours prior to her death, swimsuit designer Nolan-O’Slatarra sent an urgent text message to investor Christopher Durnan informing him she and Durnan would sit down together and discuss expanding Nolan-O’Slatarra’s East x East swimwear line.
New York Islanders’ Three-Game Winning Streak
The New York Islanders have won their third straight game to start the 2018-19 campaign and will host Detroit Red Wings at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.
Mathew Barzal and Emil Heineman scored goals for the Islanders while Casey Cizikas and Bo Horvat provided assists. Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves.
The win increased the Islanders’ record to 10-3-2 since starting 0-3-0, giving them 22 points since December, which ties Colorado Avalanche for most in NHL. Meanwhile, Bo Horvat extended his point streak to eight games; only three players currently possess longer active streaks.
NYPD Shooting
On Thursday evening, an Upper East Side hospital was placed under lock and key after a man with a gun made threats against it before being shot by police officers. Police believe he briefly entered Mount Sinai Medical Center before leaving to place the weapon outside under a tree before returning inside and telling an off-duty NYPD officer working a security detail to escort him out before they experienced difficulty and the officer called for backup.
Now, elected officials and advocates are pressing Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to allow Wayne Isaacs’ departmental case against her to move forward.