Here, there and everywhere: here’s what you missed
Photo courtesy of Luise Renauidineau on Unsplash
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
International News
On Wednesday, October 26, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces. His death is being celebrated as a victory for Israel.
Sinwar was the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which was one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s history.
According ABC news, Israeli authorities had been pursuing Sinwar for a year, but his assassination was by chance. Combat soldiers were blowing up a missile when they had to fire upon a group of four. During the incident, they also shot and killed a fifth man who was throwing grenades out of a nearby window. This man happened to be Sinwar.
The U.S and Israel see Sinwar’s death as a victory because it poses the possibility of peace for Gaza.
President Joe Biden issued a statement concerning Sinwar’s death, saying, “Today proves once again that no terrorist anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.”
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Famine in Gaza becomes increasingly more possible by the day and concerns arise that the strip is pursuing a “policy of starvation.”
According to ABC news, this crisis began after the United States warned Israel that it might cut off military aid if its ally did not do more to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Countless people are without homes and packed into tents and shelters.
An official warned that “supplies in North Gaza for survival are running out.” The situation is ultimately unsustainable. As time passes, food becomes scarcer.
According to the United Nations’ secretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, Israel has been blocking all food and aid from entering North Gaza. Even though the Israeli prime minister denied that his government is blocking food access, recent studies show that the risk of famine has skyrocketed.
National News
After the destruction from hurricane Helene, North Carolina is slowly recovering. Even though there is damage at every corner, early voting still began in the state on October 17, just weeks after Helene ravaged the towns in the west.
North Carolina is a swing state, and its voter turnout may be critical in determining who will win the 2024 presidential election. The storm impacted countless lives, but many people in western North Carolina decided to stay in the storm-ravaged state in order to cast their vote.
Tina Veitch, from Burnsville, decided to stay in North Carolina despite her destroyed house. Her family traveled to Florida, but she stayed back just so she could vote. She preferred voting in North Carolina rather than filling out an absentee ballot.
North Carolina’s state elections board has spent weeks evaluating damage to polling locations. According to a federal disaster declaration, 76 early voting sites were set to open to voters in western North Carolina. That compares to 80 planned before the storm.
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The “full self-driving” Tesla may not be as safe as most thought. After four reported crashes, including one that killed a pedestrian, the government’s road safety agency is investigating Tesla’s full driving system.
The crashes were supposedly due to sun-glare, fog and airborne dust, despite the systems supposed ability to detect and respond to reduced roadway and visibility conditions. This investigation covers models from 2016 to 2024.
Despite this investigation, new Tesla models are supposed to be available in 2026 starting in California and Texas. These new models reportedly will be without steering-wheels.
The investigation’s impact on Tesla’s future model plans isn’t clear. NHTSA would have to approve any car without a steering wheel, but it’s unlikely that would happen while the investigation is in progress
State News
On Thursday, October 17, a student at Palmetto High School who is under the age of 18 was arrested after a firearm was discovered in his possession.
When a teacher overheard the student discussing guns and violence, they immediately reported it to a school administrator. The teacher checked the student’s bag, and they found a gun wrapped in a pair of sweatpants. The identity of the student has not been released.
The student was arrested and is being held in a juvenile facility in Columbia, South Carolina. According to the school’s disciplinary district, the student will be expelled from school.
The police are currently investigating the situation, trying to find out how the student got the gun.
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America’s longest-serving sheriff, Culton Talton, passed away on Oct. 19, 2024, at age 92.
Talton was elected as Houston County, Ga. sheriff in 1972. He spent over 50 years as the county’s top law enforcement officer. When Talton started, the office had 28 employees. Today there are over 300 employees.
According to friends and family, Talton was a man who never sought the spotlight. Instead, he humbly stood in the background and allowed others to receive the applause. He was a role model to whole county, and his life was marked by loving and protecting others on a deeper level than just his job.
After Talton’s death, the Warner Robins police department posted a Facebook statement in which they said, “The Warner Robins Police Department is heartbroken for the Houston County Sheriff’s Office-GA and the Talton family on the passing of Sheriff Talton. Sheriff Talton was a staple in our community and will be greatly missed by all who know him.”
Local News
Police are searching for a man who was involved in a kidnapping incident in Laurens County on Saturday, October 19.
They are searching for a male suspect described as 6’2”, 170 pounds with brown eyes and black dreads.
The kidnapping victim is currently safe, but the suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous. The police believe that he is somewhere in the Simpsonville area.
