Biden's Louisiana trip, Caldor fire update, August jobs report: 5 things to know Friday
Biden to visit New Orleans in wake of Hurricane Ida
President Joe Biden plans to visit Louisiana Friday to survey damage from Hurricane Ida, which lashed the state last weekend as one of the five strongest storms to ever strike the U.S., packing 150 mph winds. He will also be meeting Louisiana's Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, and other state and local leaders. About 900,000 people in Louisiana, including much of New Orleans, remained without power and tens of thousands had no water in the midst of a sultry stretch of summer Thursday. Efforts continued to drain flooded communities, and lines for gas stretched for blocks in many places from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. But there were also glimmers of hope. Commercial flights resumed in New Orleans and power returned to parts of the business district Thursday. Officials also reported a big drop late Thursday in the number of customers with no running water: 185,000, compared to more than 600,000 the day before.
- Latest on Ida: At least 46 dead after flooding overwhelms NYC, Northeast; half of those deaths were reported in New Jersey
- Plunging into a sinkhole. Swimming inside homes to stay alive. Ida leaves a path of heartbreak, horror across 8 states.
- Visuals of Ida: Drone and satellite images capture homes and neighborhoods flooded by Hurricane Ida
- Reporting as 'safe': Here's how to mark yourself 'safe' on Facebook if you live in area impacted by Ida
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Massive fire still burning near Lake Tahoe
After days of fierce winds, firefighters battling the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe took advantage of better weather conditions Thursday and were even able to allow some people back to their homes. Friday's forecast called for lighter winds but also extremely dry daytime weather, with a warming trend continuing through the weekend. The blaze has spanned over 330 square miles across two counties within miles of the popular tourist destination, forcing an unprecedented evacuation of all 22,000 residents of South Lake Tahoe, California, and tens of thousands of tourists. It has been burning since Aug. 14 and still threatens thousands of homes, businesses and other buildings ranging from cabins to ski resorts along its trek toward Nevada's border.
- Weather disasters are getting worse. But, here's one upside.
- Wildfire threatens to forever change clear blue waters of Lake Tahoe
Economy added 235,000 jobs in August amid COVID surge
Hiring slowed sharply in August as employers added a disappointing 235,000 jobs, with COVID-19 surges dampening both consumer demand and Americans’ willingness to return to work. The unemployment rate, which is calculated from a different survey, fell from 5.4% to 5.2%, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists had estimated that 750,000 jobs were added last month, according to a Bloomberg survey.
- Fed's Powell speaks out: Economy has made 'clear progress' toward Fed's employment goal
- Fewer jabs mean fewer jobs: States with lower vaccination, higher COVID-19 infection rates are behind in growth this summer
- Move here, get paid: Small towns offer up to $20K just to get you to live there, work remotely
Marvel's long-awaited 'Shang-Chi' kicks into theaters
After getting a head start preview before the holiday weekend Thursday night, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," opens in theaters Friday. In his ★★★ (out of four) review, Paste BN film critic Brian Truitt writes "Shang-Chi" puts martial arts and Asian-influenced fantasy elements on display in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time." Starring Simu Liu, who Truitt says "exudes likability, swagger and depth," the film follows Shang-Chi and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina), who go from San Francisco hotel valets to global heroes as they try to foil the latest machinations of Shang-Chi's father Wenwu (Tony Leung), who wields 10 ancient mystical rings as the leader of a shadowy terrorist organization. In an interview with Paste BN, Liu said he connected with his character's "feeling of being constantly in between worlds and struggling to figure out what path he wants to take." Liu is the mega-franchise's first lead Asian superhero.
- 'Shang-Chi' star Simu Liu 'would've given anything' to change his name to Steve: Asian Americans relate.
- 'Misunderstanding': Marvel's Kevin Feige weighs in on 'Shang-Chi' brouhaha between Simu Liu, Disney CEO
- Looking ahead: When will Marvel's "Shang-Chi" stream on Disney+?
Drake's new album debuted early Friday morning
Drake (finally) released his sixth studio album, "Certified Lover Boy" at 2 a.m. ET on Friday. On Monday, a day after his rival Kanye West's long-delayed "Donda" hit streaming services, Drake announced "CLB" was coming Friday after previous push backs. Then the four-time Grammy winner and habitual chart-topper amped up the hype during the week by buying a series of billboards in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Memphis to tease the album's collaborations. In New York, the billboard touted "The GOAT is on CLB" while another said "Hey Houston the hometown hero is on CLB." Speaking of buzzy collaborations, Lady Gaga also releases a remix of her 2020 pop-homecoming album called "Dawn of Chromatica" Friday. New guest artists include Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama and Bree Runway.
- Family affair: Drake makes rare appearance with young son Adonis at Billboard Music Awards
- Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds dissects five 'vulnerable' songs on new album
- Beyoncé stuns in Tiffany's necklace worn by Audrey Hepburn, Lady Gaga
Contributing: The Associated Press