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Stuck in space

Laura L. Davis   Paste BN

The astronauts stuck at the International Space Station without a ride home may be staying even longer. Ernesto is now a hurricane and growing stronger. And should a church be demolished after a mass shooting?

👋Howdy! Laura Davis here. It’s time for Wednesday’s news. Let’s ride! 

But first: What's big, green and 150 million years old? 🦖 Gnatalie, of course! Gnatalie is a gigantic dinosaur that will soon be on display – one-of-a-kind green bones and all.

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Floating and waiting on the space station

It was supposed to be little more than a week in orbit. But more than two months after they docked at the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are still up in space. As the days tick by, officials still haven't figured out the best way to get the pair back on the ground.

What happened: After Wilmore and Williams made it to the space station in early June in a Boeing Starliner capsule, engineers discovered helium leaks and other problems with the craft that have delayed its return to Earth.

What's going on now: NASA officials said Wednesday that mission operators continue to evaluate whether the Starliner is capable of safely making the return trip, but are exploring other ways to get them back. 🚀 Here's what we know.

Ernesto floods Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Unleashing torrential rain and damaging winds that triggered flash flood warnings and cut power to half of Puerto Rico, Ernesto intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday as it churned through warm waters.

What to know: More than 730,000 utility customers in Puerto Rico – almost exactly half the total − were out of power. All told, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands could see widespread rainfall of up to 6 inches, while the total for southeastern Puerto Rico could climb to as much as 8 to 10 inches. As of 2 p.m. EDT, Ernesto was located 225 miles northwest of San Juan with sustained winds of 75 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

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Inflation keeping its cool

Consumer prices rose a modest 2.9% in the 12 months through July, the Labor Department reported Wednesday in its consumer price index, an annual rate that suggests the historic inflation surge of 2022 continues to ease.

The trend so far: The annual inflation rate hadn't dipped below 3% since March 2021. Inflation has gently declined this summer, following a brief spike in spring.

By the numbers: Food prices were up 2.2% on the year. Energy prices were up 1.1%, and gasoline prices were down. Much larger price gains came in transportation services (8.8%) and shelter (5.1%). 👀 A look at what it means for your wallet.

What to do after a mass shooting in a sanctuary?

In 2017, a gunman killed more than two dozen worshippers during a Texas church service. This week, after a legal battle over its fate, the First Baptist Church – one of a growing number of religious sites across the country struck by deadly violence – was demolished. In the wake of tragedies at such places, communities are often faced with difficult decisions about whether to reopen their doors and how best to honor victims. Some want the physical space to remember – but others would rather forget. ✍️ Keep reading: How should congregations process tragedy?

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.

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