Skip to main content

Yet another gender-reveal stunt goes devastatingly wrong

Editors  |  Paste BN

Greetings, Daily Briefing readers! I hope you had a peaceful and restful Labor Day holiday weekend. I’m Jane, bringing you the day’s most important news. 

Record-shattering wildfires — including one that started with a pyrotechnic device at a gender-reveal event — are straining the electrical grid across much of California. And with less than two months to go until the presidential election, we could be inching toward a new coronavirus stimulus bill. Meanwhile in Rochester, New York, the sixth straight night of protests over the death of Daniel Prude ended peacefully — as protesters vowed they’d be back.

Here’s today’s news:

California sets wildfire record as scorching continues 

As California struggles with a record-breaking fire season, a utility company warned customers in the state that power might be cut Tuesday due to fire danger. Intense heat, parched conditions and high winds fueled record-shattering wildfires and strained the electrical grid across much of California on Monday, forcing the Forest Service to close eight national forests. At least one person died, said Fresno Battalion Chief Tony Escobedo. More than 12,000 lightning strikes in the past three weeks have sparked almost two dozen major fires, according to Cal Fire. The fires have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed homes and caused thousands of residents to flee. The days ahead look equally grim. Officials say September and October are historically the worst fire months.

Senate likely to take up coronavirus stimulus bill 

The GOP-controlled Senate is expected to take up a new coronavirus stimulus bill this week to help Americans and businesses weathering the coronavirus pandemic, though it faces likely opposition in the Democratic-led House. Congress has remained deadlocked on stimulus negotiations for weeks as lawmakers struggle to agree on a number of key sticking points for a second deal, including boosting unemployment. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a financial crisis unlike any other Americans have experienced, putting millions out of work, hobbling businesses and leaving local governments scraping for money. Many relief programs that Congress approved in the spring have since dried up, putting pressure on the House and Senate to come up with a new round of stimulus funding. But weeks of negotiations failed to result in a deal.

In coronavirus news:

Rochester protest ends peacefully after police declare unlawful gathering

After several days of tense demonstrations in Rochester, New York, protests ended peacefully early Tuesday after police declared an unlawful gathering, with no reported arrests or injuries. Amid chants of "We'll be back," protesters dispersed and vowed to return the next night to the Public Safety Building. Organizers have said they'll continue to assemble until their list of demands are met.  A march began Monday evening at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, marking the sixth straight night of protests in the city.  The rallies began on Wednesday after the Democrat and Chronicle, part of the Paste BN Network, reported the story of Daniel Prude, who died after being restrained by Rochester Police Department officers in March.

More news you need to know:

Michael Cohen's tell-all Trump book drops 

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and “fixer," is releasing his tell-all memoir about the president Tuesday. In the book, "Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump,” Cohen describes Trump as a "mob boss" who "wouldn’t mind if I was dead." In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Russia and, in a separate case, to coordinating hush money payoffs to two women who claimed to have had sex with Trump before he was elected. Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison and was recently released because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He says he started writing the memoir "longhand on a yellow legal pad" from his upstate New York prison. 

Global Entry applicants can complete enrollment interviews

Global Entry applicants can complete their enrollment interviews starting Tuesday, resuming a process that has been on pause since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Global Entry allows U.S. travelers to use kiosks at major airports nationwide and globally that allow them to bypass lines with no paperwork and reduced wait times. Changes that applicants may encounter at reopened enrollment centers includes staggered or reduced appointments, the elimination of sign-in sheets, plexiglass barriers and measures to encourage social distancing. Because the Canadian and Mexican borders remain closed to nonessential travel, enrollment for the NEXUS and FAST programs remain suspended. 

And finally:

This goat wasn't kidding around when it hopped into a police car, chewed documents and head-butted a deputy in crazy scenes caught on video. Fortunately, neither the goat or the deputy were injured. 

Facebook Twitter Email