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Started in 2012 strictly as a Memorial Fundraiser, ClassicShoppes.us has now evolved into the place to be for classy, sophisticated online visitors having distinctive taste; wanting and deserving instant gratification and simplicity in a complex, fast-paced, modern and technologically advanced world. ClassicShoppes.us is now proud to present numerous online merchants under distinguished labels respectively called, The Unique Galleria 1, 2, 3 and 4. Thus, ClassicShoppes.us promotes some of the finest products in the USA. This translates into millions of products sold to the general public by varied, distinct merchants via their own secure websites. On a daily basis, ClassicShoppes.us also presents unique articles of past events, current events and trends. It brings to life the history making, unique people and their respective profiles both in and before our times. It probes beneath the surface and underscores the real forces behind "Breaking News," both the trendy as well as the tragic while allowing its visitors to one-stop web surf for good services, good products at good prices from all across the USA.
Latest revisions: Wednesday, July 1, 2020, 12:00 AM CDT | January 22, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT | October 18, 2023, 10:50 PM CDT |
"COVID-19 pandemic"
"The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified in an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Attempts to contain it there failed, allowing the virus to spread to other areas of Asia and later worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 10 March 2023, the pandemic had caused more than 676 million cases and 6.88 million confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest in history. COVID-19 symptoms range from undetectable to deadly, but most commonly include fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Severe illness is more likely in elderly patients and those with certain underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 transmits when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and small airborne particles containing the virus. The risk of breathing these in is highest when people are in close proximity, but they can be inhaled over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur if contaminated fluids reach the eyes, nose, or mouth, or, more rarely, through contaminated surfaces. Infected individuals are typically contagious for 10 days and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms. Mutations have produced many strains (variants) with varying degrees of infectivity and virulence. The pandemic has triggered severe social and economic disruption around the world, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression. Widespread supply shortages, including food shortages, were caused by supply chain disruptions. Reduced human activity led to an unprecedented decrease in pollution. Educational institutions and public areas were partially or fully closed in many jurisdictions, and many events were cancelled or postponed during 2020 and 2021. Misinformation has circulated through social media and mass media, and political tensions have intensified. The pandemic has raised issues of racial and geographic discrimination, health equity, and the balance between public health imperatives and individual rights. As of 10 March 2023, more than 6.88 million deaths had been attributed to COVID-19.
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The first confirmed death was in Wuhan on 9 January 2020. These numbers vary by region and over time, influenced by testing volume, healthcare system quality, treatment options, government response, time since the initial outbreak, and population characteristics, such as age, sex, and overall health. The virus arrived in the United States on 13 January 2020. Cases were reported in all North American countries after Saint Kitts and Nevis confirmed a case on 25 March, and in all North American territories after Bonaire confirmed a case on 16 April. The hospital ship USNS Comfort arrives in Manhattan on 30 March 2020. 102,873,924 confirmed cases have been reported in the United States with 1,118,800 deaths, the most of any country, and the nineteenth-highest per capita worldwide. COVID-19 is the deadliest pandemic in U. S. history; it was the third-leading cause of death in the U. S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer. From 2019 to 2020, U. S. life expectancy dropped by 3 years for Hispanic Americans, 2.9 years for African Americans, and 1.2 years for white Americans. These effects have persisted as U. S. deaths due to COVID-19 in 2021 exceeded those in 2020. In the United States, COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, under emergency use, beginning the national vaccination program, with the first vaccine officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration on 23 August 2021. On 18 November 2022, while cases in the U.S. have declined, COVID variants BQ.1/BQ.1.1 have become dominant in the country. The pandemic disrupted food systems worldwide, hitting at a time when hunger and undernourishment were rising (an estimated 690 million people lacked food security in 2019). Food access fell–driven by falling incomes, lost remittances, and disruptions to food production. In some cases, food prices rose. The pandemic and its accompanying [lock-downs] and travel restrictions slowed movement of food aid. Per the World Health Organization, 811 million individuals were undernourished in 2020, "likely related to the fallout of COVID-19."
Source: Wikipedia.org, Monday, April 10, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
What's Trending Now?
"Running away together"
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"Malcolm-Jamal Warner"
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"T. J. Holmes and Amy Robach are taking another step forward in their relationship — actually a lot of steps. A source tells Page Six that the former "GMA3" co-anchors will be among the 25,000 runners taking part in New York City's half marathon on March 19. However, the couple will not be flagged on a list of celebrity runners as they have been in the past. Instead, they'll be running under the radar. The marathon comes after the lovebirds vacationed in Mexico and Los Angeles. T. J. and Amy are still going strong amid a tumultuous few months. On Nov. 30, 2022, DailyMail.com published a bombshell story alleging that the duo — who were both married to other people at the time — had evolved their friendship into a romantic relationship many months earlier. In the wake of the scandal, ABC pulled both Amy and T. J. off the air on Dec. 5 while the network's president figured out next steps, and nearly two months later on Jan. 27, 2023, both were let go. "After several productive conversations … about different options, we all agreed it's best for everyone that they move on from ABC News," an ABC News spokesperson said. Both T. J. and Amy have split from their respective spouses."
Source: Wonderwall | Saturday, April 1, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
 "Find a Grave Memorial ID 285109570"
"Malcolm-Jamal Warner (August 18, 1970–July 20, 2025) was an American actor, musician and poet. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. He was raised in Los Angeles from age five. At the age of nine, he demonstrated an interest in show business that led to enrollment in acting schools. His career as a child performer later led him to graduate high school from The Professional Children's School in New York City, New York. Warner had several high-profile relationships, including with actress Michelle Thomas, who played his girlfriend Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show, until her death in 1998. He later dated actress Karen Malina White for seven and a half years and actress Regina King from 2011 to 2013. He later married and had a daughter, though he kept their identities private. On July 20, 2025, Warner died at the age of 54 while swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón Province, Costa Rica. According to the Costa Rican Red Cross, emergency responders arrived at approximately 2:10 p.m. after reports of a water-related incident involving two adult men. According to authorities, surfers observed Warner and his daughter struggling in the water and entered the ocean to assist. One surfer used a board to bring Warner’s daughter to safety, while a volunteer lifeguard helped bring Warner and another surfer to shore. Warner was pulled from the water by bystanders and received CPR for approximately 45 minutes before being pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual was transported to a nearby clinic in critical condition. The Costa Rican Red Cross stated that both individuals had been removed from the water before paramedics arrived, and the case was referred to local police. Both surfers who assisted in the rescue survived the incident. On July 21, 2025, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed Warner had been caught in a strong current while swimming. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the official cause of death—accidental asphyxia by submersion (drowning)—was determined following the completion of his autopsy on July 22, 2025."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Thursday, July 24, 2025, 12:00AM CDT | Find a Grave |
"William Henry Cosby, Jr."
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"William Henry Cosby Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American former comedian, actor, and media personality. Often deemed a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy star, with his longest-running live-action role being that of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He also released several stand-up comedy albums and was a popular spokesperson in advertising for decades. Cosby was well known in the United States for his fatherly image and gained a reputation as "America's Dad." Starting in 2014, dozens of allegations of sexual assault have been made against him, which ended his career and sharply diminished his status as a pop culture icon. Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in 1961, and primarily performed observational comedy in a conversational style. He released numerous standup specials starting with Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963) and starred in the comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983). Cosby still holds the record for winning the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, with seven wins. His acting career began with a starring role in the NBC secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968), which broke new ground for African Americans when he made history by winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first black actor to do so. On June 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's conviction, citing violations of his due process rights. According to Justice David Wecht, "Even though society has a strong interest in prosecuting crimes, it has an even stronger interest in ensuring that the constitutional rights of the people are vindicated." The following situation was cited: previously in February 2005, District Attorney Bruce Castor declared in a press release that due to
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insufficient evidence rendering a conviction "unattainable," he "declines to authorize the filing of criminal charges" against Cosby regarding allegations Andrea Constand made against him. Castor said he did so to compel Cosby to testify in a civil lawsuit, brought by Constand, without the right to not incriminate himself as accorded by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, so that Constand could win damages from Cosby. Cosby testified that he had given Constand Benadryl, and that he had separately provided Quaaludes to women he wanted to have sex with. Cosby settled the civil lawsuit by paying $3.38 million. Six of the seven Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices interpreted Castor's 2005 press release as a promise not to prosecute Cosby, which led Cosby to provide testimony in his civil lawsuit that was later used as key evidence in his criminal trial; thus, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court concluded that Cosby's due process rights were violated. The court further barred prosecution of Cosby "on these particular charges." Cosby was released from prison on the same day that his conviction was overturned. He had served nearly three years before Pennsylvania's Supreme Court overturned his conviction. In November 2021, the District Attorney filed papers with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking to have the Court consider whether to overturn the decision of the state supreme court. Cosby's attorney filed a response in late January 2022, urging the Supreme Court to decline review. On March 7, 2022, the court declined to review the decision of the Pennsylvania court. Cosby has been married to the former Camille Hanks since January 25, 1964. Together, they have five children, two of whom are deceased: Erika, Erinn, Ennis (1969–1997), Ensa (1973–2018), and Evin. Their only son, Ennis, was murdered on January 16, 1997, while changing a flat tire on the side of Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. Cosby's daughter Ensa died of renal disease on February 23, 2018, while awaiting a kidney transplant. The Cosbys have three grandchildren."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12:00AM CDT |
"Bryan Christopher Kohberger"
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"On June 30, 2025, it was announced that Kohberger had agreed to a deal to plead guilty to all counts against him and would be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. Pending approval by the judge, Kohberger would also give up his right to any future appeals, guaranteeing that he will remain in prison until he dies. On July 2, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. On July 23, he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison without parole, as well as another 10 years for burglary. He also has to pay a combined fine of $250,000 ($50,000 per count) and $20,000 combined in restitution ($5,000 per victim)."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Thursday, July 24, 2025, 12:00 AM CDT |
"Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell"
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"Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell born 25 December 1961, is a British former socialite and a convicted sex offender. In 2021, she was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with the deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The following year, she was sentenced in federal court in New York City to 20 years of imprisonment. Maxwell faced persistent allegations of procuring and sexually trafficking underage girls for Epstein and others, charges she denied. Maxwell was arrested in Bradford, New Hampshire by the FBI on 2 July 2020, through the use of an IMSI-catcher ("stingray") mobile phone tracking device on a phone used by her to call her husband Scott Borgerson, her sister Isabel, and one of her lawyers. Prosecutors, led by United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss, charged Maxwell with six federal crimes, including enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury. The indictment charged that between 1994 and 1997, she "assisted, facilitated, and contributed" to the abuse of minor girls despite knowing that one of three unnamed victims was 14 years old. On 29 December 2021, Maxwell was convicted by a jury in US federal court on five sex trafficking-related counts carrying a potential custodial sentence of up to 65 years' imprisonment.
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Maxwell's family said the appeal process had begun. On 28 June 2022, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison; prosecutors were seeking a sentence of at least 30 years. She complained of threats coming from prison staff in the days prior to sentencing, but gave no details about the nature of the threats. Although she had been placed on suicide watch on 24 June, she told the psychiatric team that she was not suicidal. A related request by her lawyers for a sentencing delay was denied. She appealed the conviction on 7 July. On 25 July 2022, Maxwell was transferred from Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn to a low-security federal prison for female inmates at FCI Tallahassee. She is scheduled to be released on 17 July 2037. In August 2022, her former lawyers sued Maxwell, alleging that she failed to pay $878,000 in legal fees. On 17 September 2024, three judges at Manhattan's Second US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Maxwell's five convictions and sentence. In response, her lawyer said she would appeal to the US Supreme Court. On 1 August 2025 the Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Maxwell had been transferred from Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee, a detention facility, and a low security Federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida to Federal Prison Camp, Bryan in Bryan, Texas, a minimum security facility, "among the facilities with the lowest level of security in the federal system, with limited or no perimeter fencing, dormitory-style housing and a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio," regarded as one of the best federal prisons to serve time in."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 12:00 A CDT |
"Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023"
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"Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region, lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally modified equatorial climate. As of 2023, it has a population of around 49.6 million, of which 8.5 million live in the capital and largest city of Kampala. Uganda is named after the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala, and whose language Luganda is widely spoken throughout the country. From 1894, the area was ruled as a protectorate by the United Kingdom, which established administrative law across the territory. Uganda gained independence from the UK on 9 October 1962. On 21 March 2023, the Ugandan parliament passed a bill that would make identifying as homosexual punishable by life in prison and the death penalty for anyone found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality." On March 9, 2023 Asuman Basalirwa, a member of parliament since 2018 from the opposition representing Bugiri Municipality on Justice Forum party ticket tabled a
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proposed law which seeks out to castigate gay sex and "the promotion or recognition of such relations" and he made remarks that: "In this country, or in this
world, we talk about human rights. But it is also true that there are human wrongs. I want to submit that homosexuality is a human wrong that offends the laws of Uganda and threatens the sanctity of the family, the safety of our children and the continuation of humanity through reproduction." The speaker of parliament, Annet Anita Among, referred the bill to a house committee for scrutiny, the first step in an accelerated process to pass the proposal into law. The parliament speaker had earlier noted that: "We want to appreciate our promoters of homosexuality for the social economic development they have brought to the country," in reference to western countries and donors. "But we do not appreciate the fact that they are killing morals. We do not need their [money;] we need our culture," during a prayer service held in parliament and attended by several religious leaders. The Speaker vowed to pass the bill into law at whatever cost to shield Uganda's culture and its sovereignty. On March 21, 2023 parliament rapidly passed the anti-homosexuality bill with overwhelming support. The United States strongly condemned the bill. During a White House Press briefing on March 22, 2023, Karine Jean-Pierre stated. "Human rights are universal. No one should be attacked, imprisoned, or killed simply because of who they are or whom they love." In the following days, further criticism came from the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the European Union." Source: Wikipedia.org | Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 11:59PM CDT | Sunday, March 10, 2024, 12:00 AM CDT |
The Great American Smoke Out?
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"Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper and actor. His initial fame dates back to 1992 after guest appearing on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, "Deep Cover," and then on Dre's debut album, The Chronic, the same year. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide. His accolades include an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 17 nominations at the Grammy Awards. Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was born on October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, California, to Vernell Varnado and Beverly Tate. Vernell, who was a Vietnam War veteran, singer, and mail carrier, left the family only three months after his birth, and thus he was named after his stepfather, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Sr. His father remained largely absent from his life. As a boy, his mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" due to his love and likeness of the cartoon character from Peanuts. He was the second of his mother's three sons. His mother and stepfather divorced in 1975. When Broadus was very young, he began singing and playing piano at the Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church. In sixth grade, he began rapping. As a child, Broadus sold candy, delivered newspapers, and bagged groceries to help his family make ends meet. He was described as having been a dedicated student and enthusiastic churchgoer, active in choir and football.
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Broadus said in 1993 that he began engaging in unlawful activities and joining gangs in his teenage years, despite his mother's preventative efforts. While recording Doggystyle in August 1993, Broadus was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Philip Woldermariam, a member of a rival gang, who was actually killed by Broadus' bodyguard, McKinley Lee, aka Malik. Broadus had been temporarily living in an apartment complex in the Palms neighborhood in the West Los Angeles region, in the intersection of Vinton Avenue and Woodbine Street—the location of the shooting. Both men were charged with murder, as Broadus was purportedly driving the vehicle from which the gun was fired. Johnnie Cochran defended them. Both Broadus and his bodyguard were acquitted on February 20, 1996. Broadus has also been arrested and fined three times for misdemeanor possession of marijuana: in Los Angeles in 1998; Cleveland, Ohio in 2001; and Sierra Blanca, Texas, in 2010. Since the start of his career, Snoop has been an avowed cannabis smoker, making it one of the trademarks of his image. In 2002, he announced he was giving up cannabis for good; that did not last long and in 2013, he claimed to be smoking approximately 80 cannabis blunts a day. He has been certified for medical cannabis in California to treat migraines since at least 2007. In 2023, he announced via social media that he was "giving up smoke" after much consideration, but later revealed that it was an ad to promote a smokeless fire pit called SoloStove."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, December 31, 2023, 11:59 PM CDT | Subtitle contributed |
Disney, Dizzy, or Both?
"Robin Roberts (born November 23, 1960) is an American television broadcaster. Roberts is the anchor of ABC's Good Morning America. After growing up in Mississippi and attending Southeastern Louisiana University, Roberts was a sports anchor for local TV and radio stations. Roberts was a sportscaster on ESPN for 15 years (1990–2005) and the first woman to co-host NFL Primetime. She became co-anchor on Good Morning America in 2005. Roberts was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Her treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome was chronicled on the program, which earned a 2012 Peabody Award for the coverage. Roberts was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where she played basketball and tennis, among other sports. She attended Pass Christian High School and graduated as the class of 1979 salutatorian. Roberts began a romantic relationship with massage therapist Amber Laign in 2005. Though friends and co-workers had known about her same-sex relationships, Roberts publicly acknowledged her sexual orientation for the first time in late December 2013. In September 2023, Roberts and Laign married."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, January 7, 2024, 4:30 PM CDT | Subtitle contributed |
"Jehovah's Witnesses to Appeal
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"Court of Appeal Unanimously
Overturns Unconstitutional Ruling in Norway"
 "Borgarting Court of Appeal"
"On March 14, 2025, the Borgarting Court of Appeal unanimously overturned the Oslo District Court’s decision to revoke the legal registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway. The Borgarting Court of Appeal also awarded our brothers 8,500,000 kroner ($806,833 U. S.) in compensation for legal costs incurred during both trials. In 2022, the County Governor of Oslo and Viken revoked our registration, thereby blocking us from receiving State subsidies that more than 700 registered religious communities in Norway benefit from. The State based its decision on the assertion that we should change our Scriptural practice of removing unrepentant wrongdoers from the congregation. After the Oslo District Court upheld the government’s decision in March 2024, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Norway appealed. This latest decision overturns the lower court’s unconstitutional rulings. The State may still appeal this decision to the country’s Supreme Court. During the appeal process, a panel of three judges thoroughly examined our religious practices and Bible-based teachings. In direct contradiction to the State’s claims, the Court of Appeal determined that limiting contact with an unrepentant wrongdoer who has been removed from the congregation is not a violation of his rights. In situations where an unrepentant baptized minor is removed from the congregation, the court ruled that it "does not constitute psychological violence." The court concluded that "Jehovah’s Witnesses have been fully vindicated in that the decisions to deny grants and registration are invalid."
Source: Wikipedia.org, etc | Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 11:59 PM CDT |
The Perils of Porn?
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The Perils of Drugs?
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"Kagney Linn Karter (March 28, 1987–February 15, 2024) was an American pornographic film actress and singer. After becoming an exotic dancer, she entered the pornography industry in 2008. Karter was born in Harris County, Texas, in 1987, and raised in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Karter began erotic dancing while in Missouri and was named the state's Déjà Vu Showgirl of the Year in 2007. She later moved to California to pursue an acting and singing career. Karter fell out with her manager when he discovered she was also working as an exotic dancer. While continuing to dance, she eventually moved into modeling and, after signing with the agency LA Direct Models, posed for shoots with erotic photographer Holly Randall. Karter entered the adult film industry in September 2008. Her first scene was with Johnny Sins for Naughty America. In 2009, she was chosen as the Penthouse Pet of the Month for June, and appeared on the covers of Hustler in April and Adult Video News, also in June. Karter was also featured on the cover of Holly Randall's photo book Erotic Dream Girls published in October 2009. Karter (under the name Kagney Necessary) released an extended play (EP) recording entitled The Crossover in 2018. In 2022, Karter released her debut album, titled The Take Over. Karter died by suicide at age 36 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on February 15, 2024."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 7:00PM CDT | Subtitle contributed |
"Cynthia Ann Howell (July 16, 1980-January 24, 2024), known professionally as Jesse Jane, was an American pornographic film actress. She entered the industry in the early 2000s, and later transitioned into mainstream film and television roles. Jane was an exclusive contract performer for Digital Playground between 2002 and 2014, starring in the Pirates series of pornographic films. She retired from the adult film industry in 2017 after a career spanning nearly two decades. Jane was born Cynthia Ann Howell on July 16, 1980, in Fort Worth, Texas. According to a 2006 interview she gave to The Oklahoma Gazette, her family relocated to the Oklahoma City area where her parents worked at Tinker Air Force Base. In 1998, she graduated with honors from Moore High School. She avoided the "shock value" trend prevalent in mid-2000s pornography, according to The New York Times. Jane launched a line of signature sex toys circa 2010. In 2011 and 2014, she was named by CNBC as one of the twelve most popular stars in porn. In 2017, Jane announced that she would retire from the adult industry, although she briefly returned in 2019 to shoot her first interracial scene for Blacked.com. In 2000, Jane gave birth to her son. She married her husband, Rich Taylor, in 2005. On March 1, 2012, Jane announced on Twitter that she was getting divorced. On January 24, 2024, Jane and her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, were found dead from an apparent drug overdose at their home in Moore, Oklahoma."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 12:00AM CDT | Subtitle contributed |
Gangster Alley, or just a Gangsta Lean?
"Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B," "the King of Pop-Soul," and "the Pied Piper of R&B." Kelly's career ended in 2019 following his arrest and subsequent convictions on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges involving sexual abuse of minors. Robert Sylvester Kelly was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, on January 8, 1967, at Chicago Lying-In Hospital (now University of Chicago Medical Center) in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood. He has five siblings (three of whom are half): two older sisters and brother, along with a younger brother and sister. His mother, Joanne, was a schoolteacher and devout Baptist. She was born in Arkansas. The identity of his father, who was absent from Kelly's life and later raised two children, is not known. His family lived in the Ida B. Wells Homes public housing project in the Black Metropolis Bronzeville District of Chicago's Douglas neighborhood, also on the city's south side. Around the time he was five years old, Kelly's mother married his stepfather, Lucious, who reportedly worked for an airline. Kelly began singing in the church choir at age eight. Kelly described having a girlfriend, Lulu, at age eight, in his autobiography. He stated that their last play date turned tragic when, after fighting with older children over a play area by a creek, she was pushed into the water, swept downstream by a fast-moving current, and drowned. Kelly called Lulu his first musical inspiration. Kelly said members of his household would act differently when his mother and grandparents were not home.
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This included highly provocative dress and behavior. Kelly stated that when he was eight, an adult woman in the household coerced him into photographing her while having intercourse with an adult male partner. Kelly has faced repeated accusations of sexual abuse for incidents dating from 1991 to 2018 and has been the subject of a long-term investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times since August 2000. He has been tried in multiple civil suits and criminal trials, starting in 1996 when Tiffany Hawkins alleged that, starting in 1991 when she was age 15, Kelly, aged 24, had sexual relations with her and encouraged her to entice [under-aged] friends. Following leaked video recordings, Kelly was prosecuted on child pornography charges in 2002, leading to a controversial trial that ended with his acquittal in 2008 on all charges. The 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly reexamined Kelly's alleged sexual misconduct with minors, prompting RCA Records to terminate his contract and resulted in additional investigations by law enforcement beginning in 2019. This culminated in a 2021 conviction for violations of the Mann Act and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and a 2022 conviction for production of child pornography. As of 2023, he is serving a [31-year] combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I. On July 30, 2024, multiple news outlets reported that Kelly, alongside his lawyer Jennifer Bonjean, had asked the Supreme Court to review his child pornography case, which could potentially drop 20 years off his sentence. Other than the federal sex abuse cases, Kelly has been involved in several high-profile criminal cases and lawsuits. Kelly's mother, Joanne, died from cancer in 1993. He has given conflicting accounts of where he was during his mother's death. His oldest daughter, JoAnn was named after the singer's mother, but is also known as Buku Abi."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, October 13, 2024, 8:37 PM CDT |
Gangster Alley, or just a Gangsta Being Mean?
"Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969), also known by his stage name Diddy, formerly Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, record producer, and record executive. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is credited with the discovery and development of musical artists including the Notorious B. I. G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher. In September 2024, he was arrested on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. Sean John Combs was born on November 4, 1969, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Raised in Mount Vernon, New York, his mother Janice Combs was a model and teacher's assistant, and his father, Melvin Earl Combs, served in the U. S. Air Force and was an associate of convicted New York drug dealer Frank Lucas. At age 33, Melvin was shot dead while sitting in his car on Central Park West, when Combs was two years old. Combs has a sister, and grew up in poverty. Combs was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy. He graduated from Mount Saint Michael Academy, an all-boys Catholic school, in 1987. He played football for the academy, and his team won a division title in 1986. Combs said he was given the nickname "Puff" as a child, because he would "huff and puff" when he was angry. Combs was a business major at Howard University, but left after his second year. Fortune magazine listed Combs at number 12 on their top 40 of entrepreneurs under 40 in 2002. Forbes magazine estimated that for the year ending May 2017,
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Combs earned $130 million, ranking him number one among entertainers. He is one of the wealthiest musical artists, with an estimated net worth of US$1 billion by 2022. In 1998, Combs started a clothing line, Sean John. It was nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for Menswear Designer of the Year in 2000, and won in 2004. California billionaire Ronald Burkle invested $100 million into the company in 2003. In late 2006, the department store Macy's removed Sean John jackets from their shelves when they discovered that the clothing was made using raccoon dog fur. Combs had not known the jackets were made with genuine fur, but as soon as he was alerted, he had production stopped. In November 2008, Combs added a men's perfume line "I Am King" to the Sean John brand. The fragrance, dedicated to Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr., featured Bar Refaeli in its advertising. On October 1, 2024, the Washington Post reported that a team of lawyers will be filing as many as 120 more lawsuits, covering assaults that took place during the 2000s and 2010s. Plaintiffs, 25 of whom are minors, are both male and female. After being arrested and indicted in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution, Combs is held, awaiting trial, in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he was temporarily placed under suicide watch. His cellmate is Sam Bankman-Fried, who is serving a 25-year sentence. During a court appearance on October 10, 2024, Judge Arun Subramanian set Combs' trial start date as May 5, 2025."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Thursday, October 31, 2024, 12:00 AM CDT |
"Hurricane"
"Hurricane Ian was a powerful Atlantic hurricane which was the third-costliest weather disaster on record, and the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. Ian caused widespread damage across western Cuba and the southeast United States, especially the states of Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It was the ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. Ian was the strongest hurricane to hit Florida since Michael in 2018, the first Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic since Lorenzo in 2019, and the fifth since 2016 to reach that strength before making landfall in the U. S. Ian originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Western Africa and across the central tropical Atlantic towards the Windward Islands. The wave moved into the Caribbean Sea on September 21 bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Trinidad and Tobago, the ABC islands, and the northern coast of South America.
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It became a tropical depression on the morning of September 23 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Ian early the next day while it was southeast of Jamaica. Rapidly intensifying into a high-end Category 3 hurricane, Ian made landfall in western Cuba. Heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across Cuba resulting in a nationwide power outage. Ian lost a minimal amount of strength while over land and soon re-strengthened while over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. It peaked as a low-end Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph early on September 28, while progressing towards the west coast of Florida, and made landfall just below peak intensity in Southwest Florida on Cayo Costa Island. It has tied with several other storms becoming the 5th-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the contiguous United States. After moving inland, Ian rapidly weakened to a tropical storm before moving back offshore into the Atlantic. Hurricane Ian caused at least 160 fatalities with 5 people in Cuba, 149 in Florida, 5 in North Carolina, and 1 in Virginia. Ian caused catastrophic damage with losses estimated to be $113 billion."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 5:00 PM CDT |
"Hurricane Helene was a devastating tropical cyclone that caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024. It was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest to strike the mainland U. S. since Katrina in 2005. The eighth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane[a] of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Helene began forming on September 22 as a broad [low-pressure] system in the western Caribbean Sea. By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached the [Yucatan] Peninsula, receiving the name Helene from the National Hurricane Center. Weather conditions led to the cyclone's intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and rapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed the Gulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of Perry, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. At least 115 people were confirmed to have been killed by Helene in North Carolina, including at least 40 in Buncombe County alone, while about 200 more were left unaccounted for in the state. Two people, a 4-year-old girl in Claremont and a 58-year-old man in Gastonia, were killed in traffic collisions during rains caused by Helene."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 8:16 AM CDT |
"Hurricane Milton was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone which became the second-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded over the Gulf of Mexico, behind only Hurricane Rita in 2005. Milton made landfall on the west coast of the U. S. state of Florida, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the state's Big Bend region. The thirteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Milton is the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2024 so far. Milton underwent explosive intensification and became a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 180 mph. At peak intensity, it had a pressure of 897 millibars, making it the fifth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. Milton fluctuated in intensity after an [eye-wall] replacement cycle, re-intensifying into a Category 5 hurricane the following day. Increasing wind shear caused the hurricane to weaken as it turned northeast towards Florida, falling to Category 3 before making landfall near Siesta Key late on October 9. Ahead of the hurricane, Florida declared a state of emergency in which many coastal residents were ordered to evacuate. Preparations were also undertaken in Mexico's [Yucatan] Peninsula. The hurricane spawned a deadly tornado outbreak and caused widespread flooding in Florida. As of October 14, 2024, Hurricane Milton had killed at least 27 people: 24 in the United States and three in Mexico. Preliminary damage estimates are estimated to be at least US$30 billion."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Thursday, October 31, 2024, 12:00 AM CDT |
"Earthquake"
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"The following is a summary of significant earthquakes during the 21st century. In terms of fatalities, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was the most destructive event with around 283,000 fatalities, followed by the 2010 Haiti earthquake with about 160,000 fatalities, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake with 87,587 fatalities, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake with 87,351 fatalities, and the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake with at least 47,840 fatalities."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, March 5, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
"2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake"
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"On 6 February 2023, at 04:17 TRT (01:17 UTC), a Mw 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The epicenter was 20 mi west–northwest of Gaziantep. The earthquake had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), and was followed by a Mw 7.7 earthquake at 13:24. This earthquake was centered 59 mi to the north-northeast from the first, in Kahramanmaraş Province. There was widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. The Mw 7.8 earthquake was the strongest to occur in Turkey since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude, and jointly the second-strongest recorded in the country, after the 1668 North Anatolia earthquake. It was also one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the Levant. It was felt as far as Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Black Sea coast of Turkey. There were more than 10,000 aftershocks in the three weeks that followed. The seismic sequence was the result of shallow strike-slip faulting. There was widespread damage in an area of about 140,000 sq mi (around 12 times the size of Belgium).
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An estimated 14 million people, or 16 percent of Turkey's population, were affected. Development experts from the United Nations estimated that about 1.5 million people were left homeless. As of 1 March 2023, more than 52,700 deaths were confirmed: more than 45,900 in Turkey, and more than 6,700 in Syria. It is the deadliest earthquake in Turkey since the 526 Antioch earthquake and the deadliest in Syria since the 1822 Aleppo earthquake. It was the deadliest worldwide since the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the fifth-deadliest of the 21st century. The earthquakes are estimated to have caused US$84.1 billion in damages in Turkey and US$5.1 billion in Syria, making them the fourth-costliest earthquakes on record. It is the deadliest natural disaster in Turkey's modern history. Damaged roads, winter storms, and disruption to communications have hampered the national disaster agency AFAD's rescue and relief effort, which included a 60,000-strong search-and-rescue force, 5,000 health workers and 30,000 volunteers. Following Turkey's call for international help, more than 141,000 people from 94 countries joined the rescue effort."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Monday, March 6, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
"2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake"
"On 8 September 2023 at 23:11 DST, a moment magnitude 6.8–6.9 earthquake struck the Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco. The earthquake's epicenter was located 44.6 mi southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil in the Atlas Mountains. It occurred as a result of shallow oblique-thrust faulting beneath the mountain range. At least 2,862 deaths were reported, with most occurring outside Marrakesh. Damage was widespread, including historic landmarks in Marrakesh. The earthquake was also felt in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Mauritania, and Algeria. According to state-run television, citing the Moroccan Interior Ministry, at least 2,862 people were killed and 2,562 were injured; at least 1,404 of the injured were critically hurt. Many fatalities occurred in remote locations south of Marrakesh. A majority of deaths occurred in Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces, where the death tolls reached 1,293 and 452, respectively. Forty-one people died in Ouarzazate and 15 deaths were recorded in Marrakesh.
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A French tourist died of a cardiac arrest during the earthquake. Eight French nationals and some Americans were injured. In Moulay Brahim, residents became trapped under collapsed buildings and volunteers made rescue attempts. Over a dozen fatalities occurred in the village. Some homes in older parts of Marrakesh and portions of the city walls collapsed, leaving families trapped beneath debris. At Jemaa el-Fnaa, a minaret of the Kharboush Mosque and parts of its walls collapsed, crushing vehicles below. The Koutoubia Mosque was also damaged. Several buildings in the Medina of Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 12th century, also collapsed. Internet access was disrupted due to power cuts. The Confederation of African Football postponed the qualifying match for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Liberia, which was due to be held in Agadir on 9 September. UEFA announced a moment of silence for the victims for all club and national team matches until 21 September. Economic losses from the earthquake could reach up to nine-percent of Morocco's GDP, according to the USGS. At least 585 schools were damaged, seven teachers died and 39 others were injured."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Monday, September 11, 2023, 7:46 AM CDT; updated at 9:29 PM CDT. |
"2024 Sea of Japan earthquake"
"On 1 January 2024, at 16:10 JST, a MJMA7.6 (Mw7.5) earthquake struck 4.3 mi north-northwest of Suzu, located on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The reverse-faulting shock achieved a maximum JMA seismic intensity of Shindo 7 and Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The shaking and accompanying tsunami caused extensive damage on the Noto Peninsula, particularly in the towns of Wajima, Suzu and Noto. All 92 fatalities and 242 missing individuals were reported in Ishikawa while over 460 were injured across multiple prefectures, making it the deadliest earthquake in Japan since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The earthquake struck as Japan was marking New Year's Day, a public holiday when many were at home and most establishments were closed. At least 92 people died, all of them in Ishikawa Prefecture; there were 55 deaths in Wajima, 23 in Suzu, five each in Nanao and Anamizu, two in Noto, and one each in Hakui and Shika. At least 464 people were also injured in the prefecture, including some in serious condition. As of 5 January, 242 people remained missing, primarily from Wajima and Suzu; an estimated 100 people remained trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Wajima, and some people may have been swept into the sea by the tsunami. "
Source: Wikipedia.org | Friday, January 5, 2024, 12:00 AM CDT |
"2025 Myanmar earthquake"
"On 28 March 2025 at 12:50:52 MMT a Mw 7.7 earthquake struck the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, with an epicenter close to Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. It was the most powerful earthquake to strike Myanmar since 1912. The earthquake has resulted in more than 3,750 deaths in Myanmar (according to highest death toll counts) and 26 in Thailand. More than 4,610 people were injured. Hundreds more were reported missing, including at a collapsed construction site in Bangkok, whose shallow geology makes it more vulnerable to seismic waves from far away and increases the city's susceptibility to earthquake-related impacts. Authorities in both Myanmar and Thailand declared a state of emergency. As the earthquake struck during Friday prayer hours, collapsing mosques resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Muslims. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar has exacerbated the difficulty of disaster relief and info exposure. It is the deadliest earthquake globally since the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes. The earthquake was felt in 63 of Thailand's 77 provinces with damage reported in 18 provinces, mostly in the north and around Bangkok. The collapsed building was a 33-story office tower being built for the State Audit Office in Chatuchak district. The disaster resulted in 19 confirmed worker deaths."
Source: Wikipedia.org, etc | Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 11:59 PM CDT |
"2025 Afghanistan earthquake" |
"On 31 August 2025, at 23:47 AFT (19:17 UTC), an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale struck eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan. The epicenter of the quake was located in Nurgal District, Kunar Province. It had a hypocenter [(5 miles)] beneath the surface, and the shaking had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent) in Nurgal. Several geological and structural factors led to a relatively heavy impact for the earthquake's relatively moderate size, with around 3,000 deaths, 4,000 injuries and 8,000 collapsed homes; almost all of the casualties and destruction occurred in five districts of Kunar Province, where almost all buildings were damaged or destroyed, with nearby provinces also suffering damage and [casualties]. It was the deadliest earthquake to affect Afghanistan since 1998. A Taliban spokesperson said that the earthquake killed 2,217 people, while the World Health [Organization] (WHO) said nearly 3,000 people died and 4,000 were injured. At least 8,000 homes were also destroyed. In addition, 16 health centers were damaged. At least 391 students and three teachers were among those killed, with 53 schools destroyed and 253 others affected."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, September 7, 2025, 11:59 PM CST |
"Economic Struggle"
"Economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine"
"The economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in late February 2022, in the days after Russia recognized two breakaway Ukrainian republics and launched an invasion of Ukraine. The subsequent economic sanctions have targeted large parts of the Russian economy, Russian oligarchs, and members of the Russian government. Russia responded in kind. A wave of protests and strikes occurred across Europe against the rising cost of living. The war in Ukraine has also resulted in significant loss of human capital, destruction of agricultural trading infrastructure, huge damage to production capacity, including through the loss of electricity, and a reduction in private consumption of more than a third relative to pre-war levels. Wheat prices surged to their highest prices since 2008 in response to the 2022 attacks. Ukraine accounted for 10% of global wheat exports. At the time of the invasion, Ukraine was the fourth-largest exporter of corn and wheat, and the world's largest exporter of sunflower oil, with Russia and Ukraine together responsible for 27% of the world's wheat exports and 53% of the world's sunflowers and seeds. The head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, warned in March that the war in Ukraine could take the global food crisis to "levels beyond anything we've seen before.""
Source: Wikipedia.org | Sunday, April 7, 2024, 11:59PM CDT |
"2023 Hamburg shooting"
"On 9 March 2023, a mass shooting occurred at a Jehovah's Witnesses Hall on Deelböge Street, in the Gross Borstel district near Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany. At least seven people were killed, and eight to 25 people were injured. The perpetrator is believed to be among the dead. At approximately 9:00PM [2PM Central Standard Time] on March 9, 2023, a shooter or shooters opened fire at the Kingdom Hall, killing at least six people and injuring eight to 25 others. First responders entered the building at 9:15PM and heard a gunshot from above. They subsequently discovered the body of a deceased person, who may be the perpetrator, on an upper floor. Jehovah’s Witnesses are part of an international Christian religion founded in the United States in the 19th century and headquartered in New York. The organization claims a worldwide membership of about 8.7 million, with about 170,000 in Germany."
Source: CBS Evening News, March 9, 2023, 5:37 PM CDT | Wikipedia.org, Friday, March 10, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT | ABC/GMA, March 10, 2023, 7:13AM, CDT |
"2023 Hawaii wildfires"
"In early August 2023, a series of wildfires broke out in the U. S. state of Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The wind-driven fires prompted evacuations, caused widespread damage, killing at least 115 people and leaving at least 385 others missing in the town of Lāhainā. The damage caused by the fire has been estimated at nearly $6 billion. Although PDC and FEMA had initially estimated total damage at around $5.52 billion, catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark & Co. estimated on August 16 that insured property losses would be only $3.2 billion. Real estate experts expressed concern that many Lāhainā homes were uninsured or under-insured and surviving owners might not have sufficient financial resources to build new homes in compliance with the state's current building code. Many Native Hawaiians were able to afford to live in Lāhainā only because they had inherited paid-off homes from previous generations, and since they had not needed mortgage loans to purchase their homes, they were not required to carry homeowners’ insurance coverage. Many have also criticized the one-time $700 federal payments given to residents as relief money, saying that it isn't enough to help the residents, with some comparing it to the aid given to Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia. However, FEMA stated that the $700 payments were just one of several types of federal assistance available to survivors of the wildfire, and that the initial payment was meant to address immediate needs such as food, water, and clothing."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Facebook.com | Thursday, August 24, 2023, 8:00 AM CDT | All Major News Networks in the United States | A Wikipedia.org update as of Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 3:13AM CDT |
"Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)"
"The Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of the Israel–Hamas war. The crisis includes both a famine and a healthcare collapse. At the start of the war, Israel implemented a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in significant shortages of fuel, food, medication, water, and essential medical supplies. This siege resulted in a 90% drop in electricity availability, impacting hospital power supplies, sewage plants, and shutting down the desalination plants that provide drinking water. Widespread disease outbreaks have spread across Gaza. Heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes caused catastrophic damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, further deepening the crisis. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 4,000 children killed in the war's first month. UN Secretary General António Guterres stated Gaza had "become a graveyard for children." The situation in the Gaza Strip reached dire levels of starvation and food insecurity by late 2023 and early 2024. As the conflict persisted, the Gaza Strip witnessed a worsening famine, with reports indicating that begging for food became commonplace and hunger became pervasive among the population. By December, international aid organizations and relief workers sounded alarms of mass starvation, with the majority of households facing inadequate food consumption and a significant portion resorting to extreme measures to survive. Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare in the occupied territory, further exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe. By early 2024, the Gaza Strip faced one of the worst instances of man-made starvation in a century."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Monday, April 15, 2024, 11:59 PM CDT |
"Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse"
"Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779–January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the text of the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner." Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 during the War of 1812. He was inspired upon seeing the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn and wrote the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry;" it was published within a week with the suggested tune of the popular song "To Anacreon in Heaven." The song with Key's lyrics became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and slowly gained in popularity as an unofficial anthem, finally achieving official status as the national anthem more than a century later under President Herbert Hoover. On March 26, 2024, at 1:28 a. m. EDT, the main spans and the three nearest northeast approach spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge across the Patapsco River in the Baltimore metropolitan area of Maryland collapsed after the container ship Dali struck one of its piers. Two people were rescued from the river; one had no injuries, while the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Six members of a maintenance crew working on the roadway were reported missing; three bodies were recovered, and the other three are presumed dead. The collapse blocked most shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore. Maryland Governor Wes Moore called the event a "global crisis" that had affected more than 8,000 jobs. The economic impact of the waterway's closure has been estimated at $15 million per day.
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The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a steel arch-shaped continuous truss bridge, the second-longest in the United States and third-longest in the world. Opened in 1977, the 1.6-mile bridge ran northeast from Hawkins Point, Baltimore, to Sollers Point in Dundalk in Baltimore County, Maryland. Before being damaged, it carried Interstate 695, a beltway around Baltimore; its four lanes, [two in each direction,] [was] used by some 34,000 vehicles each day. The bridge crossed one of the busiest shipping routes in the United States: the lower Patapsco River, which connects the Port of Baltimore to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. In 2023, the port handled more than 444,000 passengers and 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo valued at $80 billion. It was the second-largest U. S. port for coal, and had been the leading port for automobiles and light trucks for 13 straight years, handling more than 847,000 vehicles in 2023. It employed 15,000 people and indirectly supported 140,000 others. Key purchased his first slave in 1800 or 1801 and owned six slaves in 1820. He freed seven in the 1830s, and owned eight when he died. One of his freed slaves continued to work for him for wages as his farm's foreman, supervising several slaves. Key also represented several slaves seeking their freedom, as well as several slave-owners seeking return of their runaway slaves. Key was one of the executors of John Randolph of Roanoke's will, which freed his 400 slaves, and Key fought to enforce the will for the next decade and to provide the freedmen and women with land to support themselves."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Friday, April 5, 2024, 11:59PM CDT |
"Palisades Fire (2025)"
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"The Palisades Fire is a wildfire burning in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County in Southern California. As of January 9, 2025, at 2:40 p.m. PST, the fire had spread to over 20,000 acres devastating the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and nearby Malibu. It is the first and largest of a series of wildfires being driven by an extremely powerful Santa Ana wind event. On January 8, Wildfire Alliance statistics indicated that the fire is the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, surpassing the Sayre Fire in Sylmar in 2008 which destroyed 604 structures. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A strong high-pressure system over the Great Basin created a steep northerly pressure gradient across Southern California. The system triggered powerful Santa Ana winds, katabatic winds which are known to develop when cooler, dense inland air is funneled through mountain passes and canyons toward the warmer coastal regions. The fire was first reported at about 10:30 a.m. PST on January 7, 2025, covering around 10 acres of the mountains close to Pacific Palisades. It quickly spread due to a combination of severe drought in Southern California, and a worsening Santa Ana wind event which created wind gusts up to 80 mph. Within 20 minutes, the fire grew from 20 acres to 200 acres. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the blaze had reached more than 700 acres by 2:10 p.m., with over 250 firefighters fighting it as it started to reach homes. Just one hour later, an update from CalFire stated that the fire had rapidly grown to 1,262 acres. According to Wildfire Alliance statistics, the Palisades fire had destroyed at least 1,900 structures by 8 January, making it the most destructive in Los Angeles's history. It surpassed the Sayre Fire, the second-most destructive, which destroyed 604 structures in 2008, and the Bel Air Fire which destroyed nearly 500 houses in 1961. The fire completely destroyed much of Pacific Palisades; almost every structure in the area north of Sunset Boulevard burned to the ground. Most of the neighborhood's "downtown," including the
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supermarkets and the hardware store, was leveled. Destroyed or heavily damaged structures included the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades, Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, St. Matthew's Episcopal Parish School, Village School, and the [land-marked] Pacific Palisades Business Block building. The Palisades branch of the Los Angeles Public Library was gutted. The Los Angeles Unified School District schools Palisades Elementary and Marquez Elementary Schools were destroyed, with Palisades Charter High School being "badly damaged." The [Theater] Palisades was destroyed by the fire, and vegetation at the Getty Villa caught fire but the building itself was unscathed. Will Rogers' house and the stables at the Will Rogers State Historic Park were destroyed; park staff safely evacuated the horses and removed some of the exhibited memorabilia. The historic Topanga Ranch Motel at Topanga State Park also burned down. A total of 30 buildings across the two parks were destroyed including staff housing. Other historic homes were destroyed, including the Andrew McNally House. Restaurants along Pacific Coast Highway that burned included Cholada Thai, Moonshadows, and the Reel Inn. Many celebrities lost their homes in the fire, including Jeff Bridges, Denise Crosby, Billy Crystal, Michael Connelly, Cary Elwes, Anna Faris, John Goodman, Jennifer Grey, Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, Ricki Lake, Eugene Levy, Cameron Mathison, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Mandy Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, Melissa Rivers, Miles Teller, Milo Ventimiglia, Diane Warren, and James Woods. President Joe Biden arrived in Los Angeles the evening of January 6 ahead of a planned event in Thermal to establish two new national monuments and for the birth of his great-grandson. He entered his limousine, but due to the fire and ongoing wind event, the motorcade never departed, and he returned to his hotel. The dedication ceremony was rescheduled for the following week at the White House. The serious damage to property caused by the fire has resulted in tremendous liabilities for home insurance companies. In particular, due to other insurers pulling out of the region, the California FAIR Plan had approximately 6 billion dollars of exposure in the area covered by the Palisades Fire as of January 8, 2025."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Friday, January 10, 2025, 10:40AM |
"Martial law in the United States"
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or
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Chaos in Christendom?
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"Martial law in the United States refers to times in United States history in which in a region, state, city, or the whole United States was placed under the control of a military body. On a national level, both the US President and the US Congress have the power, within certain constraints, to impose martial law since both can be in charge of the militia. In nearly every state, the governor has the power to impose martial law within the borders of the state. In the United States, martial law has been used in a limited number of circumstances, such as New Orleans during the Battle of New Orleans; after major disasters, such as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, or during riots, such as the Omaha race riot of 1919 or the 1920 Lexington riots; local leaders declared martial law to protect themselves from mob violence, such as Nauvoo, Illinois, during the Illinois Mormon War, or Utah during the Utah War; or in response to chaos associated with protests and rioting, such as the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike, in Hawaii after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and during the Civil Rights Movement in response to the Cambridge riot of 1963. The martial law concept in the United States is closely tied to the right of habeas corpus, which is, in essence, the right to a hearing and trial on lawful imprisonment, or more broadly, the supervision of law enforcement by the judiciary. The ability to suspend habeas corpus is related to the imposition of martial law. Article 1, Section 9 of the US Constitution states, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in
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Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." There have been many instances of the use of the military within the borders of the United States, such as during the Whiskey Rebellion, President Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus in 1861 in order to arrest one-third of the Maryland state assembly, and in the South during the Civil Rights Movement, but those acts are not tantamount to a declaration of martial law. In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions that were handed down between the American Civil War and World War II. In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids US military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. Throughout history, martial law has been imposed at least 68 times in limited, usually local areas of the United States. Martial law was declared for these reasons: Twice for war or invasion, seven times for domestic war or insurrection, eleven times for riot or civil unrest, 29 times for labor dispute, four times for natural disaster and fifteen times for other reasons. Habeas corpus was suspended federally only once in 1863 during the Civil War. H. R. 5122, also known as the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 was a bill passed in the United States Congress on September 29, 2006, and signed by President George W. Bush on October 17, 2006, becoming Public Law 109-364. In addition to allocating funding for the armed forces, it also gave the president the power to declare martial law and to take command of the National Guard units of each state without the consent of state governors."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11:59 PM CT |
"Rural America is suffering an economic crisis as crop prices plunge"
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"Farm incomes, credit conditions deteriorate"
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"Agricultural trade groups have sounded the alarm recently on the state of farmers, who are grappling with a continued slump in prices for their crops and worsening credit conditions. They have asked lawmakers to help increase access to export markets, including China, which is still locked in a trade war with the U. S. U. S. producers of corn and soybeans have sent dire warnings as prices for their crops have crashed in recent years while President Donald Trump’s trade war whipsaws farmers. On Thursday, the National Corn Growers Association raised alarms about "the economic crisis hitting rural America, as commodity prices drop at a time when input costs remain at near-record highs." Corn prices have plunged more than 50% from their 2022 peak, while production costs are down just 3% in that span, translating to a loss of 85 cents per bushel, the NCGA said, adding that the outlook for next year is worse with even lower prices and higher costs. The NCGA called on Congress and the Trump administration to boost demand, including via higher blends of ethanol and increased foreign market access. A week before that, the American Soybean Association sent a letter to Trump, warning that "U. S. soybean farmers are standing at a trade and financial precipice." The group asked that Trump prioritize soybeans in trade talks with China, seeking major purchase commitments as well as the removal of Beijing’s duties on the U. S. "Historically, the U. S. was the provider of choice for Chinese customers," the letter said.
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"However, due to ongoing tariff retaliation, our longstanding customers in China have and will continue to turn to our competitors in South America to meet their demand, a demand Brazil can meet due to significantly increased production since the previous trade war with China." "Soybean farmers are under extreme financial stress," the group said. "Prices continue to drop and at the same time our farmers are paying significantly more for inputs and equipment. U. S. soybean farmers cannot survive a prolonged trade dispute with our largest customer." The bleak picture of the agricultural economy was echoed by the Federal Reserve’s latest survey of farm financial conditions. It found that weaker income has reduced liquidity for farmers, boosting demand for financing. At the same time, credit conditions deteriorated with roughly 30% of respondents in the Chicago Fed and Kansas City Fed districts reporting lower repayment rates versus a year ago, while the Minneapolis Fed region’s share was around 40% and the St. Louis Fed’s was 50%. To be sure, U. S. farmers are set to receive substantial help. After Trump launched his latest trade war earlier this year, the administration and lawmakers began talking about a bailout for farmers in April, similar to how they received a bailout during Trump’s first term, when he waged a trade war against China. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed in July included about $66 billion in agriculture-focused spending. The vast majority, about $59 billion, is earmarked for farm safety-net enhancements, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. In addition, other trade deals Trump has negotiated should see countries elsewhere in Asia step up purchases of U.S. crops."
Source: Finance.yahoo.com, Fortune.com | Monday, September 1, 2025, 12:00 AM CST |
"Tornado"
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"A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology to name a weather system with a low-pressure area in the center around which, from an observer looking down toward the surface of the Earth, winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern. Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, and they are often visible in the form of a condensation funnel originating from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, with a cloud of rotating debris and dust beneath it. Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 110 miles per hour, are about 250 feet across, and travel several a few miles before dissipating. The most extreme tornadoes can attain wind speeds of more than 300 mph, are more than 2 mi in diameter, and stay on the ground for more than 60 miles."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Monday, March 27, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
"Tornado outbreak of March 24–26, 2023"
"On March 24, 2023, a deadly severe weather and tornado outbreak began affecting portions of the lower Mississippi River Valley in the United States. An eastward-moving [through] interacted with a moist and unstable environment from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in widespread heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms. A preliminarily-rated violent EF4 tornado took a path through the towns of Rolling Fork, Midnight, and Silver City in western Mississippi, causing catastrophic damage and many fatalities. Multiple tornado emergencies were issued for that tornado and two subsequent EF3 tornadoes from the same [super-cell] that struck Winona and Amory, respectively. Damaging winds, embedded tornadoes, and flash flooding also occurred throughout the region as an organized line of storms moved eastward across Tennessee and Alabama, including one low-end EF2 tornado that killed a person in Hartselle, Alabama. More severe weather and tornadoes were reported the next day in Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, and Ohio. After a lull throughout most of March 25, the storm system stalled and the outbreak continued on March 26."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Monday, March 27, 2023, 12:00 AM CDT |
"Floods"
"2023 Fort Lauderdale floods"
 Hollywood, Florida, 2023
"On April 12, 2023, a historic flash flood event occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and surrounding areas. The Fort Lauderdale area reported 25.6 inches of rain within approximately 12 hours; 21.42 in of rain fell in nearby Dania Beach while other affected areas such as Hollywood and South Miami recorded at least 9 in of rain. Fort Lauderdale mayor Dean Trantalis issued a state of emergency due to the flooding. Over 20 in of rain fell around Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. The 25.91 in of rain measured at the airport was the most ever observed in Fort Lauderdale in a single day, eclipsing the previous record of 14.59 in set on April 25, 1979. The daily total was roughly equivalent to a third of the city's annual rainfall and seven times the typical April total, exceeding the 19.47 in of rain that fell in April 1979, Fort Lauderdale's previous wettest April on record. To the north of the city, a nearby swath of rainfall totals between 15–20 in spanned from Hollywood to Dania Beach. During the most intense rainfall on the evening of April 12, rainfall rates exceeded 3–4 in per hour, comparable to the average April rainfall total; the extreme rainfall rates were at the level of a [1-in-1000-year] event.
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 Jackson, Kentucky, 2022
Rainfall amounts tapered to the south, with totals of [3–5 inches] in Miami proper. Floodwater depths exceeded 3 ft near Floyd Hull Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The flood inundation near and north of downtown Fort Lauderdale reached depths of 1–2 ft. Over 900 calls were received by the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department during the storm, with the Broward County Sheriff's Office assisting in roughly 300 of those calls. Debris and floodwaters inundated the runways and prompted the temporary closure of Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. Streets in Fort Lauderdale remained impassable on April 13 due to slow flood drainage. Several exits along Interstate 95 were closed by Florida Highway Patrol. Schools were closed in Broward County on April 13 as a result of the flood. Prior to the storm landing in Florida, many services such as American red cross opened shelters in area such as Holiday Park for those affected by the floods. Additionally, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue Department deployed staff to the affected areas. Due to high waters blocking streets, rescue craft and aquatic vehicles [were] employed to rescue survivors."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 4:00 PM CDT |
"October 2024 Spain floods" |
"On 29 October 2024, torrential rain caused by an isolated low-pressure area at high levels brought over a year's worth of precipitation to several areas in southeastern Spain, including the Valencian Community, Castilla–La Mancha, and Andalusia. The resulting floodwaters caused the deaths of at least 205 people and substantial property damage. It is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Spain by the number of confirmed deaths. The resulting floodwaters caused the deaths of more than 205 people, including 202 in the province of Valencia, two more in Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia. According to provisional figures by the Valencian government, based on calls to an emergency number regarding missing family members, around 1,900 people have been declared missing; five more people are also missing in Castilla–La Mancha. Among the missing were 16 members of Spain's Romanian community. The flooding also caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, sweeping away cars and derailing a high-speed train but not injuring any of its nearly 300 passengers. According to José Ángel Núñez, the chief climatologist of the AEMET, most of the deaths occurred in localities where there had not been any rain. Major highways in the region, were blocked as a result of the floods and subsequent crashes, as well as various other roads, which were impossible to transit. Metrovalencia services were suspended, with the lines south of the city particularly badly affected. It was expected that it would take months to restore normal service. The electric grid suffered grave damage, and natural gas distribution services were suspended for safety reasons. The monetary damage caused by the floods was expected to be the worst in Spanish history, superseding the 1983 Spanish floods."
Source: Wikipedia.org | Friday, November 1, 2024, 10:02PM |
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