Throughout our hectic student lives, we should always remain aware of what is happening around us. In this column, I find some of the most significant events happening in the world around us and provide you with a small blurb and nitty-gritty details. Here are some of the major events that have been taking place:
Burning Man Flooding.
Burning Man, an annual festival held in Black Rock Desert, was unexpectedly disrupted by severe weather. The festival intends to promote creativity, nonconformity and sustainability guided by 10 principles drafted by the co-founder, Lary Harvey. For instance, attendees do not use money, instead they borrow, barter and trade.
Between Friday and Saturday morning, the desert was hit with two to three months’ worth of rain, which was up to 0.8 inches. The rain created thick mud, which resembles a clay-like consistency that made it difficult to walk or drive. Surrounding roads were closed with many wearing plastic bags on their feet to walk to the nearest town for shelter.
It is estimated that around 70,000 people remain trapped in the desert. On Sunday morning, authorities confirmed a fatality, and their death is currently under investigation. The victim has not yet been identified to the public.
Information from CNN, APNews and Reuters.
President Biden Visits Florida.
President Biden and the First Lady traveled to Florida last week to survey damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. He promised to approve any requests from Florida for federal recovery resources and urged Congress to ensure funding for the state and future disasters. Biden also commented that infrastructure urgently needs to be improved, citing that the impact of the climate crisis can no longer be denied.
Governor Ron DeSantis chose not to meet with the president although Biden initially stated that they would meet. DeSantis implied a meeting might hinder disaster relief efforts. Biden instead met with Senator Rick Scott, one of two Republican senators of the state,while DeSantis visited small communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Information from the BBC, NBC News and CBS News.
Family Vlogger Ruby Franke Arrested for Allegations of Child Abuse.
Youtuber, Ruby Franke, along with her business partner were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of aggravated child abuse. Franke’s content was geared towards giving parents advice on how to raise children. She is a Mormon mother of six hailing from Utah. Franke documented her day-to-day life to her 3.1 million subscribers on the now defunct “8 passengers” channel. Prior to her arrest, viewers were concerned with Franke’s strict parenting style.
Last Wednesday morning, Franke’s 12-year-old son climbed out of their house’s window. The child ran to a neighbor’s house asking them for food and water. He had duct tape around his ankles and wrists. The child appeared to be malnourished, according to the responding officer. He was transported to a hospital. The police searched the home and found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter, who also appeared to be malnourished. The girl was soon taken to the hospital. Four of Franke’s children were eventually placed in foster care.
Information from NPR, NBC News and APNews.
Sources:
Burning Man Flooding.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/03/us/burning-man-storms-shelter-sunday/index.html
President Biden Visits Florida.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66699306
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-in-florida-response-hurricane-idalia/
Family Vlogger Ruby Frankie Arrested for Allegations of Child Abuse.
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/01/1197289217/ruby-franke-utah-youtube-child-abuse
