All eyes are on Hurricane Dorian
A hurricane at Florida's doorstep. An ocean tragedy in California. And another harrowing weekend of shootings. It’s Ashley, and we’ll get through Tuesday's less-than-good news together.
Dorian's winds are slamming Florida
Hurricane Dorian weakened to a Category 2 on Tuesday, but the violent storm was growing as it moved away from the Bahamas and grazed the Florida coast. By Tuesday afternoon, tropical-storm-force winds were slamming portions of the east coast of Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. The latest forecasts put the hurricane farther off Florida than previous projections. Still, forecasters said some coastal areas from Florida to North Carolina could see 4 to 10 inches of rain in coming days. Or worse.
In the Bahamas, Dorian pummeled the islands with fearsome winds for over 36 hours, leaving at least five people dead and thousands of homes in ruins. "We are in the midst of a historic tragedy," Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Monday.
#BAHAMASTRONG: Here’s how you can help those affected by Dorian.
Photos: See the destruction Hurricane Dorian wreaked on the Bahamas.
If Dorian leaves your home flooded, here's what you should do next.
What everyone’s talking about
Hold the fries: A viral video shows a rat jump into deep fryer at a Whataburger in Texas.
"All I can smell is fish": A vegan woman is suing her neighbors for barbecuing in their backyard.
A man reportedly pulled a gun on Popeyes employees after the restaurant ran out of chicken sandwiches.
A Notre Dame quarterback's throw apparently broke a Louisville cheerleader's nose.
The "Friends" Central Perk couch is traveling to a landmark near you.
An ocean tragedy in California
All 33 passengers and one crew member are presumed dead after a tragic boat fire Monday off California, just hours before it was due to return from a three-day dive trip. Authorities reported Tuesday that the remains of 20 victims had been recovered, while 14 victims remain missing. Here's what we know about the boat and fire at this time.
Five crew members sleeping on the top deck were saved. Passengers and one crew member on the bottom of the deck are assumed dead.
Investigators haven't determined what caused the blaze, but authorities say there’s no indication an explosion occurred.
Passengers may have been unable to get out because both the main stairwell and escape hatch were likely blocked by fire.
The victims range from teenagers to senior citizens, police said.
The Coast Guard suspended their search efforts, as "no additional signs of distress or debris has been witnessed."
Walmart is over it.
In the wake of a rash of mass shootings that have left the country reeling, Walmart will stop selling handgun and assault-style rifle ammunition. The nation's largest retailer, which previously stopped selling handguns, is also asking customers to avoid openly carry guns in their stores and is calling on federal lawmakers to improve background checks and gun legislation. Walmart has been under pressure from gun control activists and others to change its gun policies in the wake of a wave of mass shootings, including one at a Walmart in El Paso last month that left 22 people dead.
Real quick
Rebel lawmakers in Britain's Parliament moved to block "no-deal" Brexit, setting up a likely new election.
Disney Cruises responded amid backlash for leaving crew in Hurricane Dorian's path.
An interracial Mississippi couple were turned away from a wedding venue, with the owner citing "Christian beliefs."
Schools in rural America are in trouble. The problem? Teachers don’t want to stay.
Almost a week after news broke of Leslie Jones leaving "Saturday Night Live," the actress has broken her silence.
7 fatally shot, 34 wounded in Chicago
Gun violence over the Labor Day weekend left seven people dead and another 34 wounded in Chicago, according to police. Two teenagers were among the weekend’s shooting fatalities, WLS-TV reports, including 15-year-old Davantae Jackson, who was supposed to be starting high school Tuesday. The violence is up from Labor Day last year, when 27 people were shot, including four fatally.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Dorian, Walmart, boat fire, Chicago shooting: Tuesday's news
