Daily Briefing: Families search for missing people in Maui
The death count continues to climb and parts of coastal communities in Hawaii have been largely destroyed by wildfires, including the historic town of Lahaina. Also in the news: What to make of college football's chaotic realignment and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Would you drink a spiked Dunkin' coffee?
Now, here we go with Friday's news.
Disaster likely to become deadliest in Hawaii history
Two days after rapidly spreading wildfires began racing through areas of the island of Maui in Hawaii, families and friends are still hoping to hear from missing loved ones.
Officials said Thursday at least 55 people had died and the death toll will likely continue to rise.
Lack of communication is complicating rescue efforts: A spreadsheet created by Maui resident Ellie Erickson and shared widely on social media showed people from around the globe trying to reach people they know on the island.
After Maui's Lahaina Town was razed by fire Tuesday night, residents and visitors are mourning the loss of cultural and religious sites that trace their roots back centuries.
No warning: officials confirmed that emergency management records show no indication that the warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire wiped out the town of Lahaina.
Keep reading: Here's what travelers should know about the Maui wildfires.
Back to school — and the culture wars
Religious parents in one of the nation's most liberal counties are clashing with public school officials over whether elementary students should be allowed to opt out of reading books with LGBTQ+ characters in the latest culture war battle being waged inside the classroom. Three sets of parents and an advocacy group representing other families are asking a federal court in Maryland to suspend the policy – opening a new legal front at a time when schools are grappling with rules for transgender students and education has become a political flashpoint. Read more
Colleges are offering gender-inclusive housing. But queer students say the programs aren't perfect.
Lebanon, Kuwait attempt to ban ''Barbie'' for ''homosexuality'' and gender themes.
Coming out can be messy. ''Heartstopper'' on Netflix gets real about the process.
More news to know now
The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season may be more eventful than normal, NOAA says.
Republicans say an impeachment inquiry is just an investigation: That's not what they said about Trump.
Inflation ticked higher in July for the first time in 13 months as rent climbed.
A ''transportation disaster'' stranded Kentucky students for hours, cancels school for two days.
On today's 5 Things podcast, a look at whether age matters in politics. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
6 Colombians arrested in assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate
The six men arrested as suspects in the assassination of an anti-corruption Ecuadorian presidential candidate are Colombian nationals, a police report said Thursday as authorities investigated the motive for a crime that shocked a nation already reeling from a surge in drug-related violence. Fernando Villavicencio, 59, who was known for speaking up against drug cartels, was assassinated in Quito on Wednesday, less than two weeks before a special presidential election. His death deepened the sense of crisis around organized crime that has already claimed thousands of lives and underscored the challenge that Ecuador’s next leader will face. Read more
The U.S. has reached a secret agreement with Iran involving the release of five “unjustly detained” Americans.
Biden asks Congress for more than $13 billion in aid to Ukraine. He may be in for a fight.
FBI shoots and kills Utah man wanted for threats against Biden before president's visit.
Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma's multi-billion opioid settlement
The Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily blocked a settlement reached with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that required members of the Sackler family who once controlled the company to pay $6 billion but shielded them from future lawsuits over the nation's opioid crisis. A federal appeals court in New York approved the company's bankruptcy plan earlier this year. But a U.S. government trustee, part of the Justice Department, last month asked the Supreme Court to put that ruling on hold. The government argues lower courts should not have shielded the Sacklers from liability. Read more
A popular heartburn medicine increases dementia risk by 33%.
As the drug shortage list grows, many hospitals are facing tough decisions on rationing care.
More young Americans are dying – and it's not COVID. Why aren't we searching for answers?
In Oklahoma, Native American women struggle to access emergency contraception.
Just for subscribers:
Trump's adviser was accused of groping two women in 2021 at an Arizona club.
DeSantis' ''terrible summer'': Donors, experts see a narrowing path to overtake Trump.
A stem cell donor from another country saved her life. Seven years later, they finally met.
Race to electric: Nissan's U.S. strategy depends on southeast growth.
These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.
Who’s to blame for college football conference realignment chaos?
As a result of power brokers' actions − directly or indirectly – the once-glorious Pac-12 has nearly disintegrated, leaving huge fan bases on the West Coast abandoned by longtime peers in favor of more money from television companies, along with more cross-country trips for athletes in other sports across three time zones. On the other hand, the Big Ten Conference now is adding Oregon, Washington, Southern California and UCLA to expand to 18 teams for 2024, part of a strategy to deliver more big games and growth for some of the game’s biggest brands. Read who deserves credit (or blame) for it.
Hall of Fame coach Dennis Erickson blames presidents' greed for Pac-12's downfall.
Northwestern University athletic director blasted football staffers for ''tone deaf'' shirts supporting fired coach.
Video captures college football player surprising walk-on teammate with scholarship.
Quick hits
New movies to see this weekend: Skip ''Last Voyage of the Demeter,'' stream ''Heart of Stone.''
Why is the internet furious at Ariana Grande and what does that say about us?
Gal Gadot told USA TODAY she enjoys being an Evil Queen.
A teen influencer's Instagram said she was dead. But she's not.
Going camping or hiking this summer? Consider bringing along these safety products.
Why are some high school seniors going back to school with kindergarten backpacks?
Photo of the day: 50th anniversary of hip-hop
50 Cent and Busta Rhymes bridged the gap between generations of hip-hop. Thursday night. On the eve of the genre's 50th anniversary, the rappers paid tribute to the past for 50 Cent's The Final Lap Tour. The moment proved to be extra emotional as an audience mostly decked out in New York-branded apparel celebrated hip-hop's anniversary a few boroughs away from the genre's birthplace. Read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Maui wildfire, back to school, Ecuador, Purdue Pharma, college football, hip-hop: Daily Briefing
