We're mixing disasters now
A tornado-spawning hurricane. A British insult. And a record fine. It’s Ashley. Here’s Thursday’s news, in short.
But first, a thing of nightmares: A rare, two-headed rattlesnake was found slithering around New Jersey. 🐍🐍
Hurricane Dorian spawns tornadoes spawns
At least 10 tornadoes were reported in South Carolina and North Carolina over the past day as Hurricane Dorian approached, adding another layer of worrisome weather threatening nervous residents. Parts of historic Market Street in Charleston, North Carolina, were under a foot of water Thursday as the hurricane continued its advance on the U.S. coast. Hundreds of thousands of coastal residents of the Carolinas packed up to flee their homes or were already gone. Almost 250,000 homes and businesses across the region were without power. As of midafternoon, the eye of Dorian was just offshore of Cape Romain, South Carolina.
Watch Dorian's waves swallow a Jeep abandoned on a South Carolina beach.
Hundreds of animals are being rescued from Dorian. Here's how to help.
Michigan State's handling of Nassar case was 'abhorrent'
Michigan State University will pay a record $4.5 million fine for its poor handling of the Larry Nassar case, the federal Education Department announced Thursday. "What happened at MSU was abhorrent ... so was the university's response to their crimes," U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said, referring to former MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor Nassar and his boss, former osteopathic college Dean William Strampel. Over and over in a 54-page document, the Office of Civil Rights says MSU knew about issues with Nassar and Strampel and brushed them aside. The outcome of that burying of problems was to create an environment in which female students knew they would not be believed, the report says.
What I’m reading: Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY audience editor
Once a week, we'll feature some 🔥 story picks from my USA TODAY colleagues. This week: "Golden Girls" enthusiast Felicia.
These two sisters attained the rank of general – and a place in Army history.
Ferrell Scott is spending life in a federal prison for selling large amounts of marijuana. Entrepreneurs make millions now doing the same thing.
People with nonmeat diets may have a higher risk of stroke but a lower risk of heart disease, a study found. I’m still going to eat an apple a day, though.
Not all heroes wear capes: This 6-year-old boy gave money he saved for Disney World to help Hurricane Dorian evacuees.
Adding to the travel bucket list: 10 great places to camp in America's national parks.
If school didn't teach you much about money, here are four things you should know.
Nicki Minaj fans are having a meltdown
Nicki Minaj tweeted Thursday that she's "decided to retire" to focus on having a family, promptly setting the interwebs on fire. But is she really leaving music behind? Though the 36-year-old rap diva didn't expand on her tweet publicly, her announcement left fans reeling on Twitter. "PLS SAY SIKE," one person tweeted. "Delete this now," another wrote. Minaj's tweet comes about a month after she announced her plans to marry Kenneth Petty.
We'd never call you a 'chlorinated chicken'
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had some dietary advice for Vice President Mike Pence: "We’re not too keen on that chlorinated chicken," Johnson told Pence during a meeting Thursday on the prospects of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal. Seems random, but let's back up: During trade deal talks, some British officials expressed concern that U.S. farmers engage in chlorine washing of chickens. The British prime minister used the poultry term as a political taunt against Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn this week. "We have a gigantic chlorinated chicken of our own, here, on the opposition benches,” he told Pence. Oh, and Johnson told Pence that Americans don't eat enough British lamb and haggis.
Real quick
Country singer Kylie Rae Harris died in a New Mexico car crash at age 30.
The Tenaja Fire scorched nearly 1,400 acres in Southern California, triggering mandatory evacuations for hundreds.
An Ohio woman was arrested with a baby hidden in a bag at an airport in the Philippines.
The Oakland Raiders plan to suspend Antonio Brown after his exchange with General Manager Mike Mayock.
A cheerleader accused of killing a newborn and burying her in the backyard after prom began her trial on a charge of murder.
Adding to a future reading list: Former Trump White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders plans to write a book. But don't expect a tell-all.
Frats have changed, but only a little
Young men have died in fraternities every year for two decades. They died from alcohol poisoning, extreme physical labor or complications from injuries – all in the name of fraternal brotherhood. Yet Greek initiations roll on. In response, frats banned hard liquor – but mothers of the students who died say that’s not enough. The deaths will keep coming, they say. “It’s certainly not perfect,” one fraternity advocate acknowledged. “We’re dealing with college students.” Recent deaths have increased pressure on fraternities to change and revived an old discussion: Are the benefits of fraternity membership worth the lives of young adults?
This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this snappy news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for "The Short List" newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Dorian, Nassar, Nicki Minaj, Raiders: Thursday's news
