News·4 min read

Daily Skimm: Hurricane Ian, Iran, and The Danish Queen

Wind gusts blow across Sarasota Bay as Hurricane Ian churns to the south on September 28, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida.
September 29, 2022

Catastrophic

The Story

Hurricane Ian has hit the US.

Tell me.

Yesterday, the Category 4 storm touched down along the southwestern coast of Florida — just shy of Category 5 — around 3 pm ET. It was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the US. The storm brought 150 mph winds and a storm surge of up to 18 feet in some parts. Roofs have reportedly been torn off, cars are floating along the streets, and at least one person has died. That’s in addition to the two people killed in Cuba when the storm passed by there on Tuesday. And after 23 people in a migrant boat went missing amid the storm. Now, more than 1.8 million Floridians are without power — with more expected to lose power in the coming days. As of last night, the storm downgraded to Category 1 with 90 mph winds. It's expected to hit Georgia tomorrow.

How are people reacting?

Some 2.5 million people in Florida were under evacuation orders. The Red Cross says more than 13,000 fled to shelters. But it's unknown how many decided to ride out the storm. Now, emergency responders are overwhelmed by calls. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) warns electricity issues and other dangerous conditions will outlast the storm itself. The Biden administration has offered the “full force of the federal government” — and has approved the governor’s emergency declaration.

theSkimm

Florida is being pummeled by a historic storm. Stay updated and stay safe.

And Also...This

Where the world is watching… 

Iran. Yesterday, Iran attacked Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq, killing at least nine people and injuring 32 others. The attack — which came after days of bombardments — comes as Tehran accuses the groups of supporting Iranian protesters. In the nearly two weeks since the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, thousands of Iranians have turned out to protest the state’s rules on the hijab and the country's morality police. In response, police have cracked down using tear gas, water cannons, and batons. So far, at least 41 people have reportedly been killed in the demonstrations. Yesterday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke on TV saying the gov would not tolerate “chaos and riots.” 

What the White House is focused on...

Hunger and health. Yesterday, President Biden convened the first conference on the topic in 50 years. And laid out his plan to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030. On the to-do list: improve food access and affordability by expanding food stamps and school meals; increase healthy eating choices by including nutrition labels on the front of food packages; and enhance food security research by funding philanthropy efforts and startups. The admin says it has more than $8 billion in private- and public-sector commitments to meet those goals. Companies like Google, Tyson Foods, DoorDash, and Walgreens have all chipped in. But some of the goals — like expanding food stamps — require congressional approval in a divided Congress.

  • Redefining “healthy”: Yesterday, the FDA announced a proposed rule that would match up the definition of ‘healthy’ with “current nutrition science.” The agency says it’ll help consumers more easily navigate nutrition labels and make better choices at the grocery store. 

...Oh and in one uncomfortable moment during the conference, Biden asked “where’s Jackie,” referring to the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN). Walorski had helped cosponsor a bill to fund the conference but died in a car accident last month.

Who people are remembering…

Coolio. Yesterday, the West Coast rapper died at a friend's house. He was 59 years old. His career took off with “Fantastic Voyage” and flew to the top of the charts with his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise.” The song — which earned him a Grammy — reached a milestone, with one billion views on YouTube this past July. Coolio’s other hits include “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New),” “C U When U Get There,” and the theme song for “Kenan & Kel.” Ice Cube paid tribute to Coolio's "grind to the top of the industry." And actress Michelle Pfeiffer remembered him as a "gifted artist."

Who’s been stripped of their royal titles…

The Danish queen’s grandchildren.

While Lizzo picked up a 200-year-old flute...

LeBron James picked up a professional pickleball team.

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