Tens of thousands of Burning Man festival-goers in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada have been issued a shelter-in-place order due to heavy rain making the area an impassable mud pit. The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Black Rock airport and only emergency vehicles are permitted to drive on the playa or festival grounds. Participants are urged to conserve supplies and remain in a safe place until the order is lifted.
News Mash
Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson passed away at the age of 71. He was known for his commitment to public service, both in government and in his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which he founded, works to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad and will continue to honor his legacy.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are visiting Florida to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and meet with first responders, federal personnel, and local officials. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns with the president's "security apparatus" disrupting recovery efforts, and the visit is reminiscent of then-Governor Chris Christie's embrace of then-President Barack Obama during Superstorm Sandy. It is yet to be seen how the President's visit will affect the 2024 presidential race.
Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer-songwriter best known for his hit song “Margaritaville,” passed away peacefully on September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He had a devoted fan base, dubbed “Parrotheads,” and his influence on the music industry will be remembered for years to come. His record label, Geffen Records, said “The music will live on.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will not meet with President Joe Biden when he visits the state this weekend to survey the damage from Hurricane Idalia. Sparky Abrandt, 78, is one of the lucky few whose home has survived the storm, and the Governor's office has said that they are committed to ensuring that the affected communities receive the resources they need to recover. It is unclear whether DeSantis will join the President on the trip.
The Republican Party of Nevada has announced that they will be holding a caucus on February 8th to determine the state's presidential primary winner, causing a clash between the 2024 presidential campaigns and party leaders. In response, a super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential run has suspended its door knocking outreach in Nevada and three other Super Tuesday states. This adjustment is a reminder of the outsized role the PAC has played in DeSantis' campaign, and it is unclear how this decision will affect the outcome of the election.
Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods and Fulham Football Club, passed away peacefully of old age on August 30th, 2023. He was most famously known for his son Dodi Fayed, who died in a car crash with Princess Diana in 1997. The family has requested privacy and will be holding a private memorial service in the coming weeks to honor his life and legacy.
German prosecutors have charged a 98-year-old man with being an accessory to murder as a guard at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1943 and 1945. The man is accused of having “supported the cruel and malicious killing of thousands of prisoners” and is facing more than 3,300 counts of being an accessory to murder. If the case goes to trial, he will be tried under juvenile law, taking account of his age at the time of the alleged crimes. This case is a reminder of the need for Germany to continue to investigate and prosecute those who committed such heinous crimes, regardless of their age.