Author: Staff

A woman was killed in an apparent shark attack off the coast of Maine on Monday, which authorities say is a rare occurrence that has only been recorded once before in the state by an unprovoked shark.

Maine Marine Patrol said a witness saw the woman swimming off the shore of Bailey Island when she was injured in what appeared to be a shark attack. Two kayakers helped the person get to shore, and an ambulance provided further assistance, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Marine Patrol said. The name of the woman was not released.

There has only been one recorded unprovoked shark attack in Maine. The state Marine Patrol is urging swimmers and boaters to use caution near Bailey Island and to avoid swimming near schooling fish or seals.

Shark appears to kill woman in rare attack in Maine, authorities say

Via www.nbcnews.com

Maine has recorded only one shark attack since 1837, researchers say.

07/27/2020 10:44 PM

 

On Monday, Senate Republicans unveiled their $1 trillion economic relief plan that would provide a second round of $1,200 coronavirus stimulus payments to many American adults and slash enhanced federal unemployment payments from $600 a week to $200.

The release of the plan marked the start of negotiations that will involve House Democrats, who passed their own, more generous relief bill in the House in May that includes $1,200 checks and an extension of the $600 unemployment benefit. The Republican plan provides a new round of stimulus checks to many adults and $500 per dependent, regardless of age. The full amount would go to people with taxable annual incomes of up to $75,000. It would be gradually phased out for people with taxable income up to $99,000; those above that income level would be ineligible for payments.

On the $600 federal unemployment benefits that many laid-off workers have been relying for months, Republicans would cut the subsidy to $200 a week through September. After that, Republicans want states to be ready to set up a system in which the federal subsidy would not exceed 70% of the laid-off worker’s previous salary, with a cap of $500 a week. 

The GOP plan also includes $100 billion for schools to either reopen or adapt to online instruction; a sequel to the popular Paycheck Protection Program targeting more vulnerable small businesses; and new tax incentives to encourage employers to bring employees back to work. 

U.S. Republicans unveil coronavirus plan, slash emergency unemployment benefit

Via uk.reuters.com

Senate Republicans on Monday proposed a $1 trillion coronavirus aid package hammered out with…

07/27/2020 8:12 PM

 

Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

Hurricane Douglas approached Hawaii on Sunday packing torrential rains and damaging winds just east of the islands in the central Pacific. 

Forecasters urged residents to be prepared for the worst as Douglas was expected to make landfall or pass close to the main Hawaiian islands from Maui to Kauai. 

In its latest update, the hurricane center said Douglas had maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (140 km per hour), moving west-northwest at 16 mph (26 kph) about 55 miles (90 km) east of Kahului.  “We encourage everyone to hunker down, to be prepared for hurricane force winds. We prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” Governor David Ige said during a news conference.

Hurricanes and tropical storms are rare for Hawaii; only five hurricanes and tropical storms have caused major damage on the islands since 1950, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii.

Hurricane Douglas nears Hawaii as “pretty nasty” Category 1 storm

Via www.cbsnews.com

Forecasters said the Category 1 hurricane would pass close to Oahu and potentially even make a…

07/26/2020 9:15 PM

 

Florida surpassed New York in total COVID-19 cases after reporting more than 9,000 new cases on Sunday. The Florida Department of Health on Sunday reported 9,344 new cases for a total of 423,855, surpassing New York’s total of 411,736. Florida also reported 77 new deaths of Florida residents for a total of 5,854. The state record was 173 last Thursday.

More than one-third of the cases reported in Florida have been among people between the ages of 15 and 34, with outbreaks in jails, farms and nursing homes, the health department reported. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state health experts say the virus is once again beginning to hit a plateau in Florida, and that spikes in newly-confirmed infections correlate with large increases in statewide testing.

Florida surpasses New York in total coronavirus cases, adds 9,300 Sunday

Via www.msn.com

Florida surpassed New York over the weekend as the state with the second-most coronavirus cases…

07/26/2020 5:19 PM

 

Editorial credit: YES Market Media / Shutterstock.com