SUperstorm SUper DestrUction

Four years ago on Oct. 29, 2012 Superstorm Sandy crashed on our nation's east coast beaches and has caused almost irreversible changes. Recovery will never come to the Staten Island neighborhood, Oakwood Beach which was improbably built on a salt marsh and state officials concluded it would be unwise to rebuild in a place with little to no protection from the ocean. Under a state buyout program, 196 homes have been demolished and another 103 are scheduled. In Mantoloking, New Jersey, we see 521 homes demolished. In Seaside Heights, officials are still planning to rebuild an amusement park that had its roller coaster washed away during the storm. In Breezy Point, Some have learned from the super storm and have reconstructed new homes to stand on concrete pillars or high foundations and some homes have been rebuilt entirely of concrete to better withstand pounding waves. There a Arthur Lighthall, general manager of the Breezy Point Cooperative says residents now have to climb a dozen steps to reach decks and the homes are protected by a new wall of dunes.  Bob Turner, a Breezy Point resident, and Former U.S. Representative said one important thing hasn't changed by a storm referencing the people saying the are still the same.  

MarijUana Legalization

The Medicinal Marijuana Industry is experiencing some healthy or not so healthy competition.  

Legalization of marijuana is on the ballot in five states this November including Maine, Arizona, California, Massachusetts and Nevada. There are different opinions on the bill some are very much looking forward to the possibility of legalization and others believe medical marijuana professionals are uninterested and don't want to lose their monopoly. Nearly 1 billion dollars in profit was made last year in Colorado alone on sales of medical and recreational marijuana. Carey Clark, member of the board of directors for the American Cannabis Nurses Association in Oregon, says recreational legalization will allow people who use marijuana as medicine to have easier access to it. Clark believes when it becomes legal there will be an increase in quality and cost will decrease which is a good for those who need access to the medicine.  

Government AnonymoUs

The latest on the 2016 presidential campaign. Government official tells The Associated Press that the Justice Department advised the FBI against notifying Congress about new developments in the investigation of Hillary Clinton's email scandal due to of the potential fallout so close to election time. The Justice Department concluded the letter would violate department policy that warns against investigative actions that could be seen as affecting an election or helping a candidate.The official speaks anonymously as he or she wasn't authorized to discuss the department's internal decisions publicly. 

GUard BonUses

The Pentagon is ordering 6,500 soldiers of the California National Guard to repay bonuses from enlistment over a decade ago during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Defense Department spokesman Major Jamie Davis says 1,100 soldiers improperly received bonuses for which they were not eligible, and 5,400 soldiers had incorrect paperwork making them ineligible.   

I was born on World Series TUesday

At least five World Series babies were born at the Fairview Hospital says the Cleveland Clinic. The clinic is dressing the babies in onesies with baseball designs that read "World Series Baby" along with the hashtag #RallyTogether. 

photo courtesy: USAtoday.com

Paisley MUseUm

Minnesota city council votes to rezone Prince's Paisley (Paze-ly) Park recording studio and home on Monday allowing it to open as a permanent museum.  However, a traffic study is required to address concerns about pedestrian, traffic, and parking safety. The museum will begin tours this Friday.   

Paisley Park museum website: 

https://www.officialpaisleypark.com/ 

YoUng Gambino Wars

Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) has been cast as a young Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo movie. The film will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The untitled film is scheduled for a release in 2018. 

Voter OUtreach

NAACP voter outreach groups are mobilizing to help North Carolina voters who were hit by Hurricane Matthew reach the polls. There is concern that the destruction might impact the outcome of the Presidential race in this battleground state. 

UN Wonders

Wonder Woman was named a United Nations' honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls: one of the UN’s 17 development goals. The decision is sparking a backlash among some of the staff who believe a comic book character is an inappropriate choice.   

HUman Shields

ISIS rounded up and killed 284 men and boys as Iraqi-led forces closed in on Mosul, the terror group's last major stronghold in Iraq, an Iraqi intelligence source.   Those killed Thursday and Friday were used as human shields against attacks forcing ISIS out of parts of Mosul, the source said. 

LaUrel Fire

Fire officials said careless smoking caused $300,000 in damage on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in Laurel, Md.  

Nine apartments were damaged leaving residents with no homes.  

The fire wasn't extinguished until 10:15 p.m.  and was a huge task taking local volunteer firefighters from PG and Montgomery County to combat it.  

One firefighter fell from a ladder and was taken to a nearby hospital and was released on the next day.   

On Sunday, fire officials released that the fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials on a 3rd floor balcony.  

ReligioUs Human Stampede

Human stampede this Sunday at a religious festival in Ethiopia leaves 52 dead confirmed the Oromia government.   

About 2 million people were attending an Irrecha Thanksgiving festival in the city of Bishoftu when people started chanting slogans that were aimed against the government said witnesses. While people were chanting they crowded closer towards the stage where religious leaders were speaking and starting through water bottles and rocks on stage.  

The government responded as police shot rubber bullets and released tear gas on the protesters. People tried to flee, but some fell in nearby ditches and were crushed.  

The first to fall were crushed to death, said protestor Elias who was drugged out of the deep ditch himself.  

There has been months of anti-government protests and harsh government response and is raising international concern. The U.S. spoke against what is being call excessive force by the Ethiopian situation "extremely serious"