News Brief - Week of Sept. 1-7

National

Hurricane Dorian hits southeastern United States

After plowing through the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian struck the southeastern United States coast and Atlantic Canada over the course of last week. The storm primarily left its mark on the coast of North Carolina after leaving catastrophic damage in the Bahamas days prior.

The storm reached its peak in the Bahamas, slamming the islands with 185 mph winds. On Sunday, Sept. 1, the storm upgraded to a Category 5, becoming the first hurricane of that intensity to hit Grand Bahama Island. More than 40 people were killed and 70,000 are homeless after Dorian.

After stalling in the Bahamas, Dorian’s intensity decreased before grazing the eastern coast of Florida and moving north. On Friday, Sept. 6, the Category 1 storm hit Cape Hatteras, NC and surrounding islands. The storm fueled tornados on some islands and left intense flooding and wind damage.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Dorian made landfall near Halifax and Nova Scotia, with severe winds tearing down cranes and power lines.

American Airlines mechanic accused of sabotaging flight

An American Airlines mechanic appeared federal in court on Friday following accusations claiming he attempted to sabotage a flight from Miami to the Bahamas which was scheduled to fly 150 passengers.

Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani was charged with willfully damaging, destroying, disabling or wrecking an aircraft.

On Wednesday, July 17, a pilot aborted a flight from Miami International Airport to the Bahamas. Alani later admitted in court he had tampered with a part which gives important information to the pilot, which caused the pilot to abort the flight.

Alani claims he did not aim to endanger passengers, but instead was upset over a dispute between airline workers and the airline itself which had cost him money. He planned to tamper with the plane so he could receive overtime for repairing it.

The federal government will return formal charges on Friday, Sept. 20.

Trump calls off meeting with the Taliban

President Trump announced Saturday he cancelled a secret meeting with Taliban leaders after the group made an attack in Afghanistan which killed 12, including a U.S. service member.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Sept. 7, Trump asserted his decision to call of the peace talks with the Taliban, saying “if they cannot agree to a ceasefire during these very important peace talks, and would even kill 12 innocent people, then they probably don’t have the power to negotiate a meaningful agreement anyway.”

The attack on Thursday, Sept. 5 killed Sgt. 1st Class Elis A. Barreto Ortiz in addition to 11 others. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Taliban “tried to use terror to improve their negotiating position. They overreached.”

State/Local

Social media threats against Santa Fe High School

Edmond police announced Friday, Sept. 6 one person was arrested following social media threats against Santa Fe High School in Edmond.

Bryson Burnett, 18, was arrested for his threats against the school. A student at Santa Fe himself, Burnett is not believed to have intended to carry out the threats, but was attempting to impersonate another student in order to get him in trouble.

The Edmond Public Schools District first learned of a threat on Wednesday, Sept. 4 when a statement spread on social media claimed harm on the school. A second social media threat was made on Friday, Sept. 6 before the arrest.

Three killed in triple homicide

Police are investigating after three were found dead on Saturday, Sept. 7 in an apparent triple homicide in Beggs.

The Okmulgee County Police Department said 65-year-old Jack Chandler, 69-year-old Evelyn Chandler and their daughter, 43-year-old Tiffany Eichor, were found shot to death at their home on Lake View Circle, north of Beggs.

Authorities have not released information about potential suspects as the case is currently under investigation.