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News Brief: August 15 – 19

International

“Seeding Clouds” – China’s Heat Wave Plan

To combat their longest heat wave in over 60 years, China has begun shooting clouds with small, cigarette-sized rods.

The rods are made of silver iodide and help form ice crystals within the cloud, increasing the moisture content and subsequently the likelihood of rain.

China has used this method of “cloud-seeding” in the past to induce snowfall, soften hail, and ensure dry weather for the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing.

Now it will be used to combat their heat wave, which has already lasted 64 days.

According to Hubei’s Provincial Emergency Management Department, cited in a CNN article, it has affected multiple aspects of safety and the economy: 4.2 million people have been affected by a severe drought since June; over 150,000 have difficulties accessing drinking water and almost 400,000 hectares of crops have been damaged.

The heat wave is expected to last at least another week.

A Look at Life for Afghans in the US

It has been a year since the United States brought more than 75,000 Afghans to the states as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

Since then, many of the refugees have encountered a pre-existing problem facing the nation, according to Joseph Azam, who chairs the board of the Afghan-American Foundation.

“People were brought here with the understanding they’d be able to have a home here and live a life… and that’s not what happened,” Azam told CNN. “Instead, they’ve been added to this juggernaut of trying to get affordable housing in the US, which is a big problem.”

While there have been success stories, according to CNN, stories like Shila’s are more common.

Shila, 23, had been working alongside the US military in Afghanistan prior to evacuating, but now finds herself in a one-bedroom home while trying to take care of her two-year-old nephew. Her food stamps have been stolen multiple times and her home deteriorates from recurring flooding.

Shila does not know when she will be able to buy groceries again, is concerned for her nephew’s safety, has not slept for a week, and unfortunately is not the only refugee with a story like this.

Visit CNN’s article for more information.

National

Co-pilot Falls to Death in North Carolina

On July 29, a plane in North Carolina – a twin-engine CASA CN-212 Aviocar – was operating skydiving runs when a pilot effectively “abandoned ship” without a parachute.

According to a report by the National Transportation and Safety Board, the pilot-in-charge and the second-in-charge, Charles Hew Crooks, were on their way to pick up a third skydiving group when their aircraft, piloted by Crooks at the time, descended below tree line and “dropped,” acquiring substantial damage to its landing gear.

The pilot-in-charge took over the controls, regaining altitude to 400 feet, and directed Crooks to begin communications for an emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Crooks became visibly upset, opened the cockpit window and “may have gotten sick.” Stating he felt nauseous and needed air, Crooks lowered the ramp, “got up from his seat, removed his headset, apologized, and departed the airplane via the aft ramp door,” the report said.

The pilot notified air traffic control and fruitlessly searched for Crooks before eventually landing at Raleigh. Crooks’ body was later located 18 miles from Raleigh in someone’s backyard.

The plane has been retained for examination; the investigation is ongoing.

Man Commits Suicide After Crashing into Barricade Near Supreme Court

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, a man armed with a gun drove his car into a barricade near the Capitol.

The United States Capitol Police gave a press release on the matter, stating the car caught fire as the man – later identified as Richard A. York, 29 – was getting out. He fired shots into the air along East Capitol Street and then shot himself as officers began approaching him.

No one else was hurt, no officers fired their weapons and for the time being, it does not look like York was intending to target any Members of Congress, though the investigation is ongoing.

Local

Stillwater Police Arrest School Bomb Threat Suspect

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, Larry Thomas was arrested in Tulsa on the accusation of calling in a bomb threat to Stillwater High School.

A police official told KFOR, “An SHS employee received the phone call, where the caller made the threat and hung up the phone.”

The threat was reported to officers on Monday at noon, who then evacuated and searched the facility, finding nothing suspicious. The next day, Thomas was arrested at his residence, a detective having identified him as the individual who made the call.

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