It is finally cool outside, Panthers. No more waiting for practices to be canceled because it is 90 degrees outside or just outright miserable. It is cool, peak hoodie weather. While you are trying to stay warm, check out this week’s KICs. This week we have a flooding in a Nigerian prison, a pipeline burst in Texas, Georgia tourism on the rise, and a Trump rally following an assassination attempt.
World – Inmates escape Nigerian prison due to flooding
On Monday, September 16, a group of 274 inmates escaped Nigeria’s Borno state. This occurred after a flood tore down several of the prison’s walls.
The inmates escaped while being transferred to a different facility for safety from flooding. Identities of the inmates have been made public and the search is ongoing. According to NEMA, weeks of flooding in Nigeria have led to over 200 deaths and displacement of more than 380,000 people.
Projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that human-caused climate change is heating the planet. While northern Nigeria has been most affected by flooding, extreme rainfall is expected to increase across all of Africa due to human-caused climate change.
National – Pipeline fire sparked by SUV crash causes evacuations
On Monday morning, an SUV drove into a 20-inch natural gas pipeline in La Porte, Texas, igniting a fire. The fire was expected to last up until Tuesday morning but died down.
Houses in a half-mile radius were reported to be impacted by the fire. The fire has not only caused evacuations and damage to the houses, but also power outages to the surrounding area. Schools canceled their classes and extracurriculars for the day.
Firefighters continue to monitor the fire to make sure it does not spread. Multiple first responders suffered heat injuries and were treated at the scene.
State – Georgia tourism on the rise
For the second year in a row, Georgia’s tourism has risen higher than ever before. Georgia is reported to have had 171 million travelers in 2023, compared to about 166 million in 2022.
According to Georgia governor Brian Kemp, both international and domestic visitors generated about $43.6 billion and $5 billion in tax revenue. Georgia has maintained a no. 5 market share ranking among Washington, D.C. and all 50 states. Because of Georgia’s attractions, natural resources and cultural institutions, it is attractive to tourists.
The tax revenue coming from tourists benefits local economies in Georgia. Governor Kemp says Georgia is grateful for the tourist partners who support local jobs which benefit counties across the state.
Politics – Former President Trump returns to campaign rallies after assassination attempt
Former President Donald Trump held his first campaign event since an apparent assassination attempt in Florida earlier this week. He spoke with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, mentioning threats against him and continued to paint a dark picture of what will happen to America in the future.
Trump explained that he spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris about Sunday’s incident and that it was appreciated, but quickly deflected back to his campaign strategies. He then provided lengthy monologues about his relationships with foreign leaders, his attendance at his rallies, and other topics. He also stated that a “good thing” and that America was coming closer and closer to World War Three.
With seven weeks left before the election, Trump’s campaign has yet to address any of his comments since the debate between him and Harris. He heads to Long Island for another campaign rally next Wednesday.