Well, in the music world, this week has been interesting. Tyler, the Creator, released a new song, “VOID,” and announced a new album after a three-year hiatus. In addition, Rex Orange County returned to Georgia for tour this week. Editor-In-Chief Crista Alarcon will be publishing a story about the concert next week. Be sure to keep track of theprowlernews.org for that story! While you are listening to new music, be sure to read this week’s KICs. This week we have a power outage in Cuba, an anti-government group gaining power after Hurricane Helene, Coca-Cola losing income, Amazon ripping the paneling of a Fayette County couple’s roof, and poll workers preparing for disruptors.
World – Cubans face extended power outage after tropical storm
While Cuba’s capital remains largely paralyzed, the rest of the island faces the fourth day of a blackout that has caused many small protests. The government warns that any unrest will be punished.
On Sunday, President Miguel-Díaz-Canel stated, “We’re not going to allow any vandalism, or let anyone disturb peoples tranquility.” The nationwide blackout was followed by an extensive blackout that Thursday, which is only part of the energy problem that generated the largest protests in Cuba for 30 years.
Power in Cuba is growing increasingly unavailable, but is staying somewhat cheap. The peak demand is 3 gigawatts, while the Cuban government has stated that it is creating 700 megawatts. On Monday afternoon it was stated by authorities that at least 80 percent of Harvana had sporadic power, but many people were doubtful.
National – Anti-government group gets foothold in town devastated by Helene
Hurricane Helene, which caused major damage throughout the southeast of the United States, cut off Lake Lure, a town in North Carolina, from everything. As the town struggled to survive, an anti-government group fueled by conspiracies and misinformation known as the Veterans on Patrol, showed up.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency had been facing a lot of backlash from Americans for not doing enough to assist those impacted by the hurricane. The leader of the Veterans on Patrol, Lewis Arthur, told the town of his work fighting cartels at the border, and of his need for armed security. Yet, this group immediately jumped in to help the town bounce back, and the Veterans on Patrol became both a source of help and a center of fear.
More people began to doubt the true intentions of the group, and a confrontation with them turned violent, causing a standoff in the town. The Veterans on Patrol eventually had to pack up and leave the town, and they move on to try and get a foothold in another bit of private land.
State – Despite a fall in Coca Cola Co. income, the company beats expectations
In Atlanta on October 23, 2024, Coca Cola Co. claimed its third quarter revenue fell as sales volumes declined around the world. Despite this, the company beat expectations and expects full-year organic revenue to rise 10%.
Beating Wall Street’s forecast of $11.6 billion, Coke’s revenue fell 1% to $11.9 billion. Since the end of 2020, Coca Cola Co. has raised prices every quarter. These high prices hurt demand, with unit case volumes falling 1%.
Sales volumes fell 2% in both Asia and Coke’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment. On October 23, 2024, Coke shares fell 2% in premarket trading.
Local – Fayette County couple claim Amazon driver ripped paneling off their home
On Tuesday, a Fayette County couple reported that an Amazon driver ripped the paneling off of their house upon delivering a package. They could be on the hook for $50,000 in damages.
Melody Manzueta said that the driver had reportedly snagged a phone cord power line connected to her house while reversing out of the driveway. The home surveillance video provided by the couple showed the panel ripping off before the driver stopped and apologized to them before calling his supervisors. Manzueta filed a claim, but the company denied the claim.
Amazon claimed that Manzueta had insufficient evidence. According to contractors for repairs, the entire side of her home will have to be replaced.
Politics – Poll workers for the upcoming election prepare for possible disruptors
Following conspiracies of a possible rigged election of former President Trump many believe the once peaceful atmosphere of voting has been turned into a standoff between parties. This has caused for more safety measures to sprout in the voting buildings
Across the country many poll workers are being supplied with panic buttons for their workers along with bullet proof glass, and have even forged open lines with local authorities. The GOP has placed its suspicion on the election process since 2020, and are beginning to try and put in different preventions for election, while on the other many Democrats have continued to cheer on the election process but still try to make it as safe as possible for everyone. Making sure these possible riots in voting booths is another problem they are being taught how to control, but that problem is not one that they can easily deal with once it happens.
After the remarks of former President Trump declaring the poll workers were ‘created out of this air,’ polling offices have also been upping staff and security. Some states have also added measures of police being right near the booths at all times to ensure the protection of everyone.