The GPR Digest- October 7, 2024
Georgia abortions, Hurricane Helene, strikes in Yemen, and more!
GEORGIA
Judge overturns Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Georgia’s ban on abortion, known as the “heartbeat” law, violated the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court precedent when it was first enacted. The ruling took effect immediately, though the state attorney general's office has filed an appeal.
This ruling follows multiple waves of criticism of Georgia’s strict abortion bans after an investigation linked the ban to the preventable deaths of two women. Because of the ban, they were unable to receive a legal abortion or timely medical care as doctors were afraid of being persecuted for not following the law correctly.
Lawsuit over voting machines rejected by Georgia Judge
Similarly, Fulton County Supreme Court Judge Scott McAfee rejected a lawsuit filed by GOP Officials Friday. The lawsuit was over security concerns related to voting machines, which will be used across the state this election season. McAfee denounced potential security risks as “purely hypothetical” in his decision to reject the lawsuit.
McAfee suggested that GOP officials settle potential election machine vulnerabilities with policymakers, not courts. The lawsuit comes after former President Donald Trump was indicted in 2023 for his role in the 2020 election subversion case in Georgia.
NATIONAL
Hurricane Helene leaves the Southeastern U.S. in ruins
Since Hurricane Helene made landfall a little over a week ago, the southeastern U.S., especially western North Carolina and South Carolina, has been grappling with how to recover from the storm’s destruction. Across the region, residents have been bombarded with water and fuel disruptions, communication obstacles, and flood damage. Mudslides and toppled trees have completely cut off entire towns, eliminating road access and preventing people from reaching essentials.
As of October 6, the death toll has surpassed 230, making Hurricane Helene America’s deadliest storm in nearly two decades. Causes of death related to the storm include rising floodwaters, falling trees and debris, and vehicle crashes. North Carolina makes up a little over half of those deaths, reporting 119 related to the storm.
Hurricane Milton grows stronger before hitting Florida this week
As Americans reel from the losses of Hurricane Helene, a new storm is expected to make landfall this coming Wednesday, October 9, in the Tampa Bay area. Recently, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis placed a state of emergency declaration on Sunday to 51 counties across the state.
Efforts to repair the state after Helene are still underway as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has given $137 million since Helene struck more than a week ago. FEMA expects that their response to Helene will continue during and after Milton makes landfall.
JD Vance and Tim Walz engage in first vice-presidential debate
On Tuesday, October 1, candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz debated policy over a variety of issues including abortion, healthcare, the growing conflict in the Middle East, the economy, immigration, and the aftermath of January 6. Despite disagreements, the candidates found common ground when discussing the need for affordable child care and the fact that the number of illegal migrants in the United States is a problem. After their performance, Vance and Walz were mostly lauded for taking a civil, policy-focused approach.
INTERNATIONAL
Twenty-three dead after Thailand school bus fire
On Tuesday, October 1, a bus returning to Bangkok after a school trip crashed into a concrete barrier on a highway. The crash soon worsened into a fire that consumed the bus, trapping many inside. The driver attempted to extinguish the fire but reportedly fled. Eventually, he turned himself into a police station north of Bangkok.
The fire was fatal, killing 20 children and three teachers. Arriving police were unable to identify several bodies due to scarring, but the child victims’ ages ranged from 3-15. Thankfully, nineteen children and three teachers were reported to have survived, sixteen of whom were treated in the hospital for injuries.
US warships and planes strike Houthi targets in Yemen
On October 4th, the US military launched strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi (Ansar Allah) groups in Yemen. Seeking to protect “freedom of navigation”, the explosions launched by American aircraft and warships hit 15 Houthi targets, with explosions reported in several of Yemen’s main cities. Sanaa, the capital, was among those hit.
Representatives of the Houthis claim that the United States will suffer a “heavy price” for the bombings. This is one of many claims following other American strikes in Yemen, which occurred in January.
CULTURE
Mr Prada charged with second-degree murder
TikTok creator Terryon Thomas, also known as Mr Prada, has been charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. The charges were announced by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana.
Thomas has almost 4 million TikTok followers. He was arrested in Dallas on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage to property, resisting an officer, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after being suspected of driving the stolen vehicle of William Nicholas. Nicholas was found dead on the side of a highway due to blunt force trauma, and a subsequent search warrant revealed Thomas’ involvement. He awaits extradition to Louisiana in Dallas.
‘Firesticks’ teaches Aboriginal cultural burning practices to help Tasmanians maintain country
Firesticks, an Aboriginal-led group, completed their first run of workshops in Tasmania. These workshops taught traditional land management methods— using smaller, cooler fires to regenerate the landscape and reduce fuel loads. They took place at Putalina, also known as Oyster Cove.
Firesticks wishes to alleviate the damage of Western burning practices which, though “well-intentioned”, have lit fires at the “wrong time and in the wrong place”. Led by Victor Steffensen, they had government cooperation in helping the broader community “connect with traditional fire knowledge” and appreciate their cultural identities.
Contributors: Sophia Nguyen, Blake Daniel, Marin Arvin, Jacob Weiszer, Aviella Schwartz, Addison Denney
Very cool 😎