What we’re reading: COVID-19 hospitalizations hit crisis levels in South; 250,000 without power in Gulf Coast

COVID-19 hospitalizations rise in Southern ICUs

One in four hospitals have reported that more than 95% of their intensive care unit beds are occupied. Last month, one in five hospitals reported the same occupancy, according to The New York Times.

All ICU beds are currently occupied in Alabama. This has caused dozens of patients to not receive beds they need.

“Our biggest concerns are our low vaccination rates,” stated Alabama’s state health officer Dr. Scott Harris. “That’s the reason we’re in the situation that we’re in. Virtually all of our deaths are people who are unvaccinated.”

Unvaccinated people are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated, according to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations among people under the age of 18 are also higher than ever.

Tropical Storm Nicholas leaves 250,000 without power in Texas and Louisiana

Storm clouds from Tropical Storm Nicholas seen behind homes of the vanishing Native American community of Isle de Jean Charles, La., which were destroyed by Hurricane Ida in 2009, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

According to NBC News, Tropical Storm Nicholas left nearly a quarter million people in Texas and Louisiana powerless on Tuesday morning.

Nicholas strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Winds reached 75 mph as the hurricane traveled overnight.

Since landing in Texas, the storm has caused a six-foot surge in Clear Lake, as well as 14 inches of rain in Galveston.

Texas’ largest school district, Houston Independent School District, along with other schools, canceled all classes on Tuesday.

Nicholas will continue to bring heavy rain to the same regions of Texas that were hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Slow storm movement, which has been an issue in recent decades, could be a big issue for southeastern Texas and other areas being hit by the storm.

Ex-Minneapolis police officers plead not guilty in George Floyd case

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Derek Chauvin, from left, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by him and the other Minneapolis police officers on May 25. Kueng, Lane and Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, the four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the case of George Floyd, pleaded not guilty in federal court Tuesday.

The charges stated they violated George Floyd’s civil rights during his arrest in May 2020, according to CNN.

Chauvin appeared via video conference from Minnesota’s maximum-security prison, where he is currently serving a 22.5-year sentence for the murder of Floyd.

According to the indictment, Chauvin is being charged for “unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer.”

The indictment also stated that Thao and Kueng were charged for their failure to stop Chauvin and his use of unreasonable force on Floyd.

Chauvin, Thao, Kueng and Lane are also facing a charge for failing to give Floyd medical aid on the scene.

B-2 stealth bomber damaged during emergency landing

A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, assigned to the 509th/131st Bomb Wings out of Whiteman Air Force Base, performs a flyover of Barnes-Jewish Hospital to honor healthcare professionals and essential employees fighting against the coronavirus Friday, May 8, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

On Tuesday, a U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bomber was forced to make an emergency landing at the Whiteman Air Force Base, located in Missouri, according to FOX News.

According to an Air Force Global Strike Public Affairs unit, the aircraft was required to land around 12:30 a.m. due to an “in-flight malfunction” that occurred during a “routine training mission.”

“There were no personal injuries and no fire associated with the landing,” stated Jennifer Greene, who is in charge of the Air Force Global Strike Public Affairs.

The extent of the damage to the aircraft is still unknown, but it is still under investigation according to Greene. Further information will be released as it becomes available.