Laura Ruane, Laura Layden News-Press; Naples Daily News Published 3:16 p.m. UTC Sep 2, 2018 Best case, the Labor Day weekend brings a welcome three-day splash of visitor spending in Southwest Florida during what’s often the slowest month for tourism. It’s a respite from the more-languid business pace of late summer, which prompted some wag to call the month of September, “Death-tember.” But this holiday weekend isn’t looking like a best case: Far from it. Reports of toxic algal blooms – chiefly red tide and blue-green algae – continue to make national news headlines and social media, keeping some visitors away. Red tide has been worse than usual this year, plaguing Collier and Lee counties, killing off fish and stinking up the air. On top of that, Lee is still cleaning up the toxic blue-green algae tied to Lake Okeechobee discharges. The algae has invaded the Caloosahatchee River and its canals. More: … [Read more...] about Southwest Florida won’t see as many visitors this Labor Day, thanks to water woes
Interstate 25 road conditions
Teenager who started massive Oregon wildfire ordered to pay $37 million
A teenager who started a a massive wildfire has been ordered to pay $37 million (£27m). The 15-year-old, from Vancouver, Washington, launched fireworks into a parched canyon in Oregon last year, igniting dry bush and triggering a blaze that lasted two months, and spread more than 48,000 acres. The fire caused evacuations, an extended shutdown of a major interstate highway and devastation to Columbia River Gorge, a major outdoor tourist attraction. Read more Tributes will be paid to Grenfell victims as inquiry into blaze begins Fire-breathing dragon at Disney World parade bursts into flames Forecasters warn of life-threatening conditions from Colorado wildfire Judge John A Olson issued the fine, which covers the cost of firefighting, repair and restoration to the gorge and damage to homes, and ordered the boy to serve 1,920 hours of community service. Victims include the US Forest Service and Oregon's … [Read more...] about Teenager who started massive Oregon wildfire ordered to pay $37 million
Descendant of last survivor of last slave ship to travel from Africa to US tells of pride as forefather’s story is published
The descendant of the last survivor of the last slave ship to take captives from Africa to America has spoken of his pride at seeing his great-great-grandfather’s story finally being published – 87 years after it was first written. Garry Lumbers told The Independent he wouldn’t just buy the book Barracoon for himself. He would buy copies for all his 22 grandchildren, and study it with them, to play his part in ensuring that never again would the world neglect the story of his great ancestor: born in Africa as Kossula, died in America in 1935 as Cudjo Lewis. Read more Diary reveals reality of African slave trade “I am delighted,” said Mr Lumbers. “I am so proud, so grateful that his story is is going to be published and that it won’t ever be forgotten.” Mr Lumbers grew up in the house that Cudjo built, on the two acres of land that he bought with the $100 that somehow he scraped together from hard but paid labour after … [Read more...] about Descendant of last survivor of last slave ship to travel from Africa to US tells of pride as forefather’s story is published
How Trump moved the Mexican border north
“My mom’s story is like a fairy tale,” the boy said before he fell asleep on the living room sofa. His mother calls him her little angel. They live together in an unpainted shack at the back of a dirt cul-de-sac among trailers and birds of paradise on the outskirts of Houston. Sunshine filtered through the window. The light was at once welcome and bitter, because the rain had only just lifted after Hurricane Harvey in September and much of the city was still flooded. Water had not forced them out of the house, and the boy’s mother, a 42-year-old undocumented woman who requested anonymity for fear of being deported, thanked God aloud; had the floods come, she doesn’t know where they would have gone. She has already been deported to Honduras once before and lost her asylum case upon returning to Houston three years ago. Every time she sees someone in uniform, she said she thinks she might never see her son again. “Recently, a cop stopped me, and I felt … [Read more...] about How Trump moved the Mexican border north
Corrections & Clarifications
To report corrections & clarifications, contact: Please indicate whether you're responding to content online or in the newspaper. The following corrections & clarifications have been published on stories produced by USA TODAY's newsroom: April 2018 News: A previous version of this story misstated Elliot Rodger's weapons. He used both a knife and a gun. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/31/masculinity-traditional-toxic-trump-mens-rights/99830694/ Video: A previous version of this video misstated the number of Americans living with unhealthful levels of pollution. https://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/video/33952141/8-of-americas-10-most-ozone-polluted-cities-are-in-this-state/ Opinion: Because of an editing error, a headline in an earlier version of this column incorrectly described Amy Wax's job status. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/04/20/black-students-law-school-amy-wax-column/510510002/ … [Read more...] about Corrections & Clarifications