The Beacon Briefs

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  • The Beacon Briefs
    The Beacon Briefs
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At Least 20 Dead In California Boat Fire

At least 20 people have been reported dead after a fire destroyed the scuba dive-cruise boat Conception off the coast of California’s Santa Cruz Island during the holiday weekend. Of the 39 people on board, six crew and 33 passengers, only five have been found alive and at least 14 are still missing.

Hurricane Dorian Downgraded; Approaching US Coast

Hurricane Dorian, which battered the Bahamas as a Category 5 hurricane, is now inching its way toward the United States, with expected landfall in Florida. The hurricane has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, and could range from Florida all the way up into the northeastern United States before dissipating.

US-Taliban Negotiators Reach Agreement ‘In Principle’ on US Withdrawal

Zalmay Khalilzad, special US envoy for Afghanistan, announced yesterday that an agreement “in principle” has been reached between the United States and the Taliban which could see U.S. troops pull out of five bases in Afghanistan within 135 days. The deal must first be approved by President Donald J. Trump.

Missing Girl Found By Firefighters

A seven-year-old girl was reported missing after getting separated from her mother in the woods near their home in Hanson, Mass. Firefighters from the Hanson Fire Department responded and, after an extensive 45 minute search, found the young girl and returned her safely home.

Texas Shooting Spree Leaves Seven Dead, 22 Injured

Police have identified Seth Ator, 36, as the man who killed seven people and wounded 22 others in a shooting spree beginning in Midland and ending in Odessa, Texas, last week.

Texas troopers pulled Ator over in Midland on Saturday, Aug. 31, for failing to use his signal. Ator began firing a rifle at police and sped away. During the pursuit he randomly shot at drivers and pedestrians along his route. He then hijacked a postal vehicle and sped off to Odessa, about 20 miles away. He was cornered by police and killed in a shoot-out.

Ator had been arrested in 2001 on misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and evading arrest, but the adjudication of the cases had been deferred. He had also just been fired from his job earlier that day. No motive for the attack has been confirmed by the authorities.

Trump Launches Space Command

U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced the official creation of America’s 11th combatant command last week, the long-anticipated Space Command.

“Those who wish to harm the United States, to seek to challenge us on the ultimate high ground of space, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame,” Trump said at the White House ceremony.

The command will initially consist of 287 military personnel and will be tasked with the protection of America’s satellites in orbit.

Trump followed up the announcement of Space Command with the promise of a new branch of the military - Space Force.

He said the Space Command will be followed, “very importantly, by the establishment of the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces.”

The Space Force, he said, will “organize, train, and equip warriors to support Space Command’s mission.”

Man Arrested For Buying Plane Ticket To Walk Wife To Gate

A Singapore man was arrested last week after buying a plane ticket in order to walk his wife to the gate. He was charged with violating Singapore’s Infrastructure Protection Act, which prohibits the misuse of boarding passes at airports and other transit areas which are considered protected areas.

Police say the 27-yearold man purchased the ticket with no intention to leave Singapore and intended only to walk his wife to the gate. If convicted, he can be fined up to $14,300 US and/or imprisoned for up to two years.

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Win Opening Games

College football returned this weekend, with the University of Oklahoma defeating Houston, 49-31 and Oklahoma State University knocking off Oregon State 52-36.