Strong storms in Ohio leave destruction, injuries

This article is about the destruction that strong storms caused in parts of Ohio on Thursday September 16^th.

The National Weather Service confirmed that at least seven tornadoes blew across Ohio, flattening buildings, flipping mobile homes and hurting more than a dozen people.

Electric lines were damaged causing power outages in northeast Ohio. A local power company reported that approximately 12,400 Ohio customers had no electricity by late Friday afternoon, down from 33,000 who had been without power following Thursday's winds and lightning. Power was expected to available by Monday.

Many homes and mobile homes were destroyed; several businesses including the Athens High School facilities were damaged. In fact, a girls' soccer game was halted as the storm approached; players were forced to scramble to safety inside the school.

Critical Thinking Question – Would such events be considered a State Emergency? http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=34554455.story

2 horses die in Ohio from rare viral disease

This article is about the death of two horses in western Ohio by a rare viral disease. The disease is called the Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a mosquito-transmitted virus that can infect birds, horses and people. If fact, the disease has been known to kill humans.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 164 cases of the virus had been reported in horses in 13 states this year as of Sept 10.

If infected, horses will experience paralysis, impaired vision, and difficulty swallowing, hanging their heads and grinding their teeth.

Ohio’s Department of Health urged people to wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites – which typically occur in late summer and early fall when mosquitoes are most abundant.

Critical Thinking Question – I wonder what the symptoms are for humans if they get infected?  http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=34558167.story

Man shot dead in OTR

This article is about a shooting in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood that left a 25-year-old man dead on Friday September 17. The killing occurred at the corner of Back and Walnut streets around 7 pm.
　
According to police and witnesses, Vincent Bankhead was walking on Back Street when he was shot 15 times near the Grant Playground.

Vincent’s family and friends, who said that Vincent just liked to “hang out” were consoled by police at the scene.

According to court documents, Mr. Bankhead had been convicted in the past for drug possession, trafficking marijuana and driving without a license.

Critical Thinking Question – Based on Mr. Bankhead’s previous criminal activity, I wonder if “drugs” had something to do with his death? http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100917/NEWS010701/309170044/1167/NEWS/Man-shot-dead-in-OTR

One dies as bikers, police clash

This article is about an outlaw motorcycle gang fighting with Cincinnati Police. It tells that an unidentified man was killed and three others wounded, including two Cincinnati police officers, when a shootout happened at a Camp Washington Bar on Saturday September 18. This shooting involved police officers and members of an outlaw motorcycle gang called the Iron Horseman on Saturday night.
A number of bikers were sitting outside the tavern around 7:00 pm when the officers, some in uniform and some in plainclothes, arrived. According to Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher, gang fired on the officers "as they got out of the car." However, police didn't know what set off the shooting.
A number of bikers were taken into custody; two officers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No information was provided on the extent of the wounded biker's injuries.
　
Critical Thinking Question – I wonder what set off the shooting? Was someone threatened?http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100918/NEWS01/309180057/Police-shot-SWAT-team-at-bar

Hurricane Igor lashes Bermuda

This article is about Hurricane Igor hitting Bermuda. It describes how big waves pounded Bermuda's beaches Saturday September 18^th while islanders rushed to cover windows, fill sandbags and stock up on supplies (generators, tarpaulins, buckets, rope, screws, bottled water, coolers, even trash cans and plastic sheeting ) before Hurricane Igor's expected arrival on Monday September 20.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Hurricane Igor was expected to pass over or very close to Bermuda late Sunday or early Monday. Igor was downgraded from a Category 2 to a Category 1 hurricane; it had a maximum sustained winds of 85 mph Sunday morning.
12 to 15 foot high waves were seen smashing into Bermuda's beaches on Saturday afternoon. At the time of this article, Igor’s center was about 190 miles south of Bermuda and heading north at 13 mph
The Safety Minister David Burch thought that the storm will be a long and punishing one. The storm was forecasted drop 6 to 9 inches of rain over Bermuda and cause significant coastal flooding.
As a result, there were many hotel cancellations and one of the main airports was shut down Saturday afternoon. Schools were expected to be closed Monday and Tuesday.
Critical Thinking Question – Knowing that Bermuda is near the hurricane belt, why aren’t people/governments more equipped to handle hurricane and tropical storms?http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2010-09-18-igor-bermuda_N.htm