Three things for October 21
1. State of emergency declared amid clashes in Chile
At least five people have died following a fire set in a garment factory during student demonstrations in Santiago, Chile on Sunday night.
The protests came in response to Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announcing a subway fare hike that prompted students to riot in the streets.
The wave of protests continued despite Piñera declaring a state of emergency after a week of commuter chaos, rioting and violent metro protests. Currently, Piñera has suspended the metro fare hike in response to the unrest.
2. Tropical Storm Nestor races across the Southeast
Tropical storm Nestor has left a path of damage and debris across Florida, Georgia and parts of the Carolinas.
Florida saw three tornadoes as the storm moved north through the Gulf. Other southern states saw heavy rains, high wind speeds and tornado warnings from the National Weather Service.
A camper rests on top of a boat trailer and the corner of a home as Tropical Storm Nestor passed the area on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in Kathleen, Fla. Nestor was downgraded Saturday after it spawned a tornado that damaged several homes. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
3. Tennessee Doctors plead guilty to overprescribing opioids
Two doctors from East Tennessee plead guilty to overprescribing opioids to their patients, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Both Dr. Samuel Mcgaha and Dr. Frank McNiel pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
According to the DOJ, Mcgaha admitted to prescribing prescriptions exceeding Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and McNiel admitted to writing opioid prescriptions without first evaluating patients.
The DOJ stated that Mcgaha and McNiel prescribed a combined total of 271,938 opioid pills between 2015 and 2018.
Each doctor could face up to 20 years in prison, and their sentencing is scheduled for March 2020.
