Three Things for September 17
1. Hurricane Sally makes landfall in the Gulf
Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama at 4:45 a.m. CT as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained wind gusts up to 105 mph.
Sally moved through the Gulf Coast at a devastatingly slow pace, at times moving as slow as five mph. This slow movement caused torrential flash flooding in many parts of Alabama and Florida. Areas from Mobile Bay, Alabama to Tallahassee, Florida have seen as much as 10 to 35 inches of rainfall.
A section of the Three-Mile Bridge that connects the city of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola, Florida is missing.
More than 500,000 people across Alabama and Florida have been left without power due to flooding, blown transformers and fallen trees.
Sally is the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, arriving on the 16th anniversary of the Category 3 hurricane Ivan that impacted the same areas.
To help victims of Hurricane Sally, visit the American Red Cross website.
2. Big Ten to resume their season
Following a unanimous decision by the league’s presidents and chancellors, the Big Ten football season will resume Oct. 24.
Each of the 14 teams will play eight games in eight weeks, leading up to their championship on Dec. 19. The championship will take place in time for the College Football Playoff Selection Day on Dec. 20.
No fans will be allowed to attend the games. However, the league is working on a plan to allow players’ families to attend safely.
Every team will participate in daily, rapid Covid-19 testing, starting Sept. 30. Each player must be tested, and their result recorded prior to every practice. If a player tests positive, they must wait 21 days before participating in another practice or competition.
Teams must pause practice if their positivity rate exceeds 5% or if the population’s positivity rate exceeds 7.5%.
3. Barbados to become a republic
Barbados has announced its intent to remove Queen Elizabeth II, as their head of state by November 2021.
They hope to celebrate the 55th anniversary of their independence by officially abandoning the monarch. Elizabeth, despite being queen, is a ceremonial figurehead, meaning little will change politically as a result.
This action will make Barbados the first country in nearly three decades to leave behind the monarch. Mauritius was the last to remove Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state in 1992.
