In our news wrap Monday, Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s airport killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds more, a federal judge says she is ‘furious’ with Justice Department lawyers after hundreds of trees were removed from a local golf course and a fire destroyed the oldest covered food market in Paris.
Geoff Bennett:
Officials extended the closure of Riyadh’s airport after Houthi strikes over the weekend killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds more. Security camera footage shows the moment that missiles and drones struck King Khalid International Airport.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted the facility during the past week. Saudi officials are reportedly investigating how their defense systems failed to stop the strikes.
Meantime in Yemen, Saudi-backed forces released video today claiming to show fighting with Houthi troops to the east of the capital, Sanaa. The latest uptick in violence comes as the Saudis are seeking more U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict.
In Florida, more than 100,000 people remained without power today as the region cleans up from Hurricane Isaias. These apartment units at the end of the Florida Panhandle were laid bare after the storm ripped the roof off. Residents described its sheer force when it made landfall on Friday as a Category 2 storm.
Jayme Mitch, Gulf Breeze, Florida, Resident:
It sounded like a freight train. It was so loud. I can’t even — the sound is almost undescribable.
Geoff Bennett:
Local officials say the storm is to blame for four fatalities. It weakened as it moved north, but still brought heavy rains to the Central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic.
Meantime, on the other side of the country, powerful waves crashed into homes along the boardwalks of Southern California as Tropical Storm swept through this weekend. It’s since been downgraded, but officials warned that possible flooding and heavy rains remain a threat.
In Washington, D.C., a federal judge says that she is furious with Justice Department lawyers after hundreds of trees were removed from a local golf course this past weekend. The judge had ordered that any such work at East Potomac Golf Links receive prior approval.
At a hearing today, a DOJ lawyer said the government had done its best to gather details on the removal, to which the judge responded — quote — “You did not do your best. You did your absolute worst.” President Trump has said he wants to turn the century-old public course into a championship-caliber facility, which local preservationists are fighting to block.
In Erie, Pennsylvania, authorities released the names of the adult victims and the suspected gunman and what the police chief there described as the worst scene he’s ever experienced. Officials believe 45-year-old Matthew Stone Sr. and killed eight people, including his wife, children, and young grandchildren, before killing himself.
Members of the community held a memorial yesterday outside the home where it happened. Julius Windham’s partner, who was pregnant, and his 1-year-old daughter were among those killed. He says the suspect never seemed distressed and expressed shock at what happened.
Julius Windham, Father of Shooting Victim: Words can’t even explain how I’m — what I’m going through right now. But I got to be strong for my community.
Geoff Bennett:
Police say their investigation is ongoing.
In France, a fire destroyed the oldest covered food market in Paris today. The fire tore through Paris’ historic market Marche des Enfants Rouges before dawn this morning. The site dates back to the early 1600s and has become a popular destination for tourists, offering traditional French cuisine alongside international fare.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire. No injuries have been reported.
“Breaking Bad” actor and disability rights activist R.J. Mitte has died at the age of 34. He was best known for playing the son of Bryan Cranston’s lead character in the iconic TV drama. Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child and later became an advocate for disability representation in Hollywood. No cause of death was immediately available.
Two American economists have won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for Research that has helped governments better respond to economic crises. Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford of Columbia University were honored for work that the Nobel Committee says has made it possible to manage major economic crises far more effectively.
Their research examines how decisions made by businesses and households shape the broader economy and how policymakers can respond when trouble strikes. Woodford, who is 70, called the award a tremendous honor and a surprise. The Economics Prize is the last of this year’s Nobel awards to be announced.
Wall Street was open this Columbus Day, also observed as Indigenous People’s Day. Stocks ended mixed, with the Dow Jones industrial average adding nearly 200 points. The Nasdaq lost ground, giving back nearly half-a-percent. The S&P 500 ended just a touch lower.
