Tropical Storm Debby forms in the Gulf
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Debby formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, interfering with oil and gas production and putting officials on alert for flooding and strong winds from Texas to Florida.
At least one tornado linked to the storm touched down in southwest Florida, but no injuries were reported. Heavy squalls pounded parts of the state.
Debby was about 215 mile south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
The center of Debby was expected to linger in the Gulf during the next few days with no landfall in the immediate forecast.
While the storm’s track is far from certain, the National Hurricane Center has Debby skirting the Louisiana coast and heading west toward Texas. However, some forecasts have the storm moving east toward Florida.
Some strengthening is expected and Debby could be near hurricane force winds by Monday night.
Forecasters warned of up to six inches of rain along the coast, with isolated amounts of 10 inches.
Debby forced the suspension of 8 percent of the region’s oil and gas production.
The government reported that nine production platforms and one drilling rig were evacuated. The suspended crude production amounts to about 2 percent of U.S production and about 0.1 percent of global production. The reduced production is not expected to impact oil prices unless the storm strengthens and forces more production platforms to close.
Southern Baptists
elect a black president
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that 11 a.m. on a Sunday is “the most segregated hour of the week,” and even with an African American in the White House, that critique is still a sad reality in many Baptist churches.
But history was made this week in New Orleans when a 55-year-old African American preacher was elected unanimously to lead the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention, which was founded in 1845 by Baptists who were defenders of slavery.
Although the Southern Baptist Convention remains a predominantly white organization of 45,000 congregations, the election of Fred Luter Jr. to a one-year term as president sparked hopes among Baptists in more progressive circles that diversity would trickle down through the leadership ranks.
‘General Hospital’
wins 5 Daytime Emmys
The Daytime Emmys showered “General Hospital” with five trophies, including best drama, while giving Regis Philbin a fond farewell as a departing talk-show host.
NBC’s “Today” show won as best morning show and the syndicated “Jeopardy!” was named best game show at the annual ceremony Saturday.
“Live with Regis and Kelly” was saluted as best entertainment talk show (its first-ever nod in that category) and for best talk-show hosts. Philbin ended his long run as its co-host last November, with a replacement yet to be named to join Kelly Ripa as the syndicated series continues.
Heather Tom, who won as best lead actress for CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful,” made history as the first to win in that category after having previously won as both best younger actress and supporting actress.
Anthony Geary won as lead actor for “General Hospital.” The ABC soap also won for supporting actress (Nancy Lee Grahn), supporting actor (Jonathan Jackson), and directing team.
The syndicated “Dr. Oz” was named best informative talk show.
Bill Geddie, longtime associate of Barbara Walters and executive producer of her ABC talk show “The View,” received the life achievement award.
Paraguay leader
tries to quell diplomatic fallout
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Paraguay’s newly sworn-in president set about forming a new government Saturday as he promised to honor foreign commitments, respect private property and reach out to Latin American leaders to minimize diplomatic fallout and keep his country from becoming a regional pariah.
In a brief appearance before international journalists, Federico Franco tried to broadcast a sense of normality a day after lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to kick President Fernando Lugo out of office.
“The country is calm. I was elected (as vice president) in 2008 by popular vote. Activity is normal and there is no protest,” Franco said.
His first two appointments were Interior Minister Carmelo Caballero, who will be tasked with maintaining public order in this poor, landlocked South American nation, and Foreign Minister Jose Felix Fernandez, who will immediately hit the road to try to appease fellow members of the Mercosur and Unasur regional trade blocs.
The Paraguayan Senate voted 39-4 Friday to dismiss Lugo a little more than a year before his five-year term was to end, and Franco took the oath of office soon after. Lugo told reporters Saturday that he intends to remain in politics and is considering a possible run for a Senate seat in next year’s elections.
“Without doubt it is a coup, a parliamentary coup, a coup against the citizenry and democracy, and we have to shout that to the four winds,” Lugo said.
Okinawa marks WWII battle anniversary
NAHA, Okinawa, Japan — Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday marked the 67th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. This came after the recent celebration of the 40th anniversary of the prefecture’s reversion to Japanese sovereignty.
At a memorial ceremony in Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, southern Okinawa Prefecture, where the last fierce battle was waged, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima spoke about the burden of hosting U.S. military facilities. He urged the central government and the United States to curtail the burden and consider relocating the U.S. Marine Corp’s Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to somewhere outside the prefecture.
“Okinawa still hosts a large concentration of U.S. military facilities, forcing its people to shoulder a heavy burden,” he said.
By wire sources
