US news in brief for July 9
Storm Beryl kills three, knocks out power for 2.7 million in Texas
(Reuters) -Tropical Storm Beryl brought howling winds and torrential rain to southeast Texas on Monday, killing at least three people, flooding highways, closing oil ports, canceling more than 1,300 flights and knocking out power to more than 2.7 million homes and businesses.
Beryl, the season’s earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, weakened from a hurricane after pounding the coastal Texas town of Matagorda with dangerous storm surges and heavy rain before moving across Houston, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The agency said conditions could spawn tornadoes in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.
The storm, which was expected to rapidly weaken as it moved inland, swept a destructive path through Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week. It killed at least 11 in Mexico and the Caribbean and before reaching Texas, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told reporters.
United Airlines flight loses wheel on takeoff, lands safely with no injuries
(Reuters) -A United Airlines jet lost a landing-gear wheel on Monday when it took off from Los Angeles but landed safely in Denver, its planned destination, with no injuries, the airline said.
The wheel from United Flight 1001, a Boeing 757-200, was recovered in Los Angeles. “We are investigating what caused this event,” United said.
The aircraft involved in Monday’s incident was a nearly 30-year-old 757, according to FlightRadar24 data. Boeing ended production of the 757 in 2004.
Jay Johnston, actor known for ‘Bob’s Burgers’ and ‘Mr. Show,’ pleads guilty for role in Jan. 6 Capitol attack
Jay Johnston, the actor known for his roles on “Bob’s Burgers,” “Mr. Show” and other TV programs, has pleaded guilty for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Johnston was accused of grabbing a shield from a member of law enforcement and using it to push officers who were defending a tunnel near the building’s entrance from the insurrectionists.
He was previously listed on the FBI’s Capitol Violence list, in which images of alleged, unidentified violent offenders from that day are posted to solicit information from the public.
Johnston pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstructing officers during a civil disorder. He announced plans to change his previous plea last month.
In charging documents, Johnston allegedly told an associated it “actually wasn’t” an attack.
