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an hour ago
- General
- Sky News AU
Camp Mystic co-owner waited 45 minutes to evacuate campers after getting urgent ‘life-threatening' flash floods alert
Camp Mystic's co-owner only started evacuating campers more than 45 minutes after getting an emergency alert about the 'life-threatening' flash floods, it has been revealed. Richard 'Dick' Eastland — who died trying to save young girls at his Hunt, Texas, camp on the Guadalupe River — got the initial National Weather Service blast on his phone at about 1:14 a.m., a spokesperson for his family told ABC News. But he only began relocating campers at the private all-girls Christian camp to higher ground around 2 a.m. — just as the situation began deteriorating rapidly. 'They had no information that indicated the magnitude of what was coming,' the family spokesperson, Jeff Carr, said of the floods that would kill 27 children and counselors. 'They got a standard, run-of-the-mill NWS warning that they've seen dozens of times before,' Carr said. Eastland immediately began communicating with family members who worked at the camp via walkie-talkie as soon as he received the alert, which didn't include an evacuation warning, according to Carr. They started moving campers to higher ground when they saw the floodwaters, he added. Carr said the timeline, which he stressed was preliminary, had been pieced together after speaking with Eastland family members who worked at the camp and frantically helped in the evacuation. He noted the family wanted to release the timeline to avoid speculation after the devastating flash floods ended up claiming the lives of 27 children and counselors. Originally published as Camp Mystic co-owner waited 45 minutes to evacuate campers after getting urgent 'life-threatening' flash floods alert
2 hours ago
- Politics
GOP senators urge Trump administration to reverse $6 billion education funding freeze
A total of 10 Republican senators are urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to withhold more than $6 billion in federal funds for education programs already appropriated by Congress. 'The decision to withhold this funding is contrary to President Trump's goal of returning K-12 education to the states,' the GOP senators wrote in a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought obtained by ABC News. 'This funding goes directly to states and local school districts, where local leaders decide how this funding is spent, because as we know, local communities know how to best serve students and families,' the letter stated. Federal aid for schools is typically allocated each year on July 1, but aid was paused on June 30 in an ongoing review of education funding, according to an Education Department memo sent to Congress obtained by ABC News. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., led the group of senators signing onto the letter -- a rare rebuke by Republicans of the president's education policies. Capito, who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), is a staunch supporter of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and her mission to overhaul the Education Department. The letter encourages Vought to release the funding to states, noting it was already approved by Congress in a short-term spending bill this past spring. The funding that has been paused includes grants for after-school care, student support, English language and adult education, among other programs. The senators' letter comes just days after about two dozen state attorneys general and Democratic governors sued the Trump administration over the funding review that's left many education leaders scrambling as the school year approaches. 'We want to see students in our states and across the country thrive, whether they are adult learners, students who speak English as a second language, or students who need after-school care so that their parents can work. We believe you share the same goal,' the senators' letter stated. In Alabama, where Trump won overwhelmingly in 2024, Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey told ABC News that he's frustrated the administration decided to halt congressionally appropriated funding in the middle of the summer. 'We're talking about transparency and consistency and making good on a promise,' Mackey told ABC News. 'We're talking about programs that Congress has already authorized and just three weeks before school starts, you just find that the check is not coming.' The Education Department referred questions about the funding pause to OMB, which told ABC News many of the programs "grossly misused" government funds to promote a "radical leftwing agenda." The Impoundment Control Act -- a law that states Congress must consider and review executive branch withholdings of budget authorities – requires OMB to specify the duration of proposed partial-year deferrals. In a statement to ABC News, an OMB spokesman said no decisions have yet been made. 'We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs,' the senators wrote in the letter. 'However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.' Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's decision on Monday to lift an injunction blocking the administration's efforts to gut the Education Department allowed the administration to take a step toward fulfilling Trump's goal of dismantling the agency completely. Such a move would require congressional approval. South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, one of the senators who signed the letter, introduced legislation, called "Returning Education to Our States," that would block grant funds to states and redistribute statutory functions of the department to other agencies. The proposed legislation hasn't been taken up in the Senate this year and would likely fail without 60 Senate 'yes' votes. The other Republican senators who signed the letter were: Susan Collins, of Maine; John Boozman, of Arkansas; Katie Britt, of Alabama; Deb Fischer, of Nebraska; John Hoeven, of North Dakota; Jim Justice, of West Virginia; Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky; and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska.
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson temporarily banned from driving in UK after speeding violation
Emma Watson is temporarily hitting the brakes on driving. Watson, who is known for her iconic role as Hermione Granger in the " Harry Potter" film franchise, has been banned from driving in the United Kingdom for six months, according to U.K. Press Association. The actress's driving ban stems from an incident in July of last year when Watson allegedly drove 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford, England, according to the PA. At a sentencing hearing Wednesday in the U.K., a judge added three points to Watson's license, which resulted in a ban that bars her from driving for six months. The actress had nine points on her license prior to the speeding incident, according to the PA. In the U.K., a six month driving ban can be issued if a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points on their license within a three-year time period, according to the U.K. government's website. Watson, 35, was also ordered to pay a fine of 1,044 pounds -- approximately $1,400 -- at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court. Watson did not attend the hearing Wednesday. Her lawyer told the court the actress is a student and is, "in a position to pay the fine." A representative for Watson did not immediately reply to ABC News. Watson is currently a student at Oxford, where she's working toward a master's degree in creative writing, according to the BBC. Watson portrayed Hermione Granger in all eight "Harry Potter" movies alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, subsequently starring in a number of films including "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," "This Is the End," "Colonia," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Circle." In 2019, she starred as Meg March in the Greta Gerwig-directed film "Little Women" alongside Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Eliza Scanlen, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep and more.
3 hours ago
- Politics
Mamdani meets with congressional Democrats who praise his campaign
Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, met Wednesday with congressional Democrats in Washington as he continues his outreach to members of New York's congressional delegation, some of whom still have not said whether they'll endorse him. Some of those members have pointed to concerns over his progressive policy proposals or how he has declined to criticize the pro-Palestinian phrase 'Globalize the intifada,' although he himself has not used the phrase and has emphasized policies to combat antisemitism. Most members leaving a breakfast meeting organized by key ally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York at a Washington restaurant did not disclose what was discussed, although Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., said the meeting was focused on strategizing after Mamdani's stunning win in the primary and Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., a Muslim member of Congress, told ABC News that the meeting was focused on skills Mamdani could share and about his background. 'It was a 'skill-share' where he just talked about the way in which he's embodied his experience as an organizer, as a local elected, but also like as a young Muslim man, born and raised in one of the most diasporic cities in the world, and as a Muslim elected, I was not only inspired by it, I learned a lot.' When asked by ABC News if she thinks Mamdani is appealing to moderates, Simon said, 'Listen, he's winning,' and praised his ability to reach out to people across races and backgrounds. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., continues to hedge on whether he'll endorse Mamdani but is set to meet with him in New York this week. Ocasio-Cortez told reporters that members showed up in good faith even if they weren't fully onboard with him. Asked what she'd say to skeptics, including members of the New York delegation who haven't endorsed Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez responded, 'Get to know him. You know, this is not about having any kind of hard line. I think that, if anybody is skeptical, I would say, get to know him. And once you get into a room with him, kick the tires yourself and make your own assessment, instead of just kind of making assessments from what you may see on television.' Later, while leaving votes at the Capitol, Ocasio-Cortez said discussion around the phrase 'Globalize the intifada' did not come up at the event. Mamdani has faced questions about comments he made about the controversial phrase while speaking on a podcast hosted by 'The Bulwark', where he said he could see that and similar phrases being reflective of 'standing up for Palestinian human rights' and that he did not want to discuss the 'the permissibility of language.' He has emphasized hearing and understanding different perspectives on the phrase, which some say is a call for nonviolent uprising by Palestinians against Israeli control; others see it as a call for violence against Israelis and/or Jews. Mamdani has not used the phrase himself. He has also emphasized policies to protect Jews and to combat antisemitism in New York. President Donald Trump has attacked the Democratic socialist as a '100% Communist Lunatic' and a 'nutjob' and other Republicans have used him to depict Democrats as "radical socialists" and out of step with the country. Asked by a reporter if she thinks the Democratic Party is moving in a more socialist direction, Rep. Debbie Dingell said, 'It's a question by the media to try to stigmatize the Democratic Party. Every member of Congress runs in a district that is unique, and we all can learn from each other.' Dingell praised Mamdani as 'bright' and praised his campaigning. 'Donald Trump and he both get out and they talk to people, and they listen to people, and they understand how people feel. And he's using social media the way that Donald Trump has,' she said. 'And you know what? All of us in life have different perspectives, different experiences … everybody can learn from -- if we take the time to listen to each other, see what they're doing. Learn. We can all learn.' Some congressional Democrats said they still had doubts about Mamdani. Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose New York district partially includes a swath of Queens, told reporters on Wednesday that he was still critical of how Mamdani's policy proposals could mean higher taxes and that he has not decided if he'll endorse a candidate in the general election for mayor. Asked by ABC News if he had considered going to the breakfast hosted by Ocasio-Cortez, he said, "I have other things on my calendar." The meeting came two days after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who conceded in the Democratic primary, said he would actively run an independent bid for mayor. Mamdani is also set to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Jim Walden. After the meeting organized by Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani went to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a fellow democratic socialist who had endorsed Mamdani during the primary. Speaking to reporters after the meeting as he prepared to catch a train back to New York, Mamdani said both the meeting with Democrats and the meeting with Sanders went well, and that he and the Democrats discussed 'just the ways in which you want to unite the party.' Asked if he's winning over House Democrats who are skeptical about him, Mamdani said, 'I think that we are continuing to grow our coalition.'Sanders said, 'I think the issues that he's campaigning on, the need to create a city that is affordable for working class people, is exactly what has to happen in New York.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christopher Reeve's son says David Corenswet and 'Superman' cast 'don't need' family's approval: 'We're not gatekeepers'
Will Reeve, the son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve, says David Corenswet and the rest of the Superman cast and crew don't need to earn his family's approval — they've already got it. During Thursday's episode of Good Morning America, the ABC News correspondent explained that he's well aware that the James Gunn-directed film did not need to involve his family aboard the super-sized superhero project, but that it means a whole lot to them that they did. 'I just wanna say: my dad, and my siblings, and I, we're not gatekeepers of Superman,' Will clarified. 'David and the rest of the cast and crew don't need to seek our approval or even welcome us on their journey, but we're grateful that they did and excited for everybody to see it." Earlier in the segment, Will also opened up about his 'uncanny' first encounter with Corenswet — who plays the latest iteration of the Man of Steel — while visiting the film's set in Atlanta. 'We're sitting watching all these monitors and things and, out of the corner of my eye or whatever, I hear someone go, 'Hi, Will.' With a deep voice,' he said. 'And I see this blue and red and I look up and — I didn't think it was my dad, but I for a second didn't register that it was David. And I just look up, I go, 'Oh, wow. That's Superman.' Who, of course, I associate with my dad.' He continued, "So, once I got my bearings, the first thing I did was tell David how excited and supportive I and my family feel for him.' The feeling was mutual for Corenswet, who described his first meeting with the 33-year-old journalist as being 'very heartwarming' in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "Will is great," he said at the time. "He is the Superman type for obvious reasons. He's tall, he's handsome, and he's got a great smile. Having him show up and give his support in that moment was very heartwarming. He also got to meet my kid when she was only a few months old. She happened to be on set that day, too. I don't think she'll remember it, but that was a nice little thing, as well, a little parallel." Corenswet explained that Will arrived just as they were shooting a 'big, climactic scene' for the film. "It was nice in a lot of different ways,' he explained. 'It was nice in the same way when we had all of the [DC] comic writers and artists visit set. They were all wearing their Superman T-shirts and they were all excited to be there. Anybody who's involved with a great character, whether it's directly as writing and drawing for them — or, in Will's case, his dad put the character into the public consciousness — when those people are excited about what they see, that just gives you a little fuel to keep going." Will, however, did more than just a quick flyover on set. He also filmed a special cameo for the film in which he plays, rather fittingly, a journalist. 'It was a really great experience,' he told TMZ in an on-the-street interview last year. 'They were super friendly; it was quick, easy... I was actually more nervous doing that than I am whenever I'm on TV for my normal job cuz there was so many people around and I had to memorize one line, but still!" Christopher Reeve starred as the Man of Steel in four separate film adaptations throughout the '70s and '80s. Last year, Will and his siblings Matthew and Alexandra starred in the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. which chronicles their father's life and legacy. Superman soars into theaters July 11. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
