After Losing Leg In Crash, Businessman Seeks Master’s Degree

Good morning! It’s Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 6, and here are a few things to catch up on during the holiday celebrating American workers:

• The Navy sailors who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of California have been identified.
• Four people, including a three-month-old infant, were killed by a gunman outside Tampa.
• What to know about the mu coronavirus variant.

A Crash Survivor’s Determination

It was just over three months ago when Joliet, Illinois, resident Mike Ross nearly died. He survived a horrific crash on one of the city’s busiest highways, and had to get his leg amputated below the knee.

Ross, who owns a carpet cleaning business, told Joliet Patch’s John Ferak his heart briefly stopped after he was rescued, and would spend the next three days in a coma.

Although a difficult and challenging recovery still lies ahead, Ross is determined to make the most of the situation. Since he’s been home recuperating, he has re-enrolled in college, with a goal to obtain a master’s degree in business. Read the full story from Joliet, Illinois, Patch.

Navy Sailors Identified

The five U.S. Navy sailors who died in a helicopter crash following a flight operation off the coast of San Diego were identified Sunday. The dead ranged in age from 21 to 31 years old.

The five Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron members were identified as Lt. Bradley A. Foster, 29; Lt. Paul R. Fridley, 28; Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class James P. Buriak, 31; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, 31; and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Bailey J. Tucker, 21.

The crew was flying an MH-60S helicopter, was conducting a routine flight operation from USS Abraham Lincoln when the aircraft crashed into the sea roughly 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego on Tuesday.

Read more from San Diego Patch

Ex-Marine Kills 4, Including Infant: Sheriff

A county sheriff in Florida said a former Marine was “ready for battle” when he shot people outside a home in a Tampa suburb early Sunday morning.

“Prior to this morning, this guy was a war hero. He fought for his country in Afghanistan and Iraq,” the sheriff said. “And this morning he’s a cold-blooded killer.”

Read more from Lakeland, Florida, Patch

Mu Variant: What To Know

The highly contagious mu variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Los Angeles County, among other places. According to the World Health Organization, the mu variant contains genetic variants that could make it somewhat resistant to natural immunity, current vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments.

Read more from Los Angeles Patch

Blind Vietnam Vet Enters Photo Contest

Rick Olsen, a Vietnam veteran, suffered a stroke that caused him to lose his vision some 18 years ago. What he has done since may seem all but impossible: he became a photographer.

"I went scuba diving with a friend of mine and got an underwater video camera," Olsen said. "I started taking pictures of what people said they were seeing and doing, and just stuck with it."

This year, the Homewood, Illinois, man has entered his first ever photo contest.

Read more from Homewood-Flossmoor, Illinois, Patch

House Porn: A Star Island waterfront home in Miami Beach offers uninterrupted views of the Miami skyline.

More On ‘The Patch’

• Daring Dog Rescue Caught On Video, via Douglasville, Georgia, Patch
• Wawa Data Breach Settlement: How To Cash Out, via Haverford-Havertown,Pennsylvania, Patch
• Cash And Jewels Stolen During Home Invasion, via Ellington-Somers, Connecticut, Patch

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