Henri Plods Out To Sea After Swamping A Large Swath Of Northeast

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, Aug. 24, and we’re in the thick of the “dog days of summer.” (Fun fact: In ancient Rome, the hottest, most humid days of the summer were called “diēs caniculārēs,” or dog days, because they occurred when Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, was visible from anywhere on Earth.)

We’re also in the thick of a lot of weather. There’s Tropical Storm Henri, of course — more about that in a bit — but at least 22 people were killed in catastrophic flash flooding in Tennessee, and the Dixie Fire in California has grown to 725,821 acres and destroyed at least 1,259 structures, including 678 homes.

We’ll also tell you about:

• Hundreds of employees of a California nonprofit group are trying to get out of Afghanistan.
• The “Jeopardy!” host debacle is over, at least for now.
• The leader of the Proud Boys was sentenced for burning a Black Lives Matter flag.

Henri Leaves Misery Behind

Downgraded Sunday to a tropical storm and now a post-tropical cyclone, Henri is plodding out to sea as residents of the waterlogged Northeast are clearing mud, ripping out wet carpets and calculating damage as the storm’s remnants threaten more rain.

Coastal areas of New York and New England were spared major damage from the storm, which made landfall in Rhode Island and caused deluges from Maine to Pennsylvania.

The danger isn’t over from the slow-moving storm, clocking at a leisurely 9 mph but expected to pick up, prompting more flood watches and warning across large swaths of the Northeast.

• Forecasters Slammed After Henri Was A ‘Dud,’ via Milford, Connecticut, Patch
• One Goose Dies In Storm, Another Rescued, via North Fork, New York, Patch
• Counting Blessings After A Tough Night In The Neighborhood, via Larchmont, New York, Patch
• Flood Watch Continues With Threats Of More Rain, via Hoboken, New Jersey, Patch

Extremes in weather, including the devastating Tennessee flood, are more evidence that “climate change has come barging through the front doors of America,” Roy Wright, president of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and former head of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, told The Washington Post. » Read Tennessee Floods Show Pressing Climate Danger Across America: Walls of Water on The Washington Post.

Trapped In Afghanistan

About 360 employees of Roots of Peace, a California-based nonprofit, are trapped in Afghanistan, where they are working to replace minefields with vistas of orchards.

The Taliban, the fundamentalist group that seized control of the country after the United States began its withdrawal from the 20-year war, reportedly contacted Roots of Peace seeking personal information about nonprofit staffers it is trying to evacuate. It’s unclear if the request was credible.

"Sadly, I have not been able to get ONE Afghan staff member or their families out of Afghanistan in over a week — 360 loyal Afghans to whom the US. has a 'sacred obligation' to get them safely through the airport gate," CEO Heidi Kuhn wrote in a social media post. » Read Taliban Contacts Marin Nonprofit, via San Anselmo-Fairfax, California, Patch.

Who Is Mayim Bialik?

Phrased in the style of the popular game show, “this ‘Big Bang Theory’ actress and neuroscientist will replace the Mike Richards as ‘Jeopardy!’ host on an interim basis.”

The answer: Who is Mayim Bialik?

Bialik, who will host 15 episodes of the show, replaces executive producer Mike Richards, who stepped down after just nine days as the host, as a series of inappropriate comments he made years ago on podcasts came to light. » Read Mayim Bialik Steps Up As Interim ‘Jeopardy’ Host on Culver City, California Patch.

Proud Boys Leader Sentenced

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group, was sentenced Monday to 155 days in jail for his role in stealing and burning a Black Lives Matter flag that was displayed at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.

Tarrio told the court he was “profusely” sorry for his actions, calling them a “grave mistake,” according to The Associated Press. » Read Proud Boys Leader Gets Jail Time For Burning BLM Flag, via Washington, D.C., Patch.

Around ‘The Patch’

No “I’m Sorry” From Cuomo: In his farewell address Monday, disgraced New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered no apologies for a string of sexual harassment accusations, saying “there will be another time to talk about the truth and ethics” of the situation that led to his resignation, via Long Island, New York, Patch.

Headstones Used To Stabilize River Banks: When remains in a historic African American burial ground were relocated to make room for development in 1960, many of the headstones were sold for scrap or used as rubble to stabilize the banks of the Potomac River. Now, as many as possible will be reset to properly mark the graves, via Washington, D.C., Patch.

Tallest Man In U.S. Dies: Igor Vovkovinskiy, who at 7 feet, 8 inches was the tallest man in the United States, died Friday in Rochester, Minnesota, at age 38, via Northfield, Minnesota, Patch.

Reality TV Star, Newborn Reunited: After having her newborn daughter, Ast, taken from her by child welfare officials nearly two weeks ago, "American Idol" finalist Syesha Mercado has been reunited with her baby, via Bradenton, Florida, Patch.

Pfizer Vaccine Fully Approved: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave final approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious variant of the coronavirus yet, via Across America Patch.

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