Southern California Oil Spill Fouls Beaches, Kills Wildlife

ACROSS AMERICA — Good morning and happy Monday! I hope everyone had a nice weekend and are ready to start the week off right. It's Monday, Oct 4 and here is your daily guide on what's happening across the country today — a little taste of what you might have missed yesterday in the news:

• A 126,000-gallon oil spill in California shut down several Orange County beaches.
• A former NASCAR driver was shot and killed near Athens, Ga., Saturday night.
• Lions and tigers that tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 are showing signs of improvement.
• Minnesota has a new GOP chair after Saturday's election.

Orange County Oil Spill Fouls Wildlife

A 126,000-gallon oil spill closed nearly four miles of coastline and inflicted major ecological damage to the waters between Huntington Beach and Newport Beach this weekend. The spill, spanning about 5.8 nautical miles, forced authorities to cancel the final day of the Pacific Airshow, which drew about 1.5 million people on Saturday.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the spill on Saturday, which was reported around 9 a.m. and drew a response from all levels of government, Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr said Saturday. A unified command was established to handle the environmental crisis. >> OC Oil Spill Fouls Wildlife: 'Potential Ecologic Disaster' via Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar Patch

Former NASCAR Driver Killed In Shooting

Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley, who is also the son of the Zaxby's restaurant chain founder, died after a shooting in Georgia Saturday night. A 30-year-old woman was also injured in the shooting.

Law enforcement officials in Athens, Ga., say the shooter knew the victims and investigators have classified the shooting as a domestic violence incident. >> Former NASCAR Driver Killed In Georgia Shooting, via Across Georgia Patch

COVID-19-Positive Zoo Animals Improving

The lions and tigers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., that tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks ago are showing signs of improvement, the zoo said Friday.

Six African lions, a Sumatran tiger and two Amur tigers tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. All of the lions and tigers, including three lions that were still showing signs of the disease last Friday, "are improving and eating," the zoo said. >> COVID-19 Positive Lions, Tigers At National Zoo Are 'Improving' via Washington, D.C. Patch

Hann Wins Minnesota GOP Chair Position

After a tumultuous few months for the Minnesota GOP, the party has a new chair. David Hann won an election Saturday for the job after Jennifer Carnahan was forced out of the role in August.

Hann, a former state Senate minority leader from Eden Prairie, won the final vote over businessman Jerry Dettinger. >> David Hann Wins Minnesota GOP Chair After Carnahan's Tumultuous Departure, via Across Minnesota Patch

House Porn

Check out this seven-bedroom estate in Mountain Brook, Ala., listed at just under $6 million. With nearly 10,000 square feet of living space, the property also includes a reflecting fountain, a pool with a rock waterfall, and professional landscaping throughout the grounds.

This Day In History

On this day in 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, which orbited Earth until 1958, inaugurated the space age and heightened Cold War competition between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.

Around 'The Patch'

• Body Believed To Be Missing Florida Woman Miya Marcano, via Orlando Patch
• Illinois State Trooper Took His Own Life: Police, via Chicago Patch
• Slower Mail, Higher Prices: 5 Things To Know About USPS Changes, via Across America Patch
• Man Convicted Of Animal Cruelty In Fire That Killed 29 Dogs, via Woodridge, IL Patch
• Small Plane Crashes On Long Island, via Riverhead, NY Patch
• Powerball Winning Numbers For 10/2/2021 Drawing: $635M Jackpot, via Annapolis Patch
• U.S. Surpasses 700,000 COVID-19 Deaths As Summer Surge Wanes, via Across America Patch
• Norwalk Father, 26, Dies Saving 2 Kids From Drowning At CT Beach, via Norwalk, CT Patch
• NOAA Ocean Drone Captures Video From Inside Hurricane Sam: WATCH, via Across America Patch

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