'We're Devastated': Trooper Among Hurricane Ida Flooding Victims

Good morning! It’s Friday, Sept. 3, and here are a few things to know ahead of the Labor Day weekend:

• Officials in Northeastern states continue to assess the damage from the flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
• A plane crashed into a building in Connecticut, setting it on fire and killing four on board people.
• The Supreme Court voted 5-4 not to overturn Texas' recent controversial law that effectively bans abortion for women after their sixth week of pregnancy.
• An animal shelter has welcomed 10 dogs evacuated from Hurricane Ida-ravaged Louisiana.

State Trooper An Ida Victim

A longtime state police sergeant in Connecticut was among those who died in the flooding caused by Hurricane Ida in the Northeast.

Sgt. Brian E. Mohl was working the midnight shift near the Jacks Bridge when the waters were rapidly rising, washing him away with his police cruiser.

His call to dispatch for a trooper in distress was the last his colleagues would ever hear from him, and his body was found hours later in the Pomperaug River.

"We've lost another member of our family ... we're devastated," a top Connecticut state police official said. Read the full story on Woodbury-Middlebury, Connecticut, Patch

Ida Causes More Deaths

The remnants of Hurricane Ida caused death and destruction amid the torrential rain and flooding that hit the Northeast. Ida is blamed for record river levels and tornadoes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as devastation throughout New York City.

Ballpark Underwater

TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, New Jersey, completely flooded amid the high waters brought by the Hurricane Ida remnants.

The entire ballfield, some of the bleachers and parking lot are flooded.

"The ballpark flooded like much of the surrounding area. We are in the process of evaluating to what extent and the damage caused," said Somerset Patriots President/General Manager Patrick McVerry. "In the meantime, we are thinking about all our neighbors dealing with flooding of their homes and businesses and hope everybody is safe."

Read more from Bridgewater, New Jersey, Patch

More Ida Photos

Hurricane Ida has caused damage across much of the Eastern United States, from when it hit Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana, to the record rainfall it produced in the Northeast through early Thursday. Take a look at Ida in photos here.

Plane Crashes Into Building

Four people — two pilots and two passengers — were killed when a plane crashed into an industrial building in Farmington, Connecticut. Property records indicate the address is home to Trumpf Inc., a large manufacturer of fabricating machinery.

Authorities are investigating whether there was a mechanical failure during takeoff, police said. About 300 people were inside the industrial building, and no injuries were reported among them. » Read more from Farmington, Connecticut, Patch

Supreme Court OKs Texas Abortion Law

The strictest abortion law since Roe v. Wade has survived, for now. The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 late Wednesday night to allow a Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in force, although one conservative justice voted with the three who normally lean left.

The majority said those bringing the case had not met the high burden required for an emergency stay of the Texas law, which prohibits abortion after a heartbeat can be detected. » Read more from Across Texas Patch

Unemployment Claims Lowest Since Pre-Pandemic

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 340,000, a pandemic low and another sign that the job market is steadily rebounding from the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic. » Read more from Across America Patch

The Cost Of A Hot Dog

It might be only a couple bucks in many places, but one university study took a different look at it, showing that eating one hot dog can take about 36 minutes off your life.

More On ‘The Patch’

• Man Plays Patriotic Tunes On Trumpet Outside Home, via Brookfield, Wisconsin Patch
• Cop May Have Killed Girl During Football Game Shooting, via Haverford, Pennsylvania, Patch
• Shelter Welcomes 10 Dogs Evacuated From Louisiana, via Newport, Rhode Island, Patch
• Bird Photo Gallery Highlights Virginia’s Feathered Residents, via Fairfax City, Virginia, Patch
• Son Loses Vaccinated Dad With Leukemia To COVID-19, via Brandon, Florida, Patch

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