DNC Kicks Off, NE Flooding, & a 3D-Printed Neighborhood

Adam Rogers
August 20, 2024

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The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago on Monday, where President Biden passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Each night has a different theme and speakers. President Biden ended the convention's opening night by starting his political farewell. He praised his achievements, like public works and climate programs, and shared credit with Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden said choosing Harris as his running mate was his best decision and promised to support her and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He wrapped up by telling the audience, "I gave my best to you for 50 years."
The convention will conclude on Thursday with Kamala Harris officially accepting the nomination for president. Other key speakers include Former President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Outside the event, thousands of protestors marched and called for a cease-fire in Gaza, an issue that has divided the Democratic Party. Several protestors managed to get through the security fence but police immediately detained them.
National poll averages have Harris slightly ahead of Trump.

A luxury superyacht owned by British tech magnate Mike Lynch sank off the coast of Sicily during a freak storm

A tornado over water known as a waterspout struck the area where the yacht was anchored during the night. Despite rescue efforts, only 15 people, including Lynch’s wife, were saved. Rescue teams are still searching for those unaccounted for, and one body has been recovered.
Fishermen and rescue crews worked tirelessly to locate survivors, but the yacht had already sunk by the time help arrived. Eight survivors were hospitalized, while others were taken to a hotel.
Lynch, once dubbed the "Bill Gates of Britain," had recently been cleared of fraud charges related to the $11 billion sale of his company, Autonomy Corp., to Hewlett Packard.

A new brain stimulation method could help people with Parkinson’s disease better control their symptoms.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is done by implanting electrodes in the brain to stimulate specific areas that control movement. The new method, called "adaptive" DBS, adjusts the level of electrical stimulation in the brain based on real-time needs, unlike current DBS which uses a constant level. The new approach could reduce the duration of troubling symptoms by half.
Adaptive DBS works by sensing brain activity and adjusting the stimulation accordingly. Researchers created special algorithms that increase or decrease the stimulation depending on the patient’s brain signals. In a pilot study, four men with Parkinson’s tried both traditional and adaptive DBS. They reported spending 50% less time dealing with their worst symptoms and three out of four said their quality of life improved with adaptive DBS.
While the results are promising, experts say more trials are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of adaptive DBS. Medications will still be needed alongside DBS, but possibly in lower doses.

Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships collided near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, damaging two boats. Both sides blamed each other for the incident. The shoal lies 87 miles west of the Philippine island of Palawan and has become a boiling point in territorial disputes between the two nations. (More)

Former congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in a federal fraud case. He had earlier claimed he was not guilty of multiple financial crimes, like lying about his wealth, taking unemployment benefits while working, and using campaign money for personal expenses. (More)

Heavy rains in Connecticut and Long Island turned streets into rivers, trapping people in cars and a restaurant. The floods covered cars in mud and killed two women. In western Connecticut, about a foot of rain fell rapidly, and over 100 people had to be rescued by search teams. (More)

Chrystul Kizer, 24, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree reckless homicide for killing a man she said trafficked her as a teenager. She will also have five years of supervised release. By pleading guilty, Kizer avoided a trial and the risk of a life sentence. (More)

Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they were responsible for a bomb explosion near a synagogue in Tel Aviv. Israeli police called it a terrorist attack. The man carrying the bomb died when it went off before he could reach a crowded area, and a passerby was hurt. (More)

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