Oct 6, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Lin-Manuel Miranda released a single for Puerto Rico

Hamilton composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda has released a new single for Puerto Rico recovery efforts. Photo: Chris Pizzello / Invision via AP

Hamilton composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda released a new song Friday — titled "Almost like Praying," a nod to West Side Story — to help raise money for hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Sales of the track, which features a star-studded group of Hispanic rappers, singers, and actors including Jenifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Luis Fonsi, Rita Moreno, and Gina Rodriguez, among others, will go to the Hispanic Federation's "Unidos" Disaster Relief Fund.

Flashback: Last weekend Miranda, who has been an outspoken advocate of helping accelerate the relief efforts in PR, slammed President Trump on Twitter for his attacks on San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. "She has been working 24/7. You have been GOLFING. You're going straight to hell. Fastest golf cart you ever took," wrote Miranda.

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 1 hour ago - Science

Texas and Louisiana face fresh flood threat from Tropical Storm Beta

Tropical Storm Beta slowly approaching the Texas coast on Monday. Photo: National Weather Service/Twitter

Tropical Storm Beta was dumping heavy rains over Texas as it churned its way inland overnight, bringing the risk of "life-threatening storm surge" and flooding to parts of the state and Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center said.

What's happening: The slow-moving storm was causing coastal flooding along areas including the bays near Houston and Galveston in Texas Monday, per the National Weather Service. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) made a disaster declaration and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency Monday.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 31,328,238 — Total deaths: 964,839— Total recoveries: 21,503,496 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 6,857,967 — Total deaths: 199,884 — Total recoveries: 2,615,949 — Total tests: 95,841,281 — Map.
  3. Health: CDC says it mistakenly published guidance about COVID-19 spreading through air.
  4. Media: Conservative blogger who spread COVID-19 misinformation worked for Fauci's agency.
  5. Politics: House Democrats file legislation to fund government through Dec. 11.
  6. World: U.K. upgrades COVID alert level as Europe sees worrying rise in infections — "The Wake-Up Call" warns the West about the consequences of mishandling a pandemic.
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Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Louisville police declare state of emergency as Breonna Taylor decision looms

A demonstrator holds up a sign of Breonna Taylor during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The Louisville police chief declared in a memo obtained by news outlets a "state of emergency" for the department on Monday to prepare for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's expected announcement on the Breonna Taylor case.

Of note: Louisville has witnessed more than 115 days of protests over the police killing of Taylor, an unarmed Black woman, with calls for all the officers involved to be charged.

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