Caribbean Reels from Melissa as Death Toll Rises

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm ever recorded to strike Jamaica, ripped through the Caribbean over the past week, leaving catastrophic damage and a mounting death toll in its wake. The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 with sustained winds of 185 mph, tying records for wind speed and pressure among Atlantic hurricanes since 1851. Catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure collapse stranded many across island while leaving roughly hundreds of thousands of residents without electricity. At least 19 people died in Jamaica, and local officials caution that the true number may rise as search and rescue efforts continue.​

In Haiti, intense rainfall from the storm's slow passage triggered deadly river surges and landslides, with at least 30 confirmed fatalities with more missing, many from the southern town of Petit-Goave. Communities across eastern Cuba faced the hurricane as a Category 3, forcing the preemptive evacuation of over 700,000 people. Melissa's slow movement exacerbated damage, isolating villages and crippling transportation and communications.​

AccuWeather estimates economic losses in the region at up to $52 billion. As of Friday, Hurricane Melissa was rapidly weakening as it moved northeast away from Bermuda, with forecasters warning of hazardous surf and strong winds reaching the southern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland tonight. Recovery and aid efforts remain hampered by impassable roads and widespread power outages, and many Caribbean communities remain desperate for food, water, and medical support.

 

Gridlock Over Obamacare Subsidies Keeps Government Shutdown

Federal operations remain partially shuttered after Congress failed to reach a budget deal by Thursday night, forcing thousands of government workers into furlough and suspending non-essential services nationwide. The standoff has intensified amid President Trump’s threat to urge GOP senators to eliminate the filibuster for this bill, prompting pushback from the Senate GOP leadership, which has vowed to protect the filibuster

Senate Democrats seek renewal of enhanced Obamacare subsidies, a central sticking point in talks. Republicans criticize the cost of those subsidies, which they say benefit largely wealthier people. With both sides entrenched, critical deadlines for federal agencies and assistance programs loom for next week, though two federal judges ruled today that the USDA must use $5-6 billion in contingency funds to fund the SNAP program. The Trump administration has signaled openness to using those funds, asking for guidance from the court.

As of Friday, informal negotiations remain in progress as the Senate remains in recess until Monday.

 

Trump Administration May Be Eyeing Venezuela Military Targets

The United States is reportedly poised to launch military strikes against Venezuelan targets, aiming to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, which is accused of running a major drug cartel.

Unnamed sources told the Miami Herald that U.S. strikes could target military facilities “at any moment,” although President Trump has not publicly confirmed a final decision. The Trump administration has also conducted at least 14 operations against small vessels, claiming these actions target drug trafficking.

Tensions are escalating as U.S. forces deploy near Venezuela, and international concern is growing over potential conflict.

 

Atlantic Hurricane Season Ramps Up after Previously Quiet September

Hurricanes Gabrielle, Humberto, and Imelda have marked the peak of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Gabrielle moved east of Bermuda as a Category 4 hurricane, causing high swells but minor damage in the Azores before dissipating over the Iberian Peninsula.

Hurricane Humberto, a Category 4 with 140 mph winds, is centered about 300 miles southwest of Bermuda and projected to pass west of the island Tuesday night, producing dangerous surf, rip currents, and up to 2 inches of rain in Bermuda. U.S. impacts are limited to hazardous coastal conditions from Florida to the Carolinas.

Imelda, now a tropical storm but forecast to become a hurricane by Tuesday, is tracking northeast well offshore. While the Bahamas face heavy rain, the risk for direct U.S. landfall has diminished, though localized flooding and beach erosion remain threats along parts of the Atlantic coast. Emergency declarations in the Carolinas have been lifted as threats ease, though Bermuda remains in the storm’s path and is under a Hurricane Watch.

 

Actor Robert Redford Dies at 89

Robert Redford, acclaimed actor, director and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance, Utah, at age 89. Rising to fame in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President’s Men," Redford won an Oscar for directing "Ordinary People."

He was also known for environmental advocacy and a champion for independent filmmaking.

 His publicist stated Redford died peacefully at home, surrounded by family. Tributes poured in from across Hollywood and beyond, reflecting on his storied career and impact on cinema and conservation.