Student Union | Photo by Soham Parikh | The Wright State Guardian
From local happenings to national topics and global events, here is the news worth knowing from the week of Oct. 7, 2024.
Local
Former Ohio congressman Dave Hobson dead at 87
On Monday, Oct. 7, Former U.S. Rep. David Hobson, whose 18 years in Congress included successful efforts to improve military housing and boost federal funding for defense research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, died. He was 87.
Hobson died at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after a short illness, his family said in a statement.
National
Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing deadly storm surges, flooding and powerful winds, according to the Associated Press. Florida was still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.
The hurricane knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up 150 tornado warnings. At least five people are dead as damage is still being assessed.
Social Security Administration announces 2.5% cost-of-living increase
On Thursday, Oct. 10, the Social Security Administration announced millions of recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase, an average of more than $50 for retirees every month, starting in January, 2025, according to the Associated Press.
Sherri Myers, an 82-year-old retiree from Florida, is now hoping to get an hourly job at Walmart to help make ends meet.
“I would like to eat good but I can’t. When I’m at the grocery store, I just walk past the vegetables because they are too expensive. I have to be very selective about what I eat — even McDonald’s is expensive,” Myers said.
Recipients received a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, after a historically large 8.7% benefit increase in 2023, brought on by record 40-year-high inflation.
Global
At least 22 people killed in airstrikes in central Beirut, Israel firing on UN peacekeepers
On Thursday, Oct. 10, Israel launched more airstrikes on central Beirut, killing 22 people and wounding dozens others, according to the Associated Press.
The raid on central Beirut apparently targeted two residential buildings in separate neighborhoods simultaneously. It brought down one apartment building and wiped out the lower floors of the other.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said in a statement that its headquarters and positions “have been repeatedly hit” by Israeli forces. It said an Israeli tank “directly” fired on an observation tower at the force’s headquarters.
