MARIA, AGAIN A HURRICANE, SWIRLS OVER N.C. BEACHES
» Maria regained strength and became a hurricane again Wednesday, pushing water over both sides of North Carolina’s Outer Banks and taking its time to slowly turn away from the U.S. Atlantic coast.
No injuries have been reported, but the surge of ocean water washed over eroded beaches, flooding properties and North Carolina 12, the only road through the narrow barrier islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke.
Lawmakers restricted from visiting Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, aides say.
WASHINGTON» The Trump administration is restricting lawmakers in both parties from visiting storm-ravaged Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard military aircraft this weekend to keep focused on recovery missions there, according to multiple congressional aides.
The decision comes as the Pentagon is intensifying its relief efforts on the islands as the U.S. government struggles to respond to devastation caused by Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma. Multiple attempts have been underway in recent days for members of both parties to travel to Puerto Rico aboard military aircraft.
But since Monday evening, permission to use military aircraft to make the trips has been denied by the White House and Pentagon, the aides said. One Republican aide familiar with the back-andforth said that the administration and military officials had indicated that they need “resources for rescue and recovery, thus member travel will be restricted.”
Why is the internet still out for some in Florida?
The power’s back on in Florida, so why is the internet still out for some people, more than two weeks after Hurricane Irma struck?
When Hurricane Irma hit Florida on Sept. 10, 6.7 million customers lost electricity, or nearly twothirds of the state. Nine days later, all but 1 percent of the state — 100,000 — had the power back on.
With internet service, it’s less clear where things stand. The Federal Communications Commission, which tracks home phone, internet and TV outages, published its last update more than a week ago, Sept. 18, when there were almost 900,000 customers without service.
Major internet providers say 98 percent to 99 percent of their affected customers have had service restored. But it’s not clear how many actual people still lack service.
Texas’ oil regulator took vacation amid Harvey.
TEXAS» The state’s AUSTIN, chief oil and gas regulator was on vacation in the critical days surrounding Hurricane Harvey as her agency grappled with fuel shortages and scrambled to respond to refinery spills caused by the storm, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.
Kimberly Corley’s work calendar listed her as on vacation for 11 days in a two-week span before and after Harvey came ashore Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane. The former Shell Oil executive was named in December 2015 as executive director of the peculiarly named Texas Railroad Commission, which has nothing to do with trains but is responsible for enforcement of the state’s oil and gas industry.
Corley abruptly stepped down last week. Reached by phone Wednesday, she said she had been in Big Bend, a popular camping getaway on the TexasMexico border. She said she was engaged in the storm response while away, adding that Harvey wasn’t mentioned in a meeting with the agency’s chairwoman that preceded her resignation.