Federal investigators examining the partial collapse of a Florida condominium tower that killed 98 people have found numerous faulty support columns in the tenant garage and pool deck below the building. Tests revealed that some columns were only half the strength they should have been and were not up to construction standards when the tower was built in 1980. The pool deck collapsed minutes before the tower fell, likely damaging a support beam and causing the subsequent collapse. The investigation is ongoing, with preliminary results indicating potential structural issues and the possibility of external triggers for the collapse. Survivors and families of victims have expressed frustration over the length of the investigation and the lack of accountability.
A new report by federal investigators reveals that nursing homes in the U.S. are still grappling with staffing shortages, employee burnout, and inadequate infection control procedures, despite the waning of the Covid pandemic. The report highlights severe staffing problems, low vaccination booster rates, and the financial challenges faced by nursing homes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency overseeing nursing home care, has been urged to address these issues and make meaningful changes.
A mysterious high-altitude balloon spotted over the Western US turned out to be a hobbyist device and has left American airspace, according to federal investigators. The balloon, flying at 43,000 to 45,000 feet, was tracked by NORAD and determined to pose no threat to flight safety. Its origin remains unknown, but it was described as a non-maneuverable Mylar balloon with a small cube-shaped box hanging below it. This incident comes after the US Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast last year.
A federal judge has ruled that federal investigators can access thousands of communications, including text messages and emails, on the cellphone of Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania as part of the special counsel's 2020 election probe into former President Donald Trump and his allies. The judge's ruling overrides Perry's claims of constitutional protection, stating that the data could include communications regarding the Capitol insurrection and discussions about Vice President Pence's role in the Electoral Count Act. Perry had argued that the Speech and Debate clause protected his cellphone records, but the judge disagreed.
Federal investigators are focusing on construction flaws on the pool deck as the cause of the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, Florida, which claimed the lives of 98 people in June 2021. The investigation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has revealed significant design and construction problems, including weaknesses in the pool deck and concrete columns supporting the building. The NIST team is still exploring other possible failure hypotheses but plans to narrow down the field soon. The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are urging the public to provide any photos or videos of the collapse. Meanwhile, family members of the victims are expressing impatience with the investigation and objecting to plans for a new building on the site.
