New York City never sleeps, but parts of the city went dark on a very hot Saturday night. Read on to see what happened.
Tropical Storm Barry is making its way further inland, dumping heavy rain and causing flooding even as the storm loses strength.
And R. Kelly’s two girlfriends found themselves locked out of their home after the singer was arrested.
Here’s what you need to know in the daily roundup.
TOP STORY: Power Has Been Restored After a Massive Blackout in New York City
GettyA large section of Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Midtown neighborhoods are seen in darkness during a major power outage on July 13, 2019.
The lights are back on in New York City after a power failure plunged the west side of Manhattan into darkness for several hours on Saturday night. ConEd officials said that approximately 73,000 customers lost electricity due to some sort of mechanical problem, on a night when temperatures reached into the upper 80s. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said an investigation was opened but that they do not suspect criminal or terrorist activity.
The blackout stranded people in underground subways and elevators. Popular tourist sites such as Times Square and Rockefeller Center, known for always being brightly lit, were dark. Broadway shows were also canceled, but actors staged impromptu performances on the street, much to the delight of the audiences.
Coincidentally, the massive outage occurred on the 42nd anniversary of the 1977 blackout. That outage spread across several boroughs and impacted millions of people. The blackout prompted two days of crime and vandalism and caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Read more details about the 1977 blackout here.
WHAT’S BUZZING THAT HAS EVERYONE TALKING: Tropical Storm Barry Continues to Dump Heavy Rain Even as it Weakens
Tropical Storm Barry is losing strength as it travels further inland. The storm made landfall Saturday afternoon as a hurricane but was quickly downgraded again.
But meteorologists are warning communities that the threat is not over. Barry continues to bring dangerous levels of rainfall. The National Weather Service shared a video of a rescue mission on Twitter and urged people not to drive onto flooded streets.
Forecasters say parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, western Florida, and southeast Missouri remain at risk for flash flooding. Barry is expected to dissipate by tomorrow or early Tuesday.
OFF-BEAT: R. Kelly’s Girlfriends Were Locked Out of the Singer’s Chicago Home After His Arrest
Musician R. Kelly is facing federal charges for alleged sex acts involving minors. He was arrested on July 11 as he was walking his dog near his home, at Trump International Hotel & Tower, in Chicago.
Federal investigators took control of Kelly’s residence, which meant that his two girlfriends were also forced to leave. Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary were reportedly locked out of the home, according to sources cited by the entertainment website the Blast.
Savage’s parents have been working to re-establish ties with their daughter. Yahoo News previously reported that Savage’s parents accused Kelly of brainwashing her. The family also reportedly provided evidence to federal investigators against Kelly.
DAILY NEWS ROUNDUP
- Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer battle for the Wimbledon championship.
- Firefighters are working to get two wildfires under control in the Kihei region of Maui and evacuation orders were lifted.
- ICE deportation raids began on Saturday night.
- Popular YouTube personality Emily Hartridge died Friday in an accident in London.
- Leaders from Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google will face questions from Congress this week.
CHECK THIS OUT: Two Dogs Confront a Baby Alligator Displaced by Tropical Storm Barry
Tropical Storm Barry is pounding parts of the south, especially Louisiana, with rain. The flooding caused this baby alligator, seen in the video above, to get swept into someone’s garage in Livingston Parish.
The family’s two dogs went to investigate the little houseguest. One of the dogs was either afraid or disinterested in the reptile, and moved away after a quick sniff.
But the second dog may have wanted to play with the alligator! In the video, the dog’s tail is wagging as it barks and bounces around the alligator. The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security office assured the public that no animals were harmed during this exchange.
Missed Yesterday’s Roundup? Click here.