In Other Brews…
First responders continue counting the human cost of Helene, one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. From Florida to Virginia, at least 150 people have died, about 600 remain missing, and millions are still without power and cell coverage. Western North Carolina saw “biblical devastation” after the deluge, rendering hundreds of roads impassable.
Pete Rose, MLB’s controversial all-time hits leader, has died at 83. Known as “Charlie Hustle” for his all-out style of play, Rose was banned for life from MLB—and Hall of Fame contention—after betting on baseball as a player and a manager. He ended his 24-season career with 4,256 hits, 17 All-Star Game appearances, and three World Series rings.
A Georgia judge has struck down the state’s six-week abortion ban, ruling it unconstitutional and reinstating abortion up until ~22 weeks of pregnancy. Judge Robert McBurney’s order stated that “liberty in Georgia” includes a woman’s right to make “personal healthcare decisions.” Georgia’s Attorney General Carr (R) is expected to appeal the case to the state supreme court.
A chemical plant fire in an Atlanta suburb prompted shelter-in-place orders for over 90,000 people and evacuation orders for ~17,000 more on Monday. The fire sent massive plumes of dark smoke into the sky and a strong chemical smell and haze into the air. The Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifted the shelter-in-place order yesterday.
DirecTV has agreed to buy its longtime rival Dish for a symbolic $1 (and the assumption of $9.75 billion in debt). The multistep deal involves DirecTV buying Dish’s TV business while a private equity firm simultaneously buys DirecTV from AT&T. Satellite TV is past its prime; combined, the two companies have lost 63% of their customers since 2016.