A town inspector had assured residents of a high-rise condominium in Surfside, Florida, that their building was sound a month after a report warned of major structural damage.
That's according to NPR, which reported that the inspector said the building was in "very good shape." The Champlain Towers South building partially collapsed in the early hours of Thursday as residents slept.
Nine bodies have so far been recovered and more than 150 people are still missing as rescue teams pick through the rubble looking for signs of life.
What caused nearly half the 40-year-old, 12-story, 156-unit building to cave in has yet to be determined.
In 2018 an engineering firm retained by the building found serious concrete deterioration in the underground parking garage and major structural damage in the concrete slab beneath the pool deck.
The engineer reported the deterioration would "expand exponentially" if it was not repaired in the near future.
But according to minutes of a meeting first reported by NPR, a Surfside inspector named Ross Prieto, who had reviewed the engineering report, met residents the following month and assured them the building was safe.
NPR reported Prieto is no longer employed by Surfside.
He told the Miami Herald newspaper he did not recall getting the report.
Officials said they still hoped survivors may be alive under the rubble, aided by air pockets in the debris, but they have not detected any signs of life.
Biden Wants to Increase Tariffs , on Chinese Steel and Aluminum Imports.
Speaking from the United Steelworkers
union in Pennsylvania on April 17.
Speaking from the United Steelworkers
union in Pennsylvania on April 17.
Biden will call on U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to triple tariffs on Chinese
steel and aluminum, NPR reports. .
Biden will call on U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to triple tariffs on Chinese
steel and aluminum, NPR reports. .
Those tariffs are presently at about 7.5%.
While these Chinese imports "account for less than 1% of U.S. demand," the country's steel prices are 40% cheaper than America's, NPR reports. .
The White House is concerned that
this could prompt a surge of exports. .
China's policy-driven overcapacity poses
a serious risk to the future of the
American steel and aluminum industry, Lael Brainard, Biden's top economic adviser, via NPR.
The president understands
we must invest in American
manufacturing, but we also have
to protect those investments and
those workers from unfair exports. , Lael Brainard, Biden's top economic adviser, via NPR.
The Biden administration also sent officials to Mexico to discuss preventing Chinese steel from entering the U.S. via its southern neighbor. .
I want to emphasize our desire to
cooperate and partner with Mexico
on addressing imports coming in
to the North American market as
a way of circumventing tariffs, Senior administration official, via NPR.
I'm not going to get ahead
of the diplomatic conversations
that have happened today and
that will be happening in the
days and weeks to come. , Senior administration official, via NPR.
But I think we're hoping to come to
a mutually acceptable solution with
Mexico, because this is a problem that
affects both of our economies, Senior administration official, via NPR.
United Steelworkers recently endorsed Biden
after he voiced his opposition to a U.S. Steel takeover by Nippon Steel, a Japanese company. .
United Steelworkers recently endorsed Biden
after he voiced his opposition to a U.S. Steel takeover by Nippon Steel, a Japanese company.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Recent Polls Show , Joe Biden Holds a Slight Lead , in Upcoming Presidential Election.
'Newsweek' reports that a series of recent polls have
placed current United States President Joe Biden with
a significant lead over his opponent Donald Trump.
'Newsweek' reports that a series of recent polls have
placed current United States President Joe Biden with
a significant lead over his opponent Donald Trump.
Here are some of the recent poll
results in favor of Biden for reelection. .
Florida Atlantic
University/Mainstreet, This poll gave Biden a slight edge with
47% of voters over 45% for Trump.
Florida Atlantic
University/Mainstreet, This poll gave Biden a slight edge with
47% of voters over 45% for Trump.
RMG Research, This poll of 1,679 voters also had Biden
holding a narrow 44% to 43% lead over Trump. .
RMG Research, This poll of 1,679 voters also had Biden
holding a narrow 44% to 43% lead over Trump. .
Ipsos, This poll found that 41%
of registered voters would support
Biden, compared to just 37% for Trump.
Ipsos, This poll found that 41%
of registered voters would support
Biden, compared to just 37% for Trump.
Quinnipiac University, This March 27 poll found that Biden
had a 3% lead with 48% of voter
support, compared to Trump's 45%.
Quinnipiac University, This March 27 poll found that Biden
had a 3% lead with 48% of voter
support, compared to Trump's 45%.
Marquette Law School, This poll resulted in Biden holding
a narrow lead of 45% of voters versus
44% of voters supporting Trump.
Marquette Law School, This poll resulted in Biden holding
a narrow lead of 45% of voters versus
44% of voters supporting Trump.
Marist College, This NPR study of 1,305 people ended
up with Biden gaining 50% of registered
voter support, compared to Trump's 48%. .
Marist College, This NPR study of 1,305 people ended
up with Biden gaining 50% of registered
voter support, compared to Trump's 48%. .
Experts caution that it remains too early to call the election in favor of either candidate, as other polls have former president Trump polling higher than Biden. .
Experts caution that it remains too early to call the election in favor of either candidate, as other polls have former president Trump polling higher than Biden. .
'Newsweek' reports that Heath Brown, an associate
professor of public policy at City University of New York,
points out that the presidential race remains "very close.".
'Newsweek' reports that Heath Brown, an associate
professor of public policy at City University of New York,
points out that the presidential race remains "very close.".
The polling over the last several months
indicate this is a very close race. I wouldn't
read too much into any one or two polls
at this point. The trend seems to be
that the campaign will be a very tight
one and I suspect the polls will
reflect that until November, Heath Brown, an associate professor of public
policy at City University of New York, via 'Newsweek'.
The polling over the last several months
indicate this is a very close race. I wouldn't
read too much into any one or two polls
at this point. The trend seems to be
that the campaign will be a very tight
one and I suspect the polls will
reflect that until November, Heath Brown, an associate professor of public
policy at City University of New York, via 'Newsweek'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Are Money Problems Stressing You Out? , Here's How to Face Your Financial Fears.
Have you been avoiding
managing your finances?.
If so, you're not alone.
No one enjoys paying bills. .
If it feels a bit more difficult for you,
check out these helpful ways to
quit avoiding your finances:.
Face Your
Fears Directly.
Helpful in self-preservation, our brains are inclined to find rewards and to run from anything associated with pain.
Experts say it's important to power through the fear of checking your
account balance and form
new positive banking habits.
Watch for
Bad Habits.
A trigger, an action and a result are the three elements of a habit loop.
It can be as simple as noticing, you know, 'Oh, when I think about money... I go and
clean my kitchen.' , Judson Brewer, psychiatrist author, via NPR.
Experts say to do your best to
avoid falling into bad habits,
face your financial fears head-on.
Don't Waste
Time on Regret.
We all stumble sometimes trying to move forward with our finances, but experts
say being hyper-critical of yourself
can be counterintuitive.
Approach yourself with kindness.
These two flavors of awareness – kindness and curiosity – can really help us in all things. , Judson Brewer, psychiatrist author, via NPR.
...More kindness, more curiosity. , Judson Brewer, psychiatrist author, via NPR
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
South Korea’s Opposition , Dominates Parliamentary Elections.
South Korea's Democratic Party won
"175 seats in the 300-member single-chamber parliament" on April 10, NPR reports.
The ruling right-wing People Power Party became a smaller minority with only 108 seats. .
The outcome is considered to be a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The country's prime minister and
other presidential officials offered
to resign after the crushing defeat. .
The country's prime minister and
other presidential officials offered
to resign after the crushing defeat. .
I apologize to the people on behalf
of our party, which wasn’t good
enough to win the people’s choices, Han Dong-hoon, People Power Party leader, via statement.
While Yoon said that he intends to
"humbly uphold" the will of the people
as indicated by the election results, .
it is not known if he will accept his
staff's offers to resign. .
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader who
is considering running for president again, .
said there is a need for both parties to
"pull together" to "resolve economic
and public livelihood problems.".
The results of the parliamentary
elections are not the victory by
the Democratic Party, but the
great victory by our people, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader.
Now, the elections are over. Both
the ruling and opposition political
parties must pull together all their
strength to resolve economic and
public livelihood problems, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader.
According to the National Election Commission, voter turnout reached its
highest level in over three decades for
a parliamentary election, NPR reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Amazon Is Getting Rid of , Just Walk Out Technology , at Its Fresh Grocery Stores.
The company's Just Walk Out
technology allows customers to
avoid standing in checkout lines.
It works by sending receipts to customers after they've left the store with their items.
While customers have said they enjoy the process, .
they wish they could view their receipts and savings while they are shopping, according
to Amazon spokesperson Carly Golden.
As a result, Amazon is revamping its
grocery chain to better serve customers.
The Just Walk Out technology will
be replaced by smart carts that provide spending data in real time, NPR reports. .
Most Fresh grocery stores are located in
Washington State, California, Illinois and Virginia. .
The retailer also operates Amazon Go
stores in addition to owning Whole Foods.
The retailer also operates Amazon Go
stores in addition to owning Whole Foods.
Amazon Go stores and smaller Fresh
stores in the U.K. will continue to use
Just Walk Out technology, NPR reports.
Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that the company is still trying to figure out how to have
a greater impact on physical grocery stores.
This revamp, and "selectively" launching new Fresh locations, is part of that process, Golden said
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Father Time still clearly can't quite win his battle with Tom Brady ... 'cause the NFL's GOAT just showed, once again, he's still ripped!!! The 46-year-old.. TMZ.com
Sydney Sweeney and fellow actress Hadley Robinson had a euphoric night out in Key West ... as the duo belted out some karaoke gold. The "Anyone But You" costars.. TMZ.com
One person was killed and two others hospitalised on Thursday afternoon when a section of crane fell from a building in downtown Fort Lauderdale, according to officials.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:00Published
The death toll from the condominium collapse in the town of Surfside, Florida has climbed to four. Crews are working from above and below, in hopes of finding survivors. Overnight, they pulled more..
Credit: CBS 13 Sacramento Duration: 02:10Published
Authorities say nearly 100 people are still unaccounted for after part of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed in a town outside Miami. Team coverage. (6-24-21)