Francine weakens and moves inland after lashing Louisiana

MORGAN CITY, La. (AP) — Francine is weakening after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. The system knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, sent storm surge rushing into coastal communities and raised flooding fears in New Orleans and beyond. As heavy rain drenched the northern Gulf Coast, New Orleans awoke to widespread power outages and debris-covered streets. At its peak more than 450,000 customers were without power. During the storm, the state reported that around 500 people stayed in emergency shelters, that number has since dwindled. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.

NYC police commissioner resigns after his phone was seized in federal investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban has resigned. He made the announcement Thursday, just over a week after his phone was seized as part of a federal investigation. People familiar with the matter say Caban was one of several high-ranking city officials whose electronic devices were seized last week by federal investigators. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. The investigation is being led by U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan but its subject remains unclear. It was not immediately clear whether federal authorities were seeking information linked to one investigation or several.

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattles the Los Angeles area

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 4.7 magnitude earthquake has rattled the Los Angeles area. It unleashed boulders onto a Malibu road and shook Santa Monica’s pier on Thursday morning. No injuries or damages were immediately reported. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake was centered north of Malibu. It was felt as far as Orange County. Malibu Councilmember Bruce Silverstein says it’s the hardest quake he had felt in 13 years. The quake followed recent wildfires and a heat wave in the region. Several celebrities shared their experiences on social media, expressing surprise and concern. Some residents said they were alerted by the state’s earthquake early warning system.

Next year’s Jan. 6 election certification will get extra security to prevent another riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to prevent another riot like the one on Jan. 6, 2021, the Homeland Security secretary has designated the congressional count and certification of the presidential election as a national special security event. That means the Secret Service will oversee all security-related planning. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the designation following a request from the mayor of Washington, D.C. These are particularly high-profile events of national significance that could be targets for terrorists or criminals. Rioters seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election descended on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021.