Train operator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/norfolk-southern" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norfolk Southern</a> said Tuesday that it has reached a $600 million deal in principle to <a href="https://nsmakingitright.com/norfolk-southern-reaches-agreement-in-principle-to-settleeast-palestine-derailment-class-action/">settle</a> a class-action lawsuit related to the massive derailment last year in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/east-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Palestine</a>, Ohio, which led to the release of toxic chemicals into the air and widespread economic and environmental damage. 
The Atlanta-based company said the settlement, which still needs to be approved by a court, was part of its promise &#8220;to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities.&#8221;
“If approved by the court, the agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment,” Norfolk Southern said. 
“The company is going further through this comprehensive settlement — providing additional, significant monetary relief to individuals, including for healthcare, and to help qualifying local businesses continue to rebuild and grow,” the train operator said. “The agreement is designed to provide finality and flexibility for settlement class members. Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment.”
Money from the settlement could go toward healthcare, medical monitoring, property restoration and diminution, compensation for any net business loss due, and any other loss due to the disaster.
After the February 2023 derailment, responders busted open several train cars and burned the vinyl chloride chemicals inside, releasing toxic fumes into the area. The chemicals were burned over concerns that the train cars could explode, but National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/controlled-burn-of-toxic-chemicals-that-unleashed-mushroom-cloud-over-east-palestine-wasnt-necessary-federal-official-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last month that the burn was not justified.
Norfolk Southern added that the settlement doesn’t mean admitting any wrongdoing or fault. Former federal district judge Layn Phillips helped to mediate the negotiations. 
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The railway company is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-epa-unveil-lawsuit-against-norfolk-southern-over-east-palestine-train-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing</a> an additional lawsuit from the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency to require Norfolk Southern to pay for the entire disaster cleanup.
“With this complaint, the Justice Department and the EPA are acting to pursue justice for the residents of East Palestine and ensure that Norfolk Southern carries the financial burden for the harm it has caused and continues to inflict on the community,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed.

U.S.-OHIO-FREIGHT TRAIN-TOXIC CHEMICALS-DERAILMENT

Norfolk Southern Announces $600 Million Settlement With East Palestine Residents Over Train Derailment

Disasters

East Palestine

Norfolk Southern

Ohio

Ohio Train Disaster

Train

U.S.

Transportation Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pete-buttigieg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Buttigieg</a> said on Sunday the federal government would provide more financial assistance to assist with the recovery after the deadly bridge collapse in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/baltimore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baltimore</a> last week.
The Cabinet official made the comments on CBS News after the Transportation Department announced $60 million in <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-60-million-emergency-work-wake-collapse-francis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Emergency Relief&#8221; funds</a> to help Maryland rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was hit by a cargo ship.
&#8220;We&#8217;re using an authority called the Emergency Relief. This is through our Federal Highway Administration. That&#8217;s how we got those first 60 million out and there will be more where that came from,&#8221; Buttigieg said during an <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-buttigieg-transportation-secretary-face-the-nation-transcript-03-31-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview on &#8220;Face the Nation.&#8221;</a>
&#8220;Now it is possible we may need to turn to Congress to supplement that fund. That has happened in the past, if you remember the 2007 bridge collapse in Minnesota, ultimately about $260 million put together, including funds that were put through Congress on a bipartisan basis,&#8221; Buttigieg said.
He added, &#8220;I hope and expect this too will be a bipartisan priority. It&#8217;s not just the right thing to do for the people of Baltimore. But really important, again, for our whole supply system to make sure that that port and that bridge are operating just the way they were supposed to.&#8221;
Although GOP hardliners have pushed for reining in federal spending, they <a href="https://www.politico.com/video/2024/03/28/hard-right-house-gop-open-to-funding-baltimore-bridge-repairs-1277920" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appeared to be open</a> to federal aid under the right conditions. But <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4561463-republican-biden-baltimore-bridge-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not everyone</a> seemed happy after President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-says-wants-federal-government-pay-rebuilding-baltimore-bridge-ca-rcna145138" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he wanted the federal government to cover the &#8220;entire&#8221; cost of the reconstruction project.
CBS News correspondent Ed O&#8217;Keefe asked Buttigieg what he would say to any &#8220;skeptical&#8221; lawmaker who might say they oppose providing federal taxpayer dollars to help repair the bridge.
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&#8220;The pitch is your district could be next,&#8221; Buttigieg said. &#8220;And also this has historically been bipartisan, and I&#8217;m not just reaching back to bygone eras. Remember, the infrastructure package itself — President Biden&#8217;s infrastructure plan went through on a bipartisan basis. A lot of people didn&#8217;t think that was possible when we got here in 2021.&#8221;
&#8220;But the president never gave up on the idea,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And sure enough, a lot of Republicans were willing to cross the aisle, work with President Biden, work with Democrats to get this done. If there&#8217;s anything left in this country that is more bipartisan than infrastructure, it should be emergency response. This is both and I hope that Congress will be willing if and when we turn to them.&#8221;

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg Pledges ‘More’ Federal Assistance For Maryland Bridge Collapse After $60 Million Start

Buttigieg Pledges 'More' Federal Assistance For Maryland Bridge Collapse After $60 Million Start

Baltimore

Biden Administration

Maryland

Pete Buttigieg

Politics

Transportation

The Singaporean-flagged cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/baltimore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baltimore</a> this week was involved in another accident several years ago, according to newly unearthed video.
Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ship-that-hit-baltimore-bridge-also-involved-2016-antwerp-accident-2024-03-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the 1,000-foot Dali hit a port on July 11, 2016, as it tried to leave the North Sea container terminal in Antwerp, Belgium.
The ship reportedly suffered damage that was serious enough that it impacted the ship&#8217;s seaworthiness, causing the ship to remain docked for a long time while it underwent repairs.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Baltimore ship involved in 2016 collision" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jdy9kY79_70?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The ship has been inspected more than two dozen times and has recorded two &#8220;deficiencies,&#8221; according to records obtained by CNN.
&#8220;In June of 2023, in San Antonio, Chile, the Chilean authorities gave the DALI a &#8216;deficiency&#8217; for &#8216;propulsion and auxiliary machinery — gauges, thermometers, etc,'&#8221; the report said, according to Equasis records.
The National Transportation Safety Board gave <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ntsb-reports-timeline-of-baltimore-bridge-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">details</a> about this week&#8217;s accident in a newly released timeline.
The ship departed Seagirt Marine Terminal at approximately 12:39  a.m. By 1:07 a.m., it had entered the Fort McHenry Channel. By 1:24 a.m., the ship was underway on a true heading of approximately 141 degrees in the Fort McHenry Channel at an indicated speed over ground of approximately 8 knots/9 miles per hour.
Roughly one minute later, “numerous aural alarms were recorded on the ship’s bridge audio,” the NTSB reported, adding, “Around the same time, VDR ship system data ceased recording, however, the VDR audio continued to be recorded using the VDR’s redundant power source. Around 01:26:02, the VDR resumed recording ship system data. During this time, there were steering commands and rudder orders on the VDR audio.”
“Around 01:26:39 the ship’s pilot made a general VHF radio call for tugs in the vicinity of the DALI. MDTA data from around this time indicated the pilot association dispatcher phoned the MDTA duty officer regarding the blackout. Around 1:27:04, the pilot commanded the DALI to drop the port anchor and issued additional steering commands,” the NTSB continued. “Around 1:27:25, the pilot issued a radio call over the VHF radio and reported the DALI had lost all power approaching the Key Bridge,” the NTSB stated, adding that at roughly 1:29 a.m., “the ship’s speed over ground was recorded as just under 7 knots/8 miles per hour. From this moment until approximately 1:29:33, VDR audio recorded sounds consistent with the collision with the Key bridge.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="NTSB B-Roll - Investigators Aboard the Cargo Ship Dali" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwWVqTy4Ofg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe loading="lazy" title="NTSB B-Roll - Hazardous Material Investigators and Engineers Aboard the Cargo Ship Dali" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIA5uH-i08I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Port Of Felixstowe Ltd. As U.K. Warns No-Deal Brexit To Raise Prices

WATCH: Ship That Crashed Into Baltimore Bridge Was Involved In Another Accident In 2016

Massachusetts

Shipping

Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/baltimore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baltimore</a> when a container ship rammed into one of its supports are presumed dead.
Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-bridge-collapse-francis-scott-key-bridge-boat-baltimore-rcna145047" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> NBC News that the six individuals, who were not named, are presumed to have died from the accident.
The crew was working in the middle of the bridge when the ship struck, causing the bridge to collapse. The bodies of the six workers have not been recovered.
“This was so completely unforeseen,” Pritzker <a href="https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-bridge-collapse-53169b379820032f832de4016c655d1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers.”
Jesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for the company, said that he knew some of the members of the crew. He said that they were on a break sitting in their trucks when the ship hit.
“I know that a month ago, I was there, and I know what it feels like when the trailers pass,” Campos said. “Imagine knowing that is falling. It is so hard. One would not know what to do.”
Investigators have said that all initial signs point to the crash as an accident and that there is not any proof that terrorism was involved.
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The ship issued a mayday warning just shortly before the crash, which allowed officials to stop traffic from crossing onto the bridge before it was struck.
Earlier in the day, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said two people were rescued from the water; one person was unharmed, while the second was rushed to the hospital in serious condition.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Six missing construction workers are presumed dead by their employer after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore early Tuesday. 
Here’s what else we know about the incident. <a href="https://t.co/nHDx8SGQxr">pic.twitter.com/nHDx8SGQxr</a>
&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1772730120161075363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Top officials from across the U.S. have offered assistance to help fix the situation.
President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-pushes-for-federal-gov-to-pay-for-entire-cost-of-rebuilding-baltimore-bridge-but-says-it-will-take-some-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the federal government would pay the entire cost to fix the bridge.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that he directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to &#8220;offer assistance to the State of Maryland, if needed, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.&#8221;
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I have directed <a href="https://twitter.com/FLSERT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLSERT</a> to offer assistance to the State of Maryland, if needed, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The State of Florida stands willing to help and our prayers are with the victims and first responders.
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1772605965210165338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses After Being Struck By Cargo Ship

6 People Presumed Dead After Cargo Ship Crash Levels Baltimore Bridge

Infrastructure

President Joe Biden promised on Tuesday that the federal government would pay the entire cost to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after the structure collapsed early Tuesday morning when a container ship struck one of its support beams.
Biden spoke during a press conference at the White House following the collapse of the 1.6-mile-long bridge and said he would push for Congress to approve the funding to rebuild the bridge, but warned that it will &#8220;take some time&#8221; before traffic once again flows as normal. The bridge is part of Interstate 695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, and is a major crossing of the Patapsco River used by roughly 30,000 vehicles each day.
&#8220;It is my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my effort,&#8221; Biden said. &#8220;This is going to take some time, and the people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Pres. Biden vows the &quot;federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing&quot; Baltimore&#39;s Francis Scott Key bridge after its collapse.
Asked whether the shipping company should be held responsible, Biden says: &quot;That could be, but we&#39;re not going to wait for that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7Z4QgrOKsY">pic.twitter.com/7Z4QgrOKsY</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1772673289694933292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The president added that he&#8217;s &#8220;directed [his] team to move heaven and earth to open the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible.&#8221;
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President Biden says he has directed his team to &quot;move heaven and earth&quot; to reopen the port and rebuild Baltimore&#39;s Francis Scott Key bridge &quot;as soon as humanly possible,&quot; as 850,000 vehicles go through port annually and more than 30,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily. <a href="https://t.co/HYwf52rZk2">pic.twitter.com/HYwf52rZk2</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1772674379874230767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said Tuesday morning that eight people were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when it collapsed. He added that two of the eight people have been accounted for as emergency responders, including dive teams, continue their search and rescue operation for at least six others. State and federal authorities have maintained that all evidence in the bridge collapse “points to an accident.”
As emergency responders and crews continue to work around the bridge wreckage, all vessel traffic arriving in or leaving the Port of Baltimore has been <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/03/26/port-of-baltimore-suspends-vessel-traffic-after-key-bridge-collapses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a>.
Construction on the Francis Scott Key Bridge began in 1972 and was completed five years later. The bridge was built at an estimated cost of $141 million, which is around $743 million in today&#8217;s dollars, CNS Maryland <a href="https://cnsmaryland.org/2024/03/26/the-history-of-baltimores-key-bridge/#:~:text=Bridge%20construction,%24743%20million%20in%20today's%20dollars." target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The port is one of America&#8217;s most heavily <a href="https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/governor-moore-announces-new-port-of-baltimore-cargo-records.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trafficked</a> and set a record last year with 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo and 11.7 million tons of general cargo coming into the port. No other port in the U.S. handles as many car and light truck shipments as Baltimore.
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The bridge collapse marks yet another transportation disaster the Biden administration must respond to. Last year, a Norfolk Southern train <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/controlled-burn-of-toxic-chemicals-that-unleashed-mushroom-cloud-over-east-palestine-wasnt-necessary-federal-official-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">derailed</a> in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a controlled burn of toxic chemicals that were released into the air and affected local residents.
Biden was slammed for waiting a year before he visited East Palestine and was met with disappointed East Palestine residents when he made the trip to the small town last month. When asked if he would visit Baltimore following the bridge collapse, Biden said he plans to &#8220;as quickly I can.&#8221;

Joe Biden

Biden Pushes For Federal Gov To ‘Pay For Entire Cost’ Of Rebuilding Baltimore Bridge, But Says It Will ‘Take Some Time’

Biden Pushes For Federal Gov To 'Pay For Entire Cost' Of Rebuilding Baltimore Bridge, But Says It Will 'Take Some Time'

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said Tuesday morning that eight people were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when a container ship rammed into one of its supports, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/baltimore-bridge-collapses-resulting-in-mass-casualty-event-after-its-struck-by-cargo-ship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">causing the bridge to collapse</a> into the frigid Patapsco River below.
Wiedefeld <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/baltimore-bridge-collapse-03-26-24-intl-hnk/h_0c272e139b5763b2fc09ff64113d60e7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> two of the eight people have been accounted for as emergency responders, including dive teams, continue their search and rescue operation for at least six others. State and federal authorities have maintained that all evidence in the bridge collapse &#8220;points to an accident.&#8221;
&#8220;The preliminary investigation points to an accident. We haven&#8217;t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack,&#8221; Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore said.
Moore confirmed that the container ship&#8217;s crew issued a mayday and said the ship was experiencing issues with its power, Justin Fenton of the Baltimore Banner <a href="https://twitter.com/justin_fenton/status/1772629105881632880" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Moore said the crew&#8217;s mayday signal meant transportation officials were able to stop more traffic from crossing over the bridge before the ship struck it.
&#8220;These people are heroes. They saved lives last night,&#8221; Moore <a href="https://twitter.com/justin_fenton/status/1772629105881632880" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The 1.6-mile-long bridge is part of Interstate 695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, and is a major crossing of the Patapsco River.
Earlier in the day, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said two people were rescued from the water; one person was unharmed, while the second was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. Wiedefeld also confirmed in a press conference that contractors were working on the bridge at the time of the collapse but did not say how many workers were believed to be on the structure when it was struck by the container ship.
Video footage of the bridge collapse appeared to show the container ship striking one of the bridge’s supports.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse <a href="https://t.co/OcOrSjOCRn">pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn</a>
&mdash; BNO News (@BNONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1772515766929097088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Singapore-flagged ship, called DALI is chartered by the Danish shipping company Maersk, the company told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/baltimore-bridge-collapse-03-26-24-intl-hnk/h_adc8016bd840aab5970dd0adb17c056b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. The ship was carrying Maersk customers’ cargo, according to the company, and was on its way to Sri Lanka from the Baltimore Harbor. Twenty-two crew members were onboard DALI, and there were no reports of any injuries. The container ship was being piloted by local pilots at the time of the collision, not its own crew, according to CNN. Local pilots, who are familiar with the harbor, are used to move cargo ships out to open water in hopes of avoiding accidents.
Another video of the collision and bridge collapse showed the ship’s lights going out before it hit the bridge.
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Breaking News: Mass Casualty event declared in the US after a ship slams into a Bridge
The full video can be seen here.
Developing story<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baltimore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Baltimore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bridgecollapse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bridgecollapse</a> <a href="https://t.co/E5bWMovtjo">pic.twitter.com/E5bWMovtjo</a>
&mdash; Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1772538786276053349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Baltimore Bridge Collapse

8 People Were On Baltimore Bridge At Time Of Collapse; Ship Issued A Mayday Before Collision: Authorities

The 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning after it was struck by a container ship, resulting in what authorities have described as &#8220;a mass casualty incident.&#8221;
Emergency responders, including dive teams, are searching for at least seven people believed to be in the frigid water, but that number could likely change, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/baltimore-bridge-collapse-53169b379820032f832de4016c655d1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Two people were rescued from the water; one person was unharmed while the second person was rushed to the hospital in serious condition, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said.
“We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point, and we will continue to be for some time,” Wallace <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/baltimore-bridge-collapse-03-26-24-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
In a press conference Tuesday morning, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed that contractors were working on the bridge at the time of the collapse, but did not say how many workers were believed to be on the bridge when it was struck by the container ship.
Video footage of the bridge collapse appeared to show the container ship striking one of the bridge&#8217;s supports.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse <a href="https://t.co/OcOrSjOCRn">pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn</a>
&mdash; BNO News (@BNONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1772515766929097088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge is chartered by the Danish shipping company Maersk, the company told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/baltimore-bridge-collapse-03-26-24-intl-hnk/h_adc8016bd840aab5970dd0adb17c056b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. The ship was carrying Maersk customers&#8217; cargo, according to the company. The vessel, which is called Dali, was on its way to Sri Lanka.
&#8220;We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,&#8221; Maersk said in a statement.
Baltimore Police Chief Richard Worley added, &#8220;There is absolutely no indication that there&#8217;s any terrorism, that this was done on purpose.”
Another video of the collision and bridge collapse showed the ship&#8217;s lights going out before it hit the bridge.
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Breaking News: Mass Casualty event declared in the US after a ship slams into a Bridge
The full video can be seen here.
Developing story<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baltimore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Baltimore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bridgecollapse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bridgecollapse</a> <a href="https://t.co/E5bWMovtjo">pic.twitter.com/E5bWMovtjo</a>
&mdash; Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1772538786276053349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Francis Scott Key Bridge is part of Interstate 695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, and is a major crossing of the Patapsco River.
The White House said it is &#8220;closely monitoring&#8221; the bridge collapse, saying there is “no indication of any nefarious incident.”
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.

Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Ship Rams Into Overpass

Baltimore Bridge Collapses, Resulting In ‘Mass Casualty’ Event After It’s Struck By Cargo Ship

A federal official with the National Transportation Safety Board said that the controlled burning of toxic chemicals in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/east-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Palestine</a>, Ohio, after a massive train derailment last year was not justified. 
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told lawmakers on Wednesday that there would have been alternatives to busting open the train cars and burning the vinyl chloride chemicals inside after a train operated by Norfolk Southern crashed in February of 2023. The burn released toxic fumes into the area and left residents with concerns about their health and safety. 
The company in charge of the chemicals, Oxy Vinyls, reportedly did not think a deadly explosion would occur, telling contractors with Norfolk Southern that “there was no justification to do a vent and burn,” according to Homendy. Instead, they could have waited and let the chemicals cool down. 
Homendy said that Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) and other first responders did not know that this was a possibility. 
“So Oxy Vinyls was on scene providing information to Norfolk Southern’s contractor who was in the room when the decision was made, and when advice was given to the governor of Ohio, to the incident commander, they were not given full information because no one was told Oxy Vinyls was on scene,” Homendy said. “They were left out of the room. The incident commander didn’t even know they existed. Neither did the governor. So they were provided incomplete information to make a decision.”
The information came out as Homendy was <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/ntsb-chair-homendy-chemical-explosion-in-east-palestine-didnt-need-to-happen-experts-were-ignored/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questioned</a> by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) about whether the controlled burn was necessary to avoid an explosion of the toxic chemicals. 
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🚨WATCH: NTSB Chair Homendy tells Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance1</a> the chemical explosion in East Palestine, OH did not have to happen
“They were provided incomplete information to make a decision&#8230;there was no justification to do a vent and burn.” <a href="https://t.co/5vR5sd8CDZ">pic.twitter.com/5vR5sd8CDZ</a>
&mdash; Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenVancePress/status/1765513323229900914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“To sort of recap for folks, the mushroom cloud, the chemical mushroom cloud that captured headlines across the country was the result of a controlled burn,” Vance said, before saying that the central question was whether the burn was justified or not. Vance pointed out that the measured temperature of the chemical tank cars had dropped and stabilized after the crash. 
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Homendy said that to justify the burn, temperatures in the chemical tank cars would have to be rapidly increasing and there would have to be an infusion of oxygen into the cars. Both of these factors were not in play, according to Homendy. 
Vance called the revelations “extraordinary” and suggested that the burn was done so that more traffic and freight could be moved through quickly. 
After the crash, many East Palestine residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the derailment as the toxic chemicals burned, releasing poisonous fumes into the air, ground, and water. Norfolk Southern was sued by East Palestine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-class-action-lawsuit-filed-by-residents-against-norfolk-southern" target="_blank" rel="noopener">residents</a>, the state of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/entirely-avoidable-ohio-sues-norfolk-southern-for-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-epa-unveil-lawsuit-against-norfolk-southern-over-east-palestine-train-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal government</a>.

Screen Shot 2024-03-08 at 11.08.43 AM

Controlled Burn Of Toxic Chemicals That Unleashed Mushroom Cloud Over East Palestine Wasn’t Necessary, Federal Official Says

JD Vance

Mike DeWine

National transportation Safety Board

Dozens of people have been confirmed dead in Japan as rescuers continue to search for survivors after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/japan-hit-by-7-6-magnitude-earthquake-sparking-tsunami-warnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rocked Japan</a> on New Year’s Day. 
Authorities in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture, the nearest region to the quake’s epicenter, confirmed that at least 48 people had died in the disaster, Tokyo-based news outlet NHK <a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2938/">reported</a>. Fire department officials in Wajima City said that at least 25 buildings had collapsed, and firefighters were attempting to rescue people still trapped inside 14 of the buildings. Additionally, officials believe around 200 buildings burned down on a popular tourist street in Wajima City after fires broke out as a result of the earthquake.  
Footage <a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2938/">captured</a> by a helicopter flying over the devastation showed numerous buildings leveled and some on fire. Many of the roads leading into the city were reportedly left impassable after the quake, making it difficult for officials and relief workers to get to the affected areas. 
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NHK staff flew over central Wajima City in a helicopter at around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Flames were coming out from several places. For more news from Japan visit our live page: <a href="https://t.co/gWrQ60IXoF">https://t.co/gWrQ60IXoF</a> <a href="https://t.co/DgzCH0YzMl">pic.twitter.com/DgzCH0YzMl</a>
&mdash; NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHKWORLD_News/status/1742080643347914867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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More than a dozen earthquakes were reported in the Sea of Japan late Monday night local time, the largest of which collapsed buildings and started a fire in Wajima, the city closest to the earthquake’s epicenter. Following the earthquakes, Japanese authorities issued a “major tsunami warning” — the highest-level warning before downgrading the alert to a “tsunami warning” and later a “tsunami advisory.” Japanese authorities have now lifted all tsunami advisories. 
Rescuers are now rushing to save any survivors as the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that more earthquakes — potentially reaching around magnitude 7 — could hit the Japanese coast in the coming days. 
Nearly 60,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/01/japan-earthquake-tsunami-warnings-updates">according</a> to Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi. Around 30,000 households lost power following the earthquake and 20,000 homes don’t have running water, Hayashi added, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/02/world/asia/japan-earthquake.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The New York Times. 
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After the earthquakes, a fire reportedly broke out at a nuclear power plant in Ishikawa, but plant operators quickly extinguished it and said there was no impact on the plant, according to Hayashi. No nuclear facilities have reported any increases in radiation levels since the quake.

Japan Earthquake

Death Toll Rises After Japan Earthquake As Rescuers Rush To Find Survivors

earthquake

Japan

A massive earthquake hit <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a> last week leaving 149 people dead and thousands displaced amid frigid temperatures. 
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake, which hit on December 18, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/death-toll-china-earthquake-rises-149-2-missing-105905297" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left</a> nearly 1,000 people injured and forced 87,000 out of their homes due to extensive damage. The earthquake primarily impacted people living in a mountainous region between Gansu and Qinghai provinces. At least two people are still missing as first responders continue to search the rural area. 
Officials said that the main concern was to keep people who had lost their homes during the earthquake and following mudslides out of the cold <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/americas/5-9-magnitude-earthquake-northwest-china/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as parts</a> of China have seen record lows in recent weeks. So far, this December has been the coldest ever <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67818872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recorded</a> in China&#8217;s capital, Beijing, and other regions of the country have also been hit by cold weather. Over 500 temporary housing units have already been constructed in Gansu as over 14,000 homes have been destroyed.
The earthquake was the biggest to hit China in 9 years, according to the Associated Press. The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 5.9 magnitude, a little lower than the China Earthquake Networks Center’s 6.2 magnitude measurement. 
Many lost access to water, electricity, and cell phone coverage in the aftermath of the earthquake, which hit around midnight, giving people little time to react or prepare for the cold conditions outside. 
“There was a loud ‘boom’ and the wall on the second floor collapsed. [I was] nearly hit and trapped inside,” a resident of a  village hit by the earthquake <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/americas/5-9-magnitude-earthquake-northwest-china/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Chinese news outlet Jiupai News.
Around $28 million have reportedly been appropriated for the provinces impacted  by the disaster by China’s Finance Ministry and Emergency Management Ministry. 
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Previous earthquakes in China have also proved to be deadly, with 600 people dying during one that hit in 2014 and roughly 90,000 dying in 2008 during a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. 
Earlier this year, tens of thousands of people in Syria and Turkey <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/earthquake-death-toll-in-turkey-and-syria-surpasses-33000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were killed</a> after a pair of 7.8-magnitude and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in February. The disaster led to the deaths of over 50,000 people and impacted nearly 16 million people. 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had been shaken by its <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/world/turkey-declares-seven-days-of-national-mourning-after-earthquakes-jolt-southern-provinces-1503152858.html">“biggest disaster”</a> since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, which killed more than 30,000 people. Facing criticism over the nation’s early response to the disaster, Erdogan also conceded <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/08/middleeast/turkey-earthquake-public-anger-intl/index.html">“shortcomings&#8221;</a> during the country&#8217;s response to the calamity.

TOPSHOT-CHINA-QUAKE

Massive Earthquake Leaves Thousands Without Homes In China Amid Record Cold

China

Natural Disaster

World

A young couple’s infant son was miraculously found alive in a downed tree after their mobile home in Clarksville, Tennessee, was obliterated last weekend when a deadly EF-3 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/massive-tornados-sweep-through-tennessee-hammer-nashville" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tornado swept through the city</a>.
Sydney Moore, a 22-year-old mother of a 1-year-old and a 4-month-old, said her youngest child, Lord, was sleeping in a bassinet when the tornado hit on Saturday afternoon, WSMV 4 <a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2023/12/12/4-month-old-survives-after-being-sucked-up-by-tornado-that-destroyed-clarksville-familys-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Moore told a WSMV reporter that she saw her mobile home’s roof ripped off by the twister before it sucked up the bassinet with her baby inside it.
Moore’s boyfriend, the father of her children, rushed to save the 4-month-old child before he too was pulled away by the tornado. The young woman said she saw the tornado spin her boyfriend and baby around before it pulled them out of sight. Meanwhile, the mother hurriedly attempted to protect her other child.
“Something in me just told me to run and jump on top of my son,” Moore said. “Literally the moment I jumped on him, the walls collapsed.”
After the tornado passed, Moore and her boyfriend searched for Lord in the pouring rain, according to WSMV. The parents soon found their 4-month-old boy alive in a fallen tree with only a cut on his face. 
“I thought he was dead,” said Moore. “I was pretty sure he was dead and we weren’t going to be able to find him. But he’s here, and that’s by the grace of God.”
“It looked like a little tree cradle,” the mother added. “He was just laying there.” 
While the young family is grateful that they all survived the storm, footage from WSMV showed that Moore’s mobile home was completely destroyed, along with her vehicle. Moore’s sister Caitlyn started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-to-rebuild-their-life-after-tornado" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> for the family, which has already received $53,000 of its $100,000 goal, as they seek to find a new place to live. For the next month, the family will live in a hotel courtesy of their rental company. 
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The Clarksville tornado was one of <a href="https://fox17.com/news/local/tema-releases-flash-report-various-midstate-counties-impacted-by-catastrophic-tornado-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 that touched down</a> throughout Middle Tennessee on Saturday, claiming the lives of six people, including two children. The twister that hit Clarksville left a destruction path 11 miles long and 600 yards wide, according to the National Weather Service. Three people, including a child, lost their lives in Clarksville, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

Clarksville Tornado

‘By The Grace Of God’: 4-Month-Old Baby Found Alive In Fallen Tree After Family’s Tennessee Home Wrecked By Tornado

'By The Grace Of God': 4-Month-Old Baby Found Alive In Fallen Tree After Family's Tennessee Home Wrecked By Tornado

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Tennessee

Tornado

Weather

A train derailment in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kentucky</a> on Wednesday caused molten sulphur to spill out of two cars, starting a fire and leading to some residents evacuating the area. 
The derailment, which involved 16 cars, <a href="https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/csx-responds-to-livingston-kentucky-derailment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened</a> at around 2:23 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in an area just north of Livingstone, Kentucky. By Thursday afternoon, CSX, the train operator <a href="https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/livingston-kentucky-derailment-update-4-00-p-m/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the fire had been put out and residents could go home. 
&#8220;CSX and local emergency responders in Rockcastle county, Ky. have extinguished the fire that resulted from yesterday’s train derailment just north of Livingston, Ky. Specialized equipment has been deployed to conduct air monitoring in the area and local authorities have determined it safe for residents to return to their homes,” CSX said in a statement. 
The previous day, CSX said that it had sent specialized equipment to the area to test air quality because burning molten sulphur releases sulphur dioxide. The train operator paid for about 112 residents to go to stay in nearby Mt. Vernon while the fires were put out. 
Evacuation wasn’t required, but government officials did allow residents to decide for themselves if they wanted to leave the area.
&#8220;[Evacuation] wasn&#8217;t mandated but we went to each one of the homes twice and highly recommended that they evacuate,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/small-kentucky-town-urged-evacuate-train-derails-spilling-chemicals-rcna126481" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> a government spokesperson. &#8220;Some people chose to stay at home: that was totally their own decision.&#8221;
On Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovAndyBeshear/status/1727806265307324616" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement that he was thankful for those who responded to the fire. 
“Thank you to the first responders who worked hard to put out the fire at the train derailment site in Rockcastle County. While there is still work to be done, we are thankful for the good news that our families in Livingston are able to spend the rest of Thanksgiving at home,” he said. 
In the last year, there has been a spate of train derailments across the country from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-norfolk-southern-train-derails-as-ceo-testifies-to-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alabama</a> to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trains-with-potentially-hazardous-material-crash-into-montana-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana</a> to Ohio, where a derailment in East Palestine cost over $800 million and the release of toxic chemicals into the air. 
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After the derailment in East Palestine, train operator Norfolk Southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/norfolk-southern-says-cost-of-east-palestine-derailment-has-doubled-as-chemical-cleanup-continues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opted</a> to burn several cars filled with the dangerous chemical vinyl chloride over fears that the cars would explode. The fire sent a cloud of smoke that remained over the town of 4,700 for days. Nearly six months after the disaster, chemicals from the derailment appear to still be present in a creek as trucks continue to haul contaminated water and soil out of the town, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-update-cb5815ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

A CSX Rail Terminal Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Chemicals Leak Following Kentucky Train Derailment Caused Evacuations Over Thanksgiving

Chemicals

Kentucky

Thanksgiving

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