Well, Panthers, see you Wednesday. Enjoy this nice long weekend, and use it as an opportunity to relax and unwind. This week we have the threat of a tough winter for some European countries, a sex offender in jail, a teenage girl charged with arson, severe weather causing a crash at the Orlando airport, and President Biden and Donald Trump rushing to Pennsylvania ahead of this year’s primaries.

August 29, 2022 – EU will experience tough winters with no gas cap 

The Belgian minister of energy has claimed that the winters in Europe will be awful without lower prices of natural gas. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the prices of gas energy have been rising for the EU countries, especially as Russia has limited its supplies. 

Belgium’s energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten said on Twitter that the price of gas should not dictate the price of electricity. He has called to freeze gas prices. Gas is used to generate electricity, which is more expensive now because of the higher gas prices. 

The minister says that the next 5 to 10 winters will be terrible if the EU nations do not solve this together. 

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Germany, which imports the most gas from Russia, is already reserving gas and hopes to have its reserves at 85% by October. German economy minister Robert Habeck says that buying the country’s gas from other suppliers will optimize its capacity and the country could hit its 85% goal in early September.

August 30, 2022 – Repeat sex offender sentenced for child pornography

Former United States Postal Service worker Stacy Weisner has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography. Wisner will spend decades in federal prison for child sex crimes. 

After Wisner was released the first time, he continued to do more of his predatory activities. He sexually assaulted a girl, videotaping and photographing what he did to the girl for four straight years. The sexual abuse of the victim was finally reported to her parents and law enforcement. 

With Weisner pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison following lifetime supervised release. He will have to pay fines of restitution, undergo special assessments, and forfeit his house where he produced pornography. Weisner now has been re-registered to be a sex offender. 

August 31, 2022 – 14-year-old girl arrested in Walmart fire investigation

On August 24, a fire was lit in the Peachtree City Walmart. The blaze ended up causing significant damage to the roof and interior of the building.

A 14-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with the crime, although investigators have not revealed her identity. A possible motive for the arson has not been determined yet. However, police believe the fire may have been started on a whim.

Official charges have not yet been released. This Walmart location is closed until further notice, and there is not currently a timeline for reopening.

September 1, 2022 – Severe weather causes crash at Orlando airport 

There was a plane crash at Orlando airport Thursday afternoon that was caused by a severe tropical storm. Meteorologist Dr. Fennell predicted plenty of rainfall, possible flooding, and gusts of wind over 60 mph. 

The director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority confirmed that one man died on the arrival of the plane. Another person was severely injured after the crash. 

The other plane was parked outside and no one was in it. The Orlando Regional Medical Center has not released the identities of the people who were injured. 

September 2, 2022 – Trump and Biden rushing to Pennsylvania to make their case

Former President Donald Trump is making a race to Pennsylvania to hold his first rally of the general election this Saturday, and his most well-known adversaries are quick to try and tarnish his campaign. Trump has fixated on the notorious swing state and is using the politically symbolic Labor Day as an unofficial kickoff to his race.

Trump has not been the only one to be campaigning in the pivotal state as President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will be holding his rallies during the long weekend as well. Both of them appearing so soon around Labor Day has made it obvious that Pennsylvania will most likely become a battleground this year as the two candidates are rushing to grab hold of the state’s voters.

Trump’s rally has lit growing frustration within the Republican party as the far-right candidate could easily threaten the chances of an otherwise favorable political environment. Many people believe that both Trump and Biden’s visits are demonstrating how tight the Senate and many other races are, or may already be, and the swing state is these candidates’ main focus for the weekend.