Good morning. It's Thursday, Sept. 2, and we're covering Hurricane Ida's trail of destruction, the Taliban's pivot to governing, and more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Breaking: New York issued a state of emergency overnight and New York City had its first-ever flash flood warning issued as the remnants of Hurricane Ida moved through the region. See footage here. 

Taliban To Name Leader

The Taliban are expected to name Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada as the country's leader, according to reports (paywall, NYT). Rarely in the public eye, Akhundzada has acted as the group's supreme religious authority since 2016, when his predecessor, Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a drone strike. He also oversaw the Taliban's strict Sharia law-based court system during the group's first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

Akhundzada has survived at least two assassination attempts in recent years, including a 2019 bombing by a Taliban rebel faction that killed a number of his relatives. His elevation comes as the extremist group turns from guerilla warfare toward the challenge of governing a country of 38 million people (see previous write-up).

In related news, the Taliban stepped up their offensive on the country's last remaining pocket of resistance in the Panjshir valley. 

Elijah McClain

Three Colorado police officers and two paramedics were charged yesterday in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. The 32-count indictment was handed down by a grand jury almost exactly two years after the 23-year-old massage therapist died while being restrained by police. 

McClain, who was Black, was stopped by police while walking down the street in the city of Aurora after a resident reported a suspicious individual. According to police, McClain resisted arrest and the encounter ended with officers applying a chokehold and administering the sedative Ketamine, claiming McClain was in a state of excited delirium. McClain suffered cardiac arrest and died in the hospital six days later. See partial body camera footage from the stop here (warning: sensitive content).

Local officials declined to press charges, but Gov. Jared Polis (D) appointed a special prosecutor to review the case. Each defendant will face felony charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.  

Texas Heartbeat Act

A Texas law went into effect yesterday banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat becomes possible—generally around six weeks after conception, often before many women know they are pregnant. Estimates suggest 85% of annual abortions in Texas would be prohibited under the rules. The law makes exceptions only for serious health impacts to the mother. 

At least 12 other states have enacted bans on abortion early in pregnancy, each blocked by a court challenge. However, the Texas bill relies on a unique enforcement structure—private citizens, rather than public officials, may sue providers and anyone assisting in an unauthorized abortion. A successful suit would net the reporting party up to $10K. 

Overnight, the Supreme Court declined in a 5-4 vote to block the law while a challenge works its way through lower courts. The high court is expected to tackle a similar challenge to a Mississippi abortion law this fall. 

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Brought to you by Vuori Clothing

> Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup resumes; US men's national team takes on El Salvador tonight (10 pm ET, CBS Sports Network) (More) | Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo breaks international scoring record with 110 career goals (More)

> Joe Rogan, host of Spotify's most-streamed podcast and a past vaccine skeptic, announces he has COVID-19 (More) | NBA to enforce local vaccine requirements for players of teams based in New York City and San Francisco (More)

> "Seinfeld's" full library of 180 episodes to be released on Netflix Oct. 1; the streaming service paid $500M for global rights to the series (More) 

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Science & Technology

> Scientists quantify the wave-particle duality of light for the first time; study links the degree to which light acts, more like a wave or more like a particle, to its source (More) | One of nature's biggest mysteries; how photons can be both waves and particles at the same time (More, w/video)

> Researchers create a molecular computer that can be physically reconfigured on the fly, mimicking the brain plasticity or the ability of the brain to reorganize its neural structure (More)

> Archaeologists reconstruct early human migration patterns through the Arabian Peninsula, finding recurring bouts of heavy rainfall made it a desirable route as human ancestors dispersed from Africa and Eurasia (More)

Business & Markets

> Federal judge conditionally approves $10B bankruptcy plan for Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma for its role in the opioid crisis; owners, the Sackler family, will relinquish ownership and contribute $4.5B to plan, but will be shielded from any future lawsuits (More)

> Amazon plans to hire 55,000 new employees globally in corporate and technology roles (More)

> Meet the promising startups from Y Combinator’s Summer Demo Days (Day One, Day Two) | Y Combinator 101, the world’s leading startup accelerator (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Nearly 1 million remain without power across Louisiana and Mississippi, and roughly 600,000 without water, four days after Hurricane Ida (More) | One dead, one missing in Washington, DC, suburbs as Ida triggers widespread flooding (More)

> One US service member rescued, five others missing after Navy helicopter crash about 60 miles off the coast of San Diego, California (More)

> India locks down disputed Kashmir region after the death of top separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani; Geelani died of natural causes at age 92 (More)

IN-DEPTH

The Girl in the Picture

Atavist | Nile Cappello. More than two decades after the murder of Aundria Bowman, a grieving mother and a sketch artist revisit the cold case—and learn the terrible truth. (Read)

The Legend of Ray Caldwell

ESPN | Ryan Hockensmith. During a balmy late summer baseball game in 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning while on the mound. He not only survived, but lived to finish the game. (Read)

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ETCETERA

Hurricane Ida's devastation captured in before and after images.

... and there's a dolphin swimming in a flooded Louisiana neighborhood.

Swimming cheetahs top the best wildlife photos of the year.

Charting 2021's highest-paid athletes. 

Dogs know whether you're intentional or just forgetful.

Record-breaking limbo roller skating. (w/video)

Human babies laugh like great apes.

The story behind the Banksy NFT scam.

Clickbait: Miracle shark has a virgin birth.

Historybook: US Treasury Department is founded (1789); Japan surrenders, ending World War II (1945); Astronaut and teacher Christa McAuliffe born (1948); HBD Keanu Reeves (1964); Vietnamese president and revolutionary Ho Chi Minh dies (1969).

"May your future be limited only by your dreams."

- Christa McAuliffe

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