8.10.2023

Hawaii Fires

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the increased death toll after the time of publishing. 

At least 36 people were killed and dozens more injured yesterday as fast-moving flames spread across western Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii. Winds from nearby Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm, accelerated the spread of the fire. Thousands more were forced to evacuate amid widespread power outages and school closures, while the historic coastal town of Lahaina was reportedly destroyed by the flames. 

Low humidity, high winds, and dry conditions primed the region for the blazes, which tend to be smaller in scope than those common in the western contiguous US. The threat to Lahaina arrived so abruptly that some residents reportedly fled into the ocean; firefighters counted 12 rescued from the water. Many of the town's iconic businesses along Front Street are believed to be burned down.

Emergency proclamations released federal funds to deal with the natural disaster, described by some as Hawaii's worst in three decades. Analysts expected the winds to die down by today.  

Death Cap Mystery

Australian homicide detectives are investigating a suspected mushroom poisoning after three relatives died and a fourth was critically ill following a home-cooked family meal at a woman's home. The woman, who didn't become ill herself and was separated from her husband (the son of one of the couples attending the dinner), is a suspect but was released after questioning. 

According to officials, the symptoms of the family members who were affected are consistent with the death cap—the world's deadliest mushroom, which is responsible for roughly 90% of worldwide mushroom poisonings. The death cap (see overview) is native to Europe but can be found in other places around the world as an invasive species. It was first confirmed in Australia in the 1960s, growing near introduced trees, like oaks. The death cap's fatal toxin alpha-amanitin attacks the liver and kidney, causing vomiting and diarrhea, and can lead to death. Scientists have been working to find an antidote. 

It's unclear what food the affected people were each served or the origins of the mushroom; the woman declined to answer such questions. See other fatal mushrooms here.

Writers Strike Slogs On

The Hollywood writers strike reached its 101st day today, surpassing the 2007-08 walkout and becoming the third-longest strike in the history of the Writers Guild of America. The labor stoppage coincides with a strike by the actors guild, currently nearing the end of its fourth week. Combined, the two groups account for about 171,000 workers. 

The writers guild argues structures fail to reflect the rapid pace of change in the entertainment industry. Among other issues, the group claims streaming services—where half of writers now work—ultimately result in lower residual payments over the long term. Proposals from the WGA and its counterparty, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, are reportedly more than $340M apart in total increased benefits for writers.  

Late-night talk shows were the first affected, but the dual strikes have led to the delay or postponement of a number of shows and movies. See the impact here. 

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In-Depth

> The Coldest of Cold Cases 

Rolling Stone | Eric J. Greenberg. In July 1973, Mitchel Weiser and Bonnie Bickwit, set out to attend the Summer Jam rock concert. Then they vanished. The couple remains the oldest missing-teen case in the US. (Read)

> 'Runaway Train Never Goin' Back'

Slate | Nick Keppler. An interview with some of the children, now adults, featured in the 1993 MTV music video "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum, which featured missing children and claimed to assist in finding 21 of them. (Read)

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