Irma Latest • Blagojevich Speaks! • So Does Jim Carrey: Patch Morning Briefing

Wednesday folks. Halfway through the week. Here are some things we think you should know about as you get your day started.

Irma Latest: As Storm Recedes, Taking Stock Of Damage

Floridians clean up Irma's damage and the death toll climbs. Power may be out until Sept. 22 on the state's west coast; gas is on its way. (Patch)

Miami Beach Mayor: City Dodged Cannon Not Bullet

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has had a difficult week to say the least. First he ordered the evacuation of all 90,000 residents in his city ahead of Hurricane Irma, and then he had to share some hard facts to actually convince them to leave. Now that Irma has passed, Levine finds himself as the pitchman in chief to jumpstart the city’s smarting tourism industry thanks to the 24-hour news cycle — all in the space of a week. (Patch)

Irma: The Cleanup Is Underway

Chainsaws smashed through downed trees, and generators whirred from Key West to Miami and West Palm Beach as South Florida emerged from Irma. (Patch)

Irma: Meanwhile, Scrooge In Jacksonville

Popular restaurant chain Pizza Hut has come under fire after a manager at one of its locations in Jacksonville told employees they couldn't evacuate more than 24 hours before Hurricane Irma struck and then had to return to work within 72 hours. (Patch)

Ohio Church Offers Sanctuary To Deportation Target

Leonor Ferreyra Garcia, 42, has lived in the U.S. for two decades. She owns a home in Akron, has four children and holds a steady job. She is also a target for deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Patch)

Georgia Congressman, Wife, Injured In Crash

Rep. Barry Loudermilk and his wife were injured in a two-car accident while making the drive from the Peach State to Washington, D.C., according to his office. Loudermilk, a Republican who resides in Bartow County, and his wife Desiree were involved in the collision reported in Knoxville Tuesday morning. (Patch)

Miss Texas Has Choice Words For The President

An Austin woman—who happens to be Miss Texas—has created quite a national stir after denouncing President Trump on live national television for not denouncing white supremacists strongly enough. (Patch)

Blagojevich Speaks!

It's been more than five years since disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich waved at reporters as he left his home in Chicago headed to a federal prison in Colorado. Chicago magazine spoke to him in his first interview since going away. (Patch)

Seattle Mayor Resigns

A long sex abuse scandal involving Seattle Mayor Ed Murray came to a probable conclusion Tuesday afternoon when Murray resigned after the Seattle Times reported a fifth abuse allegation - this time by by the mayor's own cousin. (Patch)

Attorney General Probing 'Fyre Festival Of Pizza'

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will investigate a Brooklyn event that charged attendees $75 to eat cold pizza in a parking lot. (Patch)

Baristas Say Wearing Bikinis Is Free Speech

Seven bikini baristas are suing over a new law that bans bikinis. Here's why the baristas say it's a free speech issue. (Patch)

Bride Gets Dream Wedding Before Losing Cancer Fight

Deanna Delmonaco of East Haven, Connecticut, got to experience the fairy tale wedding of her dreams just before passing away due to a terminal illness. She leaves a legacy of hope. (Patch)

Who Doesn't Love News Of Jim Carrey?

"There is no me," the actor told an interviewer at New York's Fashion Week. "There's just things happening. And there are clusters of tertahedrons moving around together." #Epic (Patch)

On This Day In History

1501 - Michelangelo starts work on his statue of David

1609 - Henry Hudson reaches the river that will one day bear his name.

1971 - State police and National Guardsmen storm Attica prison, first firing tear gas and then firing shotguns into the smoke, killing nine hostages and 29 inmates.

1985 - Nintendo releases Super Mario Brothers, the first in the series of games.

2001 - Civilian air traffic resumes after the September 11 attacks.

Born On This Day

1944 - Musician and co-founder of Chicago Peter Cetera.

1968 - Yankee great (and classical guitarist) Bernie Williams

1969 - Writer, actor, director Tyler Perry

1971 - Fashion designer (daughter of Paul) Stella McCartney and tennis player Goran Ivanisevic

1977 - Singer Fiona Apple

Have a great day, and see you back here tomorrow!

Photo by Paul Scicchitano/Patch