'Catalytic' Reparations Bill To Help Return Land To Black Family

ACROSS AMERICA — Good morning! It’s Friday, Oct. 1. For the Halloween enthusiasts out there, spooky season is officially here. Before you start perusing costume options and planning your annual party, take a moment to look at the stories we’re following today:

• Congress has avoided a partial government shutdown, giving itself until Dec. 3 to get its act together.
• California's governor signs a landmark reparations bill.
• A Florida man took on an alligator using only a recycling bin.
• Eminem surprises his fans at his new Detroit restaurant.

Government Shutdown Dodged

With only hours to spare, Congress on Thursday passed legislation to avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3. The bill is now on its way to President Joe Biden.

While the back-to-back votes by the House and Senate helped the government dodge one crisis, another is looming as Democrats and Republicans dig in on a dispute over how to raise the government's borrowing cap before the United States risks a potentially catastrophic default. » Congress Passes Bill To Avert Partial Government Shutdown, via Across America Patch

California Passes Reparations Bill

Hailed as a significant move toward justice, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a bill into law that will give Los Angeles County the authority to return property once owned by a Black family to their descendants.

The legislation is one of the first reparations bills signed into law in the United States and goes beyond symbolism, Newsom added. Returning the land is part of economic empowerment, he said.

"I really believe this. This can be catalytic," Newsom said. "What we're doing here today can be done and replicated anywhere else." » Newsom Signs Bill To Transfer Land Back To Black Descendants, via Manhattan Beach Patch

Laundrie Search Moves To Island

As Duane Chapman — or Dog the Bounty Hunter, as he’s known to most — continues his search for Brian Laundrie, he focused his efforts this week on a remote Pinellas County island.

Chapman joined the search for 23-year-old Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of his fiancee, Gabby Petito, after a federal arrest warrant was issued for him in connection with the unauthorized use of an unnamed person's debit card to withdraw more than $1,000 at ATMs. » Laundrie Search Moves To Remote Pinellas County Island, via Sarasota Patch

Follow all Gabby Petito coverage via Patch

School Boards Request Federal Help

The National School Board Association, which represents school boards across the country, has asked President Joe Biden for help combating the "growing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation" against U.S. educators and students.

In a letter to Biden, the association claimed the ongoing need to assess pandemic safety in schools has led to attacks against school board members and educators, physical threats, and intimidation by "angry mobs" attending board meetings. » 'Angry Mobs,' Threats Prompt School Boards To Seek FBI Assistance, via Across America Patch

A La Niña Winter

With the official start of winter a little more than two months away, some people across the country may be eager for the colder weather to arrive to plan some exciting, wintry fun. To help winter-loving folks plan ahead, the private weather company AccuWeather has released its 2021 winter weather forecast.

Recycling Bin vs. Alligator

An alligator was nearly taken to the curb this week when a Florida man took matters into his own hands after the reptile wandered just a little too close to an Orange County home. Eugene Bozzi, a Philadelphia transplant who has lived in the Sunshine State for a year, was captured on video wrangling the alligator — using nothing but a blue-lidded recycling bin. » Florida Man Uses Recycling Bin To Take On, Trap Alligator, via Orlando Patch

House Porn

Want to own a piece of New Kids On The Block history? The 23-room childhood home of New Kids on the Block members Jordan and Jonathan Knight was just listed for sale in Dorchester, Massachusetts. With nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, a porte-cochère as well as a carriage house, this home definitely has the right stuff.

This Day In History

From his hotel room in Las Vegas, 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on a music festival, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds before taking his own life. The event surpassed the 2016 shooting at an Orlando nightclub as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Around ‘The Patch’

• Rat Rescue Attempt In Arizona Hoarding Case Doesn't Go As Planned, via Phoenix Patch
• Eminem Surprises Fans At His New Restaurant In Downtown Detroit, via Detroit Patch
• Georgia Man Kills Stranger In Revenge. Turns Out Victim Was Innocent, via Smyrna-Vinings Patch
• After Opening Emergency Door, Passenger On Miami Flight From Colombia Walked On Plane Wing, via Miami Patch
• Milwaukee Lawyer Is First Black Champion Of 'Big Brother', via Milwaukee Patch
• White Sox Hall Of Famer's Venture Buys Iowa 'Field Of Dreams' Site, via South Side Patch
• Parents File Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania School District Over Mask Requirement, via Bensalem Patch

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