‘Dear Lord, Watch Over Us’: Gulf States Prepare For Hurricane Ida

Good morning! It’s Sunday, Aug. 29. As the weekend draws to a close, the U.S. Department of Defense released the list of U.S. servicemen and women who lost their lives in the Kabul suicide bombing. Meanwhile, people in Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast are bracing for Hurricane Ida.

Here are some of the other stories we'll tell you about:

• A California 4-year-old is dead after contracting COVID-19.
• Biden says a second terrorist attack in Kabul is “highly likely.”
• A dose of good news stories to lighten your load this week.

Final Names Of Slain Soldiers Released

After a suicide bombing at the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport took the lives of more than 180 people, the U.S. Department of Defense on Saturday confirmed the identities of the 13 U.S. Service members who were killed in the blast in the Afghanistan capital city of Kabul.

Nearly all were too young to remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which launched the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. Still, every single one had a story. One wanted to go to college to become an engineer. One cradled an Afghan baby and took to Instagram, declaring how much she “loved her job.” Another was known for making people in his hometown laugh.

Among those killed were:

• Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, Roseville, California
• Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana
• Cpl. Daegan Page, 23, Omaha, Nebraska
• Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, Rancho Cucamonga, California

» Expectant Father Among 13 U.S. Service Members Killed In Kabul, via Across America Patch

Second Terrorist Attack ‘Highly Likely’

President Joe Biden said another attack on Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport is "highly likely" after the United States killed two "high profile" Islamic State militants Friday.

The attack would likely happen in the next 24-36 hours, Biden said. He also said that the situation in Kabul remains "extremely dangerous." » Read full coverage from The Washington Post

COVID Claims 4-Year-Old

A 4-year-old child from Riverside County, California, died after contracting COVID-19, becoming the youngest person in the county to die from the virus since the pandemic’s start. "This tragedy reminds us that this virus does not discriminate between the young and old. The death of this child strengthens our commitment to halt this pandemic before the loss of another young life,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public health officer for Riverside County. »4-Year-Old Child Dies From COVID In Riverside County, via Murrieta Patch

Hurricane Ida Targets Louisiana

Forecasters warned residents along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast to rush preparations Saturday ahead of an intensifying Hurricane Ida, which is expected to bring winds as high as 130 mph, life-threatening storm surge and flooding rain when it slams ashore in Louisiana on Sunday.

"We're going to catch it head-on," Bebe McElroy, who was preparing to leave her home in the coastal Louisiana village of Cocodrie, told The Associated Press. "I'm just going around praying, saying, 'Dear Lord, just watch over us.'" » Hurricane Ida Strengthens As Louisiana Braces; Residents Flee, via Across America Patch

A Bit Of Good News

It’s been a tough week, but despite all the pain and grief we see in the world, there’s still a lot of good too. These are just a few examples: 14-year-old Brynn Kremer was picked from a crowd to play on stage with Green Day. Caleb Anderson is only 13, but he started school this week as a sophomore aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech. And a secret donor replaced some stolen wedding gifts. » Get all the Good News on Across America Patch

Around ‘The Patch’

• RFK Assassin Sirhan's Parole Bid Goes Unopposed By LA's DA, via Los Angeles Patch
• Al Capone's Favorite Gun, Other Items Auctioned By Granddaughters, via Chicago Patch
• Girl, 7, Killed In Shooting At Pennsbury Football Game, via Levittown, Pennsylvania. Patch
• School Districts In Suburban Philly Requiring Masks, via Lower Gwynedd Patch
• Fire Burns Near Camp Pendleton, Smoke Advisory Issued, via San Diego Patch
• Parents Push NJ For Virtual School Option As Delta Variant Surges, via Toms River Patch

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