‘Get Us Out Of This Horrible Mess': Sister To Brian Laundrie

ACROSS AMERICA — Good morning! It’s Wednesday, Oct. 6. The search for Brian Laundrie continues, and Frances Haugen’s damning congressional testimony against Facebook makes waves. Additionally, here are the other stories we’re following:

• A Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to place more reproductive responsibility on men. The solution: mandated vasectomies.
• Forbes released its annual list of the 400 richest people in the United States.
• Someone bought the winning ticket for Powerball’s $700 million jackpot.
• Meet the socialist Walmart worker who’s running for New Jersey governor.

Sister To Brian Laundrie: ‘Turn Yourself In’

As authorities spend a third week searching for Brian Laundrie, the missing fiancee of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, his sister broke her silence by urging Laundrie to turn himself in.

"I worry about him. I hope he's OK and then I'm angry, and I don't know what to think," Cassie Laundrie, 31, said during an interview with "Good Morning America" that aired Tuesday. "I would just tell my brother to come forward and get us out of this horrible mess."

Also on Tuesday, Petito family attorney Richard Stafford confirmed that Laundrie, a person of interest in Petito's death, used her bank card after her death.

A federal arrest warrant was issued Sept. 23 for Laundrie in connection with the unauthorized use of another person's debit card, but that individual was never named. »Brian Laundrie Used Gabby Petito's Credit Card, Attorney Says, via Sarasota Patch

• Follow all Gabby Petito coverage via Patch

Who Is The Facebook Whistleblower?

Frances Haugen, who in September publicly released tens of thousands of pages of Facebook’s internal documents, testified before Congress on Tuesday where she accused the company of creating products that "harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy."

But who is Frances Haugen? A data scientist who has worked at Google, Pinterest and Yelp, Haugen stepped into the national spotlight when she came forward as the whistleblower who leaked Facebook's internal documents to The Wall Street Journal. She revealed her identity during a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday. » Who Is Frances Haugen? How A Whistleblower Is Taking On Facebook, via Across America Patch

PA Proposes Mandated Vasectomies

A new bill will soon be introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature that would limit the number of children men could father to three. It would also mandate vasectomies for men at age 40 or following their third child — whichever comes first.

The bill's author, state Rep. Chris Rabb, called it "parody legislation" of the recently passed Texas law, which is the most restrictive anti-abortion legislation in the country. Rabb hopes his bill, which would place more of the burden of conception's responsibility on men, will bring to light what he calls "gendered double standards" for reproductive rights. » 3-Child Limit Bill Proposed In PA; Would Mandate Vasectomies, via Across Pennsylvania Patch

J&J Seeks Booster Clearance

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday asked the Food and Drug Administration to allow extra shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward expanding its booster campaign to millions of additional vaccinated Americans. » J&J Seeks U.S. Clearance For COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses, via Across America Patch

Bezos Tops Forbes 400

America's billionaires are richer than they've ever been, Forbes said with Tuesday's release of The Forbes 400, its annual ranking of the wealthiest billionaires in the United States. Jeff Bezos, the founder of the e-commerce giant Amazon, again topped the list. His net worth was $189.8 billion. » The Forbes 400: Bezos Tops List For 4th Year; Trump Falls Off, via Across America Patch

Powerball Jackpot Won

A California shopper nabbed a $699.8 million ticket this week, marking the first Powerball jackpot won in 2021. The winning ticket matched all six winning numbers in Monday evening's draw. » Winning $699.8M Lotto Ticket Sold In California, via San Francisco Patch

House Porn

An iconic Rhode Island destination is on the market. The Atlantic Inn, a popular Block Island stop for weekend travelers, has 31 bedrooms and more than two dozen bathrooms. It could also be yours — if you have about $10 million to spare.

This Day In History

In 1993, Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball, saying “I don't have anything else to prove.” He returned two years later.

Around ‘The Patch’

• CA Spill Came 52 Years After Historic Oil Disaster, via Orange County Patch
• Sitting Atop Surfboards, New Jersey Woman Says 'I Do' With Dolphins As Witnesses, via Bridgewater Patch
• Meet The Socialist Walmart Worker Running For New Jersey Governor, via Newark, New Jersey, Patch
• Billie Eilish Slams Texas Abortion Law At Austin City Limits Festival, via Austin Patch
• Daughter Killed Dad, Girlfriend At The Jersey Shore, Prosecutor Says, via Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch
• Just Kidding: CDC Holiday Guidance Released In Error, via Holmdel-Hazlet Patch
• Dems, GOP Both Fall Out Of Favor With U.S. Majority: Gallup, via Across America Patch

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