Over two years later, NIH to study long-term health effects of East Palestine train crash

Over two years later, NIH to study long-term health effects of East Palestine train crash.

Memphis mayor targeted in attempted kidnapping incident, police say.

On February 4, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train hauling dozens of cars carrying numerous hazardous and volatile substances derailed in East Palestine, OH. Three days later, officials authorized an operation to “vent and burn” five tank cars of vinyl chloride. Norfolk Southern claimed this was necessary to head of a catastrophic explosion.

However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later not only found that this burn was unnecessary, but that Norfolk Southern had also withheld information from officials to persuade them to allow it. Critics have alleged that Norfolk Southern pushed for the procedure out of expediency rather than necessity. Aside from the effects of the initial burn, concerns about environmental contamination in the surrounding area also persist.

The burn released cancer-causing dioxins into the air and surrounding environment, sparking health concerns for the residents of East Palestine. Ever since, residents have experienced a range of anomalous symptoms, including respiratory, skin, and eye irritations, as well as headaches, lethargy and difficulty concentrating.

Norfolk Southern has all since reached a $600 million settlement with the thousands of residents of East Palestine and has committed about $1 billion to clean up.

Now the National Institutes of Health are launching a long-term study to monitor for the effects of chemical exposure from the incident. Areas of focus will include effects on maternal and child health, cardiovascular effects, as well as immunological and psychological effects.

Memphis mayor targeted in attempted kidnapping incident, police say

Memphis police have arrested Trenton Abston, 25, on charges of stalking, attempted kidnapping and aggravated criminal trespass. Abston is accused of scaling a wall and knocking on the door of the residence of Memphis Mayor Paul Young. Police said they recovered “a taser, gloves, rope and duct tape” from Abston’s vehicle after he was arrested.

Young wrote on Wednesday that Abston approached his home on Sunday “with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor”. Abston is scheduled for a hearing on Friday.

The incident follows several recent instances of politically targeted and motivated violence. These include the April fire bombing of the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro; the assassination of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C; an arson attack on pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, CO; and most recently the assassination of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of another Minnesota legislator and his wife by the same perpetrator.

In a post on Facebook, Young wrote, in part, “The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable. What starts as reckless words online can all too quickly become something much more dangerous.

“The angry rhetoric, the hateful speech, and the heated threats create a culture where violence feels like a next step instead of a red line. We cannot allow that line to be crossed. Political violence and intimidation – whether threatened or enacted – simply cannot become our norm.”