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(TNS) Most of Cuba’s 11 million people remained without electricity on Wednesday, after the failure of one of the country’s main power plants Tuesday afternoon brought down the entire electrical grid.

(TNS) MIAMI — Tropical Storm Ian is causing “catastrophic flooding” over east-central Florida Thursday morning as it treks closer to the Atlantic, forecasters said. Once it’s in the Atlantic, Ian is forecast to near hurricane strength before approaching South Carolina.

FREDONIA — November’s General Election will include a special question that will affect all residents, as well as people traveling through or visiting Wilson County. A resolution to put a 1-cent retailer’s sales tax to a vote of the people was approved August 3 by Wilson County Commissioners, following presentations from Emergency Medical Services staff in Fredonia and Neodesha.

This week, Italy prepared to welcome a new prime minister: 45-yearold Giorgia Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party since 2014. Meloni is a populist conservative on issues ranging from marriage to immigration; she is a nationalist by philosophy and combatively passionate by temperament. A clip of a speech she gave at the World Congress of Families in 2019 has now gone viral with American conservatives; she explained, “Why is the family an enemy? Why is the family so frightening? There is a single answer to all these questions. Because it defines us. Because it is our identity. Because everything that defines us is now an enemy for those who would like us to no longer have an identity and to simply be perfect consumer slaves. And so they attack national identity, they attack religious identity, they attack gender identity, they attack family identity... We will defend God, country and family.”

(TNS) VENICE, Fla. — The beach front town of Venice was deserted Wednesday morning as Ian stalked the Gulf coast and 60 mph gusts blowing sheets of rain raked streets strewn with tree branches.

(TNS) Coolio, the rapper whose smash hit “Gangster’s Paradise” sent him to international stardom, died Wednesday, according to a report. He was 59.

A Kansas mother struggling to balance treating her cancer with caring for her disabled children urged lawmakers Monday to provide more support for people like her. Kathy Keck, a mother of five kids, three of whom have developmental and medical disabilities, said she left the workforce more than five years ago to care for her children.

In the early evening hours on Tuesday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the Garden Walk Apartments, located at 1701 North 10th Street in Independence, in order to assist the Independence Police Department. IPD received calls that Steven Shanstra of Independence, who also had three felony warrants out of Montgomery County, had entered one of the apartments on the premises with a sword.

Dear Annie: My neighbor, who has become one of my very best friends, just moved to a city four hours away. I’m devastated. We used to meet up nearly every night for a cocktail on the porch or a walk around the neighborhood. We both promised to keep in close touch, but I have barely heard from her at all in the month that she has been gone. I feel like I have been tossed aside, that she was only friends with me out of convenience. I’m not sure what to do. -- Left Alone Dear Left Alone: That’s lovely that you live in such a neighborly community! Do you have other neighbors you get along with? Perhaps you could get to know them better by bringing over baked goods or organizing a block party.