US NATIONAL NEWS

Record Rains Cause Flash Flooding in Tennessee; 4 Dead

Published

5 years ago

March 29, 2021

Cars stranded in a Walmart parking lot on Nolensville Pike in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 28, 2021. Heavy rain across Tennessee flooded homes and roads early Sunday, prompting officials to rescue numerous people from houses, apartments and vehicles as a line of severe storms crossed the state. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP)

NASHVILLE, Tn. (AP) — Torrential rains across Tennessee flooded homes and at least one church and left roads impassable, prompting dozens of people to be rescued in the Nashville area. Authorities said four bodies were found Sunday in the flood’s aftermath.

Nashville received more than 7 inches of rain, the second-highest two-day rainfall total ever recorded, Mayor John Cooper said at a news conference Sunday.

Ebony Northern said a normally tame creek running through her Nashville apartment complex swiftly rose after heavy rain started late Saturday night. Within an hour or so, she could see some first-floor units in other parts of the complex being flooded. She said people moved to the second floor and she also heard calls for boats come in over the fire department scanner.

“The units are a mess. Some of the outside air conditioning units have floated off,” she said Sunday morning.

She said the American Red Cross arrived to assist her neighbors.

At least one church canceled in-person Palm Sunday services. The New Tribe Church in Mt. Juliet said on Facebook that knee-deep water flooded the building, busted out the glass of its front entrance and sent chairs through a hallway.

“I am smiling but our hearts are devastated,” Pastor Jarod Smith said at the start of an online service. “We are standing in our worship center and there’s just not enough words to describe what it actually looks like.”

Nashville Fire Chief William Swann said swift-water teams were placed on standby in anticipation of the storms. At least 130 people were rescued from cars, apartments and homes, while about 40 dogs were moved from a Nashville boarding kennel, Camp Bow Wow, to another location.

Cooper said first responders walked along creek beds Sunday and worked with the Red Cross to canvass affected neighborhoods.

To the south in Williamson County, over 34 swift water rescues were carried out, according to county Emergency Management Agency Director Todd Horton. As many as 18 homes in one neighborhood had to be evacuated.

A portion of Interstate 40 was temporarily shut down due to high water that stranded a vehicle and its driver. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle and to safety, the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Nashville tweeted. First responders also told drivers to avoid part of I-24 south of Nashville.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said three bodies were found after Seven Mile Creek flooded. The body of a 70-year-old Nashville man, identified by police Sunday night as Garry Cole, was found in a submerged car in the creek behind a store. The bodies of a 46-year-old woman and a 64-year-old man were found in a wooded area near a homeless camp.

Drake said a 65-year-old man’s body was found on a golf course. Police later identified him on Twitter as Douglas Hammond, who lived nearby and was swept away as he got out of his car that had become stuck in floodwaters.

Many rivers and creeks were at or near their highest level since 2010, according to the National Weather Service. Floods in May 2010 caused 21 deaths in Tennessee and an estimated $1.5 billion in damage in Nashville.

While there was no longer any precipitation falling, flooding remained a threat, Brittney Whitehead, a weather service meteorologist in Nashville, said Sunday afternoon.

“Over the next couple of days, we’ll see some of our rivers continue to rise. And we’ve got several flood warnings out for those areas that we expect to remain high, at least into Monday,” she said.

Major flooding was forecast on two rivers. The weather service predicted the Harpeth River near Kingston Springs, west of Nashville, would crest about 20 feet (about 6.1 meters) above flood stage on Sunday night, while the Duck River at Centerville would crest about 17 feet (about 5.2 meters) above flood stage Monday morning.

In Bristol, along the Virginia border, a NASCAR race on a dirt track Sunday was postponed until Monday after torrential rains flooded campgrounds and parking lots surrounding Bristol Motor Speedway.

In Brentwood, eight people and a dog stayed overnight at City Hall after flooding from the Little Harpeth River forced residents from their homes, City Manager Kirk Bednar said. Hotels in the area were booked up, in part due to spring break, he said.

Fifteen people were rescued and two were taken to the hospital at the City View Apartments in south Nashville, where the lower level of the building was flooded in waist-deep water. The fire department responded to reports of a collapse at the building following a mudslide, news outlets reported. The two hospitalized patients had injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

Drake, the Nashville police chief, also said an officer on his way home was hospitalized after his vehicle was caught in floodwaters. The officer got out of the car and was found clinging to a tree when he was rescued.

March historically is a turbulent month for weather in Tennessee. Last March, tornadoes killed more than 20 people and destroyed more than 140 buildings in Middle Tennessee.

Up Next

Former Representative Alan Grayson Considers Run Against Sen. Marco Rubio

Don't Miss

Former Officer’s Trial in George Floyd’s Death Gets Underway

Click to comment

US NATIONAL NEWS

FIFA Explains Legal Basis for Suspending Folarin Balogun’s One-Match Ban

Published

3 days ago

July 7, 2026

FNN NEWS

ZURICH, Switzerland (FNN NEWS) — The Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued a detailed statement explaining the legal basis for the committee’s decision to suspend the implementation of the automatic one-match suspension imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun following his red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The statement comes after questions surrounding Balogun’s eligibility for the United States’ Round of 16 match against Belgium.

Red Card Incident

During the July 1 FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute for serious foul play following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

After the match, Balogun returned to the field to celebrate with teammates despite having been expelled.

Disciplinary Proceedings

On July 2, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Balogun for potential violations of:

Article 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, relating to expulsion and the automatic suspension following a red card.
Article 14, concerning player misconduct related to his post-match celebration after being sent off.

On July 5, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found Balogun guilty of both violations.

Sanctions Imposed

The committee imposed:

A one-match suspension, suspended on probation for one year.
A USD 40,000 fine.
Joint liability for payment of the fine by the United States Soccer Federation under Article 6.5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

The fine was evenly divided between the two violations.

Why Balogun Was Eligible to Play

The committee emphasized that it did not overturn the referee’s red-card decision.

Instead, it upheld the automatic one-match suspension required under Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations.

However, exercising its authority under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the committee suspended the implementation of that sanction for a probationary period of one year.

As a result, Balogun was eligible to play immediately rather than serve the suspension in the United States’ next World Cup match.

Should Balogun commit another offense of similar nature and seriousness during the probationary period, the suspended one-match ban would automatically take effect in addition to any new disciplinary sanctions.

Committee Cites Independent Authority

The Chairperson stressed that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently under the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

According to the statement, committee members satisfy the independence requirements established under FIFA Governance Regulations to ensure impartial decision-making.

Use of Article 27 Is Not New

The committee also rejected criticism that the decision created a new precedent.

According to the statement, Article 27 expressly allows FIFA’s disciplinary bodies to suspend implementation of disciplinary sanctions in cases that do not involve match manipulation.

The Chairperson noted that the provision has been used previously during FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying competitions.

The committee further stated that neither the FIFA Disciplinary Code nor the FIFA World Cup Regulations prohibit applying Article 27 to an automatic red-card suspension.

Comparison to Other Competitions

The statement also pointed to disciplinary practices across many UEFA-affiliated domestic leagues, where governing bodies routinely review and overturn red cards after matches.

The committee argued that temporarily suspending the implementation of a sanction authorized by FIFA regulations is an even more limited remedy because the referee’s decision remains unchanged.

The Chairperson concluded that the committee’s decision complied with Articles 25 and 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and was based on the specific facts, evidence and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Key Points

July 1: Balogun sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina after VAR review.
July 2: FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings.
July 5: Committee finds Balogun guilty of two disciplinary violations.
One-match suspension imposed but suspended for one year on probation.
USD 40,000 fine issued.
U.S. Soccer jointly liable for payment.
Red card stands; only implementation of the suspension was deferred.
Balogun remained eligible to play against Belgium.
FIFA says Article 27 expressly authorizes suspending implementation of disciplinary sanctions.

Politics

Vice President JD Vance to Visit Milwaukee, Discuss Trump Administration’s Anti-Fraud Efforts

Published

3 days ago

July 6, 2026

FNN NEWS

WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — Vice President JD Vance will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks on the Trump administration’s efforts to combat fraud, according to a White House press release.

Politics

President Trump Launches Trump Accounts with NYSE, Nasdaq Opening Bell Ceremony from Oval Office

Published

3 days ago

July 6, 2026

FNN NEWS

NEW YORK (FNN NEWS) — President Donald Trump marked the official launch of Trump Accounts on Monday by participating in a first-of-its-kind opening bell ceremony for both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq from the Oval Office.

The event celebrated the rollout of the investment account program established under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which the Trump administration says is designed to help eligible American children build long-term wealth through tax-advantaged investment accounts.

Investment Accounts for American Children

According to the White House, Trump Accounts are available to U.S. citizens under the age of 18. Children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will automatically receive a $1,000 federal seed investment, while families and eligible contributors may make additional investments over time.

The administration said more than six million Trump Accounts have already been requested, with more than 86% of requests coming from families earning less than $200,000 annually.

President Trump Highlights Economic Opportunity

During the ceremony, President Trump said the accounts are intended to allow children to benefit from long-term economic growth.

“With the ringing of the opening bell for the stock market, Trump Accounts will now begin to grow right along with our booming economy,” Trump said. “Between individual contributions and the seed funds, $800 million in new capital will be invested in the stock market for America’s children this week.”

Business and Government Leaders Voice Support

Several business executives and administration officials participated in the announcement, including:

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies
Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq
Lynn Martin, president of the New York Stock Exchange Group
Jeffrey Sprecher, CEO of Intercontinental Exchange
Brad Gerstner, chairman and CEO of Altimeter Capital
Ted Cruz

Treasury Secretary Bessent said the initiative is intended to expand access to financial markets for American families.

Michael Dell encouraged additional companies to participate by contributing to employees’ children’s accounts.

Private-Sector Participation

The White House announced that philanthropists Michael and Susan Dell are supporting the initiative and said more than 50 companies have committed to making contributions to Trump Accounts for the children of their employees.

Administration officials described the initiative as part of a broader effort to encourage savings, investing and long-term wealth creation for future generations.

The announcement comes as the United States continues events commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, with administration officials describing Trump Accounts as an investment in America’s next generation.