Edition

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Tuesday edition

California

Landsat 9 caught the tilted rock of Vasquez Rocks

Confirmed

From orbit, Vasquez Rocks look like gray bands between the mountains of Southern California. NASA Earth Observatory made them the Image of the Day for Sept. 8. Landsat 9 took the picture on July 28 over the Soledad Basin, where the rock layers tilt about 50 degrees. Adam Voiland wrote the story. Michala Garrison made the pictures from U.S. Geological Survey Landsat data. NASA notes the site has been a Star Trek filming location since the first season, when Captain James T. Kirk climbed the jagged ground. An editor’s note says this post answers the September Puzzler.

Full story and sources · 1 primary sources

State Department

Rubio begins a three-country South America trip

Confirmed

Marco Rubio is on the road. From today, Sept. 8, through Sept. 10 he goes to Colombia, then Ecuador, then Peru, the State Department said on Sept. 4. In Bogotá he is to meet the new De La Espriella government. In Quito, President Noboa. In Lima, the new Fujimori government. The three topics on the list are earthquake help for Colombia, a tougher joint line against narcoterrorism, and more trade. On Labor Day the building was closed, and Rubio had no public appointments.

Sources · 2 listed

Miami

Five died on the ground after an Amazon cargo jet ran off a Miami runway

Partially confirmed

Jennifer Homendy, who chairs the National Transportation Safety Board, walked the Miami ground Monday where an Amazon cargo jet had left the runway. Sunday around 2 p.m., a Boeing 767 flown by 21 Air came in from San Juan and ran off the pavement at Miami International. Homendy told reporters the airplane went about 1,300 feet past the end. It wrecked navigation gear, tore through a Professional Ocean Service Corp. cleaning van that held seven people, broke fencing, and hit an SUV outside the airport. The five who died, she said, were in those two vehicles. She called the scene “utter devastation.” The Associated Press said three people were critically hurt and two more were in the hospital. Homendy said more may come Tuesday, including perhaps the speed from the data recorder. Amazon said it was heartbroken and would cooperate. Two of Miami’s four runways were still closed Monday. No one has named a cause.

Sources · 2 listed

Settlements

Mount Sinai will stop sex-rejecting procedures for children, Justice Department says

Confirmed

Mount Sinai is one of New York’s largest hospital systems. On Friday, Sept. 4, the Justice Department said the hospitals had agreed to stop giving children puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery — what the department calls sex-rejecting procedures, often sold as “gender-affirming care.” Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the deal. Mount Sinai will pay a penalty and put $2 million toward free care for people already hurt by that treatment as children. Texas Children’s, Cleveland Clinic, and Connecticut Children’s made similar agreements, the department said. Press release 26-1022. These are allegations. Mount Sinai denied them. No court has found anyone liable.

Sources · 1 listed

Atlanta

The Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 starter in Pittsburgh

Confirmed

Atlanta named Tua Tagovailoa its starting quarterback for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. The Falcons made it official Monday, after a camp competition that lasted past roster cuts. He joined the team this offseason from Miami. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Cooper Rush will be the backup for that game and Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive. Kickoff is Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. Eastern on FOX, per the league’s Week 1 slate. No odds. No picks.

Sources · 3 listed