Mick's Morning News: 09.19.18

OSHA Fines Contractors For FIU Bridge Collapse  (Miami, FL) -- Five companies are facing fines for what OSHA calls serious violations leading up to the deadly bridge collapse at FIU. The contractors were fined more than 86-thousand dollars for safety violations in the collapse that killed one worker and injured five others six months ago.

OSHA says its investigation determined the companies failed to act even when signs of a potential collapse were evident. The fines are only for the workers who were affected and do not cover the others who were killed in the collapse.

SeaWorld Pays Millions To Settle Blackfish Lawsuit  (Orlando, FL) -- SeaWorld will pay millions to settle a suit that claims it lied about what the federal government calls the Blackfish effect. The company and two former executives yesterday agreed to pay five million dollars to settle the suit filed by the SEC.

The suit claims SeaWorld misled investors about the losses the company suffered after the 2013 movie Blackfish. SeaWorld does not admit wrongdoing and says it's pleased to resolve the matter.

Port Canaveral Aquarium Project Gets Funding Boost  (Titusville, FL) -- Plans to build a new addition at Port Canaveral are taking a big step forward. The Brevard County Commission voted yesterday to spend ten million dollars to build an aquarium at the port.

Brevard Zoo is behind the idea for the aquarium, and Executive Director Keith Winsten says as big as that vote was, it was just the first step. He tells Florida Today the next steps include getting state funding and raising private donations for a project expected to cost 70 million dollars.

Woman Gets Backlash For Facebook Post  (Dunedin, FL) -- A Pinellas County woman is getting backlash for a Facebook post that was meant to be helpful. Dunedin's Lynne Knowles posted a video this weekend warning women of a man who was following her in a Publix and she raised concerns the man was involved in human trafficking.

That led some to accuse her of fear-mongering or making things up, but she says the story is true and she just wants women to be aware of their surroundings. She says she regrets using the phrase 'human trafficking,' but she also tells News Channel 8 she believes her warning may save lives.

Baltimore Orioles Become First Pro Team To Wear Braille Jerseys  (Baltimore, MD) -- The Baltimore Orioles are making history in what has been an awful season. The Orioles became the first American pro team to wear Braille-lettered jerseys during their game Tuesday.

They did it on National Federation of the Blind Night at Oriole Park. Tuesday was the 40th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind moving their headquarters to Baltimore. As they have done most of this season, the Orioles lost to Toronto 6-4. They have a 43 and 108 record so far this year.

Sesame Street: Bert And Ernie Just Good Friends  (New York, NY) -- The organization behind Sesame Street says Bert and Ernie are just good friends, despite what one of their writers told a gay news site. Writer Mark Saltzman told "Queerty" that Bert and Ernie were based on his own same-sex relationship.

Sesame Workshop tweeted that Bert and Ernie were created to teach children that they can be good friends with people who are very different from themselves. It adds that though Bert and Ernie are identified as male characters, they don't have a sexual orientation.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1994, the medical drama "ER" premiered on NBC.

1991, researchers discovered "The Iceman" in a glacier in the Alps. "The Iceman" is the most ancient human being ever found.

1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was denied access to Disneyland during his visit to California for security reasons.

1957, the U.S. conducted its first underground nuclear test in the Nevada desert.

1947, Jackie Robinson was named baseball's Rookie of the Year.

1934, Bruno Hauptmann was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby.

1876, Melville Bissell patented the carpet sweeper.


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