The astronaut was hospitalized after returning to the ISS Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The astronaut was hospitalized after returning to the ISS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida. A NASA astronaut was hospitalized with an undisclosed medical problem after returning from a nearly eight-month stay on the space station that was extended by problems with the Boeing capsule and Hurricane Milton, the space agency said Friday.

A SpaceX capsule carrying three Americans and one Russian parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida before dawn after undocking from the International Space Station midweek. The capsule was lifted to the evacuation ship, where the four astronauts underwent a routine medical examination.

Shortly after landing, the NASA astronaut had a “medical issue” and the crew was taken to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, for further evaluation “out of an abundance of caution,” the space agency said in a statement.

The astronaut, who was not identified, was in stable condition and remained hospitalized as a “precautionary measure,” NASA said.

The space agency said it would not share details about the astronaut’s condition, citing patient privacy.

The other three astronauts were discharged and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The soldier’s death is being investigated as a homicide

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Missouri. A person of interest is in custody in connection with the death of a soldier stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in south-central Missouri, authorities said.

The body of Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23, of Ligonier, Indiana, was found Tuesday in a dumpster. She went missing the day before.

The cause of death has not been released, but the Army’s Department of Criminal Investigation said Friday that the death is being investigated as a homicide.

Roque was a dog handler and a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commander of Fort Leonard Wood, said her death “caused a tremendous void” at the base.

Army officials have not released any additional information about the person in custody or a potential motive.

The governor of North Carolina received more than $600 million in aid

RALEIGH, North Carolina. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday approved more than $600 million in disaster relief for western North Carolina counties hit by Hurricane Helen after lawmakers passed a recovery bill the day before.

The bill is the second legislative iteration of recovery funding for western North Carolina after the General Assembly passed an initial $273 million aid package earlier this month. It aims to address what the governor’s office said was $53 billion in damage and recovery needs in the region after Helen made landfall.

“Western North Carolina needs significant investment to fully recover from the worst storm our state has ever seen,” Cooper said in a statement Friday. “Legislators have taken a small step here and must develop a more comprehensive package to help families, businesses and communities rebuild stronger jobs.”

Relief measures funded in the latest recovery bill include $50 million in small business loans, $100 million in loans to local governments for water repairs, and $5 million in funding for mental health resources for students of public schools.

Lawmakers also passed a separate bill into state law Thursday that would require at least one in-person early voting location for every 30,000 registered voters in North Carolina’s 13 western counties as soon as possible. Because the legislation is considered a local bill, it was not subject to Cooper’s approval.

Former Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty

CENTRAL ISSLIP, NEW YORK. The former longtime CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges of interstate sex trafficking and prostitution.

Michael Jeffries, 80, declined to comment after his attorney appeared on his behalf in federal court in Central Illipe, Long Island. He is out on $10 million bail and is due back in court on December 12.

“Today’s hearing was procedural, bond was set to ensure Michael’s appearance in court, and of course we entered a plea of ​​not guilty,” his attorney Brian Bieber said in an email afterward, declining to comment on the allegations.

Prosecutors allege that over the years, Jeffries, his romantic partner, Matthew Smith, 61, and a third husband, James Jacobson, 71, lured men to sex parties by promising to model for clothes. retailer.

Jacobson, who was an employee of Jeffries when prosecutors alleged the crimes, also pleaded not guilty and declined to speak to reporters afterward. He is free on $500,000 bail.

Jeffries made an initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was arrested along with Smith. But while Jeffries was released on bail, Smith was ordered detained after prosecutors raised concerns that the dual US-British national could flee the country.

No arraignment date has been set for Smith.

Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin and made his first appearance in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota.