0831 Today in History

      

India is one of the fastest growing electric vehicle markets in the world, and more than 90% of India's 2.3 million EVs are the cheaper and more popular two- or three-wheelers. Policies to encourage sales, like a $1.3 billion federal government scheme, rising fuel costs over the past decade and consumers awareness of the long-term cost benefits are driving up sales. (Aug 30) (AP Video by Dheerj Aithal)

      

Not that long ago, Preethi was begging on India's streets. Her life was transformed since nonprofit group Shishu Mandir gave her an electric rickshaw last year so she could start a ride-hailing service. (Aug. 30) (AP Video: Dheeraj Aithal) (Production: Teresa de Miguel)

      

USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network are providing free news coverage, public safety information and resource guides for Hurricane Idalia.

      

Hurricane Idalia made landfall along Florida's Big Bend along the Gulf Coast on Aug. 30, 2023 as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds at 125 mph.

      

Another 40% were concerned that routine vaccines could cause their dog to develop autism, a belief that has long since been disproven in humans.

      

Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate called "the big unknown" for Idalia's impact on Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas as the potential impact on their agriculture. (August 30)

      

Hurricane Idalia left behind major flooding in Steinhatchee, Florida. The river that runs through it overflowed and flooded the community of more than 500 residents. (Aug. 30) (AP Video: Daniel Kozin)

      

Here's the latest for Wednesday, August 30th: Hurricane Idalia unleashes fury on Florida and Georgia; White House says Putin and Kim Jong Un traded letters for munitions; Soldiers in Gabon seized power, detain president; Catch Wednesday's blue supermoon.

      

President Joe Biden is warning Hurricane Idalia is "still very dangerous" even though it weakened after battering Florida Wednesday morning. Biden also sought to reassure victims of Hawaii's devastating wildfires that he hasn't forgotten them. (Aug. 30)

      

Waffle House has closed at least five locations across Florida because of Hurricane Idalia. Here's how the Waffle House index works.

      

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up and was unable to answer a question from a reporter at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, weeks after he had a similar episode in Washington. (Aug. 30)

      

Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm and unleashed devastation along a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast, submerging homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, unmooring small boats and downing power lines before sweeping into Georgia. (Aug 30)

      

Patrick Murphy, of Denver, was charged with a hate crime and "criminal mischief" for breaking transgender Pride flags, police said. He pleaded not guilty.

      

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 3 but has been downgraded to a Category 1.

      

A gust of wind uprooted a 6-foot beach umbrella that flew through the air and impaled a woman's leg on Alabama's Gulf Coast this week.

      

A viral video of a 12-year-old Colorado student being told to remove a patch depicting the "Don't Tread on Me" flag prompted the governor to respond.

      

A judge has ruled that former Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is not competent to stand trial. The judge dismissed the case accusing the 93-year-old of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Massachusetts decades ago. (Aug. 30)

      

Hurricane Idalia is moving across Georgia after it made landfall Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm. (Aug. 30)