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三个月后面临大选的新西兰总理再次挺过信任投票

2026年8月12日 10:34 / 联合早报

新西兰总理拉克森4月赢得一次信任投票，然而那次成功未能平息外界对于他是否适合担任最高职位的疑问。 （法新社）

新西兰总理拉克森赢得国家党国会党团信任投票，继续担任国家党党魁。

彭博社报道，拉克森星期三（8月12日）在惠灵顿与国家党议员举行数小时会议后宣布信任投票结果。财政部长威利斯和教育部长斯坦福等同僚陪同他出席发布会。他没有接受记者提问。

这是拉克森今年第二次赢得信任投票，他也在4月挺过了一次信任投票。然而，上一次的成功未能平息外界对于他是否适合担任最高职位的疑问。

在最近的大多数民意调查中，国家党的支持率一直落后于主要反对党工党。根据1News Verian星期三公布的民调，拉克森作为首选总理的支持率已跌至17%。拉克森还因与公众沟通能力不足而受到批评。

新西兰将于11月7日举行国会选举。拉克森11日在社交媒体发文说，从媒体报道等可以明显看出，关于他领导地位的猜测正在增多，他宣布召集国家党12日举行国会党团会议讨论此事。

US freight railroads lose appeal challenging new rule requiring at least two-person crews

2026-08-11 23:18:21 UTC / Reuters

The logo for Union Pacific Railroad is displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 15, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

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LOS ANGELES, Aug 11 (Reuters) – Six U.S. railroads and two industry groups lost their appeal challenging a new ​rule that would require many trains to operate ‌with at least two crew members, according to a ruling filed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the ​11th Circuit on Tuesday.

The nation’s freight railroads, including ​Union Pacific (UNP.N) and Berkshire Hathaway-owned (BRKa.N) BNSF, opposed ⁠the Federal Railroad Administration’s crew requirements.

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The rule came ​after organized labor fought to maintain crew levels amid ​intense scrutiny of railroad safety following a 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and ​other hazardous chemicals to spill and catch fire.

Among ​other things, the railroads argued the crew-size rule fell outside the ‌FRA’s ⁠general rule-making power.

They also said the agency refused to consider what the rule would cost railroads that would otherwise have shifted to a one-person crew. ​Not considering that ​major category ⁠of costs made the final rule arbitrary and capricious, they said.

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The court rejected ​the railroads’ arguments and denied their petitions ​to ⁠review the rule.

One judge dissented, saying the FRA’s research and other evidence did not support a minimum-crew-size ⁠rule, and ​its cost-benefit analysis failed to ​account for labor costs that railroads would incur when complying with ​the rule.

Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Chris Reese

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump White House asked DOJ to explore new Reflecting Pool charges, sources say

2026-08-11 21:41:06 UTC / Reuters

By Andrew Goudsward

August 11, 2026 9:41 PM UTC Updated 2 hours ago

The Washington Monument is reflected in rainwater in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee Purchase Licensing Rights

• Summary

• Discussions followed move to drop vandalism cases, including against former U.S. Olympian
• Dismissal of cases enraged Trump
• Prosecutors blamed damage to pool on botched renovation project

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s White House has asked the Justice ​Department to examine potential new charges related to alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ‌despite the department’s decision to drop prior cases, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The discussions followed Trump’s fury at Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, for moving to dismiss cases against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn and others accused of damaging ​the pool following Trump-ordered renovations.

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Pirro’s office dropped the case against Hearn after concluding that widespread damage to the ​Reflecting Pool, a landmark on Washington’s National Mall, was the result of flawed contracting ⁠work rather than intentional destruction, as Trump has repeatedly alleged.

The discussions, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, ​are an indication that the Trump administration could seek to revive those cases and are another example of the ​White House intervening in criminal investigations, in a sharp break from decades-long Justice Department practice.

Lawyers for Hearn said new charges would “add another bizarre turn to a sad chapter in the DOJ’s history and further harass an innocent man.”

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The White House referred questions to the ​Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A local Washington, D.C., judge has dismissed ​the case against Hearn and is set to decide in the coming weeks whether to give prosecutors the opportunity to seek new ‌charges ⁠or permanently end the prosecution.

The most recent conversations involved the Criminal Division at Justice Department headquarters, which typically manages complex cases on corporate fraud, international gangs and other issues, rather than Pirro’s office, whose remit includes local criminal cases in Washington, according to the two people familiar with the matter. One of the people said the talks were ​aimed at exploring whether ​there was a basis to ⁠bring a misdemeanor case.

The conversations are preliminary and no final decision has been made.

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Hearn was indicted last month on a felony destruction of property charge after Pirro initially alleged ​he forcibly pulled on and damaged the lining on the bottom of the Reflecting ​Pool while cycling ⁠in the area. Hearn pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

Less than a month later, prosecutors reversed course, telling a judge that newly disclosed documents showed that a botched renovation, not vandalism, damaged the pool.

Trump raged at Pirro’s decision to drop the ⁠case ​and urged her to revisit it. He has continued to blame issues ​with the $14.7 million project on vandals, despite acknowledging in a social media post on Sunday that there was no proof of sabotage.

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Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Matthew Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Democratic senators question Belgian diamond industry about ring given to Trump

2026-08-11 20:23:18 UTC / Reuters

By Andrea Shalal

August 11, 2026 8:23 PM UTC Updated 3 hours ago

[1/2]Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) gives remarks at the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 19, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) – Two Democratic senators are demanding answers from two Belgian firms about an 18-carat gold ring encrusted with 321 diamonds that was given to U.S. ​President Donald Trump weeks before the U.S. exempted Europe’s diamond industry from new tariffs.

Here are some details:

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• In ‌an August 10 letter to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre and David Gotlib Luxury Cufflinks, Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut warned that the gift raised serious legal questions under ​U.S. federal bribery law and could result in criminal penalties for the companies.
• “At ​best, your (gift to) … President Trump amidst high-stakes tariff decisions creates the glaring ⁠appearance of impropriety. At worst, it reinforces that foreign corporate special interests can … buy ​lucrative tariff exemptions simply by showering President Trump with shiny gifts,” they wrote in the ​letter.
• The senators said the ring, handcrafted by David Gotlib, was presented to the U.S. ambassador in Belgium by the president of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre on June 28 as a gift for Trump ​in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
• On July 24, the Trump administration officially ​exempted European natural diamonds from new Section 301 tariffs, restoring the Belgian diamond industry’s prior zero-percent tariff ‌access.
• The ⁠senators asked the firms to respond to a series of questions by August 24, including the value of the ring, who paid for it, and any discussions about tariffs with the Trump administration before the exemption was announced.
• Media reports have put the value of the ​ring at $25,000 to $35,000.
• Republicans control ​both houses of ⁠Congress now, but Reuters reported last week that Democrats are developing a broad investigative strategy targeting companies and financial firms surrounding Trump if ​they return to power after congressional elections in November.
• The White House ​denied any favors ⁠to special interests. A spokesman said the decision to exempt the diamond industry from new tariffs merely upheld the Trump administration’s previous agreement to provide preferential treatment for diamonds under the ⁠U.S.-European ​Union trade deal signed in Scotland last July.
• An administration ​official said the diamond ring was federal property, and if the president wanted to keep it, he would have ​to pay the government market price for it.

Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Mark Porter

Trump directs CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to end Medicaid gender transition funding for minors

2026-08-11 5:39pm EDT / Fox News

Trump instructed CMS to end Medicaid funding for gender transition procedures, calling the surgeries “barbaric” in a Truth Social post

By Louis Casiano , Peter D’Abrosca, Fox News

Published August 11, 2026 5:39pm EDT | Updated August 11, 2026 5:40pm EDT

Supreme Court blocks California policy on gender transitions in parental rights win

California mom Erin Friday discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily block a state policy preventing schools from notifying parents about their children’s gender transitions.

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The Trump administration will no longer fund gender transition surgeries using Medicaid for minors, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, calling such procedures “barbaric.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he ordered Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to stop using the joint federal and state public health insurance program to fund such procedures.

“We are not going to pay for our innocent children to undergo these barbaric surgeries and practices, which result in unthinkable and irreversible harm to their young bodies,” Trump wrote.

SEN HAWLEY WARNS IT WOULD BE ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ IF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FLOW TO TRANS KIDS’ SEX CHANGES

Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House, in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)(Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump’s announcement came after CMS said it would begin implementing a rule that ends the use of federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care for children and youth.

That includes puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical operations, which “can result in irreversible damage, including infertility, impaired sexual function, diminished bone density, altered brain development, and other lasting physiological effects.”

“Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and convey no proven benefits,” Oz said in a statement. “By cutting off federal funds for these sex-rejecting procedures, we’re following the science, saving taxpayer dollars, and, most importantly, protecting children from potentially irreversible harm so they can truly flourish.”

The rule is slated to take effect on Oct. 13. It does not affect coverage of mental health services.

COLORADO SUPREME COURT ORDERS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TO RESUME GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENTS FOR MINORS

President Donald Trump has directed Mehmet Oz , the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to halt Medicaid funding for gender transition surgeries for minors.(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The move by the CMS follows a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) review of national and international research. The review found “significant evidence gaps, documented serious safety concerns, and concluded that the evidence supporting these interventions for children remains insufficient to justify federal taxpayer funding.”

The CMS pointed to the United Kingdom’s Cass Review as one of the cornerstone pieces of research informing the decision.

That review, conducted by Dr. Hilary Cass, concluded in 2024 that research on medical interventions like cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers was limited and not definitive. The report also said that medical interventions had developed significantly faster than evidence proving those interventions were safe.

“The Trump Administration is drawing a clear line: America’s children will not be subjected to life-altering interventions on the taxpayer’s dime without reliable evidence of safety and clinical benefit,” HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard told Fox News Digital.

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“Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, federal health care dollars will support evidence-based care that protects children and puts their long-term health first,” she added. “American taxpayers should never be forced to finance interventions when the evidence of benefit is insufficient and the potential consequences for children can be serious and irreversible.”

Twenty-seven states have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, according to KFF, a health policy group.

Republican lawmakers have moved to restrict such procedures for minors, while many Democrats have said such restrictions are attacks against trans people.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said many hospitals across the country have ended such “gender-affirming care,” with many more expected to follow.

President Donald Trump, from left, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his wife actress Cheryl Hines during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House.(Getty Iamges)

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“Just think about all of the young, innocent, and perhaps confused children who will be spared!” he wrote. “While the Democrat Party wants your kids to be able to chop off their reproductive organs before they are old enough to vote.”

He also urged his followers to remember the Democratic Party’s position on the matter ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

Play video games? You, too, could become an air traffic controller.

August 11, 2026 / 4:55 PM EDT / CBS News

Video gamers are in demand to help patrol the nation’s skies.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a recent social media post that the federal agency’s recruitment campaign to recruit gamers as air traffic controllers has been a “game changer” for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA hired more than 2,000 video gamers to train as air traffic controllers, meeting 94% of its hiring goal, according to the Transportation Department. Another 2,000-plus candidates are in the hiring pipeline, Duffy added.

Why video gamers?

When Duffy announced the initiative in April, he acknowledged that the Transportation Department needed to extend its reach to recruit prospective air traffic controllers.

“A lot of what they do playing games … is what they do … controlling traffic in the air,” Duffy told CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave in an interview on Tuesday at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

Duffy added that many current trainees started out as gamers. Only about 25% of controllers hold a traditional college degree, while former controllers note that gaming requires many of the same skills that air traffic controllers use on the job, such as thinking quickly, staying focused and managing multiple sources of information as they guide more than 80,000 flights to their destinations daily.

How much do controllers earn?

In 2024, the most recent year for which federal data is available, the median annual wage for air traffic controllers was $144,580. But pay varies widely depending on a controller’s experience and where they work. Less experienced controllers at smaller airports earn close to $60,000 a year on average, according to aviation experts.

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A December report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office pointed to a major shortage of air traffic controllers, warning that it could lead to more flight delays or cancellations.

A government shutdown late last year also turned some workers away from the profession, as controllers — who under the law are considered essential personnel — were forced to work without pay.

Before someone qualifies to train at the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, job candidates must undergo a rigorous application process. Among the criteria to become a controller are to hold U.S. citizenship, be under the age of 31 and pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests.

Aspiring controllers must also pass an exam that the FAA says predicts candidates’ “aptitude to be an air traffic controller.” Within a week, they are notified if they have passed.

Historically, fewer than 10% of applicants met the FAA’s requirements to work as an air traffic controller and gain admission to the agency’s training program.

Judge blocks US Postal Service from restricting mail-in voting

2026-08-11 21:09:56 UTC / Reuters

By Nate Raymond and Luc Cohen

August 11, 2026 9:09 PM UTC Updated 34 mins ago

Supporters gather outside the federal courthouse after a hearing in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general seeking to block U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening rules on mail-in voting, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

• Order would have let USPS refuse ballot delivery if states withheld eligible voter lists
• Talwani expands June injunction from 23 mostly Democratic-led states to nationwide
• Trump asks Supreme ​Court to halt earlier ruling; justices have not yet ruled

Aug 11 (Reuters) – A federal ‌judge on Tuesday blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing part of President Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to tighten rules for mail-in voting ahead of November elections that will decide control of Congress.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston marked the latest setback ​for Trump’s push to expand the federal government’s role in overseeing elections.

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Trump, a Republican, signed his executive order in ​March after years of calling for tighter rules on voting by mail and pushing the false ⁠claim that his 2020 election defeat was the result of widespread voter fraud.

The executive order called on states to provide ​lists of eligible voters who may receive mail ballots. If states did not comply, USPS would have refused to deliver the ​ballots.

RULING EXPANDS ON PREVIOUS ORDER

Tuesday’s decision effectively expanded on an earlier order Talwani issued in June that prevented Trump’s administration from implementing it in 23 mostly Democratic-led states.

Several voting rights groups asked the judge to go further and bar the USPS altogether from implementing the order ​anywhere in the nation.

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In granting the plaintiffs’ request, Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, wrote that the executive branch of ​the federal government had no authority to regulate elections, a responsibility that the U.S. Constitution assigns to individual states.

“The (executive order) is presently causing ‌confusion and ⁠threatening both increasing chaos and an erosion of trust in our democracy,” Talwani wrote. “Enfranchisement heavily outweighs the executive’s attempt to unconstitutionally insert itself into the domain of election regulation.”

Neither the White House nor the Justice Department, which represents the federal government in court, immediately responded to requests for comment.

TRUMP SEEKS SUPREME COURT REVIEW

The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court ​to put Talwani’s earlier decision ​on hold, arguing the states’ ⁠case was premature as agencies had not yet finalized plans to implement Trump’s order.

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The top U.S. court, where conservative justices hold a 6-3 majority, has not yet ruled.

In a similar case ​brought by the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C., federal court, a judge in May declined ​to immediately block ⁠the executive order, finding it would be premature to do so because the USPS had not yet issued its rule.

An appeals court affirmed that decision.

Talwani said the case was now ripe for a decision because the USPS had proposed a rule, and ⁠the election ​was closer.

“That it is now less than 90 days before the November ​3, 2026 midterm elections underscores the critical need for an injunction to prevent Defendants (the federal government) from changing election rules on the eve of the ​election,” Talwani wrote.

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Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Luc Cohen in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul and Nia Williams

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Arkansas high school football player finds venomous snake inside helmet during practice

August 11, 2026 / 6:35 PM EDT / CBS/AP

An Arkansas high school football player made an unsettling discovery during practice when he found a 2-foot-long venomous snake had crawled inside his helmet.

The Maumelle High student felt unusual movement inside his headgear following warmups last week and brought his helmet to an assistant coach for inspection. A slithering cottonmouth was discovered behind some padding.

A cottonmouth snake was found in the helmet of a Maumelle High School football player. Maumelle Animal Shelter

The pit viper was so reluctant to exit the helmet that police officers had to pour water into it to force the snake out and into a bag. Animal services technicians arrived a few minutes later, identified the snake as a deadly cottonmouth and took it to a wooded area far from the school.

Cottonmouths are the second-most venomous snakes found in Arkansas.

Animal services director Chris Davis said the player wore the helmet for nearly an hour and was fortunate he wasn’t bitten.

“It was unreal,” Davis said. “You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real.”

A cottonmouth snake was found in the helmet of a Maumelle High School football player. Maumelle Animal Shelter

The player grabbed a different helmet and continued practice. But the situation caused the head coach to reiterate to his team that players should examine their equipment carefully before using it, checking for insects — or maybe something larger and more dangerous.

The Maumelle Animal Shelter said in a Facebook post last week that everyone involved was OK, saying “snakes and other critters can find their way into dark, enclosed spaces—especially helmets, shoes, bags, boxes, and other items that are left outside or sitting undisturbed.”

“Before putting on your helmet, shoes, gloves, or any outdoor gear, always give it a quick check first,” the animal shelter said in its post. “It only takes a few seconds and could prevent a very scary encounter—or worse.”

Federal judge blocks Trump administration from restricting mail-in ballots ahead of midterms

Preliminary injunction prevents USPS from refusing to transmit absentee ballots for the 2026 elections

August 11, 2026 7:36pm EDT / Fox News

By Brittany Miller, Bill Mears

Senate Dem presses postmaster general on proposed mail-in balloting rule

Postmaster General David Steiner indicated that under a proposed rule, if a state declines to provide the federal government with its absentee voter list, USPS would not mail ballots for those states. (Credit: Senate Homeland Security Committee)

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A federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday blocked the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from implementing part of President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening mail-in voting rules ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted a preliminary injunction preventing the USPS from implementing or enforcing Section 3 of Executive Order 14399 for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, or any earlier federal election.

The ruling prevents USPS from refusing to transmit mail-in or absentee ballots under the challenged section and blocks rulemaking to implement certain regulations outlined in the executive order for the November elections.

The injunction does not prevent the federal government from providing nonbinding USPS guidance on ballot-mail envelopes.

JUDGE HANDS TRUMP MAIL-BALLOT WIN FOR NOW AS DEMOCRATS’ NEXT MOVE LOOMS

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing part of President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening mail-in voting rules ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.(John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, File)

Talwani held a hearing Friday on the plaintiffs’ renewed request for a preliminary injunction. The Trump administration is expected to appeal Tuesday’s ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

Trump signed the executive order in March as part of his election integrity agenda.

It directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to compile lists of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote and provide them to states, instructs the USPS to establish new standards for mail-in ballots, and directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize investigations into state and local election officials who issue federal ballots to people deemed ineligible to vote.

“Cheating on mail-in voting is legendary. It’s horrible. Democrats want to use it for cheating,” Trump said.

Tuesday’s ruling comes weeks after the 1st Circuit rejected the administration’s attempt to enforce other provisions of Trump’s executive order while a separate legal challenge proceeds.

OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP’S ELECTION ORDER AS SAVE AMERICA ACT FIGHT INTENSIFIES

President Donald Trump signed an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules in March.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, File)

In a 2-1 decision July 25, the appeals court denied the DOJ’s request to pause a June ruling blocking several provisions of Trump’s order in 23 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia.

That lawsuit was led by California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington. The states argued that the Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering federal elections and that Trump exceeded his authority by directing federal agencies to impose new voting requirements.

Talwani had previously blocked several provisions of the executive order in June, finding they likely exceeded the president’s authority. The appeals court left that injunction in place July 25, while the administration’s appeal proceeds.

The DOJ previously told the appeals court it could seek emergency relief from the U.S. Supreme Court if it did not prevail.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing part of President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening rules for mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts praised Tuesday’s ruling, saying it protects voting rights for people who rely on voting by mail.

“The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts commends the court for upholding one of our most sacred constitutional rights: the right to vote,” a representative for the organization wrote in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. “We are pleased to see this ruling and are committed to remaining in the fight to protect voting rights – not just for the Bay Staters who rely on mail voting, but for every American who utilizes this safe, secure, and trusted tool.”

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The White House, DOJ and USPS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.

Talwani ordered the plaintiff organizations in Tuesday’s ruling to post a nominal $100 bond by Aug. 18.

Brittany Miller is a Fox News Digital breaking news writer and former Independent reporter who graduated from Syracuse University in 2023.

Powerful storms, suspected tornadoes slam Midwest, leave hundreds of thousands without power

2026-08-11T19:09:09-0400 / CBS/AP

Severe weather cut power to nearly 1 million customers in the Midwest as perilous thunderstorms and extreme wind gusts pummeled the region Tuesday.

Tornado warning sirens howled as the skies darkened. All flights were temporarily stopped at Chicago’s two major airports, and officials warned of delays as the backlog was cleared. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, 45% of flights in and out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport were delayed on Tuesday, and 10% were canceled.

In Ohio, power outages swept the state capital region, and at least one death was reported.

Photos from the Chicago area posted on social media showed flooded roads, trees tangled in power lines and homes with gashes in their roofs.

In this image made from video, a roof is damaged after a strong storm in Tinley Park, Illinois, on Aug. 11, 2026. AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld

As of Tuesday evening, more than 991,000 customers were without power across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.

National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Baker said the Midwest was on the outer edge of what is known as a “ring of fire,” which brings waves of excessive moisture, instability and storms. A ring of fire occurs when a large zone of high atmospheric pressure forms and triggers heavy rain and thunderstorms along its edges.

The weather service bluntly warned earlier in the day: “These are dangerous storms!”

Meteorologists with CBS News Chicago reported that at least two suspected tornadoes tore through several suburbs in south Chicago and northwest Indiana.

In the south Chicago village of Flossmoor, there were several downed power lines and trees.

“Wind started blowing, and you can hear debris hitting all sides of the house at the same time. I couldn’t see more than 2 feet from outside the window. It got pretty bad. So I’m like, ‘Let’s get downstairs,’” Flossmoor resident Gilbert Casillas told CBS News Chicago.

Javid Jenkins, 54, of Homewood, a Chicago suburb, said he was driving around for gas to fire up a generator to preserve food in his refrigerator.

“No power. It was very scary. We were down in the basement,” Jenkins said. “We’re built for snow. We’re built for cold. We’re not built for this.”

Storm damage in the Chicago, Illinois, suburb of Homewood. Aug. 11, 2026. CBS News Chicago

There were numerous reports of wind gusts of 80 mph or more at personal weather stations.

“Total devastation. No roof,” said Kerry Hourigan, standing outside her home of 25 years in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park. “Stupid thing, but my focus was I just bought a new barbecue grill, and I have no idea where that is. It’s disappeared.”

In the northwest Indiana city of Portage, a home explosion during the powerful storm killed at least one person, city officials told CBS News Chicago. Aerial images of the site showed a massive debris field around the remains of a house that was engulfed in flames. It was not immediately clear if the cause of the explosion was linked to the severe weather.

In Crown Point, Indiana, homeowners were cleaning up significant tree damage. Hailey Mogan told CBS News Chicago that she and her co-workers barricaded themselves in a bathroom waiting for the storm to pass.

“The next thing you know, like, not even 5 seconds later, just wind,” Mogan said. “Literally about to blow our door open. We were holding it shut and we had to padlock it. It’s crazy. I don’t even know if I’m going to get home because they’re saying everywhere around here is closed, can’t get through.”

The fifth day of the 10-day Lake County, Indiana, Fair was canceled, disappointing fans who were hoping to see a professional wrestling event involving people under 5 feet tall.

Nearby in LaPorte County, Indiana, there was a “tremendous amount of tree damage,” Commissioner Joe Haney said.

In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said a resident of Roseville died during a health emergency when first responders, faced with flooded roads, couldn’t get there. He warned that flood dangers would persist.

“This is not something that will end tonight,” DeWine said of the severe weather.

Indeed, forecasters said multiple rounds of rain would cause flood hazards in the Ohio Valley through early Friday.

Officials in Columbus, Ohio, sent local government workers home early ahead of another round of storms. The library in Westerville, Ohio, closed after rain poured into the atrium.

and Ian Lee contributed to this report.