Friday morning news: September 1, 2023

Hurricane aftermath » In Florida and Georgia many who live along Hurricane Idalia's path of destruction are stringing tarps over shredded roofs.

RESIDENT: The top of the roof just caved slap in on me and my three kids and my grandson.

Some are even picking through rubble where their homes and businesses once stood.

Aimee Firestine owns a small resort in Ceder Key, Florida on the Gulf Coast.

FIRESTINE: One our buildings is gone. One of the other buildings is missing the wall — the front unit is I don’t think savable. Maybe. I’m not sure. So it was a little heart-wrenching and depressing when you first come in and see it.

Authorities say the good news is that key bridges along the coastal Big Bend region weathered the storm. Inspectors have declared them safe for traffic.

Trump plea » Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to state charges in Georgia accusing him of illegally trying to overturn the 2020 election. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown reports.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had set arraignment hearings in the case for September 6th.

Trump’s court filing entered a not guilty plea and also waived arraignment. That means he will not have to show up for that, avoiding a public spectacle, which in the state of Georgia could have been televised.

Trump’s lawyers are also pushing to sever his case from those of some other co-defendants in the case.

For WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

Kemp » Meantime, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp pushed back Thursday against efforts by some fellow Republicans in the state to go after the Democratic district attorney prosecuting the case.

KEMP: There have been calls by one individual in the general assembly, and echoed outside these walls by the former president, for a special session that would ignoreignor current Georgia law and directly interfere with the proceedings of a separate but equal branch of government.

Some are calling for a special session to oust prosecutor Fani willis. Kemp said believes that’s unfeasible and possible unconstitutional. But he said the Prosecuting Attorney Oversight Commission will have to make that call.

Oversight doc request » The House Oversight Committee is asking the National Archives to hand over documents related to Hunter Biden’s use of the official Air Force Two jetliner of then–Vice President Joe Biden for international business trips.

Committee Chairman James Comer:

COMER: Joe Biden was front and center. He met with every one of these people that he claimed he never met with and never spoke to. And we’re putting together the timeline where Hunter Biden was traveling to many of these countries on Air Force Two while Joe Biden was vice president.

President Biden maintains that he did nothing wrong. And Democrats claim the House probe is politically motivated.

Africa fire » Residents of Johannesburg, South Africa are mourning today after a fire killed at least 74 people Thursday, including 12 children.

The building was officially abandoned, but as many 200 homeless people and migrants reportedly lived in the building.

One man said he made it out alive, but …

ARAFAT: Everything is burnt. Documents, my passport, even my ID, everything.

Officials say gangs often take control of run down buildings in the city and rent the space to migrants and South Africans who can’t afford other housing.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa:

RAMAPHOSA: We've got to go to the bottom of what caused this fire and also address from now on. It's a wake up call for us to begin to address the situation of housing in the inner city.

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Texas trans protections » A law protecting minors from transgender interventions takes effect in Texas today. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The Texas Supreme Court decided on Thursday to allow the law to take effect.

The court did not explain the decision which overturned a lower court ruling that had halted the law.

It is now illegal in Texas to subject children to cross-gender hormone shots, puberty blockers, and transgender surgeries.

Roughly 20 states have enacted laws protecting children from transgender procedures.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, Ask the Editor for September.

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