Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

The Mackinac Bridge in Michigan was closed to all traffic early on Wednesday, September 23, after an emergency incident brought a large number of emergency vehicles to the structure. The Michigan Department of Transportation issued a closure bulletin at about 3.32am, while reports indicated the bridge had been shut since approximately 3am. Officials have not released details about what happened. Images from Mackinac Bridge Authority cameras showed emergency vehicles on the bridge as crews responded. An alert issued to motorists said: “Please stay clear of the area until further notice.” The bridge, which carries Interstate 75 between Michigan’s Upper and…

Five Sydney Swans players at the centre of an alleged sexual assault scandal have addressed the club’s playing group for the first time since the reported incident. The players spoke to their Sydney Swans team-mates, marking their first address to the club group since the allegations emerged.

Chicago is set for a mild run of weather, but cloudy skies, gusty winds and dangerous Lake Michigan conditions will dominate Wednesday, 23 September. Temperatures across Chicagoland are expected to reach the upper 60s Fahrenheit, around 19 to 21C, while winds could gust to about 20mph. The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement for parts of the Lake Michigan shoreline, warning of waves between 4ft and 6ft and dangerous currents. Swimming conditions could be life-threatening, particularly for inexperienced swimmers, and people have been advised to stay out of the water and away from piers, jetties and breakwaters.…

A Northamptonshire big cat tracker has explained how panthers and other large animals could remain hidden in the UK countryside, saying they may cover vast distances and move mainly at night. Chris, 47, who is part of a group investigating possible sightings of big cats in Britain, said the animals could use railway routes and disused lines to travel without being seen. “There’s no reason why such animals can’t live in this country. I don’t believe there’s that many of them,” he said. Chris said he did not believe large numbers of big cats were roaming Britain, suggesting they could…

Republican Georgia governor candidate Rick Jackson has dropped two lawsuits against his former primary rival, Lt Gov Burt Jones, as pressure grows on the state’s political leaders over the continued deployment of more than 500 Georgia National Guard members to Washington DC. Jackson withdrew a case challenging Jones’s use of a leadership committee, a fundraising vehicle that allows certain senior Georgia politicians to accept contributions beyond the limits imposed on ordinary campaign committees. He also abandoned a defamation action accusing Jones of knowingly making false statements during the Republican primary. That case was dropped on September 11, while the fundraising…

An 11-year-old girl has died and her mother has been seriously injured in a head-on crash in Moana, in Adelaide’s south. Emergency services were called to Commercial Road at about 7pm on Tuesday after a Subaru collided with a Nissan Pulsar. The girl was trapped in the Pulsar with her 35-year-old mother, from Christie Downs. Residents said the impact was heard from inside their homes. Ann Learwood described it as “like a bomb going off”, while Stacey Taylor said it was loud enough to make her think something had struck her house. The 37-year-old Seaford Meadows man driving the Subaru…

Central Florida is set for a sharp change in conditions as a cold front moves through Orlando on Thursday, September 24, bringing gusty winds, scattered storms and a cooler, drier weekend. Before the front arrives, Wednesday will remain hot and humid, with temperatures approaching 90F and a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The National Weather Service forecast shows the greatest risk of rain from around midday through the afternoon, although isolated downpours could develop during the morning. Most of the storms are expected to weaken after sunset, but conditions will become more unsettled again on Thursday as the front…

Plans for a new apartment complex on Brisbane’s rapidly developing Racecourse Road have been lodged with Brisbane City Council, with 29 homes proposed for a five-storey building in Hamilton. The development at 46 to 50 Racecourse Road would also include restaurants or cafes at ground level, adding to a series of major residential projects already under way along the inner-city strip. The 1,856-square-metre site is directly south of St Augustine’s Anglican Church. The proposed building would contain six two-bedroom apartments, 22 three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment. A rooftop garden is planned with a gym, sauna and plunge pool. The…

Donald Trump’s endorsement of Bruce Blakeman is more likely to damage than boost the Republican’s campaign for governor of New York, according to a new Siena poll, while Kathy Hochul retains a nine-point lead over her challenger. The survey of likely voters, released on Wednesday 23 September 2026, found Hochul on 50% and Nassau County executive Blakeman on 41%. Her advantage has changed little since August, when she led by 49% to 39%. But the poll suggested that the president’s backing may be a liability in the contest. By 51% to 30%, voters said Trump’s endorsement would have a negative…

Plans for a new apartment building on Brisbane’s rapidly developing Racecourse Road have been lodged with Brisbane City Council, with the five-storey Hamilton project set to include 29 homes and ground-floor restaurants or cafes. The development is proposed for a 1,856-square-metre site at 46 to 50 Racecourse Road, directly south of St Augustine’s Anglican Church. It would contain six two-bedroom apartments, 22 three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom home. A rooftop garden is included in the plans, along with a gym, sauna and plunge pool. The building would also have 75 underground car spaces and secure storage for 35 bicycles. The…