Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

A flood watch has been issued across Phoenix and large parts of south-central Arizona for Wednesday, 16 September, as showers and thunderstorms raise the risk of excessive rainfall. The National Weather Service said the watch would run from midnight until 11pm Mountain Standard Time, covering areas including central Phoenix, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, Mesa, Glendale, Avondale, Buckeye, Apache Junction, the Superstition Mountains and parts of Gila and Pinal counties. ([forecast.weather.gov](https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Flood%2520Watch&utm_source=openai)) Forecasters warned that heavy rain could cause flooding in rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying or flood-prone locations. Low-water crossings may also become dangerous, while storm drains and washes could fill…

Logan McDonald has said the Sydney Swans have no excuses for failing to overcome Fremantle and reach the grand final, despite the absence of several high-profile players. The qualifying-final hero has backed Sydney to deal with its depleted line-up as the Swans prepare to face the Dockers. McDonald’s stance places the emphasis on Sydney to advance, with the team’s absentees not regarded as a reason to fall short of a place in the grand final.

Hong Kong has unveiled its first five-year plan, setting out measures aimed at creating jobs, increasing the supply of homes and bringing the territory into closer alignment with mainland China. The plan marks the first time Hong Kong has adopted a five-year framework of this kind, with employment, housing and closer integration with the mainland at its centre.

Red tide detected along the Galveston coast could reduce the availability of Gulf seafood and push up prices for restaurants if the bloom persists, although the Texas Restaurant Association says it is too early to assess the full impact. Michael Shine, who represents the association, said restaurants had not yet reported supply problems but were monitoring the situation closely. “We’ve not heard anything yet from any restaurants,” he said. “Everyone’s taking a wait and see.” Red tide raises concerns for Gulf seafood supply Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists began receiving reports of the bloom on 8 September. Water samples…

Victoria’s $1.145 billion lottery licence deal cannot be shown to have secured the highest possible return because no rival operators were invited to bid, the state auditor-general has found. The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office said there were sound reasons for negotiating exclusively with The Lottery Corporation, concluding that a competitive process was unlikely to produce a better result. However, the watchdog said it was impossible to establish with certainty whether the government could have obtained a higher premium through a different approach. “While agencies sought to maximise value within a bilateral framework, it is not possible to know with certainty whether…

The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion bomb sale to Israel, including 40,000 907kg (2,000-pound) munitions, amid criticism over the potential impact on civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. The package would be funded through Foreign Military Financing, under which Washington provides money for Israel to purchase US weapons. It includes 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and I-2000 Penetrator warheads designed to strike hardened underground structures. The proposed deal has been informally notified to congressional committees. The State Department said it did not comment on arms sales before formal notification to Congress, while a senior administration official said…

Several prominent stars were left out of the televised In Memoriam tribute at the 2026 Emmy Awards, including Chuck Norris, Nicholas Brendon, Robert Redford and James Ransone. The segment was broadcast during Monday night’s ceremony, with Noah Kahan performing Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as the montage paid tribute to television performers and creatives who had died over the past year. Separate tributes were also given to Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara and Rob Reiner. However, viewers noted that a number of figures with significant television careers did not appear in the televised memorial. Stars missing from the 2026…

Hays County commissioners have rejected a proposed 10-year, $4.5 million expansion of the sheriff’s law-enforcement technology contract after concerns were raised about the use of artificial intelligence. The Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on Tuesday, September 15, to remove funding for the proposed Axon package from the county’s final budget. The decision overturned an earlier 4-1 vote that had set aside money for the agreement. ([aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/hays-county-rejects-4-5m-000107000.html?utm_source=openai)) Hays County rejects Axon AI contract The Hays County Sheriff’s Office already uses Axon body-worn and in-car cameras. Sheriff Anthony Hipolito had sought to broaden the partnership by adding a suite of artificial intelligence tools…

At least three people have been killed after a news helicopter crashed in a parking lot in the Chatsworth community of Los Angeles, fire officials said. One other person was taken to hospital in an unknown condition following the crash on Tuesday evening. The aircraft came down at or near a self-storage facility in the San Fernando Valley. NBC Los Angeles confirmed that the helicopter was being used by a news organisation. Several television news helicopters had been in the area covering an earlier crash involving a Los Angeles Metro bus and a passenger vehicle. That collision, reported at 5.03pm,…

The United States has invested billions of dollars in cancer research, yet the disease remains one of the country’s biggest killers, according to Ted Okon, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance. Mr Okon said the US healthcare system could be unable to treat everyone even if researchers discovered a cure for cancer. He made the assessment during an interview on the programme This is America. His comments focused on whether the country’s healthcare system is equipped to turn advances in cancer research into treatment for all those who need it.