Jon Gruden resigns, Tropical Storm Pamela, NHL season starts: 5 things you need to know Tuesday

Editors

USA TODAY

Raiders coach Jon Gruden resigns as homophobic, misogynistic comments are revealed in emails

Jon Gruden resigned as Las Vegas Raiders head coach amid reports that he repeatedly used homophobic and misogynistic language in a series of emails. The New York Times reported that Gruden used a homophobic slur to describe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, denigrated one team's decision to draft a gay player, mocked transgender woman Caitlyn Jenner and suggested that a player who kneeled during the national anthem should be fired. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal also reported that Gruden used a racist trope when describing NFL Players' Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 message. Gruden's emails were sent between 2011 and 2018, when he was working as a broadcaster for ESPN. They were obtained as part of an unrelated investigation into the culture of the Washington Football Team – an investigation which resulted in a fine, but for which no written report has been released.

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At least 2 dead, including UPS employee, after California plane crash

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator is expected to visit the scene Tuesday of a small plane crash that killed two people and injured two others in a suburban Southern California neighborhood. The plane, a twin-engine Cessna 340, struck several homes and multiple vehicles Monday afternoon, including a UPS truck, said Fire Chief John Garlow. Three homes had "major damage" and two were completely burned. An injured woman was helped out the window of a burning home by neighbors. The plane was owned by Dr. Sugata Das, who may have been piloting the aircraft and died in the crash. He worked at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona, the hospital's chief medical officer said. UPS confirmed one of its workers died, although the employee's name wasn't immediately released. The plane was flying from Yuma, Arizona, to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego, said Deputy Fire Chief Justin Matsushita.

2021-22 NHL season opens with new look

The NHL returns to action tonight with two games, a new team and new broadcast partners. The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning will raise their Stanley Cup banner before a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 10:00 p.m. ET, the expansion Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s 32nd team, will open at the Vegas Golden Knights, who reached the Final in their debut season in 2017-18. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN, which is returning to airing the NHL for the first time since 2004. ESPN and Turner Sports are taking over from NBC Sports. The league will return to 82 games after two seasons of COVID-19 disruptions. There will be a break in February to send NHL players to the Beijing Olympics.

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Pamela forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane

Tropical Storm Pamela is forecast to smash into the west coast of Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane by midweek, forecasters said. Pamela was forecast to take a turn toward the north and northeast, passing close to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late Tuesday or early Wednesday at hurricane strength. The storm will bring a life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding and dangerous winds. "The combination of warm ocean waters and light wind shear will allow Pamela to intensify over the next couple of days," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller. Though it's expected to weaken as it moves across Mexico, what's left of Pamela could cause flooding problems in Texas by the end of the week.

UNC cancels classes for a 'Wellness Day' amid suicide investigations

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said it will cancel classes Tuesday as campus authorities investigate two possible suicides within the past month. "We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, both on our campus and across our nation, and we are aware that college-aged students carry an increased risk of suicide," University chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in an email Sunday, which also announced the class cancellations. "This crisis has directly impacted members of our community – especially with the passing of two students on campus in the past month." The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on mental health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults, found that 63% of students say that their emotional health is worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic and one in five students have had suicidal thoughts in the past month.

ER visits for suicide attempts among girls rose 51%during COVID-19 pandemic, CDC says
Robinhood's new call centers will offer suicide prevention support after a young customer's death

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

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