Ex-Marine Running Boston Marathon 1 Day After Chicago Marathon

Good morning! It’s Monday, Oct. 11. The latest Boston Marathon Monday in history falls on Columbus Day, or, in a growing number of places, Indigenous Peoples Day. Here’s what people across the states are talking about on the holiday that remains a work day for many.

• Weekend travelers were forced into last-minute plans after hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights were canceled over questionable circumstances.
• Manatees could go from “threatened” to “endangered” status after two Congressional representatives in Florida have sponsored an initiative.
• Columbus Day parades in New York City, Chicago and other major American cities are back on after many 2020 events went virtual.
• Responders continue to clean up in southern California days after one of the largest oil spills there in recent history.
• More than a dozen people were wounded, and one killed, in a bar shooting in the capital city of Minnesota.

Chicago Yesterday, Boston Today

If the Boston Marathon is the premiere event of marathon running in the United States, the Chicago Marathon isn’t far off on the list of the best American races.

Due to coronavirus pandemic-related delays, the two races — normally five months apart — are held on back-to-back days this year.

For some, like Mike Mendoza of Mokena, Illinois, that means two 26.2-mile races within 24 hours in cities nearly 1,000 miles apart.

Mendoza, a former U.S. marine, finished Chicago in 3 hours, 58 minutes, 9 seconds on Sunday and will run from Hopkinton to Boston in the Boston Marathon today. Read the full story from Mokena, Illinois, Patch

Also On Patch: Best Places To Watch The 2021 Boston Marathon

What About The Others?

As the Gabby Petito case has garnered much media attention over the past few weeks, families of other missing Florida women are wondering why their loved ones haven’t received the same focus.

“It has me very emotional,” said Natosha Watkins, sister of Cieha Taylor, who has been missing since February 2020. Read more from the Tampa, Florida, Patch

Deadly Bar Shooting

A woman in her 20s was killed as more than a dozen people were injured in a bar shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota, over the weekend.

In all, police in St. Paul said at least 15 people were shot at the 7th Street bar. Three people were later arrested. Read more from St. Paul, Minnesota, Patch

Southwest Flights Canceled

Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights were canceled over the weekend, in cities across the country. But the reasons provided by the airline and federal aviation officials are quite different. Read more from Across America Patch

Are Manatees Endangered?

Two Florida U.S. Reps., Vern Buchanan and Darren Soto, have introduced the Manatee Protection Act, to update the species' designation from “threatened” to “endangered,” citing the Endangered Species Act. Read more from Sarasota, Florida, Patch

An Apple-Picking Tradition

"Families that pick together, stick together."

The phrase was written on T-shirts worn by 50 members of the same extended family who headed to Wickham's Fruit Farm Saturday for a day of apple picking that has turned into a beloved annual tradition.

Four generations of the same family turned out for the tradition in 2021. Read more from North Fork, New York, Patch

Oil Spill Fallout

More than 50 oiled birds have been recovered in the week since one of the largest oil spills to occur in southern California in recent years. Read more from Orange County, California, Patch

House Porn: This one from Fairfax City, Virginia, is an entertainer’s dream.

Today In History

Anita Hill testified before Congress in 1991, accusing Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. The accusation polarized the nation, and the conservative Thomas was confirmed by a 52-48 vote in the U.S. Senate.

Now 30 years later, Hill has authored a book, “Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey To End Gender Violence,” as Thomas remains on the Supreme Court.

More On ‘The Patch’

Cop Shot And Killed On 1st Day Of Work, via Atlanta Patch

See These 11 Spooky Spots In Illinois This Halloween, via Chicago Patch

NYC Columbus Day Parade Returns, via Upper East Side, New York, Patch

PG&E May Shut Off Power For Hundreds, via San Francisco Patch

Couple Saves Chihuahua From Coyote, via Northridge-Chatsworth, California, Patch

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