15 Oct

United States: Sears to Close 142 Stores

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United States
Sears to Close 142 Stores
Sears announced today that it filed for bankruptcy ahead of a $134 million debt payment and it will close 142 of its stores. The bankruptcy would allow the retailer to reconstruct its debt and reorganize its business. Sears negotiated a $300 million loan from Wall Street lendors to keep operating through the holidays. It is also negotiating an additional $300 million loan with Sears’ CEO, Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund to buy “a large portion of the company’s store base.” Mr. Lampert, stepped down today as part of the restructuring plan. It’s not yet known which specific stores will close. Under the names Sears and Kmart, there are about 700 stores still in business. In 2015, Sears closed 250 locations, and an additional 700 stores since.This interactive map depicts Sears and Kmart locations in the U.S.. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source:  CNBC
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France
Flash Floods
In the Aude region of southwestern France, flash floods have killed at least 13 people. The Aude River overflowed after months worth of rain fell in just one night. Metereologists claim this is the worst flooding in the area since 1891. There are several helipcoters and 700 emergency service workers attempting to rescue people from their homes and roofs. In the town of Thebes, outside Carcassonne, flood waters reached 23 feet above normal. The heavy rains were a result of Hurricane Leslie, which swept through the northern region of the Iberian Peninsula this weekend.This map depicts the Aude region of France where the flooding is taking place. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: The Times
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United States
Planned Power Outage
As a preemptive measure to reduce fire damage in the upcoming fire season, California’s Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) company has planned power outages in northern California that will affect at least 87,000 people. Last year, the utility company was blamed for billions of dollars in damages due to fallen power lines that exacerbated or created fire conditions. The first wind storm of the season is expected to bring in winds of 75 mph that currently pose a threat to power lines.  PG & E said they will likely return power to customers by Monday night, but some power outages may last into early Tuesday.

This map, updated every 15 minutes, depicts the location of the planned power outages and how many people are effected. Click on the map to learn more.

This story directly relates to the AGS Annual Fall Symposium, Geography 2050: Powering Our Future Planet.

Friday’s Answer

 

Q: What country holds the oldest rainforest in the world?

A: Australia
An estimated 180 million years old, the Daintree rainforest is tens of millions of years older than the Amazon rainforest in South America.

Source 

Today’s Question

 

Q: What is the only country where the extinct Dodo bird once lived?

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.

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