Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday: Highway opening; Drought fund; Integrity Commision; Today's Weather; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday, September 14, 2023 Holness to open May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000 Prime Minister Andrew Holness will today officially open the [May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000](. The 28-kilometre roadway was constructed at a cost of US$188 million by China Harbour Engineering Company. The highway, which will reduce travel time between Kingston, Mandeville and other points west, was originally scheduled for completion in October 2022. Integrity Commission wants emoluments requirement removed The Integrity Commission has recommended that the salary at which public servants are required to file annual statutory declarations with the anti-corruption body be increased from the current $3.5 million to $7 million. Currently, the commission processes an average of 40,000 statutory declarations for various groups of public sector employees each year. It has noted that the massive salary increases granted to public sector employees is likely to negatively impact its work as more employees will be required to file. Additional $150 million to be spent on response to drought The Government will be [spending an additional $150 million]( to bolster the response to the ongoing drought that the country is experiencing. Making the announcement, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, said the allocation will be used to provide water for essential services as well as severely affected communities. He was speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. Advertisement Men who cut padlocked gate to Bog Walk Gorge return to court The case of the two men who have been charged for [unlocking a safety gate near Dam Head in St Catherine]( is set for mention today in the St Catherine Parish Court. When Glenroy Denton and Garth Brown appeared in court in July for alleged malicious destruction of property, the case was put off as video footage of the incident was still outstanding. Allegations are that on September 26, 2022 both men were seen cutting the padlock at the entrance to the Bog Walk Gorge, which was closed after the Rio Cobre overflowed its banks. Earth outside ‘safe operating space for humanity’ on most key measurements Earth is exceeding its “safe operating space for humanity” in six of nine key measurements of its health, and two of the remaining three are headed in the wrong direction, a [new study]( said. Earth’ climate, biodiversity, land, freshwater, nutrient pollution and “novel” chemicals (human-made compounds like microplastics and nuclear waste) are all out of whack, a group of international scientists said in Wednesday’s journal Science Advances. TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST Mostly fair conditions are expected today, according to the forecast by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica. In the morning, it is expected to be mainly sunny. In the afternoon, isolated showers are expected across sections of southern parishes. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING After days of cabbie protests in Westmoreland, unrest calms with intervention by MPs After three days of protests by taxi operators in Westmoreland, which disrupted the start of the school year, [things are beginning to calm]( the intervention by two Members of Parliament in the parish. Woman found guilty of throwing sons into Louisiana lake A woman was found guilty Wednesday of [throwing her sons into a Louisiana lake]( the United States, killing a 10-month-old and injuring the older child, authorities said. Oil-rich Guyana opens bids for new offshore blocks as it seeks to boost production Guyana has [opened bids for 14 offshore oil blocks]( available for exploration and development as the South American country seeks to ramp up oil production. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Star Spangled Banner written On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry” (later “The Star-Spangled Banner”) after witnessing the American flag flying over the Maryland fort following a night of British naval bombardment during the War of 1812. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.