First Thing: Texas floods death toll rises as search for survivors turns to recovery operation

Residents observe day of prayer after floods that killed at least 82 people. Plus, lab-grown sperm and eggs could be just a few years awayDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Residents in central Texas observed a day of prayer on Sunday after at least 82 people were killed with dozens still missing after Friday’s devastating flash flooding, as a search and rescue operation for survivors began to morph into a grim exercise of recovering bodies.Why weren’t people given more warning? Rainfall of this magnitude is exceedingly rare and difficult to predict, even for this flood-prone region, though questions are now being asked about preparedness and the emergency response.Follow live updates here.How did the victims die? The guests were all diagnosed with amanita mushroom poisoning, caused by consuming death cap mushrooms, the trial heard.What was the motive for the killings? The prosecution did not allege a motive and Patterson’s defence barrister claimed she never intended to harm her guests. Continue reading...

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