SUMMARY: Amtrak will make its inaugural journey on the Mardi Gras Route on August 16th, celebrated with Southern fanfare. Bay St. Louis potter Steve Barney is contributing by creating ceramic medallions for the 385 VIP gift bags. Barney spent months designing and handcrafting these medallions, combining cultural history and a retro-modern train travel aesthetic using a 3D-printed stamp and seven colors of hand-painting. This Amtrak return to South Mississippi, damaged since Hurricane Katrina, symbolizes regional resilience. Barney expressed pride in representing Magnolia State’s cultural heritage through his art for this landmark event.

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SUMMARY: The Perseids, summer’s brightest meteor shower from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle debris, peak early Wednesday, but an 84% full moon will reduce visibility to 10-20 meteors per hour instead of the usual 60-100 under dark skies. Experts, like Thaddeus LaCoursiere from the Bell Museum, suggest waiting a week post-peak for darker skies. Meteors occur when space debris burns up entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating shooting stars. Viewing is best during early predawn hours away from city lights, with minimal moonlight and no clouds. The next major meteor shower, the Orionids, peaks in late October.

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SUMMARY: President Donald Trump announced he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, marking the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021. Trump suggested a peace deal may include territory swaps but gave few details. Despite Trump’s efforts and an ultimatum for Russia to negotiate, fighting continues intensely, with Ukrainian forces determined to resist. The Kremlin has yet to confirm the meeting. Putin recently spoke with major allies, possibly signaling progress on peace talks. Analysts remain skeptical, noting Putin aims to outlast Western pressure and is not fully committed to ending the conflict.

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