Fort Lee military base put on lockdown after sergeant shoots herself
A female sergeant first-class took her life at Fort Lee military base following active shooter alerts that temporarily placed the base on lockdown. In accordance with Department of Defence policy, the army will not release the sergeant’s name until 24 hours after the family is notified. The woman had reportedly been in the military for 14 years.

Four Case Western students killed in plane crash
Four undergraduate students at Case Western University died in a plane crash on Aug. 26. William Felton, Lucas Marcelli, Abraham Pishevar and John Hill were in a single-engine plane when it crashed into a Cleveland suburb. The plane crashed not long after departing from Cuyahoga County Airport. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Earthquake rocks Northern California
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Napa, Calif., on Aug. 24. The quake injured dozens of people and caused damage to buildings and infrastructure in northern California. Three consecutive aftershocks, one of which reached a magnitude 3.9, also hit the area on Aug. 26.

Journalist freed after being held hostage in Syria for nearly two years
An American journalist named Peter Theo Curtis was freed after being held hostage in Syria for almost two years. Curtis, who wrote under the name Theo Padnos, was held by an Al-Qaeda affiliated group. His release comes less than a week after American journalist James Foley was beheaded by ISIS militants.