Video shows smoke billowing after Valero refinery explosion

An explosion at a Texas oil refinery led to residents having to shelter in place.

USA TODAY

On Monday, March 23, an explosion at the Valero Port Arthur Refinery. Port Arthur, Texas, a city located around 90 miles east of Houston, was reported, according to a post on theCity of Port Arthur's Facebook.

"Nobody's hurt, thank God for that," said Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses during aFacebook livestream.

Video shows moments after the explosion, when smoke plumes billowed into the sky. The cause of the explosion has not been made public yet.

USA TODAY has contacted Valero Energy and the Port Arthur Fire Department for more information.

Watch the aftermath of the explosion

<p style=A man makes his way through debris at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 6, 2026.
Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon on March 6, as Israel vowed to escalate to a new phase in the Middle East war that has spiralled rapidly throughout the region and beyond.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 6, 2026. <p style=Displaced residents who fled Israeli airstrikes in Beirut's southern suburbs sit along the corniche waterfront in the Lebanese capital on March 6, 2026. Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon on March 6, as Israel vowed to escalate to a new phase in the Middle East war that has spiraled rapidly throughout the region and beyond.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> People inspect destruction at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Mar Mikhael neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, on March 6, 2026. A shattered window overlooks first aid responders and security forces working near a building that was targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon on March 6, 2026. Damaged buildings are seen in in Beirut, Lebanon after an Israeli strike, March 6, 2026. An explosion on Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. A man stands near a damaged building after Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, following renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 5, 2026. An ambulance is parked near a sweeping blaze following Israeli bombardment on a solar farm and electricity generation facility in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Tyre on March 4, 2026. An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fires rockets while flying at a position along the border between northern Israel and southern Lebanon on March 4, 2026. Israel's military said on March 4 that it had begun striking southern Lebanon after issuing a call to evacuate all areas south of the country's Litani river. Firefighters extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Haret Hreik neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, with a portrait of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visible on the rubble, on March 4, 2026. Debris litters a street following an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Maamoura neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 4, 2026. A plume of smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut's Haret Hreik neighborhood on March 4, 2026. A man leaves a hotel after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Hazmieh, east of Beirut, on March 4, 2026. Plumes of smoke rise from the sites of Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 3, 2026. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations in Lebanon on March 3, including warning residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of an imminent operation.

Israel air strikes pound Beirut as Middle East attacks escalate

A man makes his way through debris at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 6, 2026.Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon on March 6, as Israel vowed to escalate to a new phase in theMiddle East warthat has spiralled rapidly throughout the region and beyond.

Residents asked to shelter in place

Firefighters were on the scene, working to extinguish the resulting fire, when Moses made her announcement during a live stream.

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Several areas were placed under a shelter-in-place order after the explosion to ensure public safety until emergency personnel gave the "all clear."

More news:Multiple people injured after floor collapsed at NH wedding venue

Explosion comes as gas prices are up

The explosion comes as fuel costs have gone up because of theUnited States and Israel's war with Iran, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting.

As of Tuesday, March 24, the national average was$3.97 a gallon, according to AAA. Just a month ago, the average was $2.95.

The refinery processed about 435,000 barrels of oil each day and turned heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, according to Valero's website.

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Smoke seen after Valero oil refinery explosion in Port Arthur, Texas

Video shows smoke billowing after Valero refinery explosion

An explosion at a Texas oil refinery led to residents having to shelter in place. On Monday, March 23, an expl...
Crews, residents rally as Hawaii begins 'challenging' storm recovery

Crews and residents in Hawaii on Monday, March 23, were assessing the widespread destruction left by theworst floodingthe state has seen in over 20 years.

USA TODAY

Back-to-back "kona storms," which are subtropical, low-pressure systems that typically impact the leeward side of the Hawaiian islands, brought devastating rainfall and high winds in Oahu and Maui. Floodwaters washed out homes, damaged roads, submerged vehicles, and threatened a major dam in northern Oahu over the weekend.

"On average, one to two kona storms affect Hawaii each season. However, it is extremely rare for two Kona storms to impact the islands within the same month, especially in the span of a week," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

A woman sits on the back of a pickup carrying a ruined mattress and other home effects after the Kona Low storm flooding that devastated the Otake Camp community in Waialua, Hawaii, on March 22, 2026. Severe rains have battered the region over the weekend prompting officials to order evacuations. A young girl jumps over thick mud and water after the Kona Low storm flooding devastated the Otake Camp community in Waialua, Hawaii, on March 22, 2026. Severe rains have battered the region over the weekend prompting officials to order evacuations.

Hawaii floods leave communities reeling – see the recovery efforts

The storm prompted evacuation orders for about 5,500 people north of Honolulu, and over 200 people were rescued from catastrophic flooding, authorities said. Evacuation noticeswere later lifted, but much of the state remained under a flood watch through the weekend.

As residents returned to their damaged homes, forecasters and authorities warned on March 23 that theflood watchwas still in effect for the Big Island through the afternoon. Aflash flood warningwas also issued for the island of Oahu through the afternoon of March 23, according to the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management.

Aerial images and videosshowed inundated communities and destroyed homes covered in thick mud. Scott Humber, spokesperson for the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center, told USA TODAY that it was "too early to provide a reliable damage estimate," but authorities were continuing to respond to the storm's ongoing impacts.

"Our immediate focus remains on life safety, supporting impacted residents, and stabilizing affected areas," Humber said in a statement. "As conditions improve, City teams will continue damage assessments across impacted communities, particularly on the North Shore but also on the Leeward coast of O'ahu."

Spring 2026:New forecasts warn of the dreaded 'heat dome'

Clean up, recovery efforts underway

In anews releaseon Sunday, March 22, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the immediate threat from the storm had passed, and state and county crews were working to assess damages and clear debris.

Multiple departments from the city of Honolulu were assisting with debris removal on March 23, according to Humber. The Honolulu Ocean Safety Department and Honolulu Fire Department were also helping with safety operations, and local police were providing traffic control and security.

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"Today, we are deploying additional resources directly into Waialua, including more than two dozen roll-off dumpsters to support large-scale cleanup, and we have waived tipping fees to make it easier for residents to dispose of debris," Humber added.

Damage from the flooding could total $1 billion, according to Green. The cost includes damage to numerous homes, roads, schools, airports, and a Maui hospital.

The storms impacted many areas of the island, but Oahu's North Shore was hit particularly hard. TheHonolulu Board of Water Supplyissued a boil-water notice for North Shore residents, warning of the risks of harmful bacteria. The agency was unable to provide an estimate of when water service will return.

Weather:Can we blame El Niño or La Niña for March's crazy weather?

The governor advised residents to "remain cautious as conditions stabilize" and noted that some areas were still experiencing flooding, road closures, or infrastructure damage. He urged the public to avoid entering floodwaters and unsafe areas.

"The strength of Hawaii is our people," Green said in a statement. "Throughout this storm, we saw neighbors helping neighbors, communities stepping up, and our emergency teams working tirelessly to keep everyone safe. I want to thank our essential workers and partners for their incredible dedication - and I am deeply grateful to the people of Hawai'i for looking out for one another during this challenging time."

Hawaii's worst flooding in over 20 years

The flooding in Hawaii is the worst the state has seen since the 2004 Manoa Flood, according to Green. A flood on Oct. 30, 2004, was one of several flash floods amid a storm that brought heavy rain. Rain peaked at a rate of 1.29 inches in 15 minutes and 8.71 inches in 6 hours.

The Manoa Stream overflowed in several areas, and the worst flooding occurred when a flood wave tore through a residential area and onto the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Floodwaters destroyed irreplaceable documents in the basement of Hamilton Library and damaged several laboratories with critical experiments, according to the National Weather Service.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but damage costs reached about $85 million at the time. About 120 homes were damaged, and a footbridge over the Manoa Stream was destroyed.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, Jeanine Santucci, and Kate Perez, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Hawaii residents, crews shift to recovery mode as flood risk lingers

Crews, residents rally as Hawaii begins 'challenging' storm recovery

Crews and residents in Hawaii on Monday, March 23, were assessing the widespread destruction left by theworst floodingthe...
Jude Law's Scandalous Romantic History Surfaces Amid Chappell Roan Security Guard Controversy

Fans rallying aroundChappell Roanamid the fallout over the alleged treatment ofJude Law's 11-year-old daughterare now dragging up the actor'slong romantic historyin what appears to be an attempt to blunt the damage to the singer.

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The fresh round of scrutiny comes after Roan was hit with intense backlash over claims that a security guard associated with her aggressively confrontedAda Lawat a luxury hotel in São Paulo on March 21, leaving the child, according to her family, deeply upset.

As the outrage spread, some of Roan's defenders have tried to paint Jude Law himself as morally compromised by resurfacing his past affairs, as well as his children with different women.

"The funniest thing about this whole debacle is how it brought Jude Law's baby mama history to public awareness," a viral post read.

Chappell Roan's fans have brought Jude Law's romantic history forward as backlash over his daughter's treatment continues

Image credits:Stephane Cardinale – Corbis

Thecontroversybegan when Brazilian footballer Jorginho Frello, who is married to Catherine Harding, the mother of one of Jude Law's daughters, accused Roan's security of mistreating the 11-year-old girl during breakfast at the hotel where both parties were staying ahead of Lollapalooza Brasil.

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According to Jorginho, Ada did not approach the singer or invade her space. He said she "simply walked past the singer's table, looked to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum."

He then alleged that "a largesecurity guardcame over and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner… saying that she shouldn't allow my daughter to 'disrespect' or 'harass' other people."

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The footballer said the encounter had a serious effect on thechild, writing that his stepdaughter was "extremely shaken and cried a lot."

Jorginho, who previously played for Chelsea and Arsenal, addressed the singer directly, writing, "Without your fans, you would be nothing. And to the fans, she does not deserve your affection."

Jude Law has 7 children with 4 different women, as well as one confirmed case of infidelity

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"Dude literally wouldn't recognize fidelity if it offered him his hairline back," a user wrote. "He's for the streets."

In 1997, Law married actress Sadie Frost, whom he had met on the set ofShopping. They had three children together, including Rafferty and Iris, before divorcing on October 29, 2003.

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That relationship imploded publicly after Law issued an apology to Miller on July 8, 2005, for having an affair with his children's nanny. He and Miller ended their relationship in November 2006.

While filmingAlfiein late 2003, he began a relationship with co-star Sienna Miller and became engaged to her in 2004.

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In 2008, he had a brief relationship with American model Samantha Burke, who gave birth to his fourth child in 2009.

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In 2015, Law and Irish singerCatherine Hardingwelcomed a daughter, his fifth child. Harding is now married to Jorginho Frello.

Law then married psychologist Phillipa Coan in 2019. They welcomed their first child together, his sixth, in 2020, and their second, his seventh, in 2023.

Roan later denied that she had any role in what happenedand apologized to the family

In a video posted to Instagram, she said, "I'm just going to tell my half of the story of what happened today with a mother and child who were involved with a security guard who is not my personal security."

The singerinsisted she "didn't even see a woman and a child," and denied having asked the security guard to go up and talk to the mother and child.

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Roanalso apologized for the family's distress, saying, "I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children, that is crazy.

"I'm sorry to the mother and child… if you felt uncomfortable, that makes me really sad. You did not deserve that."

Despite the apology, the backlash continued.

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Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Cavaliere then announced that, as long as he remained in office,Roanwould not be invited to perform at Todo Mundo no Rio, the city-backed Copacabana Beach music showcase that has previously hosted names like Madonna and Lady Gaga.

"As long as I'm in charge of our city — this young lady Chappell Roan will never perform at Todo Mundo no Rio!" he wrote, inviting Ada Law to attend the festival as a guest of honor when Shakira headlines in May.

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Catherine Harding later gave her own account and challenged parts of Roan's explanation

Speaking in an Instagram Reel after receiving "so many messages" about the ordeal, Harding said the man involved was not hotel staff, as some had assumed from Roan's version of events.

"He looks afterartists," she said.

"Now I don't know if he's her personal security guard but he was with her, so that is all I know, did she send him to do it? again, I don't know, I would like to hope not," she added.

"But at the same time you have a responsibility when you are a celebrity that the people who work for you and act on your behalf are acting on your behalf."

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She then questioned whether the guard would have acted that way without some level of approval, adding that if he had not been authorized, it would still reflect a serious issue, as he was representing the singer in a way that could damage her image.

According to Harding, the man then came to their table and told her daughter she was badly educated and should respect people's privacy.

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Harding then pushed back, saying, "Well, if this is the case that she doesn't even want people to look at her, she is very welcome to eat breakfast in her room because this here is a public area and I am a paying guest as well as her."

"So if I want to walk past someone's table and look at them, I have every right to do so. I am not approaching her. I'm not doing anything to make her feel intimidated or nothing."

Netizens defended the mother, believing Roan herself was the one who instructed the guard to act

"No security guard yells at people for no reason," a reader wrote. "They do what they're told. They follow orders from whoever is paying them."

Another person, pointing to separate footage of Roan reacting to someone filming her, wrote, "There's a video of Chappell walking through a crowd when she spots the person filming her she points it out to her bodyguard who then starts yelling at and walking towards this person.

"She definitely sent her bodyguard over."

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The debate also revived older criticism around Roan's repeated comments about fan boundaries.

As her fame grew in 2024, she publicly condemned behavior she described as invasive, saying, "I don't care that ab*se and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous."

"It's weird how people think that you know a person because you see them online and you listen to the art they make," she added.

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In another message, she wrote, "Women don't owe you s***," while explaining that she had dealt with "too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions." She also said, "I just want to be outside, giggle with friends, go to the movie theater, and feel safe."

Earlier this month, she again went viral after confronting photographers and fans outside a restaurant.

"I'm just trying to go to dinner, and I've asked these people several times to get away from me," she said. "These are all the people that are completely disregarding all of my boundaries."

"Avid cheater." Roan's fans debated Law's relationships on social media

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Jude Law’s Scandalous Romantic History Surfaces Amid Chappell Roan Security Guard Controversy

Fans rallying aroundChappell Roanamid the fallout over the alleged treatment ofJude Law's 11-year-old daughterare now...

 

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