2 deadly stabbings over food disputes spark national attention
While firearms are the most common weapons used in homicides in the U.S., the second most common are knives. Fresh FBI data shows that around 1,500 people fall victim to fatal stabbings each year.
Two fatal stabbings in Washington, D.C. have gained national attention, with the most recent incident occurring Sunday, Dec. 10. Both of those killings allegedly stemmed from disputes over food.
In a press release, the District of Columbia Attorney’s Office said Steven Schwartz, 85, stabbed his 81-year-old wife to death after he did not want to eat the pancakes she made him.
Metropolitan Police arrived at the couple’s apartment and found Sharron Schwartz inside the residence with injuries. Steven was also found in the home with self-inflicted injuries.
The couple was taken to the hospital where Sharron later died. Steven was charged with second-degree murder while armed, and he plead not guilty on Thursday, Dec. 14.
On Monday, Dec. 4, a 16-year-old plead guilty as a juvenile to a fatal stabbing of another teenager this past summer. Authorities said the stabbing was the result of a fight that broke out over McDonald‘s sweet and sour sauce.
The defendant initially faced first-degree murder charges, but on the day the trial was set to begin, she made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed.
The judge ordered the girl to remain in a secure detention facility until her January sentencing. The judge also ordered additional psychological testing for the teen.
“This young person clearly needs services,” Judge Andrea Hertzfeld said. “There are some issues here.”
According to a 2022 analysis in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, victims of knife homicides in the U.S. are more likely to be female, and both the victim and the offender are more likely to be closely related to one another.
The study also recommends that knife homicides should not be approached with the same theoretical framework as firearm homicides.
Republican candidates square off in fourth debate: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 7, 2023
As the Republican field narrows, four presidential hopefuls take the debate stage for a fourth time. And, the U.S. military has grounded its entire fleet of Osprey aircraft following last week’s deadly crash. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.
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With Haley rising in the polls and recently gaining the endorsement of the American for Prosperity advocacy group as well as news that billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn and Democrat donor Reid Hoffman recently gave $250,000 to a super PAC backing her, the former U.N. ambassador faced jabs early on.
DeSantis: “I have delivered results. That’s what we need for this country. You have other candidates up here like Nikki Haley; she caves any time the left comes after her. Any time the media comes after her.”
Ramaswamy decided to use a visual to make his case against Haley, writing on a notepad: “Nikki = corrupt.“
Ramaswamy: “After the third debate, when I criticized (Republican National Committee chair) Ronald McDaniel after five failed years of leadership in this party and criticized Nikki for her corrupt foreign dealings as a military contractor, she said I have a woman problem. I don’t have a woman problem. You have a corruption problem. I think that’s what people need to know. Nikki is corrupt. This is a woman who will send your kids to die so she can buy a bigger house.”
Christie took a different approach, defending Haley after earlier remarks from Ramaswamy, suggesting she couldn’t name provinces in Ukraine.
Christie: “We are now 25 minutes into this debate, and he has insulted Nikki Haley’s basic intelligence. Not her positions, her basic intelligence. She wouldn’t be able to find something on a map that his 3-year-old could find. Look, if you want to disagree on issues, that’s fine. Nikki and I disagree on some issues. I’ve known her for 12 years, which is longer than he started to vote in a Republican primary. And while we disagree about some issues and we disagree about who should be president of the United States. What we don’t disagree on this is a smart, accomplished woman. You should stop insulting her.”
Haley responded to DeSantis and Ramaswamy’s attacks, saying they are jealous.
Haley: “There is nothing to what’s he’s saying. In terms of these donors, they are just jealous. They wish they were supporting them, but I’m not going to sit there and deny it.”
As for Trump, Christie said he was running to tell the truth about the former president, saying there is no bigger issue in this race than Donald Trump, and criticized his fellow candidates for not talking more about the former president.
Russia sets March 2024 date for its election
As the United States prepares for a presidential election in 2024, on Thursday, Dec. 7, Russia announced plans for its own. By a unanimous vote, Russia’s Federation Council approved a date of March 17, 2024.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has not officially declared his intention to run again, he is expected to do so now that a date has been set. At 71 years old, Putin would be running for his fifth term in office, lasting six years.
One political analyst told the Associated Press, while others will run against Putin, the March vote will be more of a “ritual” than a competitive electoral election.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who supports additional aid for Ukraine, had urged Republican senators to vote against the bill until there are “meaningful changes to the border.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in a message to Congress, President Biden said he is willing to do “significantly more” on border security, but called out Republican senators, saying by not passing the bill, they are “willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for.”
Authorities have declined to identify the shooter to the public as of now, but law enforcement sources have told news outlets that he was a 67-year-old career college professor, who had connections to other universities and had applied for a position at UNLV but was not hired.
The identities of the victims have not been released. Police said the surviving gunshot victim, originally listed as critical, is now in stable condition. Shots rang out around 11:45 am local time in an academic building on campus where students were playing games and eating food.
According to officials, two university police detectives immediately engaged in a shootout with the suspect, killing him. A motive for the shooting is under investigation.
US military grounding all Osprey aircraft following fatal crash near Japan
Reuters reports, according to the Flight Safety Foundation, at least 50 military personnel have been killed in crashes involving the aircraft.
McDonald’s testing new restaurant concept
McDonald’s has unveiled plans for a new kind of restaurant, one they hope customers will think is out of this world. It is called CosMc’s, named after a McDonald’s alien mascot from the 1980s.
In its announcement on Wednesday, Dec. 6, McDonald’s said the small format concept will focus on unique beverages such as a churro frappe, a smores cold brew, or a sour cherry energy burst.
There will be food options as well. CosMc’s customers will be able to try a spicy queso sandwich or a creamy avocado tomatillo sandwich. The restaurants will feature multiple drive-thru lanes. The first CosMc’s location will open later this month in Illinois. McDonald’s hopes to open 10 by the end of 2024.
Michael Jordan becomes first pro athlete to make Forbes 400
Michael Jordan, an NBA superstar best known for smashing records and winning championships, has just broken another, this time off the court. Jordan, 60, has become the first professional athlete to earn a place in the Forbes 400, with a net worth of $3 billion, according to Forbes.
The hall of famer, showcasing his success off the court, has been a billionaire since 2014, and with the recent sale of the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion, Jordan finds himself on the list of the wealthiest Americans.
At the top of the list is Tesla CEO and Space X founder Elon Musk worth $251 billion, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos worth $161 billion. According to Forbes, Jordan, No. 379 on the list, just made the cut as the minimum amount needed to be on the list is $2.9 billion.
Jordan is among just two other professional athletes worth at least $1 billion, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
Kim Jong Un meets with Vladimir Putin in Russia: The Morning Rundown, Sept. 13, 2023
The leaders of North Korea and Russia meet as the two U.S. adversaries look to strengthen their relationship. And Apple unveils big changes with its next generation of iPhones. These stories and more highlight the Morning Rundown for Sept. 13, 2023.
Kim Jong Un meets with Vladimir Putin in Russia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin in person on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Kim expressed “full and unconditional support” for Russia and encouraged Moscow to keep defending itself in what he called a “sacred fight” in Ukraine.
The two world leaders met for about four to five hours, according to local media reports. Video posted by Russian state media showed the two smiling and shaking hands.
Kim was given a tour of Russia’s launch pads and inspected a Russian spaceport before a one-on-one meeting behind closed doors. It’s that conversation that has sparked concerns from the U.S., with officials believing there is a high possibility the North will supply Russia with ammunition to use in Ukraine.
North Korea may have tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give Russia’s army a significant advantage. The meeting came hours after South Korea reported North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas.
House speaker Kevin McCarthy has moved to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden on Tuesday, Sept. 12. McCarthy said allegations that Biden, while vice president, profited off his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings are “serious” and “credible.” A White House spokesman called the move “extreme politics at its worst.”
Our Washington correspondent Ray Bogan was on Capitol Hill and interviewed several lawmakers to get their takes on the inquiry.
Meanwhile, a new Reuters poll published Tuesday shows President Biden’s approval rating is holding steady.
Biden’s approval rating edged up to 42% this month, the highest since March. This is largely a split opinion among parties: 80% of Democrats approve of Biden while 91% of Republicans disapprove.
While Biden’s approval rating remains high among his party, according to a recent Associated Press poll, more than two-thirds of Democrats believe the president – at the age of 80 – is too old to be their party’s choice for 2024.
Officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death indicted by federal grand jury
Five former Memphis police officers charged in the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols in January have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of civil rights violations.
U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the federal charges on Tuesday.
“The indictment alleges that the defendants unlawfully assaulted Mr. Nichols and failed to intervene in the unlawful assault. by doing so, they deprived Mr. Nichols of the right to be free from unreasonable force,” Ritz said.
The five former officers were all indicted on four counts including deprivation of rights through excessive force and failure to intervene. They all have previously pleaded not guilty to state felony charges of second-degree murder.
The defendants are expected to make their first court appearance in the coming days, Ritz said.
CDC recommends COVID boosters for everyone 6 months and up
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending everyone six months and older should receive the updated COVID-19 boosters from either Pfizer or Moderna. The CDC recommendation comes after the FDA approved the two updated vaccines for people 12 years and older — meant to target new variants currently circulating.
Shots for children six months through 11 years old are under emergency authorization.
“We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19. CDC is now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H said.
There has been a slight uptick in hospitalizations in the U.S. for seven weeks straight. But cases remain significantly below previous surges and COVID-related deaths remain near an all-time low since the start of the pandemic.
For the first time in 11 years, iPhone users will no longer need Apple’s proprietary lightning port cables as the company is switching to the USB-C standard that is already being used by many electronics including Apple’s own Mac computers and iPads, as well as non-Apple products.
The switch is due to a mandate by the European Union that will require smartphones and other electronic devices to have the USB-C port by the end of 2024.
All four versions of the iPhone 15 will be available for pre-order this Friday and go on sale in stores next week with pricing remaining the same – except for a $100 increase for the top-of-the-line model. The iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost $1,200.
The announcement comes as Apple has reported a mild slump in iPhone sales. The company’s stock price has dipped by nearly 10% since mid-July, dropping its market value below the $3 trillion threshold it reached earlier this summer.
McDonald’s phasing out self-serve soda machines
McDonald’s is phasing out a signature feature in its restaurants – the self-serve soda machines. The fast-food chain says the stations will be eliminated at its U.S. locations by 2032.
The company says the move is to create a consistent experience for both employees and customers, whether consumers are ordering their food through delivery, drive-thru or in the restaurant. McDonald’s has not said how the machines’ removal would impact drink refills.
The switch comes as the company is seeing a change in consumer behavior. Digital sales – which include app, delivery and kiosk purchases – account for almost 40% of its systemwide sales for the second quarter of 2023.
California fast food workers set to receive $20 minimum wage
Fast food workers in California are set to see an increase in their hourly wages following a recent labor agreement. The deal is part of Assembly Bill (AB) 1228, dubbed the Fast Food Franchisor Responsibility Act, which has been under consideration since its introduction to the California State Assembly in February.
Under the terms of the agreement, fast food workers will now be entitled to a minimum wage of at least $20 per hour by April. This wage increase comes alongside various workplace regulations and the establishment of a council responsible for overseeing future adjustments to the minimum wage in the industry.
“It is a powerful, amazing day,” said Tia Orr, executive director of Service Employees International Union California. “The new bill really clears a path for workers to have their victory back.”
It is a powerful, amazing day.
Tia Orr, executive director of Service Employees International Union California
In exchange for increased worker protections and higher wages, state lawmakers made concessions to address some of the restaurant industry’s concerns. The California legislature agreed to remove a provision within AB 1228 that would have held restaurant companies liable for workplace violations committed by their franchisees.
“This agreement is in the best interest of workers, local franchise restaurant owners, and brands and protects the franchise business model that has provided opportunities for thousands of Californians to become small business owners,” said Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association.
Members within the Service Employees International Union have lauded the bill for what they see as “much-needed improvements” to the working conditions and compensation of fast-food employees. Meanwhile, officials from the National Restaurant Association have also expressed support for the legislation, contending that it safeguards “local restaurant owners from significant threats that would have made it difficult to continue to operate in California.”
“With these important changes, A.B. 1228 clears the path for us to start making much-needed improvements to the policies that affect our workplaces and the lives of more than half a million fast-food workers in our state,” said Ingrid Vilorio, a fast-food worker and member of the Service Employees International Union.
“[AB 1228] provides a more predictable and stable future for restaurants, workers, and consumers,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association.
California attempted to implement a similar law last year when Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB 257. That bill would have set the minimum wage at $22 per hour, but various restaurants and business interest groups opposed the legislation. Ultimately, a petition garnered enough signatures to place a measure on the November 2024 ballot aimed at preventing the law from taking effect.
This tactic of using ballot initiatives to counter legislation has been employed successfully in the past by several business groups in the state. Uber, Instacart and oil companies have all utilized this method in attempts to strike down laws that run afoul of their business interests.
The practice has not been without controversy, as advocacy groups argue that it disproportionately favors wealthy special interest groups. In response to these concerns, Newsom recently signed legislation, known as AB 421, aimed at simplifying the referendum process.
“It’s a bitter irony that the ballot initiative, a tool used all over the world to advance democracy, is used in California to short-circuit and cancel democracy here,” said Joe Mathews, a columnist for Zocalo Public Square in Los Angeles.
Regarding the pending referendum to block the previously passed $22 minimum wage, restaurant companies will need to withdraw the 2024 ballot measure for the latest revised deal to move forward.
Judge rejects Burger King bid to dismiss lawsuit over Whopper size
A judge rejected Burger King’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit claiming the company makes its signature Whopper appear larger than it actually is. The class-action suit claimed Burger King’s depiction of the Whopper on in-store menu boards misleads customers, amounting to a breach of contract.
The lawsuit accuses Burger King of portraying the Whopper as containing ingredients that “overflow the bun,” making the burger look 35% larger with more than double the meat. The company countered, saying it wasn’t required to deliver burgers that look “exactly like the picture.”
“The plaintiffs’ claims are false,” Burger King said in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 30, according to Reuters. “The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of Whopper sandwiches we serve to guests nationwide.”
It’s not just Burger King being targeted with lawsuits over false advertising. McDonald’s and Wendy’s were also sued over burger sizes in 2022. On Monday, Aug. 29, lawyers for the plaintiffs in that case cited the Burger King ruling to justify letting the case continue.
In July of 2023, Taco Bell was sued over its Crunchwraps and Mexican Pizzas. Each lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages.
“Taco Bell does not adequately disclose the weight of the beef or filling,” Anthony Russo, a lawyer in both the Burger King and Taco Bell lawsuits, said in an email. “Plaintiff did not make any purchases of the product based on any weight disclosure but solely based on the picture of the product, as we believe most consumers do.”
Adidas Yeezy sneakers are back. These 5 brands also made comebacks.
The ’90s were all about how much caffeine could be pumped into a fluorescent beverage. Surge was Coca-Cola’s answer to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew, marketed for the extreme soda drinker. Remember, this was well before the energy drink era that brought on Monster and Red Bull.
It’s unclear whether it will return this year after its last goodbye, but there’s a decent chance it will be back on the menu the next time pork prices decline.
2: Nokia 3310
Before smartphones, cell phones were in people’s pocket to make actual calls. And in 2000, the Nokia 3310 was easily the most popular phone. It was virtually indestructible, which is likely why it went on to sell 126 million units. But as phones with bells and whistles took over the 3310 fell out of favor.
The phone made a comeback in 2017 with new features like a camera and color display. Still, in the era of texting, a full keyboard seems like a much better option than using T9.
Texas manhunt ends, murder suspect found hiding in laundry: May 3 rundown
A manhunt in Texas for the person police say is responsible for shooting and killing five people is now in custody. And a McDonald’s franchise in Kentucky is busted for child labor violations. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
“Bottom line is we now have this man in custody. He was caught hiding in a closet underneath some laundry. They effectively made the arrest. He is uninjured and he is currently being taken to my facility in Cold Springs,” Greg Capers, San Jacinto County Sheriff, said.
Police say thanks to a tip that came into authorities, they were able to locate Oropesa less than 20 miles from where the crimes took place. He has now been charged with five counts of murder and is being held on a $5 million bond.
Oropesa is accused of killing five people including a 9-year-old boy, after a member of the family asked Oropesa to stop firing his rifle so their baby could sleep.
U.S., Mexico update border strategies ahead of surge
Next week, the Trump-era immigration policy known as Title 42 is set to expire. That will end the ability to use the pandemic as a reason to deny entry into the U.S. The Biden administration is preparing for a surge in immigration, sending 1,500 troops to the border. And now the U.S. and Mexico have brokered a new immigration strategy ahead of Title 42’s expiration.
Mexico will accept up to 100,000 migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to live and work in Mexico, as part of the new immigration policies meant to deter illegal crossings in the U.S. They will also continue accepting migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua who are turned away at the U.S. border.
Another U.S. strategy is opening up immigration hubs outside of the U.S. for migrants to go and apply for U.S. citizenship in Guatemala and Colombia. Title 42 will lift May 11.
Censure on trans lawmaker upheld in court
Montana representative Zooey Zephyr will have to comply with House rules and sit out from participation on the floor. That’s how a judge ruled after Zephyr tried to get the courts to overturn the House’s silencing order on Zephyr.
Zephyr complained the action violated the First Amendment, while attorneys for the state said any action from the court to overturn the censure would be a blatant violation of separation of powers because the House of Representatives has the right to discipline its own members.
State lawmakers voted and approved a censure order after Zephyr told Republicans they have blood on their hands for opposing gender-affirming health care.
Writers strike has immediate impacts on industry
The entertainment industry is already feeling the impact of the Hollywood writers strike. Late night talk shows went dark last night as an immediate impact of the workers strike.
Picket lines formed out front of major production studios nationwide, as unionized writers are demanding higher pay and job security in an industry that’s constantly changing.
However, representatives of the production companies have pushed back against those demands, pointing to budget constraints and recent layoffs.
“Late Night” was the first show to go into re-run mode. Daytime production is going dark with repeats expected and same goes for your favorite soap operas. The writers and studios have no future talks planned right now, so it’s unclear how long the strike could last.
CEOs of failed banks to testify before Senate panel
The former top executives of two failed banks will testify before Congress later this month. The Senate banking committee indicated that it will hold a hearing May 16 with Silicon Valley Bank former CEO Gregory Becker. As well as Signature Bank former CEO Scott Shay and former President Eric Howell. Two more hearings are scheduled this month on the collapse of the banks.
The Federal Reserve’s Chief Regulator, Michael Barr, previously blamed poor management on the collapse of SVB.
The new testimony line-up comes as lawmakers dig into what caused a series of collapses at mid-sized financial institutions, which now includes First Republic Bank after it went under this week.
McDonald’s franchise fined for hiring 10-year-olds
A McDonald’s in Kentucky has been fined for hiring two 10-year-old children and not paying them for their labor. According to the Labor Department’s news release, the children would sometimes still be working as late as 2 a.m., working the register, drive-thru, and one child was using a deep fryer working in the kitchen.
The pair of children was employed by Bauer Food, an operator of 10 McDonald’s franchise locations across two states.
Bauer Food Franchise owner Sean Bauer responded to the Department of Labor’s release, saying that the children were visiting their parent who was a night shift manager and that any work the children did was at the direction of the parent.
Bauer Food was fined nearly $40,000.
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Trump to be arraigned in New York on Tuesday: April 3 rundown
Former President Donald Trump is expected to fly from Florida to New York today as he prepares to be arraigned on criminal charges; and OPEC has announced it’s slashing production of oil. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Monday, April 3, 2023.
Trump to be arraigned
Multiple media outlets are reporting former President Donald Trump will likely be charged with falsifying business records in the first degree. It’s a felony stemming from alleged hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The indictment remains sealed, and Trump is expected to appear at the courthouse Tuesday for arraignment, where charges are expected to be read aloud.
Trump’s team has called the case against him quote “political persecution.” The former president doesn’t expect to stay in New York for long. He announced he will publicly address the charges against him at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida the evening of his arraignment.
OPEC announces oil output cuts
OPEC has announced a surprise planned cut in oil output by more than 1 million barrels a day. Oil prices surged as much as 8% following OPEC’s decision. The cuts will start in May and last throughout the rest of 2023.
Saudi Arabia announced it was a precautionary measure targeted toward stabilizing the oil market. This latest cut to oil production comes on top of October’s oil cuts of 2 million barrels a day.
Dozens of tornadoes across the U.S.
At least 33 people have died after dozens of tornadoes in the South, Midwest, and Northeast ripped through communities in a wide-ranging storm system. More dangerous storms are forecasted for the South and Midwest for Monday. Large areas of both regions are in ruins. At least 11 states were impacted over the weekend by confirmed or suspected tornadoes, flattening homes, businesses, and neighborhoods.
President Biden has declared broad areas of the country major disaster areas, making federal resources available to impacted communities.
Russian blogger target of deadly blast
A well-known Russian military blogger was killed in an explosion at a cafe on Sunday, April 2, in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg.
According to officials, the attack appeared to have targeted 40-year-old Vladlen Tatarsky, a high-profile pro-Russia blogger. Russian police are searching for a woman suspected of delivering a bomb that ultimately killed Tatarsky and wounded 30 others, 10 of whom remain in grave-condition.
Russian news reports said the bomb was hidden in a figurine that the suspect gave to the blogger as a gift just before the explosion occurred.
McDonald’s to cut jobs, trim costs
Corporate employees of McDonald’s have been told to work from home for the next few days as McDonald’s is prepared to lay off employees and trim company costs. How many workers will be impacted by the layoffs is unclear. In an internal email sent out last week, staffing decisions were to be handed down virtually over the next three days.
The company’s job cuts come as big corporations are restructuring to reduce costs amid an uncertain economy. last week McDonald’s shares closed on a record high.
Marty Cooper, an engineer at Motorola in 1973, is credited for inventing the personal, handheld, portable cell phone. In the first phone call made from a cell phone, Cooper had called their rival company Bell to let them know they had successfully built a mobile phone and was calling them from it.
In 50 years’ time, the evolution of mobile phones has significantly changed. Out with the antenna and in with the smart phones.
The inventor of the cell phone, now 94 years old, said last month he believes technology will eventually take us to an implant-type of device for communications.
Morning rundown: JFK power outage grounds flights; Fetterman hospitalized
A power outage has affected more than 100 flights at the JFK airport in New York, with an entire terminal expected to remain closed today. This story and more highlight your daily rundown for Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
JFK terminal closed due to electrical issue
Travel disruptions at one of the world’s busiest airports will continue into Friday after an already 130 flights have either been canceled or delayed due to the power outage according to a flight-tracker’s website.
The fire department responded to a utility room fire at JFK, leading to an electrical panel failure according to the Port Authority. The electrical issues caused some incoming flights to be redirected to other airports on the East Coast. And some passengers boarded buses that took them to a nearby airport assisting JFK with international flights meant to depart from JFK’s terminal one.
The terminal shut down is just the latest stumble as airports around the country face scrutiny over operations.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down
Susan Wajcicki, YouTube CEO and one of the first Google employees, is stepping down from her role at the tech giant that started in her garage nearly 25 years ago. The change at the top comes as YouTube’s advertising revenue has fallen for the second straight quarter. Ad revenue during the final six months of last year also dropped 5% from the previous year.
YouTube faces big competition from Tiktok, Facebook and Instagram reels.
Wojcicki is stepping down after nine years in the position.
Fetterman hospitalized for depression
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, Pa., checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. His chief of staff said the first-year senator is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.
Fetterman suffered a stroke last May, and last week he felt lightheaded and had to be hospitalized again.
His chief of staff said doctors have told his office that Fetterman is getting the care he needs and will soon be back to himself.
Bruce Willis diagnosed with dementia
Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with dementia, evolving from a previous diagnosis of aphasia last spring according to his family. More specifically, the actor has frontotemporal dementia, which can bring challenges to speaking and writing according to doctors.
Willis’s family said last year the actor would be stepping away from his decades-long career due to his impaired cognition.
This type of dementia causes nerve damage in the frontal and temporal lobes, which leads to a loss of function in those areas, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Microsoft has admitted there are some kinks to work out after Sydney has been found to insult people’s looks or even compare people to Adolf Hitler.
Microsoft said in a blog post that the search engine chatbot is responding with a style they didn’t intend to certain types of questions.
McDonald’s rolls out plant-based nuggets
McDonald’s is famous for its golden chicken McNuggets, but the classic is transforming into a plant-based version in a new roll out expected to first hit 1,400 locations in Germany next week.
The McPlant nuggets are made from peas, corn, and wheat. It’s the second plant-based product from the fast-food giant. McDonald’s first sold a McPlant burger in 2021.
The announcement is part of a growing trend of fast food restaurants expanding into the plant-based food market.