Tesla recalls nearly 700,000 vehicles due tire pressure warning issue
Tesla, the auto manufacturer, is now recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles due to an issue with its low tire pressure warning system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday, Dec. 19, the recall involves certain 2024 Cybertrucks, 2017-2025 Model 3 vehicles, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.
The agency notes, the issue involves the tire pressure monitoring system failing to alert drivers of low tire pressure. Driving with under-inflated tires is known to increase the risk of crashes.
Tesla announced it is deploying a free software update to fix the issue. The letters to owners of impacted vehicles are expected to be mailed out by Feb. 15, 2025.
Additionally, in February of this year, the automaker recalled 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because some warning lights on the driver’s dashboard were too small.
Report: US pedestrian deaths on rise since 2019 as calls for safer roads grow
A report by the the nonprofit Governors Highway Association on Tuesday, June 25, found that the number of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles has increased over the past five years. In 2023, 7,318 pedestrians were killed in crashes, a 14% rise from 2019, according to the newly released findings.
The nonprofit blames Americans’ love of bigger vehicles, like SUVs and trucks, an uptick in speeding over the years, and lack of pedestrian-friendly roads and sidewalks. The association said that the problem was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, citing a decline in traffic enforcement as more speeding occurred among drivers, and an increase in alcohol use.
In the first half of 2020, the study showed that pedestrian deaths jumped 20% from the previous year. That trend continued into 2021 and reached a 40-year high in 2022.
The study also shows that alcohol isn’t just a problem for drivers. In 2022, around 30% of deaths involved a pedestrian whose blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to drive, while 19% of deadly crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
However, the study did find that deaths among pedestrians killed by drivers dropped 5% in 2023 and so far, pedestrian deaths are down 3% in 2024.
The Governors Highway Safety Association said that the decrease in fatalities could be because of things like increased police presence, automatic enforcement tech and better road design that is friendlier to pedestrians.
However, the group said that there is much more work to be done.
The report recommends additional steps to keep pedestrians safe. Some of the proposals involve better street designs for pedestrians and enhanced enforcement of traffic laws by law enforcement.
Researchers said that pedestrians killed by drivers rose nearly 77% from 2010 to 2022.
Tesla’s problems continue with latest recall of thousands of Cybertrucks
In another setback for Elon Musk and his company Tesla, the company announced a pair of recalls for thousands of Cybertrucks on Tuesday, June 25. The problems involve windshield wipers and a trim piece.
The first recall is to address issues with windshield wiper blades that reportedly stopped working on 11,688 vehicles. Tesla said it was notified by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the problem. The blades’ motor reportedly stops because of too much electrical current flowing to it. Tesla said that it will fix the problem at no cost to the owner and that they will be notified by Aug. 18.
The other recall is to address a problem with a trim piece along the truck’s bed that could possibly come loose and fly off the vehicle and into the road, creating a hazard for other drivers. This problem impacts 11,383 vehicles. Tesla said that the trim was improperly installed at its factory, and it will fix the issue free of charge to the owner of the vehicle. Impacted owners can also expect a notification to be sent to them by Aug. 18.
This is the fourth round of recalls for Tesla since its release of the Cybertruck on Nov. 13. The latest issues come on the heels of a recent recall of nearly 4,000 vehicles to address a problem with the truck’s acceleration pedal potentially becoming stuck.
Analysts have noted that this is the first time the public has learned how many Cybertrucks have been sold since Nov. 13 — something the company has been secretive about in the past.
The data shows that the numbers are a far cry from the reported 2 million orders Tesla has received to date for the hyped pickup.
The decision follows a rise in traffic fatalities post-COVID-19 lockdowns, despite a recent 3.6% drop in road deaths in 2023.
Carmakers have claimed that NHTSA rules requiring cars with automatic brakes to completely avoid contact with objects or people at high speeds were impractical.
“We’re living through a crisis in roadway deaths,” Buttigieg said. “So we need to do something about it.”
The new rule also sets performance standards for these systems, requiring them to detect pedestrians in both daylight and at night, and to function effectively at speeds up to 90 mph.
The Associated Press reported that while around 90% of new vehicles now include automatic braking as a standard feature under a voluntary agreement with automakers, there are currently no performance standards in place. This means some systems may not be very effective.
Student protesters take over Columbia building after deadline passes
Student protesters took over a building on the campus of Columbia University. And four law enforcement officers were killed while serving a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Student protesters take over Hamilton Hall after Columbia’s deadline passes
Student demonstrators at Columbia University protesting the war in Gaza broke into a campus building and occupied Hamilton Hall, just hours after the university’s deadline passed for students to clear their pro-Palestinian encampment. The university sent an email to all students advising them to avoid campus.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
A student protest group confirmed its members have “reclaimed” Hamilton Hall, barricading themselves inside. Students took over the same building occupied during a Vietnam protest in 1968 and hung up a banner reading “Hind’s Hall,” in reference to a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
Images from the scene show the maintenance crew confronting the protesters inside the building and students forming a human chain blocking the entrance. The New York Police Department said its officers were stationed near the campus but not on the grounds.
The student protesters said they will remain at Hamilton Hall until the university meets their demands, including withdrawing funds for Israeli institutions.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik issued a statement telling protesters to “voluntarily disperse,” saying the encampment has created an “unwelcoming environment for many” of the school’s Jewish students and faculty.
Protesters are seeking the university to divest from Israel, something Shafik said the school will not do. However, in her statement, she said Columbia has offered to develop an expedited timeline for the university to review new divestment proposals from students and has offered to make investments in health and education in Gaza.
Now in its second week, the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia are just one of several occurring at college campuses across the country. On Monday, April 29, arrests were made at encampments at the University of Texas and the University of Florida.
Meanwhile, Northwestern University announced it had reached an agreement with students to continue protests that comply with university rules and policies.
Four officers killed serving warrant during shootout at Charlotte home
Four law enforcement officers were killed Monday, April 29, in a shootout at a home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Those killed included a deputy U.S. marshal, two members of the North Carolina Department of Corrections and an officer with the Charlotte Police Department.
Authorities came under fire while trying to serve a warrant to a convicted felon for possessing a firearm.
Police said the armed suspect was shot dead after leaving the home. A second person also opened fire on the officers.
The police chief said many questions still need to be answered about what unfolded.
“Today’s an absolute tragic day for the city of Charlotte and for the profession of law enforcement,” Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. “Today we lost some heroes who are out to simply keep our community safe.”
After the three-hour standoff came to an end, a woman and a 17-year-old male were found inside the home and taken in for questioning.
Three Charlotte police officers and a member of the Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force were also wounded in the incident.
FCC fines major wireless carriers nearly $200M for sharing data
A 2020 investigation revealed that the carriers had been distributing users’ geolocation details to third parties, including to prisons. T-Mobile and Sprint merged after the investigation began.
Today, we fined the nation’s largest wireless carriers for illegally sharing access to customers’ location information without consent & without taking reasonable measures to protect that information against unauthorized disclosure. https://t.co/bv65Fr6Dbl
Despite promising to end these practices in 2018, the FCC said the companies took more than a year to actually stop them.
In a statement, AT&T argued that the order is unjustified and lacks legal and factual basis. The company claimed it was unfairly blamed for another company’s violations and that its efforts to rectify the issue were overlooked.
T-Mobile stated that it stopped sharing data with location-based services through third-party aggregators over five years ago. The carrier emphasized its commitment to protecting customer data but called the FCC’s decision incorrect and the fine excessive.
A Verizon spokesperson expressed the company’s dedication to customer privacy, noting that they terminated the offending party, ended the program, and took steps to prevent similar incidents.
An investigation by our Enforcement Bureau found that carriers sold access to location data to third parties without customer consent and continued to do so without reasonable safeguards despite warning from the FCC.
This regulation, part of the 2021 infrastructure law, aims to save at least 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually. The decision follows a rise in traffic fatalities post-COVID-19 lockdowns, despite a recent 3.6% drop in road deaths in 2023.
Carmakers claimed that NHTSA rules requiring cars with automatic brakes to completely avoid contact with objects or people at high speeds were impractical.
We have a crisis of roadway deaths in this country—and today we’re taking a major step toward addressing this with our new rule on automatic emergency braking. pic.twitter.com/NRS8WJeA6o
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 30, 2024
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the automatic braking mandate “will save hundreds of lives.”
The new rule also sets performance standards for these systems, requiring them to detect pedestrians in both daylight and at night, and to function effectively at speeds up to 90 mph.
With talks of a merger gaining traction, media giant Paramount has announced Bob Bakish is stepping down as the company’s CEO. In his absence, three Paramount executives will form a committee called “The Office of the CEO” to lead the company.
This committee consists of the presidents of CBS, Paramount Media Networks and Paramount Pictures. Bakish has been with the company for nearly three decades in roles including CEO of Viacom. He will remain with Paramount until October, working as a senior adviser.
U.S. Soccer announced Monday, April 29, the end of its joint bid with the Mexican Football Federation to host the 2027 soccer tournament, despite being one of three finalists as FIFA’s decision is just weeks away.
Instead, the groups will focus their efforts to secure the 2031 Women’s World Cup, saying the two countries will take lessons learned as they prepare to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup along with Canada.
In addition, the U.S. will also host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
This now leaves two remaining bids for the 2027 Women’s World Cup — one from Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
Tesla recalls nearly every Cybertruck it has delivered over accelerator issue
Nearly 4,000 Tesla Cybertrucks, with a total value of around $240 million, are being recalled by the automaker after reported safety problems with their accelerator pedals. Drivers have been complaining about instances of these pedals getting stuck stuck all the way down, putting the almost 7,000 pound vehicle at an unexpected full throttle speed.
The safety concerns subsequently prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to look into the problem. The administration discovered that the reason behind issues is soap.
Tesla reportedly implemented an “unapproved” change to the vehicle’s design, using a soap lubricant in assembling the accelerator pedal. The left-over soap residue then reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal, causing it to dislodge and get stuck down.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this increased the “risk of crash” for those behind the wheel. According to the NHTSA, the issue impacts “all Model Year (‘MY’) 2024 Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024.”
Unlike most Tesla recalls, the issue cannot be fixed by an over-the-air software update. Cybertruck owners will have to respond to a letter from the automaker and bring their vehicle into a service center for a no-charge repair.
This recall comes after Tesla recalled millions of other vehicles in recent months over separate safety concerns. In January, the automaker recalled over 1.6 million cars in China because of concerns with steering software and door-locking systems. Prior to that, in December of 2023, over 2 million Teslas were recalled in the U.S. after an autopilot system was found to be partly faulty.
Biden admin approves $60 million in emergency aid after Baltimore bridge collapse
The Biden administration has allocated $60 million in federal aid to Maryland following the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse on Tuesday.Biden told reporters the Port of Baltimore, a major U.S. shipping hub that saw record cargo volumes last year, is crucial for automobile imports and exports, with around 850,000 vehicles passing through annually.
“Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port. And we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers,” Biden said. “The bridge is also critical to — for travel, not just for Baltimore but for the Northeast Corridor. Over 30,000 vehicles cross the Francis Scott Key Bridge on a daily basis. It’s virtually — well, it’s one of the most important elements for the economy in the Northeast and the quality of life.”
The emergency funds are designated for debris removal, detour arrangements, emergency repairs, and reconstruction.
$15 traffic toll in Manhattan is approved, a first in US
Drivers in New York City will soon face a $15 toll to enter the heart of Manhattan, marking the first such congestion pricing toll in the United States aimed at reducing traffic and pollution. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved the congestion pricing plan, set to start in June. The plan, largely unchanged from earlier proposals, will not include exemptions for various commuter groups despite their requests.
In 2019, the state Legislature approved tolls aimed at generating $1 billion annually to support the subway and bus systems used by New York City’s 4 million daily commuters.
New York City transit officials have approved a “congestion pricing” plan, designed to encourage commuters to opt for public transportation, thereby alleviating the city’s notorious bumper-to-bumper traffic. The revenue generated from the toll is intended to fund improvements to the subway system.
However, opponents argue that the toll represents a financial burden on workers and could lead to higher overall prices in the city.
Two victims recovered after Baltimore bridge collapse
Two bodies are recovered in Baltimore’s bridge collapse as crews continue a difficult search for four remaining victims. And, drivers are about to pay 15 bucks one-way every day just to enter this U.S. city. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Two victims recovered after bridge collapse in Baltimore
After the deadly bridge collapse in Baltimore, caused by a cargo ship collision, details are emerging about the victims, all of whom were construction workers. Additionally, concerns persist about the hazardous materials that were onboard the ship.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
Rescue teams have retrieved two victims from a red pickup truck submerged in the river. Miguel Luna, a 40-year-old father of three from El Salvador, and Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 34, who had two children and hailed from Honduras, were identified.
The search for four other victims proceeds cautiously, as divers navigate the risks of debris and limited visibility.
The cargo ship carried over 1.5 million gallons of fuel and 56 containers of hazardous materials. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) notes some containers have been compromised, the Coast Guard assesses no immediate risk.
The ship’s impact on the bridge exerted over 30 million pounds of force, according to officials. Investigators have retrieved the cargo ship’s black box, which may provide crucial data. The NTSB anticipates the investigation could last up to two years.
Before the Port of Baltimore can reopen, all debris must be removed. The Navy is dispatching barges with cranes to hasten clearance, as shipping is redirected to other East Coast ports.
Border conflict: Israel and Hezbollah exchange strikes
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border escalated Wednesday, March 27, resulting in casualties on both sides. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people, while rocket fire from Hezbollah militants in northern Israel claimed one life.
Lebanese officials have stated that the airstrikes targeted an emergency aid center, whereas the Israel Defense Forces have described the site as a “military compound.”
The United Nations reports that the violence has primarily been confined to the border area. In Israel, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and 11 soldiers. Lebanon has seen nearly 260 Hezbollah fighters and about 50 civilians killed.
The conflict intensified on October 8, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, following a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants into southern Israel, igniting the ongoing war in Gaza.
Former Senator and vice presidential nominee, Joe Lieberman, dead at 82
“His beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him as he passed,” the statement said. “Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest.”
Lieberman, who represented Connecticut in the Senate for 24 years, made history as the first Jewish Vice Presidential nominee when he ran alongside Al Gore in the 2000 presidential race.
I am profoundly saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. First and foremost, he was a man of devout faith and dedication to his family. My heart goes out to Hadassah, Hana, Matt, Rebecca, Ethan, his sisters, and all those grieving his loss.
The ticket was defeated in one of the closest and most contentious races in U.S. history.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried to be sentenced
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled for sentencing today, following his November conviction by a federal jury on wire fraud and conspiracy charges. The jury found Bankman-Fried guilty of misappropriating FTX depositors’ funds for lavish expenditures, including Caribbean properties and private jets.
Sam Bankman-Fried will be sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors want to jail him for up to 50 years, but the US judge deciding the FTX founder's fate will be weighing several factors: https://t.co/TvyWvCEk8Npic.twitter.com/ENzv3nOwQU
Earlier this month, prosecutors recommended a sentence of up to 50 years in prison for his crimes, which sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency world in 2022.
$15 traffic toll in Manhattan is approved, a first in the U.S.
New York City transit officials have approved a “congestion pricing” plan, designed to encourage commuters to opt for public transportation, thereby alleviating the city’s notorious bumper-to-bumper traffic. The revenue generated from the toll is intended to fund improvements to the subway system.
However, opponents argue that the toll represents a financial burden on workers and could lead to higher overall prices in the city. The plan is expected to be implemented in June but is currently facing multiple lawsuits attempting to block the unprecedented toll.
The 2024 MLB season kicks off with twenty-six teams ready to take the field. The day’s highlights include the 2023 World Series champions, the Texas Rangers, hosting the Cubs.
Adding to the day’s excitement, Shohei Ohtani makes his debut on the Dodgers’ home turf amidst recent gambling revelations and under the largest contract ever in baseball.
Humorous signs warning drivers to stay focused and drive safely have taken over U.S. highways. But state transportation departments must stop trying to catch drivers’ attention with puns or pop culture references, as new guidance from the federal government is set to go into effect in 2026.
In a 1,100-page manual released in December, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration said the signs must go, adding that they could be hard to understand, leading to what many hope to deter — distracted driving. The Department of Transportation in New Jersey had already warned drivers to stop taking pictures of the humorous signs or it would stop using them.
The new guidance says signs should be brief, simple and should only be used to warn drivers of crashes, bad weather and traffic delays.
“Messages with obscure or secondary meanings, such as those with popular culture references, unconventional sign legend syntax or that are intended to be humorous, should not be used as they might be misunderstood or understood only by a limited segment of road users and require greater time to process and understand,” according to the manual.
The manual also allows signs about wearing seatbelts and driving sober.
However, not everyone is happy about this new guidance, particularly in Arizona, where officials have asked the public for clever sign ideas in a competition that drew 3,700 submissions in 2023.
Arizona Rep. David Cook, R, told the local CBS affiliate this is an example of the federal government overstepping.
“The humor part of it, we kind of like, I think in Arizona the majority of us do if not all of us,” Cook said. “And so we don’t understand, why are you trying to have the federal government come in and tell us what we can do in our own state?”
Despite the pushback, states have two years to comply with the newly released guidance by the Federal Department of Transportation. So, drivers will need to get ready to say “Bye Bye Bye” to signs with pop culture references during their commutes.