Former national park superintendents urge Trump administration to close parks in case of shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown. Forty former superintendents said in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that past shutdowns in which parks have remained opened have led to the vandalism of iconic symbols, destruction of wildlife habitats and possible endangerment of visitors. They said parks are already under strain from a 24% reduction in staff and severe budget cuts. Leaving parks open to visitors in a possible shutdown will make it much worse, they said.
Listeria found in Walmart, Trader Joe's meals may be linked to deadly fettuccine outbreak
Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's stores nationwide. Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Brest Fettucine Alfredo may be contaminated with listeria previously linked to a deadly outbreak. FreshRealm, the food producer that distributed the products, says tests showed that pasta in the meals may be contaminated with the same bacteria tied to a recall of chicken fettuccine Alfredo this summer. That outbreak killed three people and sickened at least 17.
Transportation Department tightens noncitizen truck driver rules after fatal crash in Florida
The U.S. Transportation Department has tightened requirements for noncitizens to get commercial driver's licenses after fatal crashes that officials say were caused by immigrant truck drivers. The government announced the change Friday. A nationwide commercial driver’s license audit began after officials say a driver in the country illegally made a U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed two people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also threatened to revoke $160 million in federal funding for California because the state should never have issued 25% of 145 licenses that investigators reviewed.
Cal Raleigh makes history, but will the catcher's 60 homers be enough to beat Aaron Judge for MVP?
Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh has hit 60 home runs this season, joining an elite group in baseball history. He and Aaron Judge are the frontrunners for the American League MVP award. As of Thursday night, Raleigh was a slight favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Judge, however, leads in advanced stats like wins above replacement. No catcher — and no switch-hitter — has ever hit as many homers as Raleigh in a season. In that sense, he’s had a more historic year than Judge. Now it’s up to the voters to decide if it was more valuable.
First radar images from new Earth-mapping satellite showcase Maine coast and North Dakota farmland
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has released the first radar images from a new Earth-mapping satellite showing the Maine coast and North Dakota farmland in incredible detail. The pictures are from a spacecraft that rocketed into orbit from India two months ago. The joint U.S.-Indian mission will survey virtually all of the world's land and ice masses multiple times. By tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice, the satellite will give forecasters and first responders a leg up in dealing with natural disasters. NASA says the pictures released Thursday are a preview of what's to come once science operations begin in November.
Starbucks to close hundreds of stores, lay off 900 workers as part of turnaround plan
Starbucks said Thursday it's closing hundreds of stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe and laying off 900 nonretail employees so it can focus resources on its turnaround plan. The Seattle coffee giant wouldn't say exactly how many stores it's closing. But the company expects to end its fiscal year this Sunday with 434 fewer stores in North America than it had at the end of June. Starbucks also said it's closing some stores in the U.K., Austria and Switzerland. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said company is closing stores that don't have a path to financial stability or have physical spaces that don't meet customers' expectations.
Hard pass. Cold brew. Dad bod. Merriam-Webster adds over 5,000 words to 'Collegiate' dictionary
NEW YORK (AP) — Merriam-Webster has fully revised its popular “Collegiate” dictionary with over 5,000 new words. They include “petrichor,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” Also “cold brew,” “rizz,” “dad bod,” “hard pass,” “cancel culture” and more. The 12th edition is the first update in 22 years. It will be released Nov. 18. The company removed outdated geographical and biographical sections to make room for new content. Merriam-Webster's president, Greg Barlow, says the goal is to make the dictionary more useful and engaging. Despite declining dictionary revenue among sellers overall, Merriam-Webster remains committed to its print editions. It sells about 1.5 million dictionaries a year but makes most of its money through digital content. The company’s website logs a billion visits annually.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcome third child, Rocki
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have welcome their third child and first daughter. Rihanna announced the birth of Rocki Irish Mayers in an Instagram post Wednesday. The couple first announced their pregnancy during the Met Gala in May. The couple has a track record for starry pregnancy announcements, with Rihanna emerging on the 2023 Super Bowl stage with a baby bump on full display. Their son Riot Rose was born later that year. The couple welcomed their first child, RZA, in 2022. The birth comes just months after A$AP Rocky was acquitted on firearms charges in Los Angeles in February.
Ticketmaster to give fans more information after uproar in way Oasis tickets were sold in the UK
LONDON (AP) — Ticketmaster has committed to changes after facing criticism over ticket sales for Oasis' reunion concerts in the U.K. this summer. Following an investigation by the U.K.'s competition watchdog, the company agreed to provide more information to fans before and during ticket purchases. Many fans were shocked by high prices, with some tickets selling for more than double the expected amount. Ticketmaster must now inform fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is used. The company will also provide more information about ticket prices during online queues. These changes aim to prevent surprises and ensure transparency.
Sister Jean, longtime Loyola Chicago chaplain and March Madness icon, retires at 106
Sister Jean, the longtime chaplain for Loyola Chicago's men's basketball team, has retired at 106 because of health concerns. The Loyola Phoenix, the school's student newspaper, announced her retirement earlier this month. Sister Jean became famous during Loyola Chicago's run to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. She was often seen cheering courtside and supported the team for years. Sister Jean served as the team's chaplain for 30 years, becoming a beloved figure at the university.
