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- Costco health care, Amazon lawsuit, and 200 dogs at a movie.
Costco health care, Amazon lawsuit, and 200 dogs at a movie.
Adam Rogers
September 27, 2023
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US News, Politics, & Government
Supreme Court rejects Alabama GOP's redistricting appeal
The Supreme Court rejected Alabama Republicans’ request to block the redrawing of the state’s congressional voting districts by a court-appointed special master. The ruling clears the way for a second Black majority district to account for the state’s 27% Black population. The high court sided with a lower court that determined the state’s legislature had failed to comply with the Voting Rights Act while drawing the districts earlier this year. The act requires that minority voters be provided with an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. (More)
California governor signs law requiring gender-neutral bathrooms in schools by 2026
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring K-12 schools to provide gender-neutral bathrooms by 2026. The new law is part of a series of laws signed by Newsom to expand protections for the state’s LGBTQ community. Other states have addressed LGBTQ bathroom policies in differing ways, including Idaho, which prohibits transgender students from using public school bathrooms that do not align with their assigned gender at birth. (More)
Biden team's don't-let-him-trip mission
As voters express concerns over Biden’s age, his campaign team is engaged in a special project to help with his 2024 election bid: make sure he doesn’t trip. Biden has been working to improve his balance with a physical therapist since 2021, and he began wearing tennis shoes more often to avoid slipping after his stumble at the Air Force Academy in June. The president has also been using shorter steps on Air Force One. His team believes any ridicule he receives for the shoes or the short steps will be worth it to avoid another public stumble. (More)
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World
China, Japan and South Korea agree talks to calm fears over US ties
The leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea will revive talks after a four-year hiatus during which tensions have risen over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and Chinese military activity. Recently, Japan and South Korea have strengthened their security cooperation with the US, culminating in a historic summit at Camp David in August. China is still upset by the summit and insists that the US should not interfere with “strategic security” between the Asian countries. (More)
Canada parliament speaker resigns after calling Ukrainian Nazi veteran a “hero”
Canada’s parliament speaker, Anthony Rota, has stepped down after inviting a Ukrainian Nazi veteran to attend a special session of parliament and then calling the man a “hero.” 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka was invited to sit in the gallery during Ukrainian President Zelenskiy’s speech. After which, Hunka was singled out by Rota and applauded for his service. However, Hunka was part of a volunteer unit that was under the command of the Nazi’s during WWII. And that unit was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians during the war. (More)
Israeli minister arrives in Saudi Arabia in first public visit
The Israeli tourism minister has travelled to Saudi Arabia for a United Nations conference, making it the first public trip to the country by an Israeli cabinet member. The US has encouraged both nations to normalize diplomatic relations, following similar deals involving the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said that the kingdom is getting closer to a deal with Israel but insisted that the Palestinian cause remains “very important” for the country. (More)
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Business & Economy
Daily stock market update
US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -1.47%, Nasdaq -1.57%, Dow -1.14%) ~ Markets fell after the latest homes sales and consumer confidence reports ignited concerns over the state of the US economy. The looming potential government shutdown also contributed to the stock slide. (More)
US government and 17 states sue Amazon in landmark monopoly case
The Federal Trade Commission is suing Amazon over alleged anticompetitive business practices. The agency is accusing Amazon of acting as a monopoly that prevents rivals from lowering prices and overcharges sellers for use of its site. Amazon maintains that its practices have led to innovation across the retail industry, including greater selection, lower prices, and faster deliveries for customers. (More)
Target says it will close nine stores in major cities
Target said it will close nine stores in major cities, citing violence, theft, and organized retail crime. Select stores in Harlem, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland will close for good on Oct. 21. Target said that it hopes it won’t have to close more stores but will closely monitor the safety of its teams and guests as well as the financial impact to its business to determine the right path forward. (More)
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Sports & Entertainment
“The Office” is reportedly set to be rebooted
One of the most successful sitcoms of all time, “The Office”, is reportedly getting a reboot. The news stemmed from last weekend’s tentative agreement between the Writers Guild and Hollywood’s major studios. The creator of the original show is currently attached to the reboot, but casting details are yet to be announced. (More)
Liberty's Breanna Stewart named WNBA MVP for 2023 season
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart was named the 2023 WNBA MVP in the closest three-way race in league history. Seven points separated Stewart from the runner-up Alyssa Thomas, and 13 points separated her and third place finisher A’ja Wilson. The Liberty are 6 games away from winning their first-ever championship. (More)
Taylor Swift effect: Travis Kelce jersey sales spike nearly 400%
Taylor Swift’s trip to watch Kansas City Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce play football on Sunday had a massive effect on his jersey sales. After Swift was spotted in a suite with Kelce’s mother, his jersey sales spiked 400%. Her attendance also impacted TV ratings. The game drew 24.3 million viewers, making it the weekend’s most-watched NFL contest, even though it was a blowout. (More)
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Science, Health, & Tech
Costco members now have access to $29 online health care visits
Costco members can now get online health checkups for as low as $29. The retailer is offering the service in partnership with Sesame, a direct-to-consumer health care marketplace that connects providers to consumers. Sesame doesn’t accept health insurance because it usually caters to uninsured Americans. Through the partnership, Costco customers can access treatment for dozens of common conditions such as pink eye, UTIs, and hair loss. (More)
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio returning to Earth after U.S. record-setting yearlong space station flight
Astronaut Frank Rubio will begin his journey back to Earth today from the International Space Station after spending 371 days in orbit. The normal tour of duty for a long-duration crew is six months. However, a coolant leak on his original ride home forced Rubio and two other astronauts to remain on the station until a replacement ship arrived to take them home. (More)
Uber is getting tighter with taxi companies
Uber announced a multiyear partnership with Los Angeles Yellow Cab and its partner taxi fleets in Southern California. The deal will allow taxi drivers to have access to Uber trip referrals, which means a rider who uses the Uber app may have a taxi driver pick them up. The pricing is still provided in advance and riders will have the option to decline the taxi match. Uber has similar pilot programs in New York and San Francisco. These pilot programs have been successful enough for Uber to expand the option to other markets. (More)
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Bonus Material
The best time of the day to get your workout in.
Amusement park riders get stuck upside down for almost half an hour.
Over 200 dogs attended a movie screening in Los Angeles, setting a new record.
2023’s best cities for vegans and vegetarians.