Crossbow Murders, Used Car Prices, and Pocket Snakes

Adam Rogers
July 11, 2024

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Police in England detained 26-year-old Kyle Clifford after a long manhunt.

Clifford is suspected of using a crossbow to murder the wife and two daughters of John Hunt, a BBC Racing commentator. The murders happened in Bushey, northwest of London. Clifford was found in Enfield with unspecified injuries and taken into custody.
Police were called to the Hunts' home on Tuesday evening, where they found the three women with serious injuries. Despite emergency response efforts, all three women died at the scene. The attack appeared to be targeted as Clifford once had a relationship with one of the daughters.
Crossbows are legal in the U.K., but carrying them in public without a good reason is illegal. The Home Office is considering new controls on crossbows due to the incident.
Violent events are rare in Britain, largely due to the country's strict gun laws. However, knife crimes and stabbings have risen in recent years and become a hot issue in British politics.

Used vehicle prices are dropping fast.

That’s great news if you're looking to buy a car, but bad news if you need to trade in your old one. Used car prices have been a big part of the inflation that followed the pandemic.
The average wholesale price for used cars dropped to $17,934 in June, down 8.9% from last year. This is the 22nd straight month of price declines. Retail prices usually follow these wholesale trends. Electric vehicles are seeing the biggest drops, with prices down 16.6% in the last year. For example, a 2023 Tesla Model 3 with two-wheel drive is now 40% cheaper than a year ago.
Car inventories have recovered after the pandemic messed up supply chains, which limited production and caused prices to spike. Now, dealers are offering more incentives on new cars, pushing used car prices even lower. Sedans are down 11%, SUVs are down 9.3%, and pickups are down 8.3%. However, this isn’t good for people trading in cars they still owe money on, as upside-down loans (where the car is worth less than what’s owed) have hit an all-time high.

President Joe Biden is facing doubts about his re-election from two influential figures: Nancy Pelosi and George Clooney.

Pelosi, a longtime ally, suggested Biden must decide soon whether to run in 2024, but she didn't say definitively if she wants him to. Clooney, who held a recent fundraiser for Biden, withdrew his support in a New York Times article.
Clooney's opinion piece highlighted his doubts about Biden's ability to win in November, saying the president is not the same as he was before. This has led to a divide among Democrats, with some questioning Biden's health and ability to win. However, public defections are limited, and party leaders still back Biden.
Pelosi advised Democrats to keep their concerns private while Biden hosts NATO leaders. She praised Biden's speech at the NATO summit but did not confirm if she wants him to run. Biden's campaign team will brief Senate Democrats soon but all signs indicate he is committed to staying in the race.

Starting September 1, Costco will raise its membership fees. The basic membership will go up by $5, from $60 to $65 per year. The higher-tier "Executive Membership" will increase from $120 to $130 per year. This change will impact around 52 million memberships, with just over half being executive memberships. (More)

Kevin Costner's Western movie "Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2" won't be coming to theaters on August 16 after "Chapter 1" bombed at the box office last month. Costner's team and New Line Cinema decided to delay the release to try and grow a bigger audience for the first film, which cost $100 million to make. (More)

Early on July Fourth, a woman in Yellowstone National Park reported being held at gunpoint by a man planning a mass shooting. Rangers searched for hours and found the gunman outside a dining area with 200 people inside. He fired a semi-automatic rifle at a service entrance. Rangers, including one who was wounded, shot back and killed him. (More)

Samsung is getting into the artificial intelligence game by adding the tech to its wearable devices. The company introduced its first premium smartwatch and a smart ring, both featuring AI to help users monitor and manage their health. (More)

A man trying to enter China was caught with over 100 live snakes in his pants. Customs officers found his pockets filled with six canvas bags taped shut, each containing various shapes and sizes of snakes. Many of them were non-native species. (More)

One last potential payday at the Mirage Casino.

The San Diego Zoo welcomes two new pandas.

Compare U.S. college admission rates.

Why do stories begin with “once upon a time?”

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