Good Morning! Today’s edition is 805 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Colorado election fraud sentencing

• Oil prices rise

• The Krabby Patty is coming to Wendy’s

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Big Story

Election Fraud Sentencing

Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for election interference.

• She was found guilty of several crimes, including trying to influence a public servant and misconduct. Peters allowed a man connected to Mike Lindell, who spread false election claims, access Mesa County’s voting system.

• During her sentencing, Peters tearfully argued she didn’t deserve prison time and claimed health issues. However, Judge Barrett criticized her for not taking her job seriously and refusing to admit any wrongdoing. Peters also received fines totaling $3,000 in addition to her prison sentence.

• Peters' conviction is notable as it’s the first time a local election official has been prosecuted over a security breach tied to the 2020 election.

Big Story

Dockworker’s End East Coast Strike

U.S. dock workers and port operators reached an agreement to end a three-day strike that had shut down shipping along the East and Gulf Coasts.

• The deal includes a wage increase of around 62% over six years, raising the average pay from $39 to $63 an hour. The union was originally seeking a 77% raise.

• The new agreement extends the workers' master contract until January 2025, allowing time to resolve other issues like port automation, which workers fear will lead to job losses. Union leader Harold Daggett had been pushing back against companies like Maersk over automation projects that could cut jobs.

• President Biden’s administration supported the union in pushing for higher wages, with Biden praising the tentative deal as progress. The administration avoided using federal powers to stop the strike, which could have hurt Democratic support among unions ahead of the upcoming election.

Big Story

Sunken WWII Ship

Investigators have found the wreck of the USS Stewart, a U.S. Navy destroyer that served in World War II.

• The ship, known as the "Ghost Ship of the Pacific," was stationed in Manila and damaged in 1942. After being abandoned, it was captured by the Japanese and used as a patrol boat. The ship was later returned to the U.S. after the war and deliberately sunk in a naval exercise in 1946. The ship’s location remained unknown for nearly 80 years.

• The USS Stewart was discovered off the coast of Northern California in August 2024 by a team using underwater vehicles. After 24 hours of searching, sonar scans showed the ship 3,500 feet below the ocean, largely intact and upright. Researchers say it’s one of the best-preserved ships of its kind.

• Search teams are currently surveying the site, and a live video feed from the wreck also helped researchers learn more about the bombardment that sank it. Survey data will also help environmental studies in the area, providing knowledge about marine life and habitats around the wreck site.

Little Stories

• Country music star Garth Brooks is being sued by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her while she worked as his hairstylist and makeup artist. The woman, called "Jane Roe," claims the assault happened in 2019 during a work trip. Brooks has denied these claims before, but his representatives have not responded to the new lawsuit. (More)

• Oil prices jumped to their highest in over a month on Thursday because traders fear Israel might strike Iran's oil industry. Brent crude oil rose more than 5%, reaching $77.62 per barrel. This happened after President Biden mentioned that the U.S. and Israel were discussing a possible response to Iran's missile attack on Israel. (More)

• Three former Memphis police officers were found guilty of witness tampering on Thursday in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith were found not guilty of civil rights violations, while Demetrius Haley was convicted of causing bodily injury but not Nichols’ death. (More)

• Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA doesn’t have enough money to cover the rest of hurricane season. Mayorkas said the relief agency has enough money to cover “immediate needs” for Helene aid but “doesn’t have the funds to make it through the season”. (More)

• The UK has decided to give control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius after more than 50 years. This includes Diego Garcia, an island where the US has a military base for navy ships and bombers. The US-UK base will stay on Diego Garcia as tensions rise between Western countries, India, and China. (More)

Extra Credit

🏨 Texas debuts first 3D-printed hotel.

👟 New sneakers expand to fit growing feet.

🍔 The Krabby Patty is coming to Wendy’s.

🧩 The companies most exposed to the U.S. port strike.