Good Morning! Today’s edition is 873 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Mental Health Care to be Covered by Health Insurers

• Germany Tightens its Borders

• Big Lots Goes Under

• Cheap Northern Lights Viewing Destinations

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Big Story

Biden: Mental Health is Equal to Physical Health

The Biden administration is making health insurers cover mental health and addiction services just like any other health condition.

• The rule is part of an effort to enforce a 2008 law, which says that mental health care should be treated equally to physical health care. Health insurers may challenge the rule, saying it is too difficult to follow and could cause some employers to stop offering mental health coverage.

• The new rule prevents insurers from making mental health care more expensive or harder to get than physical care. It also closes loopholes so more health plans must comply. The goal is to make it easier and more affordable for people to get the mental health and addiction care they need

• President Biden and Vice President Harris say this rule will help expand mental health care access across the U.S. Many people, even those with insurance, have trouble getting mental health care due to high costs or limited access. However, some Republicans, like Rep. Virginia Foxx, argue that the rule is too complicated and could raise healthcare costs without improving access to care.

Big Story

Germany Tightens Border Controls

Germany announced tighter border controls to help reduce irregular migration.

• The controls go into effect on Sept. 16 and aim to protect the public from threats like Islamist extremism. The controls will last for six months and are in response to a rise in migrants fleeing war and poverty, particularly from the Middle East.

• Chancellor Scholz’s government is trying to address voter concerns about immigration, especially after some violent attacks by asylum seekers. The far-right political party AfD has gained support by focusing on these issues, recently winning a state election for the first time since World War Two.

• Germany's new rules may cause tension in Europe, as they could involve asking other countries to take back asylum seekers. Austria has already refused to accept any migrants turned away by Germany. The number of asylum applications in Germany has already dropped by 21.7% in the first part of the year.

Big Story

Hurricane Francine

Tropical Storm Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane.

• It is predicted to hit central Louisiana by Wednesday night. Areas like Texas and Louisiana are likely to face strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rains. The National Hurricane Center says it could become a Category 1 hurricane, with New Orleans under a tropical storm watch and parts of Louisiana under hurricane watches.

• Francine could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some places seeing up to a foot. Since the region already had heavy rains last week, there’s a high risk of flooding, especially near the Gulf Coast. It is expected to be a Category 1, but the storm is still developing and could strengthen to a Category 2 before landfall.

• The Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana, is very prone to storm surge flooding. If Francine hits during high tide, water levels could rise 5 to 10 feet above dry ground. The Atlantic has been unseasonably calm recently, and the storm has plenty of warm ocean waters to fuel it.

Little Stories

• Apple introduced its new iPhone 16 lineup on Monday, jumping into the AI trend. All four models will have special chips for AI tools. The AI features will improve Siri, automate tasks, and quickly create personalized emojis. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new AI tech will “bring big changes to people's lives.” (More)

• Wildfires in California and Nevada have forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Nevada’s governor declared an emergency as the Davis Fire spread near Reno, affecting about 20,000 people. California is battling several large fires, including the Line Fire, which threatens over 35,000 buildings and has injured three firefighters. (More)

• Big Lots filed for bankruptcy on Monday because high interest rates and a slow housing market reduced demand for its budget furniture and decor. Nexus Capital Management will buy the retailer for $760 million. Even though it made $4.7 billion in 2023, sales dropped after people stopped buying as many home foods post-pandemic. (More)

• Morgan Wallen leads the 2024 Country Music Association award nominations with seven. For the third year in a row, he's up for both entertainer of the year and male vocalist. Some fans thought Beyoncé might get a nomination for her Billboard No 1. country-everything album “Cowboy Carter”, but she didn't. (More)

• Kentucky police are still searching for a man named Joseph A. Couch, 32, who they say shot and hurt five people near Interstate 75 on Saturday. On day three of the search, police hope to tire him out as he hides in a large forest about 8 miles from London, Kentucky. (More)

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