Good Morning! Today’s edition is 802 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Tennis legend Rafael Nadal calls it quits

• T Swift becomes the richest female musician

• The million-dollar mystery of Milk.com

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Story

Hurricane Milton Aftermath

Hurricane Milton caused major damage across Florida, bringing tornadoes, cutting power for over 3.3 million people, and killing at least 12.

• It made landfall as a Category 3 storm south of Tampa in Siesta Key, with intense winds and heavy rainfall. Tornadoes hit St. Lucie County, killing six people, and other deaths were reported in St. Petersburg, Volusia County, and Citrus County.

• The storm caused widespread damage in Tampa, toppling a crane and tearing off the roof of Tropicana Field. While there wasn’t as much storm surge as expected, the flooding and destruction were still severe. Over 80,000 people stayed in shelters, and rescue teams worked through the night to save people and pets.

• By Thursday afternoon, Milton weakened into a post-tropical cyclone with winds of 75 mph as it moved away from the US coast. The storm followed Hurricane Helene, which hit the Southeast just 13 days earlier, breaking a record for the shortest time between two major hurricanes in Florida.

Big Story

Nadal Hangs It Up

Rafael Nadal, one of tennis' greatest players, announced he will retire at age 38.

• Nadal's aggressive playing style and unmatched success on clay courts (14 French Open titles) earned him the title "King of Clay." He won Grand Slams at all four major tournaments, including four U.S. Opens and two Wimbledon and Australian Open titles. His 22 major wins are second only to Novak Djokovic.

• Injuries have limited his play in the past two seasons, and after having hip surgery in 2023, he decided it's time to step away. His farewell event will be the Davis Cup in Malaga next month.

• Nadal’s career includes 209 weeks as the world’s No. 1 player, 92 singles titles, and a career win-loss record of 1,080-227.

Big Story

Social Security COLA Shrinks

The Social Security Administration announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 will be 2.5%, down from 3.2% in 2024.

• This is the smallest increase since 2021, raising the average monthly payment by about $50, from $1,907 to $1,957. The increase will benefit over 68 million people. However, many seniors feel this increase won’t cover rising costs, like groceries and gas.

• COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which measures inflation for working adults. Many argue that this doesn’t reflect retirees' spending, especially on health care, which has been rising faster than overall inflation.

• Health care costs rose 3.6% in the past year, while overall inflation increased 2.4%. Seniors typically spend more of their income on health care, making the current COLA calculation less effective for them.

• Rising poverty among seniors, coupled with financial concerns for Social Security, highlights the need for reform. In 2023, 14.2% of seniors were in poverty, the highest rate since 2016.

Little Stories

• The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that global wildlife populations have decreased by nearly 75% over the past 50 years. The study looked at almost 5,500 species from 1970 to 2020. Freshwater wildlife saw the biggest decline, dropping by 85%, while land animals fell by 69% and sea creatures by 56%. (These numbers show the average change in monitored populations over time, not a total loss worldwide) (More)

• Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam on Wednesday night, helping the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 and win their playoff series. The victory sends the Mets to the National League Championship Series for the first time in nine years. (More)

• In a speech for Taiwan's National Day, President Lai said that China has no right to represent Taiwan and promised to protect the island's independence. China responded by accusing him of trying to push for Taiwan's independence for his own political gain. (More)

• Taylor Swift is now the richest female musician in the world, passing Rihanna. Forbes says Swift became a billionaire last year, mainly because of her super successful Eras Tour, which made over $2 billion from 125 shows. Swift is now worth about $1.6 billion to Rihanna’s $1.4. (More)

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced a new self-driving car called the Cybercab. It doesn’t have a steering wheel or pedals, so it will need approval from regulators before it can be made. The design is futuristic, with doors that open upward and space for only two passengers. (More)

Extra Credit

🔫 Do wombats use their butts as deadly weapons? 

📷️ Wildlife Photographer of the Year announced.

🔍️ The million-dollar mystery of milk.com.

🐨 Australian police chase koala through a train station.