Good Morning! Today’s edition is 854 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Social Security Increase Could Take a Hit

• New Breast Density Guidelines

• Unclaimed $1 B Lottery Prize

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Big Story

Social Security Increase Could Drop in 2024

The next cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security recipients is expected to be 2.5%, based on the latest consumer price data.

• This is lower than previous estimates and would be the smallest increase since 2021. For example, a 2.5% COLA would raise the average monthly benefit by $48. This adjustment is meant to help recipients keep up with rising costs but is smaller due to cooling inflation.

• Social Security's COLA is based on inflation, measured by the consumer price index (CPI). In recent years, COLA was high due to record inflation, peaking at 8.7% in 2023, but dropping to 3.2% in 2024. The projected 2.5% increase isn’t far from the historical average, but some senior advocates feel the COLA doesn’t fully account for rising costs in key areas like housing and food.

• The final COLA for 2024 will be announced in mid-October after September's data is released. Many seniors have reported that last year’s COLA didn’t cover their increasing expenses. This year's adjustment will be closely watched to see if it better meets the needs of Social Security recipients.

Big Story

Typhoon Yagi

Several districts in Hanoi remained flooded on Thursday due to Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year.

• The storm has claimed at least 197 lives, with 128 people still missing and around 800 injured. The Red River reached a 20-year high, causing severe flooding in low-lying areas. Thousands of people near the river were evacuated as floodwaters rose, leaving many with nothing.

• In northern Vietnam, landslides and floods continue to cause problems. In provinces like Thai Nguyen, many homes were submerged and people lost their belongings. In Lao Cai province, authorities are searching for 55 people missing after a flash flood. The flood killed 46 people and injured 17. The floods and landslides have damaged more than 200,000 hectares of rice and crop fields in northern Vietnam.

• Several countries, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S., have pledged aid to help Vietnam recover from the disaster.

Big Story

New Breast Density Guidelines

A new rule now requires mammogram centers to inform patients if they have dense breast tissue.

• The rule began on Tuesday and aims to help detect breast cancer early. Although some states like Colorado and Minnesota already have similar laws, this is the first time it's a nationwide requirement. Dense breasts can make it harder to spot cancer.

• Dense breast tissue has more fibrous and glandular tissue compared to fat. On mammograms, both dense tissue and tumors appear white, making cancer harder to see. Breast density can't be felt through self-exams or seen, but it is detected only by a mammogram. Many women mistakenly think their breasts feel "lumpy" if they are dense, but only a radiologist can confirm it.

• About half of women over 40 in the U.S. who get mammograms have dense breasts. The condition can be inherited or influenced by factors like hormone therapy. Having dense breasts is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, so doctors might recommend additional screening methods like MRI or ultrasound.

Little Stories

• Around 67 million people watched the debate between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris — more than the 51 million who watched the debate between Trump and President Biden in June. However, it had fewer viewers than some past debates, like the 2016 one between Trump and Hillary Clinton, which had 84 million viewers. (More)

• Campbell Soup Company is dropping "soup" from its name and will be called "The Campbell’s Company." More people are buying snacks instead of soups, so Campbell has been expanding into snacks. It now owns brands like Goldfish, Snyder's, Cape Cod, and Pepperidge Farm, and it recently bought Sovos Brands, which makes Rao's sauces. (More)

• The Palestinian Hamas terrorist group said on Wednesday that its negotiators confirmed it’s ready for an "immediate" ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, based on a previous U.S. proposal. Hamas made the statement after meeting with mediators in Doha, including Qatar's Prime Minister and Egypt's intelligence chief, to talk about the latest events in Gaza. (More)

• Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, who helped grow the economy in the 1990s but was later jailed for human rights abuses, died at 86 on Wednesday. He had been battling cancer and was in critical condition earlier in the day. (More)

• A Texas player won the $810 million Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday, but an even bigger prize from earlier this year is still unclaimed. In March 2024, a New Jersey player won a $1.128 billion jackpot, but they haven't claimed it yet. Jackpot winners in New Jersey have up to a year to claim their prize. (More)

Extra Credit

🛰️ International Space Station films “orbital sunrise.”

🍑 Three-pack of Fukushima peaches sells for $100.

😢 The most dramatic places in the world to cry.

👂️ Why do we have earlobes?