High levels of PFAS, from firefighting foam used at Jersey’s airport, have been detected in the blood of many islanders, exceeding safe thresholds and potentially causing serious health issues. As a result, the government, advised by an independent scientific panel, is exploring bloodletting as a treatment option, alongside the drug cholestyramine, to reduce PFAS in affected individuals. However, concerns remain about ongoing water contamination, with elevated PFAS levels found in both public and private water sources, potentially impacting health and agricultural products. The government’s previous confidential settlement with 3M, the manufacturer of the foam, restricts its ability to pursue more aggressive action.
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Bob Uecker, the beloved voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for 54 years, passed away at age 90 after a private battle with small cell lung cancer. A Baseball Hall of Famer and national icon, Uecker’s contributions extended beyond broadcasting, encompassing acting, comedy, and philanthropy. His legacy includes a remarkable broadcasting career, marked by his signature home run call and numerous accolades, and a lasting impact on the Milwaukee community and baseball fans everywhere. He is survived by his partner and children.
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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has revised its 30-year population projection downward to 372 million, an 11 million decrease from last year’s estimate. This reduction reflects declining birth rates (1.60 births per woman, down from 1.70) and lower-than-anticipated immigration, partially due to a June executive order impacting asylum processing. The projected yearly growth rate will average 0.4% for the next decade, slowing to 0.1% between 2036 and 2055. Without immigration, the U.S. population is projected to begin shrinking in 2033.
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Southwest Airlines pilot David Paul Allsop was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on DUI charges before his scheduled flight to Chicago. Airport police removed Allsop from duty due to suspected intoxication, and Southwest accommodated affected passengers on other flights. Allsop’s bail was set at $3,500, and he has been released. This incident highlights the FAA’s strict regulations prohibiting alcohol consumption by pilots within eight hours of flying or with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
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Internal displacement in Haiti has soared to over 1 million people, a three-fold increase from the previous year, primarily due to rampant gang violence in Port-au-Prince. This has led to a humanitarian crisis, impacting healthcare, food security, and significantly affecting children, who constitute over half of the displaced population. The influx of 200,000 Haitians forcibly returned from the Dominican Republic exacerbated the situation. A new public security secretary has pledged to combat the violence, but the crisis remains severe.
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The New Georgia Project, founded by Stacey Abrams, was fined $300,000—the largest fine in Georgia history—for violating state campaign finance laws during the 2018 election cycle. The ethics commission found the organization illegally campaigned for Abrams and other Democrats, including then-chairman Raphael Warnock, by failing to properly register and disclose millions in spending. This included using canvassing scripts and social media to promote candidates and a Gwinnett County transit referendum. The organization admitted to 16 violations, encompassing $4.2 million in contributions and $3.2 million in spending. This settlement concludes a lengthy investigation and multiple appeals.
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Fueled by potential TikTok restrictions in the US, Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, has seen a massive surge in American users, nearly tripling downloads in a week. This influx has unexpectedly fostered a unique cultural exchange between American and Chinese users, with many welcoming the newcomers and engaging in positive interactions despite language and cultural differences. While some concerns exist regarding potential political discussions, the platform currently shows minimal politically sensitive content. Simultaneously, another ByteDance app, Lemon8, also experienced a significant rise in downloads, raising questions about its potential future under the same US legislation targeting TikTok.
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Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation and harassment stemming from Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” which falsely accused Drake of being a pedophile. The lawsuit alleges UMG prioritized profit over artist safety, citing the song’s defamatory lyrics and artwork depicting Drake’s home marked like a registered sex offender’s residence, potentially inciting a shooting at his property. This action follows the withdrawal of a separate lawsuit against UMG and Spotify alleging stream manipulation of “Not Like Us.” UMG has yet to respond to the defamation claims.
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December’s US inflation rate rose to 2.9%, driven largely by a 40%+ surge in energy prices and a staggering 36%+ increase in egg prices due to avian flu. However, core inflation remained lower than anticipated at 3.2%, easing concerns of a renewed inflation wave. This relatively positive data, contrasting with strong job growth, created uncertainty regarding future Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Market reactions were initially positive, but anxieties persist about potential inflationary pressures from upcoming policy changes.
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John Q. Hosedrinker