CDC says Salmonella outbreak may be linked to recalled cucumbers
Cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella may have sickened and hospitalized dozens of people in at least 25 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that at least 162 people have become sick and 54 have been hospitalized. Fresh Start Produce in Delray Beach, Florida, recalled whole cucumbers last week after tests showed the bacteria was present in the cucumbers. Further testing is underway to determine if this strain of Salmonella is causing the current outbreaks. Salmonella can cause serious illness in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
The governor scrapped a plan to impose a $15 transit and congestion fee on most drivers entering Manhattan.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hockle has dropped plans to impose a steep toll on entry into central Manhattan. Just weeks before the nation’s first “congestion toll” scheme was to take effect, she said the plan has “too many unintended consequences at this point.” The Democrat said a “$15 toll would squeeze the people who make this city go.” Wednesday’s announcement is a jolt to a program that’s been years in the planning. The toll was meant to raise billions of dollars for New York’s struggling subways and commuter rails and to reduce pollution on the city’s roads.
Boeing launches NASA astronauts for the first time after years of delays
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing has launched astronauts for the first time after years of delays. Two NASA test pilots blasted off Wednesday aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule from Cape Canaveral, Florida, bound for the International Space Station for a week-long stay. It was their third launch attempt and followed two rocket-related delays. An uncrewed test flight of Starliner in 2019 failed to reach the space station, forcing Boeing to try again. The company has since had to solve a series of problems with the capsule. SpaceX has been launching astronauts since 2020, but NASA is seeking a backup taxi service.
Disney plans to invest up to $17 billion in Florida theme parks now that battle with Governor DeSantis’ appointees is over
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Months after Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees agreed to end their court battle, the two sides are expected to approve an agreement that would allow the company to invest up to $17 billion in its Florida resorts, paving the way for a fifth major theme park there. The five DeSantis-appointed regulators who oversee the Disney World area on Wednesday gave their initial approval to the development agreement the two sides agreed to negotiate after a March settlement ended litigation in state court. The agreement will be in effect for the next 15 years. A final vote is expected next week.
Big Mac battle: McDonald’s loses EU trademark battle to Irish rival Supermac’s
LONDON (AP) — The European Union’s top court has ruled that McDonald’s has lost its Big Mac trademark across the 27-nation bloc, ruling in favor of Irish fast-food rival Supermac’s in a long-running legal battle. In its ruling on Wednesday, the EU General Court said the U.S. fast-food giant failed to prove that it had genuinely used the Big Mac name on its chicken sandwiches, chicken products or restaurants for five years. According to the company’s website, the Big Mac is a burger made with two beef patties, cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and Big Mac sauce. The ruling is not about the name of the burger. The dispute erupted after Galway-based Supermac’s applied to register its name in the EU as it eyed expansion plans in Europe.
Walmart is offering new perks to its employees, from new bonus plans to opportunities for skilled jobs.
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart is offering new benefits to its hourly workers, including a new bonus plan and the opportunity to move into skilled jobs within the company. The benefits program, announced Wednesday, comes as the nation’s largest private employer faces declining worker turnover. But Walmart, like other companies, still faces a competitive labor market and increasing demand from workers. The new bonus plan the retailer is offering to eligible part-time and full-time store workers is based on store performance. The maximum bonus amount is also tied to years of experience. The training program will begin with 100 workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Japan’s birth rate hits record low, marriage numbers also declining
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s birth rate in 2023 hit a record low for the eighth consecutive year, according to government data. Government officials described the situation as serious and urged authorities to take all measures to reverse the trend. The data, released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Wednesday, highlights Japan’s long-standing challenge of a rapidly aging and shrinking population, with serious implications for its economy and national security, especially amid China’s growing presence in the region. The latest statistics showed the fertility rate — the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime — was 1.2.
Online marketplace eBay drops American Express due to fees, says customers have other options
NEW YORK (AP) — Online marketplace giant eBay has announced plans to stop accepting American Express, citing what it calls “unacceptably high fees” and the availability of other payment methods for online shoppers. This is a major blow to the company because American Express customers are often the most attractive to retailers and spend the most on their cards each month. But this isn’t the first time a retailer has pulled out in opposition to AmEx’s business practices, most notably the nearly decade-old warehouse chain Costco.
Russian astronaut becomes first person to spend 1,000 days in space
The 59-year-old Russian cosmonaut has become the first human to spend 1,000 days in space. The Russian Space Agency announced on Wednesday that Oleg Kononenko has traveled to the International Space Station five times since 2008, achieving a record amount of time spent in space. His current journey to the ISS began on September 15, 2023. If Kononenko’s mission ends as scheduled on September 23, 2024, he will have spent a total of 1,110 days in orbit. The International Space Station is one of the few areas in which the United States and Russia continue to cooperate closely following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Phoenix uses ice water to treat heat stroke patients as Southwest temperatures reach triple digits
PHOENIX (AP) — With the season’s first heat wave already scorching the Southwestern U.S. with triple-digit temperatures, Phoenix firefighters are adopting a new tactic to try to save more lives. Last year, 645 people died from heatstroke in Maricopa County. Starting this season, the Phoenix Fire Department will immerse heatstroke patients in ice water on the way to area hospitals, a technique that hospitals have also recently begun adopting as their go-to treatment. The medical procedure, known as cold water immersion, can dramatically reduce body temperature in minutes, experts say. Emergency workers and hospitals are increasingly turning to the procedure as experts warn of the hottest weather since last September.
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