After more than 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. She had the longest reign in British history and is now succeeded by her oldest son, King Charles III. Her death comes on the heels of her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in April 2021, as well as reports of declining health. Earlier this year, the queen had to scale back scheduled public appearances due to reported mobility issues. In her final days, she was able to meet with outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his successor, Liz Truss. 

Vaporizer technology company Juul Labs agreed to pay $438.5 million in a settlement with 33 states over marketing practices linked to a surge in teen vaping. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told Cheddar News the settlement serves as a deterrent and demonstration that no vape makers, no matter how big, can market to teens: “We will come after you.”

The European Central Bank initially dragged its feet on raising interest rates, in part because it believes that Europe's inflation woes are related to supply chain issues rather than high demand. But now it's trying to play catch-up, announcing a 75-basis-point hike, the biggest increase in the history of the bank. Some economists are puzzled by the decision, however, because the central bank continues to argue that its hands are tied when it comes to the biggest contributor to inflation: energy. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv Thursday to promote an additional $2.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine and 18 neighboring countries to support a counteroffensive against Russian forces. A separate $675 million package in guns, ammunition and vehicles was also announced. Officials hope the new funding, plus the surprise diplomatic visit, will send a message to Ukraine that U.S. support isn't fading. 

United Airlines is betting big on electric vehicles — in the sky. The airline agreed to purchase 200 electric air taxis from Eve Air Mobility for $15 million. It’s the second investment from the company’s venture capital fund in electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles in as many years. The taxis won’t replace or decarbonize regional routes. “This is about that commute to and from the airport,” United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen said on a call.

Waste-to-energy plants, which produce electricity by incinerating trash, are on the decline. These controversial facilities have long faced pushback for their environmental and public health impacts, and new construction has all but ground to a halt. Now, along with continued local opposition, the economics of the business aren't working out either, and electricity generated from the plants is dropping. 

Did you miss Disney+ Day? Don't worry — we didn't. There are a bunch of great titles coming out, like Thor: Love and Thunder, Cars on the Road and a Simpsons special. Disney+ subscribers also had early access to Disney theme parks and a chance to check out some movies in AMC theaters. The House of Mouse is trying to entice new subscribers, so even if all that isn't enough to get the holdouts to sign up, they're hoping a limited-time $1.99 one-month subscription will work.

Cheddar News senior reporter Michelle Castillo caught up with Evan Adlman, SVP of advanced advertising and digital partnerships at AMC Networks, to talk about the rise of streaming viewership and free ad-supported television, otherwise known as FAST. “I don't know if the average consumer can afford to pay multiple subscriptions. ... So at some point, advertising has to play a role,” he said.

Here are a few of the new entertainment headlines we've kept our eyes on: As the Don't Worry Darling drama rolls on, Harry Styles has also shown up in a new trailer for My Policeman, which is slated to hit theaters next month. There's a new trailer for the Knives Out sequel, and Dancing with the Stars’ season 31 will premiere on Disney+ on Sept. 19.

This Sunday marks 21 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and you can expect the memorials, retrospectives and national self-reflection that we see around this time. Some are using the opportunity to promote public service, including a series of blood drives throughout New York City, while others are calling for continued support for victims. Michael Barasch, a legal advocate for the Sept. 11 community, is pushing Congress to pass the 9/11 Notice Act, which would mandate that businesses with more than 50 employees provide a notification of potential health care and compensation benefits around the attacks.

One thing we love: Californians were asked to cut back on power to avoid blackouts during this week's heat wave … and they did! (Go CA!)

One thing we hate: We do not have the brain space to keep up with the Harry Styles/Chris Pine/Florence Pugh/Olivia Wilde Don't Worry Darling drama.

One thing we ate: Sour cream & onion chips — the best chips.

Looking for something good to stream this weekend? Whether you're in the mood for the true tale of a ref who ruined pro sports or a cheeky ’70s sitcom remake, the Cheddar News Digital Team has you covered!