These are the headlines you Need 2 Know.
- Tornado Watch in Wake of Florence:
The death toll from the one-time hurricane stands at 32, but the storm isn’t over yet. Florence’s remnants are spawning tornadoes and strong thunderstorms in the Virginia area, as flooding remains a serious danger for residents in the Carolinas. Wilmington, N.C., one of the state’s largest cities, is still largely cut off by floodwaters, but officials are working to rescue residents and distribute food and supplies. The National Weather Service said early on Tuesday, “Florence will continue to weaken while it accelerates northeastward across the Mid-Atlantic and New England through Tuesday.” See pictures here.
- Bloomberg 2020?
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering a bid for president in 2020 as a Democrat. Bloomberg, 76, first ran for mayor as a Republican, then as an Independent, but has aligned himself with Democrats after approving a plan to spend $80 million to flip the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterms. He has been denouncing his former party in events across the country this month, and said on Monday, “It’s impossible to conceive that I could run as a Republican.” He has not yet given a deadline for his decision to run. Read more here.
- Kavanaugh Will Face Accuser:
Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused him of sexual assault when they were teenagers, have both agreed to testify under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Monday. The committee had planned to vote on Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination this week, but at least four Republican Senators, including Jeff Flake and Bob Corker, called for a pause after Ford’s accusation. Kavanaugh has denied the claim, saying it is “completely false.” Read the analysis here.
- Emmy Recap:
TV titans (and rivals) HBO and Netflix took home 23 awards each in the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night and tied for most awards won. The show was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” funnymen Colin Jost and Michael Che. HBO took the top honor for “Outstanding Drama Series” with “Game of Thrones,” but competitor Amazon held its own in the comedy section, with its original “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” See the full list of winners here.
- Strawberry Needle Scare:
Consumers across Australia have reported finding needles in strawberries purchased at grocery stores, implicating at least seven brands. The government has launched a federal investigation, and growers have installed metal detectors to prevent further contamination. The Australian government is also offering a $72,000 reward for information about the incidents. It is not clear whether the contaminations are connected, but many supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand are pulling fruit off their shelves. Read more here.
- Coca-Cola Brewing Cannabis Idea:
Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage maker, is reportedly in “serious talks” with Aurora Cannabis to develop cannabis-infused drinks. Traditional soda sales have been struggling, and Coke would be the latest beverage company to tap into the weed market. Certain companies have added CBD ー the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that can be used to treat pain or anxiety ー to various drinks like coffee, soda, and beer. Aurora's shares on Monday surged, jumping as high as $8. Read more on Cheddar.
- Amazon Everywhere?
The e-commerce giant is planning to release at least eight Alexa devices before the end of the year in an effort to make its voice technology more ubiquitous. Amazon has focused the new devices, adding a microwave oven, amplifier, and in-car gadgets to its slate. These products are Amazon’s first shift to the home appliance market. The company also launched its new “Storefronts” shop on Monday. This curated collection allows customers to shop from more than 1 million products from almost 20,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the country. Read more on Cheddar.
- Netflix Could Lose a Quarter of Subscribers With Ads:
A recent survey by Hub Entertainment Research found that the streaming-service would suffer a serious drop in subscriptions if it were to pursue ad dollars. In “The Future of Monetization” study, 23 percent of current Netflix subscribers said they would definitely discontinue the service if they saw ads during shows; another 37 percent said they were undecided about what they would do in response to ads. Peter Fondulas, co-author of the study, said, “When we ask subscribers what they consider to be the most attractive features of Netflix, the fact that it’s ad-free consistently ranks toward the top of the list.” Read more here.
- McGregor Scotch:
UFC world champion Conor McGregor has debuted Proper No. Twelve, his own brand of Irish Whiskey. The $25 bottle was launched this month in Ireland and the United States. This was a labor of love for McGregor, one of the globe’s highest-paid athletes, who said he tested a hundred blends before choosing “the one and only proper whiskey blend.” For every case sold, $5 will be donated to local first responder stations. Read more here.
Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest.
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