Florida officials arrested Giovanny Aldama Garcia for leaving his dog tied in floodwaters before Hurricane Milton. The dog, renamed Trooper, was found abandoned on Interstate-75. Aldama Garcia, released on bail, claimed he left the dog while escaping the hurricane but surrendered ownership later. Trooper is now in Tallahassee awaiting adoption. (The Guardian)
SpaceX sued the California Coastal Commission, alleging bias against Elon Musk’s right-wing politics. The Commission’s decision prevented SpaceX from launching rockets from a California Air Force base. Musk claimed the Commission overstepped its authority and punished SpaceX for his political beliefs, including his support for Donald Trump. (UPI)
Hurricanes Helene and Milton are projected to be among the costliest, comparable to hurricanes like Katrina and Harvey, with damages exceeding $50 billion. Most of the damage was uninsured, worsening the financial burden on victims. Climate change contributes to stronger storms, escalating costs despite a decline in storm-related deaths. (AP)
Inflation has led to “shrinkflation,” where products decrease in size while maintaining the same price. Around one-third of consumer goods have shrunk since the pandemic, particularly household paper products. This trend, exacerbated by rising manufacturing costs, results in consumers paying more for less, despite a recent slowdown in inflation. (CBS News)
A nationwide recall of meat and poultry products, potentially contaminated with listeria from BrucePac in Oklahoma, has expanded to include nearly 12 million pounds. The recall encompasses products distributed to schools and retailers like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart. No related illnesses have been reported, but the USDA advises checking for recalled items. (Forbes)