Its something every dog owner knows but now we have the science to prove it: Dogs really can tell when were happy or sad.
Scientists have scanned the brains of dogs to reveal how they process various human expressions, including happiness, sadness, anger and fear, according to a study published Monday in the journal iScience.
The scans, carried out by a team from the University of Vienna, show how the animals brains respond differently depending on the expression that humans display.
Senior study author Laura Cuaya explained their findings in a press release published on the universitys website. When we compare humans with primates, we are looking at abilities that may have come from a common ancestor, she said.
With dogs, the story is totally different. They followed a very different evolutionary path, yet through domestication, they developed the social abilities needed to understand and cooperate with us.
The researchers scanned the brains of eight dogs six border collies, a labrador and a golden retriever while showing them images of strangers with either a happy or a neutral expression. The pictures of happy faces increased activity in the parts of the brain associated with higher cognitive and reward processing: the temporal cortex and caudate nucleus.
It suggests that happy human faces may have emotional significance for dogs, said Cuaya, who began the research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later expanded it through a collaboration at Etvs Lornd University in Hungary before moving to the Austrian capital.
Next, the researchers wanted to know if the same areas of the dogs brains would respond to other emotions. They showed 12 dogs pictures of people feeling happy, angry, fearful or sad and used machine learning to analyse their brain activity.
But the dogs brains did not respond in the same way to the angry, fearful or sad expressions as they did to happiness. However, a whole-brain analysis did show distinct patterns of activity when the dogs saw faces showing the negative emotions.
Humans are really good at picking up small details on the face, so are dogs, said first author Ral Hernndez-Prez, also from the University of Vienna. This makes dogs very interesting. By studying their brains, we can understand what adaptations have developed to support their remarkable social and emotional understanding of humans.
Cuaya and Hernndez-Prez are partners in their private as well as professional lives and have two dogs, Odin and Kun-kun, who were part of this study.
Hernndez-Prez told CNN that finding that the caudate nucleus was involved in processing happy faces was a nice surprise, adding: Across species, this region has been associated with reward processing. In dogs specifically, caudate activity has been linked to food rewards, but also to social rewards, such as hearing words of praise and perceiving the odor of a familiar person.
Although we cannot access dogs subjective experience directly, our results suggest that seeing happy faces, even those of strangers, involves positive affective processing.
The team stressed that there is more to how dogs process emotion than looking at a picture of a still facial expression, as they take other things like the humans body language, voice and scent into account. They said it is also important to note that the dogs involved in the research were all from loving homes. Those who live on the street may have a completely different way of processing human cues.
Hernndez-Prez told CNN that the dogs had to be specially selected and trained in order to take part. The dogs needed to be medium-sized, mainly because of the dimensions of the MRI equipment, healthy, and without behavioral problems such as a strong fear of loud sounds, he said.
We first teach the dogs that the task is simply to remain still, starting with only one or two seconds and slowly increasing the duration. In fact, one of the most challenging parts is communicating to the dog that doing nothing is actually the task. We then gradually introduce the different elements of the MRI environment, including the position, equipment, and scanner sounds. The dogs always participate voluntarily and can leave at any moment.
The research had several limitations, the authors said. The number of dogs involved in the study was small and most of the dogs were border collies, a smart breed known for its ability to follow social cues.
It is possible that border collies have a greater ability to interpret human facial expressions, and future studies are needed to determine whether there are behavioral and cerebral differences in the perception of human facial expressions across breeds, the study said.
The scientists now hope to adopt a more dogcentric approach to their research in order to understand how dogs use these signals to make sense of humans.
Hernndez-Prez told CNN: By reflecting on how remarkably attentive dogs are to our emotions, we can also try to become better at recognizing how they express their own. Emotions are a powerful form of communication that can connect us across species.
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For Andrew Cheney, tennis is a family tradition. His parents introduced him to the sport, and now he's passing it down to all three of his kids.
"Actually when all three were born, I had Penn balls in the little baby crib," Cheney, of Scottsdale, Arizona, said.
With an entire family on the court, keeping track of gear is one way Cheney keeps costs in check.
"The can costs add up for a while, but we just, with the young ones, we make them keep track of the balls and pick them up," Cheney said.
Fellow Scottsdale tennis player Joshua Olivas agrees that tennis doesn't have to break the bank.
"I don't think it necessarily has to be an expensive sport. I think there's lots of avenues to get rackets for on sale, and to find good stuff at discount," Olivas said.
Once you have your gear, taking care of it can extend its life. Olivas keeps his equipment away from heat and direct sunlight.
"I keep it out of the sun. I bring my rackets and my balls in from in the car. I don't leave them in the heat," Olivas said.
Felix Schumann, Head Penn Racquet Sports Product Category Director, says that habit is especially important in extreme temperatures.
"I'd always recommend bringing your gear after playing inside in a room temperature controlled room, because there the product can really stay the best," Schumann said.
Heat is particularly hard on tennis balls, working its way from the inside out.
"Usually the core first starts to deteriorate, especially during the heat," Schumann said.
Schumann recommends storing tennis balls inside, in a cool, dry place, and avoiding leaving them in a hot car.
Penn is rolling out two new balls, including one built for longevity, with woven felt while retaining a durability-focused core.
"We have the Pro Penn Marathon+ ball, which is designed for durability," Schumann said.
The ball was released in July. The Pro Penn Infinity, a premium tournament ball, will soft launch in October.
For players just getting started, Schumann says top-of-the-line equipment isn't necessary.
"There's a wide variety of products you can first purchase, and especially with us with Head Penn, we offer some consumer-friendly options that you can get at a Target, a Walmart, a Dick's," Schumann said.
To save on playing costs, Schumann also recommends seeking out public courts and opting for group lessons over private coaching.
"Start taking some lessons in a group setting, because then you start really getting into the sport. You're starting finding a community. You're also finding partners to play with in the future, which then you dont have to take that many lessons anymore from an actual coach," Schumann said.
The money-saving mindset extends beyond the tennis court. REI says dirt, sweat, and body oils can wear down sports and outdoor gear over time, reducing performance. The retailer advises cleaning gear after use, drying it thoroughly, and storing it properly. As one example, a bike helmet should be replaced after a crash.
Back on the court, Olivas says quality tennis gear can go a long way.
"They last a long time and they're affordable," Olivas said.
Cheney says a little care can keep his family's favorite sport well within budget.
"It's a whole lot cheaper than skiing and a lot of other sports out there, Cheney said. You get a few rackets, some balls, and you're all set."
This story was originally published by Jane Caffrey with the
Hurricane Lowell's intense winds and storm surge that battered Hawaii's western islands this week are suspected in the deaths of at least two people.
On the island of Kauai, the storm damaged oceanfront resorts while on Lanai, a cargo port where much of the island's food and supplies arrive was inoperable, the state's governor said.
Lowell brushed by the islands in the overnight hours Tuesday with damaging winds that extended well beyond the hurricane's center, which stayed offshore.
First responders on Kauai's south end found the body of a 74-year-old man on Wednesday near the shoreline. Authorities believe his death was related to the storm surge, police said.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said another man was killed on Oahu when a large tree fell on his tent Monday during the storm. The man was homeless and living in a park, he said.
Green on Wednesday asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration to expedite federal help for Kauai and Maui counties.
Lowell has since been downgraded to a tropical storm and continues to move westward over open water.
New storm forms in the Pacific
Tropical Storm Norbert formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean and wasn't threatening land, forecasters said.
The storm was about 685 miles (1,102 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph) and was moving west.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the center said. Some gradual strengthening was forecast over the coming days.
Former President George W. Bush gave rare insight into his experience on Sept. 11, 2001, as the U.S. came under attack by al-Qaida.
Appearing with Condoleezza Rice, who served as his national security adviser, Bush spoke Wednesday from his presidential center two days before the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Bush was at a Florida elementary school on the morning of the attacks. As the Twin Towers in New York City crumbled and civilian aircraft were grounded, Bush was whisked across the country aboard Air Force One instead of returning directly to Washington.
Bush said that when he first learned an airplane had hit one of the Twin Towers, he assumed it was an accident. It was not until a second plane hit the other tower that he realized the magnitude of what was unfolding.
It was pretty clear to me that we were under attack, Bush said. My job was to defend the child that was reading to me and her family and her country.
I became a wartime president, Bush added. Theres no doubt in my mind that this was not a law enforcement event. This was a war, and the job of the president and his team was to rally the nation to do what was necessary to protect our people.
Amid the chaos of closing U.S. airspace following the attacks in New York and at the Pentagon outside Washington, the White House believed the military had shot down Flight 93 over Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
There was this horrible moment where the vice president kept trying to get confirmation as to what had happened, Rice said. And for about 10 minutes, we thought wed shot down a civilian aircraft. That always represented to me just how hard the decisions were that you had to make under a lot of pressure.
It was one of several confusing incidents that occurred that day. Bush also said he was rushed to the White House bunker when a military aircraft was mistakenly identified as flying toward Andrews Air Force Base.
Bush is expected to attend a remembrance ceremony Friday at the site of the Twin Towers in New York.
In an inconspicuous building on the western edge of Boston, scientists are using lasers to separate atoms and develop one of the most powerful machines ever created. Once fully operational, it could be able to create new, lifesaving medicines. It could also become the most devastating cyber weapon yet.
It is a mini, little Manhattan Project, and were just building this unbelievable device, said Andy Ory, the CEO of QuEra, a Boston company working to develop a commercially viable quantum computer. The companys technology sprang from the laboratories of Harvard and MIT scientists and is already one of the countrys most advanced quantum computers.
Quantum computers are able to solve problems that would take a supercomputer septillions of years to untangle, and Googles quantum chip Willow, for example, has already done so. They use the power of atoms, which abide by an entirely different set of physics than the world at large. This is some of the most complex scientific instruments that humankind has ever built, Ory said.
The risk they pose is known as Q-Day, the hypothetical date that highly advanced quantum computers will become strong enough to break the widely used forms of cryptography that protect digital communications, identities and transactions across government and industry. Experts have warned about this risk for decades, but with recent improvements in technology and the help of AI, Q-Days arrival could come as soon as 2029, if not before.
There is a solution. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is designed to replace standard encryption and keep data safe from post-quantum cyberattacks. In June, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders regarding quantum computers. One accelerated the federal governments transition to quantum-resistant encryption. The other set the end of 2030 as a deadline for agencies to protect their most sensitive systems from post-quantum cyberattack. There has been no similar mandate for most local or state governments, which control highly sensitive information about citizens such as medical, criminal and voting records, along with election systems, power grids, communications and other critical infrastructure.
The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University found that, as the federal government invests billions into developing quantum computers in a race against global rivals, the majority of U.S. states have not begun preparing to transition their systems to PQC. The investigations 50-state analysis found an uneven landscape of preparedness:
Thirty-two states do not have an active plan and have not provided evidence that they are developing a plan. Governments that rely on IT systems with outdated or archaic components will be more vulnerable. Many state and local cybersecurity teams feel they lack the resources and guidance needed to prepare and protect themselves from the coming threat.
The United States and China are among many countries racing to build the first fully scaled quantum computer, and both have invested billions into development. The presidents June 22 order requiring federal agencies to shield their most sensitive systems by 2030 cites the risk of foreign adversaries collecting United States information now, and decrypting it later once large-scale quantum computers are operational. This is commonly referred to as a harvest now decrypt later attack.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Chief Information Officer Jaime Wascalus questioned whether the presidents orders go far enough. She said both private companies and the federal government should do more to help local governments prepare to protect themselves and their residents.
Is there funding for that kind of work? Is that work going to extend to state, to local? Those are things that I think are really important. Its really about a collaborative effort when youre talking about the public sector, she said.
Wascalus is speaking from experience. In July 2025, a ransomware group released the Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdays and phone numbers of more than 12,000 people after hacking the citys systems. Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency and, for the first time in Minnesota history, deployed the states National Guard Cyber Protection Team. The attack did not use a quantum computer but still incurred millions of dollars in recovery costs. A quantum-powered attack, Wascalus said, would be much worse.
When I think about impacts from a major ransomware attack, the top thing that will come to all of our minds is public safety, she said. If you have police, if you have fire, sheriffs within your jurisdiction, you want to make sure that they have access to the tools and the data that they need. The potential for that mass disruption to happen is a risk that we need to prepare for.
For example, she said, the tool that identifies and alerts the first responders to an emergency could be compromised in a quantum-derived hack. St. Pauls 2026 budget set aside $1 million for cybersecurity upgrades, but none of it is going toward post-quantum cryptography. Wascalus also said American cities are not getting the help they need.
I havent gotten any direction in terms of post-quantum readiness from the federal government or our state government yet, Wascalus said.
Funding is only part of the challenge.
This migration is going to be incredibly complex, difficult, complicated, costly, said Dustin Moody, a mathematician who leads the federal governments Post-Quantum Cryptography project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is part of the Department of Commerce.
Its not an emergency in the sense that if you havent migrated by next month, youre in trouble and youre going to get hacked, Moody said. But if you delay, this is going to potentially cause risk to your organization in the future.
Developing a quantum machine that can break encryption is happening in the shadows, Moody said. If a government or a spy agency is building these, we may not know when its built.
He doesnt expect every federal agency to meet the 2030 deadline requiring high-value and high-impact systems to begin using post-quantum cryptography, noting that millions of devices need protection and securing them will take more than a simple software upgrade.
Theres still ATMs out in the wild where theyre using cryptography that they really shouldnt be using, Moody said. Because that ATM was put out there in 1990 and never gets an update.
Traditional computer chips the ones in your laptop and phone run on bits. A bit is either a one or a zero, a piece of binary code. Quantum computers use qubits, which can be both a one and a zero at the same time. Standard encryption on traditional computers uses complex math problems with a singular solution that require calculations too large for those same computers to solve. Since quantum computers can try all of the solutions simultaneously, they have the potential to break into sensitive systems that use standard encryption much faster.
If you have a quantum computer that can break encryption as we know it today, thats almost like having a nuclear bomb, said U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va. Because you can get into all sorts of information. An adversary, in their hands, can do a lot of damage.
In August 2025, Subramanyam introduced a bill that would require a federal assessment of U.S. quantum readiness, how far public and private organizations have come in adopting post-quantum security measures, and the economic sectors most at risk. In April, the House Science Committee sent the proposal to the full House as part of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. The pending bill does not specify funding; a Senate version would authorize roughly $2.7 billion for federal quantum programs over five years.
In 2021, the Department of Homeland Security published a post-quantum cryptography roadmap to raise awareness and provide guidance to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners as well as critical infrastructure owners and operators and others in the private sector. Two years later, DHS and NIST issued a fact sheet calling for organizations to start making their systems quantum-secure.
A lot of the federal government is not ready. A lot of states arent ready, said Garfield Jones, who led the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencys post-quantum cryptography migration effort for five years. The mandate Trump issued in June is going to set people on fire to try to change. But, he said, Aircraft carriers can probably turn easier than what this is going to be like.
Before leaving CISA, which is part of DHS, in late 2025, Jones spent a year meeting with states to talk about threats related to quantum computing.
Many information department heads didnt fully understand the urgency, he said.
A 2024 White House report to Congress estimated the cost of making high-priority systems at federal agencies quantum-secure at $7.1 billion, not counting national security systems. Jones said post-quantum encryption includes ongoing reviews and updates, making the true costs much higher.
The main message to the states and who's responsible for it, I think you've got to look at the (Chief Information Officers), Jones said. The governors, the representatives, the senators you have to be on board with this because that's where the moneys going to come from.
Subramanyam said the risk quantum computers pose is not a partisan issue, but there is still a struggle to make other lawmakers understand the threat.
I think people arent scared of quantum because they dont quite know exactly what the potential is, he said. Im a little scared of quantum, if Im gonna be honest here.
Through open records requests and other reporting, the Howard Center identified only four states with an active plan to migrate to PQC. Another 14 states are committed to or are in the process of developing a migration plan.
The other 32 states have not committed to requiring their agencies to use PQC or refused to confirm whether plans exist. Seven of those states are aware of the risk and are researching the need for a plan. Officials in nine states either did not fulfill a request for records or cited security concerns in refusing to discuss whether any PQC-related policies exist or are in development. The other 16 states did not provide any evidence that they are preparing and said they had no records related to any PQC plan, roadmap or migration timeline.
New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Missouri confirmed plans to make their systems quantum-secure. New Jerseys security manual requires all state agencies to identify vulnerable systems and develop a migration plan. New Yorks statewide encryption policy requires all state agencies to create an inventory of vulnerable systems for the purpose of migrating to quantum-secure encryption.
Missouris Office of Administration confirmed by email to the Howard Center that the state has established a multi-step Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Implementation Roadmap that builds on existing infrastructure by utilizing a cross-functional PQC Planning Team to identify vulnerabilities, choose vendors and budget for the hardware and software upgrades required.
In Maryland, where NIST and the National Security Agency are headquartered, the states Department of Information Technology provided a redacted executive briefing indicating the state has a roadmap and is confirming the feasibility of a rapid, statewide rollout of quantum-secure computer systems. The briefing makes the urgency clear, reading: The global transition to PQC is a critical imperative because the maturation of a quantum computer will lead to the instant and irreversible exposure of stockpiled, encrypted state data, resulting in a catastrophic and unrecoverable breach of long-term sensitive state information.
James Saunders, Marylands state chief information security officer, confirmed that PQC migration is a priority. While state agency migration does not automatically trickle down to the local level, his department intends to be a resource for cities and counties.
We cannot and will not forget about our local government partners, and that's from local counties and municipalities and anyone else that wants to engage with us, he said. WeWe may or may not be able to extend technology into those environments due to various different reasons, but we can show this is the journey we took and then bring them along the way.
Mississippi is among the states not yet taking action.
By email, the Department of Information Technology Services said the state has not adopted, nor is it currently developing, a formal post-quantum cryptography readiness plan, implementation roadmap, migration timeline, or statewide policy. But, the statement said, Mississippi is actively engaging with national organizations, peer states, and other partners to understand emerging approaches, implementation considerations, and best practices.
Other states also admit they have not begun preparing.
New Hampshires Department of Information Technology said by email that it has not begun any research or planning related to postquantum cryptography.
Louisianas Division of Administration said it has no plan but noted that the states Information Security Policy shows its open to moving in that direction by listing a post-quantum encryption algorithm as an allowed algorithm.
In response to the Howard Centers records request, the Indiana Office of Technology provided a copy of the states publicly available encryption standard, which does not mention post-quantum cryptography.
The technology is developing faster than many developers expected, pushing the timeline for quantum security up significantly. In June, Microsoft announced the Majorana 2 chip and is now expecting to achieve a scalable and commercially relevant quantum computer by 2029, cutting its original timeline in half, according to the company.
In June, QuEra and Amazon Web Services announced they would roll out a quantum computer for AWS cloud computing customers in 2028. These companies, alongside IBM and Google, have had quantum partnerships with the U.S. government through research contracts and defense initiatives. The advancements do not necessarily signal how soon an advanced computer will be capable of defeating 128-bit or 256-bit public-key encryption, but that day is coming closer. Many of the largest private companies are making moves to make their systems more quantum-resistant. Communication services like Signal and Apples iMessage are adding quantum protection. TikTok began deploying post-quantum cryptographic protection last year, based on NIST guidance. Google plans to implement post-quantum security on Chrome and Google Cloud by 2029.
Some in the private sector developing quantum computers acknowledge the weight of that responsibility and are looking to the federal government for guidance.
I think this is one of the key roles that the federal government can play, is to help us understand how to advance this technology, but how to do it safely and how to maximize the public good and minimize the risk factors, said Ory, the CEO of QuEra, which has over $260 million in private and federal funding to develop a quantum computer. I'm personally uneasy about all of this technology and how it's being used at a societal level.
State chief information security officers are becoming less confident in their ability to protect public data from cyber threats, according to a nationwide study released in April by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Only 22% of CISOs said they were extremely or very confident in being able to protect public data half as many as in 2022. While the survey does not mention quantum computing, more than half of respondents reported budgets for cybersecurity that were flat or growing by no more than 5%. Eight states reported budget cuts even as AI-enhanced attacks are on the rise.
By not migrating to post-quantum, you open yourself up to a new class of cyber attacks that we haven't fathomed yet, said Saunders, the Maryland official. Especially if you think about artificial intelligence and how that's evolving. I do expect to see some novel cyber attacks in the future. So if you have the capability, the finances and the foresight to try to solve this particular threat area, I would say it's best to proceed and do so as quickly as possible.
Wascalus, St. Pauls CIO, is urging the federal government to help cities prepare because they represent the humans in America.
There are big cities, there are capital cities that likely have more resources to prepare for these types of things, but we should really be thinking about it collectively and what impacts the county could spread into a larger attack or a larger breach, she said. We want to help protect our entire state, our entire nation, right?
Tightening global copper supply, robust demand from the AI boom and uncertainty over tariffs are all whipping up a frenzy for the red metal. Its sending prices soaring to their highest levels ever.
Copper futures traded in New York settled at $6.89 per pound on Wednesday, their highest level on record. In London, copper futures measured by the metric ton are also at record highs.
Known for being highly conductive, copper has wide applications across electronics, housing and autos. The red metal is a critical part of industry and construction, and its ascent to record highs could send higher prices rippling through to businesses.
Copper prices fell 5% on Thursday, pulling back from record highs, but analysts say fundamentals are in place for higher prices. Copper prices are up more than 15% this year, outpacing gold, silver, bitcoin and the S&P 500. Over the past 12 months, copper prices are up 40%.
Supply-demand mismatch
There is strong demand for copper from electric vehicle manufacturing to the infrastructure for powering AI data centers. Prices had already been on the rise in recent years as EVs ballooned in popularity in Asia and Europe. Now, the AI boom is adding to demand.
At the same time, there are concerns about lackluster copper production. Global copper mine output declined by 1.1% in the first half of 2026, according to preliminary data from the International Copper Study Group.
Poor weather and deteriorating mine quality are contributing to production woes. Chile, the worlds largest copper producer, saw a 6.6% decline in output in the first half of the year, according to ICSG.
To be sure, there isnt a shortage of refined copper. Theres a global surplus of refined copper. But declines in mine production are raising concerns about tightening supply at a time when demand remains solid.
The tariff factor
President Donald Trump last year implemented a 50% tariff on semi-finished copper products. But traders are on watch for a potential 15% tariff on refined copper products, which would impact the market more directly.
Concerns about tariffs are creating distortions in the global market and contributing to higher prices, analysts say.
Massive amounts of copper have been shipped to the United States to try and get ahead of potential tariffs. The surge has been so large that its draining copper supply elsewhere, making copper less accessible globally and sending prices higher.
People are stockpiling metal because theyre not sure whether Trump is going to impose copper tariffs or not, Edward Meir, commodity analyst at Marex, told CNN. If he imposes copper tariffs, people want to make sure they have enough metal to tide them over. So, theres been a mad rush.
While the supply-demand imbalance is in the background, the recent surge in copper prices is largely attributable to the tariff uncertainty, analysts say.
As the price of copper has rallied sharply, traders, hedge funds and other speculators tend to pile into the market to try and make a profit, Meir said. That leaves room for a potential drop in price if momentum goes in reverse, but the fundamental outlook is set to keep prices elevated.
Impact on businesses and consumers
Copper can be found in everything from cars to computers to the wiring in buildings. The rise to all-time highs means higher prices for businesses. The further copper prices rise, the more impactful it will become.
The cost of copper wire and cable, as measured by the Producer Price Index, rose about 18% year-over-year in July, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The impact on consumers depends on just how much copper is used in the products they purchase. How much consumers feel the pinch also depends on how much of the cost is passed through by businesses, according to Ewa Manthey, commodities strategist at ING.
Whats most important is that coppers longer-term outlook remains supported by constrained supply and growing demand from electrification, grid investment and AI-related infrastructure, Manthey said. These structural trends have tightened the market and provided a strong fundamental backdrop.
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Michigan State Sen. Jim Runestad has introduced a bill that would ban children from riding e-bikes on public sidewalks, roads or trails.
The bill comes after a rise in e-bike and e-moto-related incidents across Michigan, with schools taking action.
Watch below: Berkley considers ordinance restricting e-bikes, scooters on downtown sidewalks Berkley considers ordinance restricting e-bikes, scooters on downtown sidewalks
Under the bill, kids under the age of 14 would be prohibited from riding an e-bike on a public sidewalk, road or trail. It also requires kids between aged 14-17 to have written permission from a parent or guardian, and wear a safety helmet while riding.
Watch below: Bloomfield Township leaders consider moratorium after e-moto crash critically injured 2 teens Bloomfield Township leaders consider moratorium after e-moto crash at Telegraph and Hickory Grove
Ive seen too many freak accidents where young children wind up seriously harmed while riding one of these e-bikes, Runestad, R-White Lake, said in a statement. They arent the traditional bicycles that I rode when I was a kid these bikes can have way too much power for young children to be able to manage, which can result in injuries to themselves or to other bicyclists or bystanders.
The bill also has penalties for those who violate the law. The first offense is a warning and order to attend a safety education class. A second offense is a fine of not more than $100, and possible impoundment of the e-bike. The thi
Due to the fast speeds e-bikes are capable of reaching, riders must possess the required mental and physical capabilities to ride safely skills that are often underdeveloped in young children, Runestad said. This is just a simple safety check regarding the public use of these bikes.
The two NASA astronauts who led the Artemis II moonshot earlier this year are stepping away from spaceflight.
NASA announced Wednesday that Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will no longer serve as active astronauts but will continue to support the moon exploration program as emeritus astronauts.
Glover has taken a leadership job at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University, while Wiseman's future plans weren't disclosed. They flew around the moon in April with two other astronauts, setting a new distance record for humanity.
Artemis II's Jeremy Hansen retired from the Canadian Space Agency in July. That leaves Christina Koch as the only crew member still on the active astronaut rolls.
As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will donate their time to train and mentor NASA workers and share their knowledge for future moon missions. It's a new approach to taking advantage of expertise, according to the space agency.
"Together, they took on one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped return America to the lunar environment," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. "I'm grateful they will continue sharing what they learned."
Cal Poly said Glover will help shape long-term strategies and inspire students to study science and engineering. His new job in San Luis Obispo took effect Sept. 1, the same day he retired from the Navy.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Glover stressed "this is not a leaving ... for me, this is opening the aperture, not closing it down."
"I want to keep talking about how faith and science work together in my life," Glover said. "That's not NASA's mission, but I can still help NASA from the sidelines."
Instead of waiting to command a moon-landing mission, Glover said he decided to put spaceflight behind in order to focus his efforts on young people and spend more time with his wife and four daughters. Three of his daughters are currently enrolled at Cal Poly. The oldest has already graduated from there.
Wiseman's status change will take effect this month. Chosen by NASA as an astronaut in 2009, the retired Navy captain spent more than five months aboard the International Space Station in 2014, later becoming the space agency's chief astronaut.
After graduating from Cal Poly in 1999, Glover became a Navy test pilot before NASA picked him to be an astronaut in 2013. He served as pilot on SpaceX's second crew flight for NASA, a nearly six-month mission to the space station in 2020 and 2021.
Glover's eloquence stood out while flying to and from the moon.
Earth is an oasis in "a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe" where humanity exists as one, he observed from space. "This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we've got to get through this together."
Wiseman also tugged at heartstrings as he and his crew asked for permission to name one of the moon's craters after his late wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.
Last month, the Artemis II crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump during a ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
President Donald Trump announced that his administration will send $500 refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans who he says were overcharged for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
Trump said the payments stem from what he described as at least $500 million in excessive fees paid by consumers.
"Our Administration is doing the right thing and giving the money back to the people who were wrongly ripped off," Trump said in an announcement posted on social media.
The president said the checks will be mailed to eligible people in 30 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The checks are expected to be mailed within a "few weeks," the president said.
In his announcement, Trump also called on Congress to pass his "Great Health Care Plan." The president says the proposal would lower prescription drug prices and insurance premiums while requiring greater transparency from insurers about rates and billing.
The U.S. Supreme Court again rejected a push to use Missouri congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump on Thursday, a loss for Republicans trying to maintain control of the House in the fast-approaching midterm elections.
The decision appears to clear the way for use of the old maps.
It comes after a pitched court battle shortly before ballots begin going out for the pivotal November elections. The maps were drawn to help Republicans gain an additional U.S. House seat.
Its the second time the high court has refused to intervene to keep the Trump-backed maps in place.
Missouri was the second Republican-led state, after Texas, to enact new districts after Trump urged Republicans last year to redraw House districts to their advantage ahead of the midterm elections.
The revised Missouri districts targeted a Kansas City-based seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by shedding parts into neighboring districts and stretching the remainder into rural Republican areas. The goal is to help Republicans win seven of the states eight House seats in the midterm elections a gain of one seat.
Earth cooked to its hottest month on record in August, blowing far past a key climate threshold, due to the dangerous double whammy of human-caused climate change and a supersized El Nino, according to the European climate service Copernicus.
August's sizzle also helped push the globe and the United States to swelter through the hottest Northern Hemisphere summer scientists have measured.
Last month the world averaged 62.53 degrees Fahrenheit (16.96 degrees Celsius), which technically was one-hundredth of a degree Celsius more than the all-time global mark set in July 2023, but because that's also the uncertainty level, it's considered a tie, said Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead for Copernicus.
It is now time to stop acting surprised that our warming planet keeps getting warmer. This is occurring exactly as forecast by scientists literally decades ago, Texas A&M University climate scientist Andrew Dessler said in an email. The interesting question is not whether we will keep breaking heat records (we will), but whether were going to do anything about it or just stand there while the climate train runs us over.
Globally, August was 1.65 degrees Celsius (nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, far exceeding the longer term 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The eight hottest months on record have all been from July 2023 on, according to Copernicus data.
Our climate system is really operating well outside the range we would have expected just a decade ago, Burgess said Wednesday from a United Kingdom that has been beset with heat waves. We've transitioned from climate being very abstract and perhaps impacting the global South or far away places to climate impacting and disrupting our daily lives with schools closing, hospitals being overwhelmed, roads melting, train lines buckling. And the reality is we will get more of these conditions that we've seen this summer.
Global monthly ocean temperatures in August tied a March 2024 all-time record for warmest month recorded, while Aug. 22 set a record for hottest day recorded in the world's seas, according to Copernicus.
An extra hot summer hits
This summer has really been exceptional. Weve seen records that existed for close to 100 years be broken, in the U.S. in particular," Burgess said.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday announced that for the first time, summer in the Lower 48 states was hotter than during the peak of the devastating Dust Bowl in 1936. June through August of 2026 in the contiguous United States averaged 74.37 degrees (23.54 degrees Celsius), nearly four tenths of a degree warmer than the mark set 90 years earlier. Globally, this past summer also tied, with 2024, for the hottest on record, according to Copernicus.
In the U.S., August smashed heat records by more than half a degree Fahrenheit, averaging 75.58 degrees (24.21 degrees Celsius) and the average daytime high was a blistering 88.56 degrees (31.42 degrees Celsius), also a record. July was similarly record hot in the U.S., erasing another long-standing Dust Bowl mark.
That records are regularly getting broken, and that August and not July which is traditionally warmer set an all-time record, are signs that human-caused climate change is accelerating, Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said.
Copernicus data goes back to 1940. NOAA data for the United States goes back to 1895 and global data, which generally matches Copernicus data but takes longer to calculate, dates back to 1880.
Fossil fuels, El Nino blamed
Several scientists said while El Nino is a factor, this natural and temporary warming of parts of the Pacific that warps and warms weather globally is nowhere as big a cause as the heat-trapping gases emitted as humans burn coal, oil and natural gas.
While El Nino is starting to ramp up the heat, the underlying driver remains our relentless burning of fossil fuels. Climate change makes every El Nino hotter, and until we stop burning coal, oil, and gas these record-shattering months will simply keep on coming," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.
Burgess said El Nino generally adds only one or two tenths of a degree Celsius (two to four tenths Fahrenheit) to the global temperature with the overwhelming rest of the heat coming from the burning of fossil fuels.
This El Nino is forecast, however, to break records for strength in the coming months. And as temperatures continue to rise, heat waves, storms, floods and wildfires will get more frequent and more dangerous, said Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe.
According to Hausfather, it is increasingly likely that 2026 ends up beating 2024 as the warmest year on record, and almost certain that 2027 beats both, potentially reaching as high as 1.8 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels on the back of an unprecedentedly-strong El Nino event.
Some days may hit an even higher climate threshold, 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above mid 1800s, Burgess said.
Until humanity stops burning colossal amount of coal, oil and gas, the pollution this causes will keep baking our planet, and extreme heat will keep smashing all-time records, killing millions and costing trillions, hitting transport and health systems, and pushing up prices for household basics like food," United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said. This is the spiraling price of humanitys fossil fuel addiction, and the global climate crisis it is fueling.
Seven witnesses testified Wednesday in the preliminary hearing for the man charged in the homicide of 64-year-old Richard Alan Harris at Woodland Hills Nature Center in Farmington Hills.
Gabriel Bercea, 23, is charged with Harris' murder. His body was found on March 3.
Watch 7 Actions News reporter Ruta Ulcinaite's breakdown of what happened in court in the video below:
Witnesses describe potential last moments of Farmington Hills nature park homicide victim in court
Farmington Hills Police Officer Coley Morrison was the first officer to respond to the scene. She described what she found when she arrived.
"I observed a male, with his face into the ground and I observed deep lacerations and the head was almost sunken in," she said.
Officer Morrison also testified that she observed multiple wood logs scattered with blood, the victim's shoe and keys away from his body, and scuff marks at the scene.
Autumn Owens and a friend were hiking the trail that day. Owens testified that just before 4 p.m., she noticed what she thought was someone possibly resting on the ground.
"And I yelled out a couple times, 'Sir, sir are you okay? Sir?' There was no response," Owens said.
Owens called 911, and Harris was later declared dead.
Edward Mattox was also hiking the trail with his son that day. He testified that they spotted Bercea and Harris sitting together on a bench side by side prior to Harris' death.
"It was a younger man and an older man and the younger man had his arm around the back of the older man and I thought maybe they were father and son," Mattox testified.
What exactly transpired after that remains unclear.
Bercea sat silent during the entirety of the hearing as evidence photos were introduced and witnesses described their accounts.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the hearing will resume with the remaining witnesses on Oct. 28 at 47th District Court.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
The Michigan DNR is giving tips for people tips for viewing elk in the Northern Lower Peninsula, as Fall breeding season is near.
According to the DNR, elk are more active from late September through early October as they search and compete for mates.
"During this time of year, elk tend to congregate in open fields and the males bugle loudly, making for a great opportunity to experience the wild herd," the DNR said.
The DNR said that elk can primarily be found in areas through the Michigan DNR's Elk Management Area in Otsego, Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties.
There are actually 13 elk viewing areas throughout the Pigeon River Country State Forest and Atlanta State Forest northeast of Gaylord. You can see locations and coordinates below.
The elk population is estimated to be around 733 animals in the state, which aligns with the agency's management goal of between 500-900 elk. The DNR manages the elk hed for a larger proportion of bulls than other states in order to maximize viewing opportunities.
"Make sure to bring your binoculars, spotting scope or camera for close-up viewing while remaining a safe distance away from the elk. Road conditions in the viewing area are variable depending on weather. And remember to drive safely at dawn and dusk, when elk (and deer) are active and distracted during the breeding season," the DNR said.
The DNR is also offering family-friendly activities during the 42nd annual Atlanta Elk Festival, from Sept. 24-27.
A flight scheduled to carry Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway earlier this week was delayed when authorities closed Moldovas airspace because of a drone incursion, a government spokesperson said Wednesday.
Moldovan police said a Russian drone crashed on Tuesday in a sunflower field on the outskirts of a village in Riscani district, which caused four fires to break out but no injuries.
On Wednesday, government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici said Moldova had closed its airspace Tuesday afternoon to protect aircraft flying over the country at the time, delaying three departures, including the one carrying Zelenskyy.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre told broadcaster NRK that Zelenskyys plane was nearly hit by a drone as it took off from Moldova on its way to Oslo for King Harald Vs funeral. Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday and met Stre to discuss potential support for Ukraines air defenses before attending the kings funeral on Wednesday.
Moldovan authorities confirmed the drone came down and exploded 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Chiinu International Airport. The airspace restrictions were lifted and Zelenskyys plane took off later than scheduled.
The drone that entered Moldovan airspace on Tuesday crossed into neighboring Romania, a NATO member, where it was tracked through several northeastern counties.
The ministry said two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air and Space Forces were scrambled to track its trajectory before it reentered Moldovan airspace.
On Wednesday, Moldovas police said explosives experts discovered fragments of the drone that featured a propulsion system and characteristics similar to a Geran-type drone, which Moscow has used extensively in its full-scale war in Ukraine.
Investigations identified the point of impact, where an explosion occurred and a crater of considerable size was formed, police said, adding that specialists are continuing investigations to determine the type and mass of the explosive payload.
Ukraine neighbors both Romania and Moldova, and since Russias full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries have reported dozens of drone incidents.
President Donald Trump said he would give American adults $5,000 each to spend in the United States if Republicans win Novembers midterm elections. Trump made the remarks Wednesday while campaigning for Republicans at a midterm convention in Dallas.
Trump has made similar promises before, including proposals to reimburse Americans for tariff costs and DOGE-related cuts, though neither has materialized. He said Republicans would need to win both the House and Senate for the payments to be issued.
With over 260 million U.S. adults, the cost of such a proposal would be over $1 trillion.
Polls currently suggest Democrats could regain control of at least one chamber of Congress. Historically, the party out of power in the White House often gains seats during midterm elections.
Trump is making himself a central figure in the campaign, hoping voters will continue backing his agenda and Republican candidates aligned with him.
Because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000, Trump said. The only caveat I have is that the dividend ... must be spent in the United States of America.
Trump said he did not want the money spent in other countries, specifically mentioning China, Germany and Canada.
If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000, Trump said.
According to the Cook Political Report, control of Congress could hinge on 21 toss-up House races and six toss-up Senate races. Assuming each party wins the seats that currently lean in its favor, Republicans would need to win nine of the 21 House toss-ups and three of the six Senate toss-ups.
Nashville's airport is on the verge of a historic name change.
A Nashville International Airport board member said the board will officially vote Friday to approve renaming the airport Dolly Parton International Airport. All seven board members are expected to vote in favor, making the decision unanimous.
The airport's three-letter BNA designation will remain in place to honor Col. Harry S. Berry, who helped build the airport in 1939. The official name, however, will become Dolly Parton International Airport.
The board vote follows endorsements from Gov. Lee and the airport's CEO. Parton's family and foundation also appear to be in agreement with the renaming.
Once the vote is confirmed, the process to make the administrative name change with the FAA will begin. The renaming is expected to cost between $8 million and $10 million, with funding expected to come from Metro, state, and airport resources.
The board will also move immediately to eliminate Rule 2010-33, which currently requires that airport properties can only be named for people who have been dead for at least 2 years.
Those involved estimate the full process, including changing all signage and completing administrative paperwork, will take six months to a year before travelers can officially book a flight in or out of Dolly Parton International Airport.
Prediction markets are booming, with users betting on everything from elections and sports to the number of measles cases this year.
Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket let users wager on real-world events from award shows and gas prices to weather patterns in cities across the globe.
For some users, it's entertainment. For others, it's a potential source of income.
Borrowing money to bet
A new survey from BadCredit.org found that 53% of users started using prediction markets as a way to earn extra income or because they were struggling financially. But most bettors, 79%, report that they have lost money in the past year.
Consumer finance expert Erica Sandberg said the biggest red flag is borrowing money to keep betting. More than half of traders surveyed report using credit cards, personal loans, or other borrowed money to fund bets.
"You put yourself in a far worse position than you were before if you do lose the money and the odds are you will," Sandberg said.
She points out that prediction-market platforms, which blend elements of sports betting and financial trading, are hard to walk away from by design.
"These are simple to set up. You can bet in small increments. You can bet in large increments; you can see how well you're doing, and you can see how other people are placing their bets," Sandberg said. "It really sucks you in."
Sandberg said there's nothing wrong with using prediction markets for fun as long as users set limits.
"This is my play money for the week or my play money for the month," Sandberg said. "It is going to be up to you to self-moderate. Thats something that you are responsible for."
But treating the markets as a reliable revenue stream carries serious risk. Sandberg emphasized that prediction markets are entertainment, not a job.
"Treat it as income and you're going to be in a problematic situation really fast," she said.
Prediction markets are currently regulated as financial exchanges at the federal level. But 44 states argue they're really a form of gambling and should follow state gaming laws and tax rules. The issue could ultimately end up before the Supreme Court.
Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players have filed a lawsuit against the university and its board of regents, alleging they were sexually abused as part of hazing traditions.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Detroit, is from 16 former hockey players who played at the University of Michigan between 1984 and 2001.
"Plaintiffs played for the University of Michigan Mens Ice Hockey Team between 1984 and 2001. During that period, the Hockey Program adopted sexualized abuse as part of its standard hazing traditions," the lawsuit reads.
In the complaint, the former players alleged the graphic and disturbing alleged abuse, which included the forced shaving of genitals, tying men's testicles to hockey helmets or buckets weighed with hockey pucks, and in some cases, anal penetration.
"Men as young as seventeen years oldnew to adult life and in many cases dependent on hockey to access education at Michiganwere subjected to sexualized abuse that would be immediately recognized as torture under any other circumstance. The abuse was ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic," the lawsuit reads.
According to the complaint, the players allege that the hazing was known to former head coach Red Berenson, who coached the Wolverines from 1984 through 2017. They allege that Berenson instructed upperclassmen to shave "from the neck down" so it would not be visible when the players had clothes on.
They also allege that then-assistant coach Mel Pearson told players to "keep your head down" and "get through it" when one player reported the abuse.
Pearson, who was also the head coach for the Wolverines from 2017-2022, was let go as head coach after pressure and scrutiny over complaints made by multiple sources, including former players.
The complaint also mentions that in 2012, Berenson announced the end of "freshman hazing." A Michigan Daily article from the time reported that Bereson said "Weve taken the freshmen things out of our program. Theres no more freshmen carry the pucks, no more freshmen load the bus, freshmen eat last. Theyve earned the right to be here.
"At the time of the abuse, the vast majority of players believed their peers were responsible for the initiationthey were not aware of the role of Red Berenson and other officials in facilitating and concealing the abuse. Players did not realize and could not have realized the Universitys responsibility for the abuse. They did not have reason to know that others had previously complained to the University about the abuse. Nor did they have any way to know how the University responded to those prior complaints. The few players who did complain were met with dismissal. University staff normalized the abuse and conveyed to players that it was no big deal," the lawsuit reads.
You can read the full lawsuit below. Caution, there are graphic details.
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