Despite health warnings that say sitting for too long can cause adverse health outcomes, standing for long periods of time does not provide any benefit, according to a newly released study by University of Sydney researchers.

The study says that in addition to not showing any cardiovascular benefit of standing, there is an increased risk of circulatory issues related to standing, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

The study notes that there was an 11% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease for every 30 minutes of standing beyond two hours per day.

RELATED STORY | Sitting at work leads to higher risk of early death, study finds

The study suggests that the lack of movement, whether it be from sitting or standing, is the root cause of cardiovascular issues.

The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long term and increases the risk of circulatory issues, kead author Dr. Matthew Ahmadi said.

The University of Sydneys study was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

The research should not be taken as an invitation to sit for long periods of time. The research still notes an increased risk of cardiovascular problems associated with long periods of sitting.

Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement, said Emmanuel Stamatakis, director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub

RELATED STORY | 1 in 5 Americans experience loneliness after Surgeon General called it an 'epidemic'

Researchers note that the data used was not explicitly collected on standing desk usage. The purpose of the study was to measure the cardiovascular and circulatory impacts of increased standing.

According to previous Harvard research, those who stand generally burn about 88 calories per hour compared to 80 calories per hour while sitting. But those who walk for an hour burn 210 calories.

A new survey released by Realtor.com found that about 1 in 4 Americans say local and national politics influence where they decide to live.

The poll found that millennials were most likely to say politics would influence their decision to relocate. The poll found that 33% of millennials would factor politics into their decision.

The poll also revealed that 17% of Americans said they have considered moving because their politics don't align with the majority of people in their area.

The poll says liberals were slightly more likely than conservatives to use politics as a determining factor in moving. The poll found that 30% of liberals, 27% of conservatives and 18% of moderates would factor in politics when moving. Realtor.com said that 24% of liberals said they have considered relocating because of politics.

RELATED STORY | 3 weeks before Election Day, here's where the races for president, Congress stand

Choosing where to live is often a complex decision and for many Americans, especially millennials, local and national politics are factors that influence where they live, said Danielle Hale, Realtor.com chief economist. With both local and national politicians making decisions that impact daily life, both socially and fiscally, it makes sense that many would prefer to live in areas where the politics align with their own beliefs. Some go so far as to consider moving to find that alignment.

Earlier this year, Redfin reported that 1 in 3 real estate agents reported working with at least one client who specifically moved because of politics.

"Factors like housing affordability, proximity to family and living close to job centers often outweigh political preferences or local laws when people are choosing where to live. But with the pandemic-driven rise in remote work, more Americans have the flexibility to factor in political preferences and local laws in deciding which metro area to call their hometown," Redfin said.

RELATED STORY | Could New York turn red while Florida shifts blue? Movers could upend electoral map

According to the Center for Politics, the number of counties where one candidate wins at least 80% of the vote has significantly grown in the last few decades.

In 2004, just 197 counties in the U.S. gave one candidate at least 80% of its vote. In 2020, that number neared 700, representing 22% of the nation's counties.

The Biden administration announced Thursday that 1 million borrowers have had their student debt canceled under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program during his administration.

The announcement comes after the White House approved another $4.7 billion in student debt cancellation for 60,000 additional public service workers. Prior to President Joe Biden taking office, the White House said that a mere 7,000 had received forgiveness under the PSLF program.

"We vowed to fix that, and because of actions from our Administration, now over 1 million public service workers have gotten the relief they are entitled to under the law," Biden said in a statement.

The PSLF program is among several the White House has touted in its efforts to reduce the burden of student loan debt for millions of Americans. The PSLF program was approved by Congress in 2007 and signed into law by President George W. Bush.

RELATED STORY | Navient to pay back student loan borrowers $100 million in federal settlement

Public service workers are eligible for debt cancellation after making the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan while working full-time for an eligible employer.

When student loan borrowers began applying for loan forgiveness 10 years after the program went into effect, most were denied relief.

The White House said it made administrative fixes that broadened the definition of qualifying payments. The result has been far more debt cancellations being processed by the Department of Education.

Since the program was created by Congress, it has not faced the kind of scrutiny by Republicans as other changes to student loans proposed by the Biden administration.

RELATED STORY | 30 million student loan borrowers to get email about student debt forgiveness

One of the programs that has faced legal battles is the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which offers forgiveness to borrowers who made payments for at least 10 years and originally took out up to $12,000. Eligible borrowers would have their loans automatically forgiven. Forgiveness through the SAVE Plan remains in limbo pending court rulings.

Vice President Kamala Harris has said that she would continue efforts to bring student debt relief if elected.

"Our Administration has forgiven over $170 billion in student debt for nearly five million people throughout the country more than any Administration in history," she said. "And while Republican elected officials do everything in their power to block millions of their own constituents from receiving this much needed economic relief, I will continue our work to lower costs, make higher education more affordable, and relieve the burden of student debt. I am fully committed to doing what is necessary to build an economy that works for every American."

Republicans have countered that programs like SAVE should not be implemented through executive order and should instead go through Congress.

Once again, the Biden administration has decided to steal from the poor and give to the rich," said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who has sued the Biden administration over student loan forgiveness programs such as SAVE. "He is forcing people who did not go to college, or who worked their way through college, to pay for the loans of those who ran up exorbitant student debt. This coalition of Republican attorneys general will stand in the gap and stop Biden."

For more info on paying student loans and seeing if you qualify, click this link.

As the Southeast recovers from a pair of hurricanes that devastated the region, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it has approved $1.8 billion for disaster recovery and response efforts.

The funds include temporary assistance for individuals in addition to public assistance for states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure.

The Biden administration said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance following Hurricane Helene.

RELATED STORY | Nearly 100 people still unaccounted for in North Carolina following Helene

For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million. FEMA has spent $16 million on assisting individuals with the rest going toward public assistance.

FEMA has encouraged those eligible for disaster relief to apply for assistance online by visiting disasterassistance.gov.

As of earlier this week, over 8,500 federal personnel were deployed, which includes over 4,200 FEMA workers, to assist in recovery efforts.

Hurricane Helene roared on shore September 26 as a Category 4 along the Florida Gulf Coast, but its most devastating impacts were felt in western North Carolina as flooding overwhelmed the Asheville region. Three weeks after landfall, many schools remain closed as residents struggle to return to normal.

RELATED STORY | Many schools are still closed weeks after Hurricane Helene. Teachers worry about long-term impact

Two weeks after Helenes landfall, Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area as a Category 3. The hurricane caused widespread wind damage and spun up numerous tornadoes.

Many Georgians stood in long lines on Tuesday as the state began early voting ahead of next month's presidential election.

According to data provided by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, more than 310,000 voters voted in person in Georgia on Tuesday. Additionally, over 24,000 absentee ballots have been accepted so far.

Georgia is considered one of seven hotly contested states in this year's presidential election. The immense focus on the Peach State has come with polls showing a nearly deadlocked race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. There is a strong possibility that whoever wins Georgia's 16 Electoral College votes will become president.

RELATED STORY | 3 weeks before Election Day, here's where the races for president, Congress stand

"We shattered records today," said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. "Georgias voting system has proven secure, efficient, & accurate."

The record day of balloting came as a judge ruled on Tuesday that a new rule requiring officials to count the number of ballots by hand cannot slow down election certification in the state. Democrats had accused election officials of trying to use the rule to eliminate votes from Democratic-leaning counties. That claim has been refuted by Raffensperger.

RELATED STORY | Presidential candidates hit airwaves for major interviews as Election Day nears

In Georgia in 2020, Democratic candidate Joe Biden did well with absentee mail-in balloting, while Trump performed better with both in-person early balloting and Election Day voting. The 2020 election occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden won the state by about 12,000 votes out of nearly 5 million cast.

The Biden administration has enacted the Defense Production Act after the Food and Drug Administration said that Hurricane Helene caused a shortage of IV fluids.

IV fluid maker Baxter reported in late September that its plant in North Cove, North Carolina, was impacted by the rain from Helene, causing damage to inventory and raw materials. There was also limited access to the plant as nearby roadways leading to the plant collapsed.

In response, the United States Department of Health and Human Services invoked the Defense Production Act to help Baxter obtain materials needed to clean and reopen the facility. HHS also said it would expedite inspections to help Baxter reopen its North Cove facility.

RELATED STORY | Many schools are still closed weeks after Hurricane Helene. Teachers worry about long-term impact

Baxter says that it has not identified any structural damage to the plant, and that it is undergoing remediation.

Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration is allowing Baxter to temporarily import 19 different IV solution and dialysis products from five different international manufacturing plans to bolster domestic supply. The facilities are located in Canada, China, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"These importation authorizations and the ability to reallocate capacity from other Baxter facilities enabled us on Oct. 9 to increase U.S. allocation levels of our highest demand IV fluids for direct customers from 40% to 60%, and for distributors from 10% to 60%," Baxter said. 

RELATED STORY | Nearly 100 people still unaccounted for in North Carolina following Helene

The American Hospital Association welcomed the announcement that Baxter would begin importing fluids. 

Baxters announcement is welcome news for patients and health care providers, AHA President Rick Pollack said in a statement. We appreciate the administrations collaboration with us on this and their responses to date to ensure the needs of hospitals and patients are met. While we know the recovery from this historic storm will take time, we are grateful for the ongoing commitment to mitigate these supply chain disruptions and ensure access to care for patients.  

Baxter said that it hopes that to reopen its North Cove facility in phases by the end of the year, although it could not say when it would be able to ramp production back to pre-hurricane levels.

IV fluids are commonly used in hospitals to prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

"IV fluids are specially formulated liquids that are injected into a vein to prevent or treat dehydration. Intravenous rehydration is a simple and safe procedure used in people who are sick, injured, dehydrated from exercise or heat, or undergoing surgery," the Cleveland Clinic said.

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will participate in widely anticipated interviews on Wednesday.

Harris, who avoided doing interviews for the first month of her campaign, has ramped up her appearances in recent weeks. On Wednesday, she will participate in an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier. That interview is scheduled to air at 6 p.m. ET.

The interview will be taped about one hour before being aired, Baier said. He said he expects the interview to last 25-30 minutes.

"We are going to run it uninterrupted, unedited, all the way," Baier said on Fox News.

RELATED STORY | 3 weeks before Election Day, here's where the races for president, Congress stand

The Fox News anchor's interview will originate from Pennsylvania, a state both parties see as a must-win in next month's presidential election.

"We have a lot of eyeballs. We have Democrats, independents and Republicans," Baier said on Fox News. "We have the biggest cable news audience. And this is probably going to get a lot more eyeballs. I think tough but fair is what I pitched it as. And I think that's what they're going to see."

Harris' appearance on Fox News airs seven hours after Trump participates in a town hall with female voters on Fox News' "The Faulkner Focus."

RELATED STORY | Trump, Harris barnstorm battleground Pennsylvania, wooing a crucial constituency

Later on Wednesday, Trump will appear on Univision to speak with Latino voters. Univision anchor Enrique Acevedo will moderate the forum.

The town hall will air in Spanish on Univision but will be available on the network's YouTube page in English. The interview will air at 10 p.m. ET.

Trump's town hall appearance comes a week after Harris participated in a similar town hall with Latino voters.

After the National Hurricane Center had three hurricanes to follow in the Atlantic basin last week, including Hurricane Milton, this week has gotten off to a much quieter start.

Currently, there are no named tropical storms or hurricanes in the Atlantic for the National Hurricane Center to track, but there is one disturbance that is drawing the agency's attention. AL94 has formed in the open Atlantic Ocean and is moving to the west.

RELATED STORY | Florida's citrus growers left scrambling after Hurricane Milton

Although AL94 has a slim chance of development before Thursday, the National Hurricane Center says there is a 60% chance the system will turn into a tropical depression or tropical storm by Sunday.

The system's development is being hampered by dry air but will move into a more favorable area for growth. The storm system is expected to move toward the Leeward Islands this weekend.

It's too early to tell if the system will pose any threat to the mainland U.S. if it develops.

The next tropical storm to form in the Atlantic will be given the name Nadine.

RELATED STORY | Getting a refund for a Florida vacation disrupted by storms may not be easy

So far in 2024, there have been 13 named systems with nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Three of the major hurricanes that formed in the Atlantic directly impacted the U.S., including two that were major hurricanes at the time of landfall.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the Florida Gulf Coast just weeks apart as major hurricanes. Hurricane Beryl, which reached Category 5 status days before approaching the U.S., made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane.

Getting COVID-19 increases a persons risk of having a heart attack or stroke at the same rate as developing heart disease, a new study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology claims.

The new study, led be researchers at the University of Southern California, UCLA and Cleveland Clinic, included 10,005 people who had COVID-19 and 217,730 people who did not get infected between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.

The study began when COVID-19 vaccinations were not widely available. Since only a small number of Americans had gotten a COVID-19 shot by late December 2020, the study only included those who had not been vaccinated.

RELATED STORY | Harnessing Your Health: What you need to know about COVID-19, flu, and RSV for the fall and winter

The researchers said they looked for links between the severity of COVID-19 infections and major cardiac events over approximately three years. What they found was that a hospitalization caused by COVID-19 put people at a similar, if not higher, risk for future strokes, heart attacks and other problems as someone with heart disease.

The study also noted that those with non-O blood types faced a particularly higher risk of cardiac events.

Were trying to rule out other alternative explanations, but it looks like theres really something biological going on with these specific blood groups, said Hooman Allayee, lead author of the study and professor at USC.

The new data could help inform doctors when determining if a person is at a higher risk of a cardiac event.

RELATED STORY | Most Americans don't plan to get an updated COVID shot despite recommendations

This study underscores that we should consider history of prior COVID-19 infection when formulating cardiovascular disease preventive plans and goals, said co-senior author Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at Cleveland Clinic.

Octobers full moon marks the third of four so-called supermoons in a row as the moon appears brighter and larger than usual.

The full moon occurs Thursday morning in the U.S.

A supermoon is defined as a new or full moon that is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. Octobers supermoon will be the brightest of all full moons in 2024, according to NASA.

RELATED STORY | NASA launches mission to Jupiter's moon

Why do we get supermoons?

The moons orbit around Earth is somewhat irregular and elliptical. The distance between the Earth and moon varies. The moon isat perigee, meaning it is on a relatively close approach to Earth. On Thursday, the moon will be about 222,000 miles from the Earth.

When the moon is at apogee, it can be over 253,000 miles away.

RELATED STORY | NASA clears up confusion regarding strange sound from Starliner

The October supermoon is just slightly closer than Septembers, and will largely look similar.

NASA says that supermoons during the full moon can appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest full moon of the year.

Thursdays full moon also a hunter moon

Since full moons are spread out once per month, each months moon is given its own special name. The October full moon is considered a hunters moon.

According to Old Farmers Almanac, the full moon following the September harvest moon indicates it is time to hunt for the winter as the leaves fall.

Amazon announced this week that it plans to begin same-day pharmacy deliveries in 20 new cities across the U.S. in 2025, which will allow it to cover half of the U.S. population.

While Amazon did not announce a full list of cities where it plans to offer same-day pharmacy service, Boston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and San Diego will be among the 20 cities added. Amazon said it will use its vast logistics network and advanced automation technology to provide affordable and fast same-day pharmacy service.

RELATED STORY |Amazon's return-to-office mandate highlights festering tensions over remote work

Amazon says that in most cases, a customer can order medication by 4 p.m. and receive it at home by 10 p.m. where it offers same-day service.

"In health care, speed and accessibility are critical for positive patient outcomes," said Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy. "There's often an important window of time after getting diagnosed when it's most vital to start your medication. At Amazon, we're using our world-class delivery capabilities to get medicine to patients within hours of being prescribed. This rapid access increases the likelihood patients engage immediately in their care and adhere to treatment routines, which is shown to improve health outcomes."

RELATED STORY | Amazon Prime Days gets underway; top competitors also offering deals

New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Indianapolis, Miami, Phoenix, and Seattle are among cities already with same-day pharmacy service.

Amazon Pharmacy has also provided service to those in far reaches in the U.S. Outside of major cities, Amazon says prescriptions are generally delivered 1-4 days after an order is placed.

Consumer Reports joined growing calls to ban infant walkers in the U.S. years after Canada implemented a law prohibiting the sale and import of such products.

In 2018, Nationwide Children's Hospital, based in Columbus, Ohio, published a study indicating that between 1990 and 2014, 230,676 children were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries sustained by using infant walkers. The study noted that injuries declined after 2010 when federal officials implemented stronger safety standards for walkers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended against using infant walkers.

Federal rules require infant walkers to have four features:

- Prevention of falls down stairs

- Tipping resistance

- Dynamic and static load testing on seating area

- Occupant retention

RELATED STORY | Infant walkers sold on Amazon deemed unsafe

Consumer Reports says these rules dont go far enough.

The evidence is clear: Infant walkers are unsafe, and the current federal standard fails to address their well-known risks, Oriene Shin, CRs policy counsel, said in a report. Thousands of babies continue to be injured by these products every year, and parents deserve better choices for products that support their babys development. Congress should ban infant walkers and help parents keep their babies safe as they grow and learn how to walk.

Shin notes that there have been numerous recalls of baby walkers. But the fact that these items can be resold online remains concerning.

RELATED STORY | Fisher-Price recalls 2 million infant swings after 5 deaths due to suffocation risk

Parents and caregivers have countless options online and need to be able to trust that any baby product they buy is going to be safe, Shin said in the report. It should be the rare exceptionnot the normfor consumers to encounter dangerous products like old infant walkers that would fail todays U.S. standards and are banned elsewhere. Platforms should take their responsibility much more seriously to prevent the listing of unsafe baby products and respond quickly when they learn about a hazard.

Without a ban in place, Consumer Reports says consumers should avoid these products.

This Sunday marks the running of the Chicago Marathon, one of the worlds six majors, and it will include a field of Olympians, elite athletes and everyday people.

It will also include the reigning Miss USA winner.

Alma Cooper is among those participating in Sundays race that is among the largest in the world. She is using the race as a fundraiser for Apna Ghar, a human rights organization working to end gender violence. 

RELATED STORY | Is it the shoes? Runner shatters women's marathon world record

Apna Ghar is more than just a shelter; its a lifeline. They provide critical services like emergency housing, counseling, and legal support, helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and strength, Cooper wrote. 

Getting to the finish line requires Cooper and others to complete a 26.2-mile course in under six hours, 30 minutes. Last years winner, the now-deceased Kelvin Kiptum, ran the course in a world record two hours, 35 seconds. 

While Cooper probably wont be setting any world records, she has still been training hard for Sundays race. 

Running has always been my form of self-care. Its taught me that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I wouldnt want to run 26.2 miles with any other team, she said. 

RELATED STORY | At 23 weeks pregnant, woman outruns 7,900 others to win half marathon

Cooper was crowned Miss USA in August as she studies at Stanford. She has continued her studies after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. 

After her run in Chicago, she will have a month to get ready to compete to be Miss Universe in November.

The northern lights were visible throughout much of the northern U.S. late Thursday after a solar flare produced a geomagnetic storm.

Forecasters had said that the aurora borealis had the potential to be visible as far south as the Carolinas and California.

Throughout the northern half of the U.S., green and purple hues of light could be seen in the night sky. The northern lights became even more vibrant for many as the moon set late in the evening.

RELATED STORY | 'Absolutely unreal': Astronaut witnesses aurora from space

The aurora came after officials issued a geomagnetic storm watch.

The Space Weather Prediction Center said that a severe geomagnetic storm can cause issues on the ground. Severe geomagnetic storms can cause electric grids to have "possible widespread voltage control problems, and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid." The agency says spacecraft "may experience surface charging and tracking problems; corrections may be needed for orientation problems."

Auroras are caused by the solar wind interacting with Earths magnetic field. These auroras tend to navigate around the Earths magnetic poles.

The solar wind particles funnel around to the long tail of the magnetosphere, where they become trapped, NASA said. When magnetic reconnection occurs, the particles are accelerated toward Earths poles. Along the way, particles can collide with atoms and molecules in Earths upper atmosphere, an interaction that provides the atoms with extra energy, which is released as a burst of light. These interactions continue at lower and lower altitudes until all the incoming energy is lost. When we see the glowing aurora, we are watching a billion individual collisions, lighting up the magnetic field lines of Earth.

Will aurora be seen Friday night?

The geomagnetic storm is continuing on Friday, but forecasters say early indications say conditions are dying down. The Space Weather Prediction Center predicts that aurora could be visible in the northernmost reaches of the contiguous U.S., including Maine and parts of Michigan and Minnesota.

RELATED STORY | Massive star offers new details on the most magnetic objects in space

However, aurora forecasts can change, and forecasters could update their predictions later today.

While over 2 million customers remain without power, some Florida attractions and airports reopened on Friday following Hurricane Milton.

Tampa International Airport reopened Friday at 8 a.m. The airport reopened after canceling over 1,000 flights over the last three days, according to Flight Aware. The airport has canceled 26% of its scheduled departures on Friday as operations slowly resume.

Orlando International Airport is also slowly returning to normal after allowing some arrivals late Thursday. The airport resumed departures on Friday. Even with being reopen, 22% of flights departing Orlando on Friday have been canceled.

RELATED STORY | 'Very lucky to be alive': Florida homeowners survey damage from Hurricane Milton

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers resumed operations on Friday after canceling nearly 200 flights on Thursday. Like Tampa and Orlando, about one in five flights leaving Southwest Florida International have been canceled on Friday.

Although the major airports in Tampa and Orlando resumed operations on Friday, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport said the airport will remain closed through at least Wednesday of next week as officials continue assessing the damage there. The airport handles over 100 commercial flights per day.

Some major attractions also reopened on Friday as well. Disney said that Walt Disney World, Disney Springs and other areas have reopened. Universal Orlando said that it resumed normal operations on Friday. SeaWorld Orlando also reopened on Friday.

RELATED STORY | Dozens rescued following tornadoes that spawned from Hurricane Milton

In Tampa, which is closer to where Hurricane Milton made landfall, Busch Gardens remained closed on Friday.

Although in some parts of Florida, life is returning to normal, crews are still assessing the damage and picking up debris. Officials have warned residents to avoid downed power lines as crews work to restore service.

In addition to damage from Hurricane Milton's wind, rain and storm surge, it spawned dozens of tornadoes throughout the state.

Speaking nearly 12 hours after Hurricane Milton's landfall, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that although the storm left significant damage, the state was spared from the worst-case scenario officials feared.

The hurricane weakened on Wednesday from a Category 5 down to a Category 3, which meteorologists had forecast. Although forecasters accurately predicted wind shear would cause Milton to weaken, there were concerns that wind shear would not be enough to take away Milton's fury.

Although the damage was extensive, it was not catastrophic.

RELATED STORY | Hurricane Milton exits Florida after knocking out power to 3 million customers

"First responders have been working all through the night to help people who were in distress," DeSantis said. "And what we can say is the storm was significant but thankfully, this was not the worst-case scenario. The storm did weaken before landfall and the storm surge as initially reported has not been as significant overall as what was observed for Hurricane Helene."

DeSantis also briefed President Joe Biden on Hurricane Milton's impacts to Florida.

"The president reiterated that he will provide any support the state needs to speed response and recovery," the White House said on Thursday. "FEMA Administrator Criswell participated in the call and will be surveying the impacts with the governor this morning."

RELATED STORY | Here's how to send texts or summon help via satellite using an iPhone

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to receive a briefing at 11 a.m. ET. from Criswell, who is meeting with DeSantis this morning

The briefing will also include a discussion over Hurricane Helene recovery efforts nearly two weeks after that storm devastated the southeast, leaving over 200 people dead. Western North Carolina has struggled to return to normal as the storm left massive flooding damage in its wake.

The Social Security Administration announced that it will increase benefits by 2.5% for recipients in 2025. The SSA's announcement came as the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the updated consumer price index, indicating the price of goods and services increased 2.4% in the 12-month period ending in September.

About 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will get the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment starting in January. Nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will get the adjustment starting on Dec. 31.

Recipients will average about $50 more in benefits per month.

Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool, said Martin OMalley, commissioner of Social Security.

RELATED STORY | US inflation rate down to lowest levels since early 2021

But some experts have said Social Security has failed to keep up with actual costs incurred by recipients.

The Senior Citizens League said that Social Security recipients have lost 20% of their buying power since 2010.

The organization said that between 2010 and 2024, Social Security recipients have received 58% more in benefits, but the cost of goods and services seniors use has gone up 73%. During that time, the average cost of living adjustment has been 3.9%.

"Seniorsand TSCLdemand that Congress takes immediate action to strengthen COLAs to ensure Americans can retire with dignity, such as instituting a minimum COLA of 3 percent and changing the COLA calculation," said The Senior Citizens League Executive Director Shannon Benton.

RELATED STORY | Spirit Halloween to open Christmas-themed stores

The Social Security Administration says it bases its cost-of-living adjustment on the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases consumer price index data monthly.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance. Items like food, shelter and energy tend to be weighted more heavily.

Multiple federal agencies posted a warning to consumers to be on the lookout for price gougers and scammers looking to capitalize from natural disasters.

The warning came on Wednesday from the Department of Justice and other agencies hours before Hurricane Milton's landfall. The agencies said consumers often face extreme stress and can fall prey to such schemes.

RELATED STORY | Hurricane Milton exiting Florida after knocking out power to 3 million customers

Officials were warning of the following scams:

Fraudulent charities soliciting donations for disaster victims that often imitate the names of charities linked to the disaster Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money Scammers promoting non-existent businesses or investment opportunities related to disaster recovery, such as rebuilding or flood-proofing Price gouging for essential goods and services needed by disaster victims Businesses using supply chain disruptions as a cover for collusion to overcharge customers

As Americans seek safety from natural disasters, were hearing troubling reports of price gouging for essentials that are necessary for people to get out of harms way from hotels to groceries to gas, said Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina M. Khan. No American should have to worry about paying grossly inflated prices when fleeing a hurricane. In partnership with state enforcers, the FTC will keep fighting to ensure that Americans can get the relief they need without being ripped off by bad actors exploiting a crisis.

RELATED STORY | Here's how to send texts or summon help via satellite using an iPhone

The government said scammers will insist you pay for services by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or in cash. Officials also said not to sign over insurance checks, and always be sure to get written estimates for repairs.

Consumers can report potential fraud online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Instances of price gouging can be reported by visiting www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

As Sams Club has introduced Scan & Go at more locations, the wholesale membership retailer will now rely on the technology to replace checkouts at one store.

According to CNBC, Sams Club will open a digital-only location in Dallas later this month where customers will scan QR codes and go straight to the items in the app, taking away the need for cashiers. In the areas usually reserved for checkouts, CNBC reports the store will feature online-only items, such as a 12-foot Christmas tree.

Its kind of the physical manifestation of a journey were trying to go on as a company, Sams Club CEO Chris Nicholas told CNBC.

RELATED STORY | Should you shop Amazon Big Deal Days and Target Circle Week or wait until Black Friday?

Sams Club parent company Walmart says the Scan & Go technology uses artificial intelligence so that receipts dont have to be verified at the exit.

A combination of computer vision and digital technology deployed in the exit area of the club captures images of carts and verifies payment for all items within a members basket, the company says. With AI working in the background to continually speed the process, this digital innovation not only streamlines the members exit, but also allows exit greeters to refocus their time and expertise to assisting members and ensuring they have an enjoyable shopping experience.

RELATED STORY | Amazon launches 'no frills' private label grocery brand; Prime customers get discounts

Having this technology will also allow Sams Club to handle higher customer volumes, Nicholas told CNBC.

Sams Club noted that it has been able to use AI-powered checkout technology at 20% of its stores, as of earlier this year. It hopes to use the technology to create an advantage over rivals such as Costco, which have been slower at rolling out this sort of technology.

Costco in recent years has installed self-checkout lines at its stores, but there have been struggles with those. Costco has since started requiring employees to individually check membership cards before customers utilize self-checkout.