AM Prep-Cooler Copy

Feeling the heat as Earth breaks yet another record for hottest summer

Summer 2024 sweltered to Earth’s hottest on record, making it even more likely that this year will end up as the warmest humanity has measured, That's according to the European climate service Copernicus. Scientists say the records the globe shattered were set just last year as human-caused climate change, with a temporary boost from an El Nino, keeps dialing up temperatures and extreme. The northern meteorological summer — June, July and August — averaged 16.8 degrees Celsius (62.24 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s 0.03 degrees Celsius (0.05 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the old record in 2023. Copernicus records go back to 1940, but American, British and Japanese records, which start in the mid-19th century, show the last decade has been the hottest since regular measurements were taken and likely in about 120,000 years, according to some scientists.

Teen vaping hits 10-year low in the US

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government officials reported Thursday that fewer adolescents are vaping this year than at any point in the last decade, pointing to a shrinking number of high school students who are using Elf Bar and other fruity, unauthorized e-cigarettes. The latest survey numbers show the teen vaping rate fell to under 6% this year, down from 7.7% in 2023. More than 1.6 million students reported vaping in the previous month — about one-third the number in 2019, when underage vaping peaked with the use of discrete, high-nicotine e-cigarettes like Juul. This year’s decline was mainly driven by a half-million fewer high school students who reported using e-cigarettes in the past month. Vaping was unchanged among middle schoolers, but remains less common in that group, at 3.5% of students.

Red Lobster says it will soon exit bankruptcy protection after judge approves seafood chain’s sale

NEW YORK (AP) — After months of dozens of restaurant closings and headlines about “endless shrimp” woes, Red Lobster is poised to soon exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved the casual seafood chain’s reorganization plan and sale to a lender group led by asset manager Fortress. The green light follows years of mounting losses and dwindling customers while it struggled to keep up with competitors. Red Lobster said Thursday that it expects to operate about 544 locations across the U.S. and Canada upon emerging from bankruptcy. That’s down from 578 disclosed as of May’s filing.

Michigan newlyweds charged after groomsman is struck and killed by SUV

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Michigan authorities say a newlywed couple has been charged in the death of a groomsman who was struck by a vehicle on the wedding day. Police said the groom, James Shirah, was at the wheel when the SUV hit Terry Taylor Jr. in Flint on Aug. 30. Police say Taylor was was involved in an argument, which led to him being intentionally struck by a large SUV that was traveling at a high rate of speed. Shirah was being held in jail without bond. His 21-year-old wife was charged with being an accessory. She posted bond Wednesday.