Headlines from August 20 to August 22!

World News: 

U.S. Freezes Visas for Truck Drivers: The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday, August 21, that it is immediately halting work visas for commercial truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action was needed to protect American lives and the livelihoods of U.S. truckers. The decision comes after a recent fatal crash involving a foreign driver.

A "Breathing" Crystal Could Revolutionize Technology on August 22: Scientists announced a breakthrough in material science with the creation of a crystal that can "breathe" oxygen in and out like a pair of lungs. This new material is stable and reusable, which could make it perfect for new applications in electronics and energy storage.

Weird/Odd News:

Man Rescued After Getting Stuck in a Playground Slide: In fact, on August 22 firefighters in Connecticut responded to such a scenario, using a saw to cut apart a playground tube slide to free a 40-year-old man who had become lodged in the structure headfirst. While the man was obviously suffering from the heat, he was safely removed in approximately 30 minutes and declined any further medical attention.

"Lost African Tribe" Found in Scotland: A woman who had been reported missing was found on Wednesday, August 21, living among a group in Scotland who called themselves a "lost African tribe." When found, she simply told authorities to "leave me alone."

Monkey Meat Discovered at Airport: On Wednesday, August 20, U.S. Border Protection officials found 52 pounds of monkey meat inside a passenger's luggage at Detroit Metro Airport. It was not revealed what the traveler intended to do with the meat.

New Chips That Taste Like Batteries: A new snack company announced on August 22 that it's launching a line of corn chips that taste like "licking a 9-volt battery." The company says the flavor is aimed at millennials looking for a taste of '90s nostalgia.

A Pill That Diagnoses Sleep: Issues on Thursday, August 21, a new ingestible capsule was unveiled that can diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders from inside your body. The pill-sized capsule passes harmlessly through the digestive tract while measuring breathing and heart rates.

True Crime:

Parents of Missing 7-Month-Old Arrested: In a shocking turn of events on Wednesday, August 20, the parents of a missing 7-month-old baby, Emmanuel Haro, were arrested on suspicion of murder. The arrests came after the parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro, stopped cooperating with police in their investigation into the child's disappearance.

Erik Menendez Parole Denied: After more than 36 years in prison, Erik Menendez was denied parole on Thursday, August 21. The panel of commissioners cited his misbehavior in prison, including gang affiliation and having a cell phone, as a risk to public safety.

Lyle Menendez Also Denied Parole: Just one day after his brother, Lyle Menendez was also denied parole on Friday, August 22. The parole board concluded that Lyle, like Erik, had repeatedly violated prison rules and had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions.

Man Sentenced for Gang-Related Shooting: On August 20, a Waterloo man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a gang-related shooting. He was one of four who shot 34 rounds into a home with eight individuals, including a child.

Gymnastics Coach Arrested for Exploitation: The FBI announced on Thursday, August 21, that a former gymnastics coach has been arrested on a federal charge of sexually exploiting children. The FBI has launched a website to provide information and assistance to potential victims of the coach.

Prison Inmate Charged with Possessing a Weapon: On Wednesday, August 20, a federal inmate was charged with possession of a weapon while in prison. The charge comes as a reminder of the ongoing challenges of maintaining safety and order within correctional facilities.

Man Sentenced for Assaulting an Officer: A Sioux Falls woman was sentenced on Wednesday, August 20, after being convicted of assaulting a federal officer. The incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officials while performing their duties.

Ponzi Scheme Suspect Arrested in California: On Friday, August 22, deputies in Perris, California, arrested a suspect in a large-scale Ponzi scheme. The arrest followed an investigation that began in April into the extensive fraud.

Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced: Eleven individuals involved in a drug trafficking ring were sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday, August 20. The charges were part of a larger operation targeting violent gangs in Baton Rouge.

Celebrity/Hollywood:

‘Stranger Things’ Star Millie Bobby Brown Adopts a Baby Girl: On Thursday, August 21, the 21-year-old actress announced on Instagram that she and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, had adopted a baby girl. The couple had previously been open about their desire to start a family and asked for privacy during this "beautiful next chapter."

Meghan Trainor Looks Totally Different After Weight Loss: Meghan Trainor responded to comments about her “dramatic” weight loss after going viral on TikTok on Thursday, August 21. Trainor, who has been candid about her use of a weight-loss medication, clapped back with a sassy video of her own on Friday, August 22, proving she’s unfazed by the remarks.

Cracker Barrel Sparks Online Drama with New Logo: Cracker Barrel’s new logo, unveiled on Thursday, August 21, has sparked a firestorm online. The rebrand, which removes the iconic "old-timer" character, drew strong criticism from some who called it "depressing" and a betrayal of the brand's heritage.

Chris Martin Hilariously Addresses CEO Scandal: During a concert on Wednesday, August 20, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin made a joke about a scandal involving an Astronomer CEO. The witty comment resonated with the audience and showed how celebrities often use humor to address current events.

Science/Health:

Omega-3 Deficiency May Explain Women’s Alzheimer’s Risk: On August 22, new research found that women with Alzheimer's have a sharp loss of omega fatty acids, a deficiency not seen in men with the disease. This discovery suggests that omega-rich diets could be a key tool for prevention, pointing to new sex-specific approaches to the illness.

Protein Found That Reverses Brain Aging: Scientists at UCSF found that a protein called FTL1 causes memory loss and weak brain connections in mice. In a groundbreaking study on August 20, researchers successfully blocked the protein, causing the mice to regain youthful cognitive function.

New Safety Concerns About Tylenol During Pregnancy: A large-scale review released on Thursday, August 21, found that the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy may increase a child's risk of developing autism and ADHD. The findings suggest that even common over-the-counter medications may have hidden risks.

A "Breathing" Crystal Could Revolutionize Technology: On August 22, scientists announced a breakthrough in material science with the creation of a crystal that can "breathe" oxygen in and out like a pair of lungs. This new material is stable and reusable, which could make it perfect for new applications in electronics and energy storage.

Technology/AI:

Missouri Community Fights Off AI Data Center: Residents in St. Charles, Missouri, successfully fought off plans for a large, secretive AI data center, with the developer withdrawing the proposal this week on August 20. The opposition grew due to a lack of transparency about the project and its potential impact on the community.

NVIDIA Unveils New Technology for "Giga-Scale" AI: On Friday, August 22, NVIDIA announced a new product called Spectrum-XGS Ethernet. The technology is designed to link data centers across vast distances, enabling the creation of "giga-scale AI super-factories" that combine millions of GPUs into a single, unified system.

Oracle Integrates GPT-5 into its Software: Oracle has begun rolling out OpenAI's advanced GPT-5 language model across its entire database and application suite, according to a report on Friday, August 22. This move brings powerful generative and agentic AI capabilities directly into core business workflows like code generation and multi-step reasoning.

A Self-Healing Sensor Is Developed: Researchers in Belgium announced on August 21 that they have developed a stretchable sensor that can fully repair itself after being cut in half. The sensor is made from a special polymer that reforms its original structure within 24 hours at room temperature, which could have applications in prosthetics and robotics.

Business/Economy:

Stocks Rally as Fed Chair Hints at Rate Cut: After a volatile week for the markets, stocks rebounded on Friday, August 22, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted at a potential interest rate cut. His comments eased concerns about a "higher rates for longer" environment and were enough to send Wall Street rallying.

Target CEO Steps Down Amid Sales Decline: On Wednesday, August 20, Target announced that its CEO, Brian Cornell, would be stepping down from his role. The leadership change comes as the retail giant reported a decline in sales, despite profits that met analyst expectations.

Over 1 million Anker Power Banks Recalled: Anker Innovations recalled more than 1.1 million power banks on Friday, August 22, after receiving 19 reports of fires and explosions. The recall affects the company's Powercore 10000 model because the lithium-ion batteries within the devices can overheat, posing fire and burn risks.

That’s all I’ve got for today. If you made it this far, thanks for hanging out with me. I’ll be back with more insights tomorrow, and of course, the news roundup drops every Wednesday and Saturday.

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Until then, stay curious and stay sharp. See you tomorrow!