Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA says 03. October 2026 (02:27) Announcement from US officials comes after CDC declared end to outbreak that infected nearly 13,000 peopleThe Food and Drug Administration said on Friday its inspectors had detected cyclospora at the Mexican farm blamed for the largest foodborne illness outbreak of the parasite in US history.FDA inspectors said Friday they found cyclospora in two places: a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch used for lettuce cultivation. They said it was unclear how the lettuce became infected. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard found dead in Louisiana home 03. October 2026 (01:53) Kenan ‘Ken’ Urker, 34, who died of apparent drug overdose, was partner of woman convicted of murder of mother The on-and-off partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who spent time in prison for her role in the murder of her abusive mother, was found dead inside his Louisiana home on his 34th birthday on Thursday in what authorities described as an apparent drug overdose.The sheriff’s office in Lafourche parish, Louisiana, confirmed Kenan “Ken” Urker – the father of Blanchard’s daughter – was discovered on Thursday after relatives asked police to conduct a welfare check at his residence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Federal judge halts Big Bend border wall construction in blow to Trump agenda 03. October 2026 (01:32) Plan to install barriers through popular national park sparked outrage from advocates and politicians alikeA federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from expanding the border wall and other security infrastructure across the Big Bend region of west Texas, where contentious plans to build roads and vehicle barriers through a popular national park have led to furious backlash and public protests.US district judge Kathleen Cardone’s ruling after a Friday hearing in El Paso deals a major blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to expand the border wall through west Texas at breakneck pace, while riding roughshod over the objections of local business owners, landowners, public land advocates and politicians from both parties. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DoJ declines to reopen investigation into former Fed chair Jay Powell 03. October 2026 (00:32) Kevin Warsh’s predecessor had been investigated over cost overruns related to central bank renovation projectThe US justice department is not reopening a criminal investigation into former Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for cost overruns related to the central bank’s building renovation project, a department spokesperson said on Friday.Attorney general Todd Blanche – in comments to Bloomberg News, which first reported the development – said he has not ruled out continuing to look into the project’s oversight and potentially take action if evidence of wrongdoing came to light. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazil’s Lula says only he can stop rise of fascism under Bolsonaro’s son 02. October 2026 (23:12) President leads huge rally in Rio before election on Sunday seen as most important for decadesThe Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has claimed he is the only thing standing in the way of far-right “fascists” reclaiming power, as he led a huge rally through the streets of Rio ahead of Sunday’s crunch election.Speaking on the eve of the demonstration, the 80-year-old leftwinger said he had decided to seek a historic fourth term because he believed only he could prevent the family of his rightwing rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, returning to government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Disgraced gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar removed from Michigan sex offender registry 02. October 2026 (23:01) Convicted offender among 20,000 people removed from list after state supreme court ruling on Sora registration lawLarry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics physician convicted of sexually abusing girls and women over a period of decades while claiming to provide medical treatment, has been removed from Michigan’s sex offender registry thanks to a legal technicality.Thousands of other offenders were also taken off that list after a court ruling involving how the state’s registration law can be applied.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Christa Pike remains on ventilator after failed execution in Tennessee 02. October 2026 (22:26) Attorneys say hospital staff are working to clear pentobarbital she was administered from her systemChrista Pike remained hospitalized, unconscious and on a machine helping her breathe after her failed execution in Tennessee, her attorneys said in a court filing Friday.The attorneys said hospital staff were working to save Pike’s life and clear the pentobarbital she was administered from her system as of late Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds gather in Mississippi to protest Republican redistricting: ‘This fight is familiar territory’ 02. October 2026 (22:22) Dozens of residents testify to legislature’s redistricting committee in heated hearing, the last of eight Hundreds of people gathered across from the Mississippi state capitol building on Thursday evening to rally against the aggressive Republican efforts to draw maps that favor their own party.Shortly after the US supreme court’s decision in Louisiana v Callais, which severely weakened section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Tate Reeves, the Mississippi governor, moved in lockstep with other Republican governors and lawmakers to call for a special session to redraw maps. However, before that special session could occur, Reeves canceled it and wrote on X that he expected “lawmakers to redraw congressional lines BETWEEN NOW and 2027 elections!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hawaii’s centuries-old sea arch collapses into Pacific after series of rough storms 02. October 2026 (22:16) Hōlei sea arch, formed 550 years ago by erosion from ocean waves, no longer standing, National Park Service confirmsA famed centuries-old sea arch on Hawaii’s remote and rugged coastline has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, the National Park Service confirmed on Friday, following a stretch of rough storms in the region in recent weeks.The beloved landmark, Hōlei sea arch, stood at around 90ft high for over half a millennium in Hawaii’s Volcanoes national park, located on the dramatic southern coast of the Big Island. It was naturally formed around 550 years ago due to differential erosion by ocean waves. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake hits Victoria with tremors felt across Melbourne 02. October 2026 (21:57) The epicentre was at Leongatha, 130km south-east of Melbourne, with residents reporting houses shaking just after 2amGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Victoria in the early hours of Saturday morning, shaking Melbourne and waking people across the whole region.Geoscience Australia said it detected an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 at 2.01am near Leongatha, 130km south-east of Melbourne, with the tremors felt across the city’s eastern suburbs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)