10.10.2024

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Milton Arrives Stateside

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast last night as a Category 3 storm, bringing wind speeds of 120 mph and over a dozen tornadoes and thunderstorm warnings. See live updates here.

Among the greatest dangers is Milton's storm surge, expected to reach up to 13 feet as of this writing. An estimated 6 million Florida residents were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm's arrival, including to dozens of emergency shelters; those who did not were directed to shelter in place. More than 1 million people have lost power. Several airports have closed; emergency services in multiple counties have been suspended.

Tampa is among several Florida cities considered most vulnerable to storm surge in the US due to its low elevation and continental shelf acting like a funnel, with water accumulating on the coast. As the storm continues on its projected path into the Atlantic Ocean, it is expected to reshape the state's coastline.

Google Antitrust Remedies

The Justice Department is proposing to break up Google and force it to sell parts of its business. The proposal, one of several recommendations submitted in a late Tuesday court filing, comes after a judge this summer found Google holds a monopoly in online search and text advertising (see previous write-up).

Judge Amit Mehta is expected to decide on a final slate of remedies in August 2025, with Google likely to be required to stop paying device makers—including Apple—over $20B annually to set its search engine as the default. In the event of a breakup, Google warns services will be disrupted for billions of users. Analysts have likened the ruling to the 1999 antitrust case against software giant Microsoft; the last US company to be split by an antitrust ruling was AT&T in 1982 (read history).

The ruling on Google's monopoly in search is distinct from a separate DOJ antitrust suit over its ad business. Closing arguments in the trial are expected in November.

Mama Bear Retains Crown

A mother bear known as 128 "Grazer" won this year's Fat Bear Week competition, her second consecutive win. The annual popularity contest, launched in 2014, promotes conservation efforts at Alaska's Katmai National Park, home to an estimated 2,200 brown bears. 

Over the course of a week, public participants rank before-and-after photos of roughly a dozen bears working to beef up for winter in a bracket-style competition (see photos). This year, reigning champion Grazer's fat-packing evolution was considered especially noteworthy given her calorie-draining care for a young cub, and the recent death of another offspring.

In late summer, bears enter a state known as hyperphagia, in which the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin is turned off, enabling them to eat dozens of salmon daily. The bears consume the fattiest parts of the fish, gaining as much as 4 pounds per day before retreating to a den for winter. Learn more here.

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7 Mistakes People Make When Hiring an Advisor

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In partnership with SmartAsset

7 Mistakes People Make When Hiring an Advisor

Working with a financial advisor can be a crucial part of any healthy financial plan. But choosing the wrong one could wreak havoc. Avoid these 7 mistakes people make when hiring an advisor so you can work to potentially save years of stress.

SmartAsset’s free quiz simplifies the time consuming process of finding an advisor. Answer a few questions to get matched with up to 3 vetted financial advisors serving your area. All advisors on the platform have been rigorously screened through a proprietary due diligence process and are legally bound to work in your best interest. Get your financial advisor matches today.

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