Social media platform X sees a change in leadership. Another state is hit by dangerous flash floods. And some frugal habits are sticking with people – even when they can afford to leave them behind. |
👋 Hello! Rebecca Morin here. It's Wednesday again? Time moves fast when there's news! |
But first: A 209-million-year-old fossil. 🦖 Scientists discover a fragile jawbone fossil belonging to the pterosaur, one of the oldest known flying reptiles. |
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is undergoing a major leadership change. After two years at the helm, Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO. Musk appointed Yaccarino to replace him as CEO in 2023, shortly after purchasing the platform, then known as Twitter. Yaccarino's departure comes as the billionaire faces backlash from President Donald Trump over his announcement of a new political party, falling Tesla sales, and growing challenges with Grok, a chatbot from Musk's artificial intelligence start-up, xAI. Grok is a feature on X. 👉 More on Yaccarino's tenure at X. |
Grok troubles: Musk's chatbot came under fire this week after it praised Adolf Hitler, used antisemitic phrases and targeted users with traditionally Jewish surnames before it was reined in. Users reported Tuesday that they received the disturbing phrases after submitting questions to the chatbot. xAI, maker of the chatbot, said it "has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X." 👉 What to know about the incident. | Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, is stepping down after two years at the helm of the social media giant. Mike Blake, REUTERS |
More federal layoffs are coming |
Get ready for more cuts to the federal government. The Trump administration said it would immediately begin reducing the federal workforce after the Supreme Court lifted a federal judge's order pausing large-scale staffing cuts and agency restructuring. A White House official said agencies are awaiting guidance on the next steps in the layoff process. Though the justices did not rule on the legality of a specific reorganization plan, the court said the district judge was wrong to block the administration from moving forward with changes to federal agencies. 👉 The legal battle in Trump's federal workforce cuts. | President Donald Trump answers questions at a Cabinet meeting July 8 at the White House. Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS |
Flash floods hit New Mexico |
At least three people, including two children, died Tuesday after heavy rains triggered flash floods in a small mountain town in New Mexico. The Village of Ruidoso, about 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque, said all three were "caught in the rushing floodwaters and carried downstream" during flooding that saw the Rio Ruidoso rise to a record-breaking 20 feet. The rising waters left people trapped in homes and prompted multiple water rescues in Ruidoso. The flash flooding comes as parts of central Texas and North Carolina have also been hit by severe floods. 👉 See video of the New Mexico flash floods. |
Search teams in Texas: More than 160 people are still missing after devastating flooding along Texas' Guadalupe River, and hope among search teams was dwindling. Officials in the hardest-hit county say they haven't rescued anyone alive since the day of the flood. At least 119 people have died in the flash flooding in Central Texas. 👉 Follow the latest updates on search efforts. | Power lines and debris are caught on toppled trees along the Rio Ruidoso after deadly flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Paul Ratje, REUTERS |
Don't forget to turn off the lights! |
Growing up, my granny always commented on how dark my family kept the house, even when we were all home. In South Texas, where temperatures can hit triple digits, you'll do anything to cut electricity costs. It's also part of what some call "poor people" habits. A recent Reddit post went viral after asking: "What is a 'poor people' habit you'll never stop doing, no matter how rich you get?" People who are now more financially comfortable say they still lean into those penny-saving habits, whether it's asking for water at a restaurant or heading straight to the sale rack. (For folks wondering, yes I do still keep my apartment dark!) 💸 Some of the most popular "poor people" habits. |
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