Columbus, OH

Ask anyone around you – “Do you believe you have control over your actions?” The chances are high you’ll hear a resounding “Yes.” Most people cherish the idea that they are the architects of their destiny, exercising sovereignty over their personal decisions and their own free will.

"Humans don't have free will," according to decades of research by Stanford scientist

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NewsNinja

A lady is cautioning others about purchasing budget earrings from Amazon, Shein, and H&M, after she experienced keloid formations on her earlobes due to wearing them. On a TikTok post that has garnered more than 334,000 likes, Sailor Rozema (@sailor.rozema), a content creator, shares a warning with her community of "dangly earring girls": the inexpensive jewelry found in fast fashion can have negative impacts on your well-being.

‘I’ll never be wearing earrings for the rest of my life’: Customer warns against buying from Shein

The $699 gadget, designed to capitalize on AI hype by acting as a personal assistant you can magnetically attach to your lapel, turned out to be a complete flop. Tech YouTuber Marques "MKBHD" Brownlee called it the "worst product" he had ever reviewed. Other reviewers found that it simply wasn't able to do much of anything, with Humane vastly exaggerating the tiny device's capabilities. Oh, and did we mention that its battery life was laughable?

More People Are Returning That Horrid "AI Pin" Than Are Buying It

North Carolina State

Town Talks

A recent social media update from Cherokee, the site of North Carolina's first and only cannabis dispensary, announced that adult-use recreational marijuana is coming soon. The Aug. 1 post is a landmark occasion. The Great Smoky Cannabis Co., run by Qualla Enterprises backed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, will become the first N.C. recreational marijuana dispensary to fully open to adults over the age of 21.

Will recreational marijuana be legal in NC? What to know after Cherokee approved sales

Florida State

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Akeena

Red Lobster, the popular seafood chain, has confirmed additional closures in Florida, adding to its recent wave of shutdowns following the company’s bankruptcy filing in May. The latest round of closures includes two more Florida locations, highlighting the ongoing struggles of the iconic restaurant chain.

Popular seafood chain announces more closures in Florida

Ohio State

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The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

The AdvancingCities program, which launched in 2022, saw the launch of accelerator programs across the nation in cities like Oakland, New York, Miami and Washington, D.C. with the goal of backing more diverse founders. J.P. Morgan sponsored the program with a commitment through December, but the relationship between the bank...

Techstars is laying off 17%, ending its J.P. Morgan-backed programs

South Carolina State

Explore Beaufort SC

The mantis shrimp is one tough customer. Beautiful and deadly are two words you don’t typically use to describe shrimp, but the mantis shrimp is definitely in a class of its own; earning a reputation as the ‘savage boxer of the sea’ and one of the most fearsome creatures in the ocean. And, they're right at home here in South Carolina.

Savage Boxer of the Sea: The Deadly Beauty of Mantis Shrimp

Philadelphia, PA

Run by Danae Mobley, Coded By Kids is a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that trains teenagers to become IT industry leaders, whether they are in the C-suite or leading their startups. The organization was started in 2014 by Danae’s husband, Sylvester Mobley. She was most recently elevated to the...

Meet the CEO making it possible for Black youth to own multimillion-dollar tech startups

Orlando, FL

If you’ve been enjoying the vibrant food scene in Thornton Park, you might have heard some bittersweet news—Graffiti Junktion, the spot known for its top-notch burgers and laid-back vibe, has officially closed. After 16 years of serving up some of the best burgers in Orlando, the eatery has said its goodbyes. Here’s a closer look at why this cherished spot is shutting down and what it means for the community.

Favorite Florida Burger Place Closed Because Wages and Costs Went Up

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday, expressing his support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that the DEA ease restrictions on marijuana.

Gov. Andy Beshear pens letter to DEA in support of easing federal restrictions on marijuana

Camden, NJ

Cornelius, NC

Morristown Minute

CAMDEN, N.J. – Lisa Smith, 61, of Cornelius, North Carolina, has admitted to her role in a fraudulent scheme involving over $3.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that Smith pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court on July 17, 2024, to a charge of bank fraud conspiracy.

Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.5M COVID Relief Scam

Valrico, FL

Hey there, Floridians! If you're a fan of fresh produce and a farmer's market vibe, you might have some mixed feelings about the news from Valrico. The Fresh Market, known for its focus on organic options and quality meats and cheeses, is set to close its doors in the Lithia Crossings shopping center.

Grocery chain known for Organic options and quality meats is set to close its doors in Florida

Denver, CO

David Heitz

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

Fortune

Heights founder unwinds by stroking his cat ‘for hours’, rents out his £2 million home for photoshoots and flies economy to not spoil his two year old daughter.

Millennial entrepreneur behind a £35 million supplements startup Heights wishes he could tell his 20-year-old self to ‘sack off NFTs’

Tennessee State

John M. Dabbs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has issued a health alert to clinicians statewide following reports of severe acute illnesses and adverse effects of consuming Diamond Shruumz™ brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies. The warning comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received reports of serious health issues linked to these mushroom-containing edible products.

Tennessee Health Alert: Severe Illnesses Linked to Diamond Shruumz™ Products

This week, Vox’s Future Perfect is publishing How Factory Farming Ends, a package of stories on the past and future of the movement against factory farming, its struggle to change our culture, politics, and palates, and how it might yet make real progress. Billions of animals raised for food...

Vox Launches In-Depth Exploration of Factory Farming

Jacksonville Today

Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency in Northeast Florida and across much of the state as a tropical system appears almost certain to develop. The National Hurricane Center said Friday morning that a tropical wave has a 90% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression over the next seven days. Most models show it moving into the Gulf of Mexico and then coming ashore and crossing the state, possibly moving over Northeast Florida.

Tropical system is nearly certain to develop

Editor’s note: Agtech Seedlings is a weekly roundup of the latest in agriculture technology news, digging into venture funding, product announcements and other innovation milestones. Have news to share? Email us here. North American farmers lead InnerPlant $30M investment to help crops 'communicate'. InnerPlant, a synthetic biology startup which...

Agtech seedlings: Plant communication technology gets big funding boost

Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh – Family Dollar has struck a strategic partnership that aims to elevate its product assortment. The hard discount chain – which parent company Dollar Tree recently put up for acquisition – has hired First Insight Inc. to refine its merchandise line-up through predictive analytics. The goal: to create “groundbreaking concepts,” reduce markdowns, pare stock shortages and eliminate underperforming products.

Family Dollar moves to boost its merchandise strategy

NewsBreak

Even after $1.6B in VC money, the lab-grown meat industry is facing ‘massive’ issues

Despite their optimism, such success is not a given. In 2024, the industry has hit such rocky times that multiple startups have been forced to scale...

Even after $1.6B in VC money, the lab-grown meat industry is facing ‘massive’ issues

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