NEWS - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2026 - NEWS
Days before California voters receive their mail-in ballots, gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, and Steve Hilton, a Republican, will debate in a nationally televised face-off. LA Times
VOA VIEW: Hilton should better Becerra.
While the case centers on Germany, it indirectly takes aim at Israel’s campaign in Gaza in response to the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. New York Post
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disclosed an investment between $3 million and $12 million in Bloom Energy just weeks before it was announced that the AI firm is joining the S&P 500, sending the stock sky-high. New York Post
VOA VIEW: One of many rippoffs.
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Leaders of the SEC will meet Thursday to discuss whether to kick LSU out of the conference in the wake of a simmering feud over whether players who spent time in the NFL should be allowed back on the team's roster. New York Post
VOA VIEW: Foolish mistake by the SEC.
Welles Crowther, 24, has been credited with saving as many as 18 people from the South Tower after it was struck by hijacked United Airlines Flight 175. New York Post
Not the best coast. New York Post
In the face of escalating White House attacks about how museums present American history, Lonnie G. Bunch III has announced his decision to depart. New York Times
After voting against talks to join the European Union, Iceland is reacting forcefully to a slight against its sovereignty. New York Times
Analysts said they expected the price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, to remain elevated for the rest of the year. New York Times
VOA VIEW: All Iran supporters should pay a price.
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A scathing report issued by the House Oversight Committee blamed the Navy for repeatedly failing to act, and recommended that Congress pass legislation to study and treat aviators. New York Times
Maybe consuming meaningless content is the only way to be free online. New York Times
Former President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden said in an interview that he “may have to” run for president in 2028, however he maintained that he had not made up his mind. OANN
The White House’s new granite helipad project has been completed, according to President Donald Trump. OANN
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An Iranian court has sentenced a 20-year-old woman to death and her twin sister to decades in prison over their alleged roles in January’s protests — despite a total lack of evidence that either of them was present. OANN
VOA VIEW: Those who made the demand should be equally punished.
United States forces sunk a floating refueling station purported to be supporting Ecuadorian narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). OANN
VOA VIEW: As they should.
The IRS broke a Watergate-era privacy law when it gave information on 47,000 people to ICE for use in immigration enforcement, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: The full truth will be known.
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Searchers in the Bahamas are looking for a family of four Floridians who were on a small plane thought to have crashed off the coast of Andros Island. Washington Times
The Federal Aviation Administration closed Miami International Airport Sunday after a cargo plane overshot the runway, plowed over a road and crashed into a parking lot full of electric vehicles. Washington Times
Hurricane Lowell is barreling toward Hawaii, bringing the potential for life-threatening floods. CBS
The 9/11 terror attacks, 25 years ago this week, were planned from inside the Taliban-controlled country of Afghanistan; a country that tonight is not only back under Taliban control, but with Taliban fighters carrying American weapons and driving around in American vehicles. CBS
An Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport and crashed into two vehicles before coming to a stop and bursting into flames. Five people were killed. CBS
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In less than two weeks, the high-energy laser weapon system has taken down 11 drones, coinciding with a 75% drop in drones probing the border. CBS
Trump's announcement comes on the eve of Canadian retaliatory tariffs set to take effect Tuesday on $20 billion of U.S. goods. CNBC
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a stream of AI-generated images and a series of sweeping and unverified claims on Truth Social on Sunday CNBC
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It comes shortly after Icelanders voted to reject restarting EU membership talks and as Trump renews his push to acquire Greenland on national security grounds. CNBC
Isar Aerospace reached orbit on its second test flight as the German rocket startup looks to scale production amid booming satellite launch demand. CNBC
U.S. forces sank a Los Choneros refueling vessel in the Eastern Pacific after SOUTHCOM said it supported at-sea drug trafficking operations. FOX News
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's 2007 confession was thrown out over "severe coercion," but prosecutors won't appeal to protect the June 2028 trial date. FOX News
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says his office will seek the death penalty for two adults who allegedly confined four children to a truck cab. FOX News
VOA VIEW: As they should.
A former USCIS official and his accomplice allegedly accepted nearly $960,000 in bribes to fast-track citizenship applications, skipping key checks. FOX News
VOA VIEW: He should be put in jail.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said no new talks were imminent Monday as the deadline for counter-tariffs against the United States loomed. UPI
U.S. health officials have issued an urgent recall for more than 1,500 pounds of pre-packaged pork products distributed across eight states. UPI
Google celebrates Monday's Labor Day federal holiday with a new Doodle, recognizing the contributions of members of the U.S. workforce. UPI
Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 11 people in southern Lebanon, including two children and two medics, according to Lebanese state media. UPI
Drivers are paying more to fill up their vehicles this Labor Day than ever before as gasoline prices have reached a record for the holiday. UPI
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COMMENTARY OF THE DAY
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It’s been a choppy year for restaurants that lean into lettuce. Lettuce prices rose sharply in the first half of 2026 due to hot weather in Arizona, where about one-third of America’s lettuce is grown. Now, restaurants are dealing with the fallout from a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce that has sickened thousands of Americans. It has become a problem.
Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, said that Taco Bell’s U.S. same-store sales are down 2% so far in the July-September period due to customers’ concerns over the outbreak. That compares to a 7% same-store sales increase in the April-June period. Federal health officials first tied the diarrhea-causing outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said customers in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were also affected.
Taco Bell removed shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its U.S. restaurants on July 17. The following day, Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Taco Bell’s sales bottomed out the weekend of July 18-19 but have been steadily improving since then, Yum Brands Chief Financial Officer Ranjith Roy said Thursday in a conference call with investors. Over the last four days, Taco Bell’s U.S. sales have climbed halfway back to their year-ago level, he said.
Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner said Taco Bell’s quick action to contain the issue and its clear communication on social media helped bring diners back. The brand also enticed fans with daily specials like $1 Mexican pizza.
