Stories from United States

A Flood Watch has been issued for the Houston/Galveston, Texas area. The watch is in effect from May 22 until May 25. Residents should be aware of potential flooding conditions. It will remain in effect from May 23rd at 1:08 AM CDT until May 25th at 7:00 PM CDT.

Cintas has hired Miller Strategies, a lobbying firm linked to former President Trump, to assist with its merger with UniFirst. The firm's engagement is related to the potential merger between the two uniform rental companies.

Seattle Mayor has faced criticism for her comments regarding Starbucks and labor practices. She urged the company to do the right thing for workers' rights, drawing a distinction between Starbucks and independent companies. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is facing criticism regarding his administration's stance on Starbucks. The criticism appears to stem from recent policy decisions or public statements concerning the coffee giant. The specific nature of the criticism is related to business policies.

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement related to artificial intelligence. The filing, identified as Document #1399, was made public on the court listener platform.

A minor earthquake measuring 2.1 on the Richter scale occurred 40 miles west of Pecos, Texas. The seismic event happened approximately two minutes before the report was filed.

Several Federal Reserve board members have expressed differing views on interest rate policy, with at least four dissenting at a recent meeting. This indicates a growing divergence within the central bank regarding the direction of monetary policy.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Peachtree City, Georgia, on May 22. Another warning was issued for Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, effective until 4:15 p.m. One warning is in effect for Tallahassee, FL, until 4:45 PM EDT. A Flood Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, PA, effective until May 23 at 2:00 PM EDT. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Mesoscale Discussion #827 concerning severe potential for parts of Georgia and Florida. A watch is possible, with a 60% probability for tornadoes and up to 2.50-inch hail. An additional Special Weather Statement was issued by the NWS in Columbia, South Carolina. Prediction markets show a 49% chance of the Republican party winning the Ohio governor race. The warning is active for the specified areas.

Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from a national security role, with her departure reportedly effective in June. The reasons for her resignation were not immediately clear. She shared her resignation letter on social media, according to Reuters. She plans to spend more time with her friends and family. She is a former Democratic presidential candidate who backed Trump in twenty. She cited a diagnosis of bone cancer as the reason for her departure. Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post as Director of National Intelligence, citing her husband's health. She is the fourth Cabinet Secretary to resign from the Trump administration. Gabbard was often criticized for her relationships with authoritarian regimes. The White House reportedly forced the resignation after she was sidelined from operations concerning Iran and Venezuela. Her resignation came after a period of service.

KPCC discussed Stephen Colbert's tenure as host of The Late Show, noting his transition from Comedy Central. The report mentioned his coverage of the 2016 election and the show's impact.

Bitcoin's price has surged past $79,000, reaching a new milestone. The Moscow Exchange plans to launch cryptocurrency trading by the end of 2026. Veteran macro investor Arthur Hayes claims Bitcoin will perform well if inflation hits 4% again. GoMining and Babylon plan an integration to activate up to 1,000 BTC through trustless vaults. Analyst 10x noted that perpetual futures may look bearish but are not. No new trading figures or market analysis were provided in this update. The cryptocurrency has shown resilience despite market fluctuations. Prediction markets show Bitcoin holding above $79,000, with some indicating a 51% chance of the price remaining above that threshold. Provenance Blockchain (HASH) saw a price decrease of 13.4% to $0.01, and Dash (DASH) decreased by 10.4% to $43.93. This level indicates continued market confidence. The cryptocurrency's market rank is #14.