In Other Brews…
Elon Musk has upped the ante. He’s paying registered voters in Pennsylvania $100 to sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments and choosing one signatory every day until Election Day to win $1 million. Critics question whether Musk’s cash incentive is legal, saying it is dangerously close to paying people to register to vote (a federal crime).
A ferry dock collapsed in Georgia on Saturday, killing seven. Crowds were gathered for a cultural celebration on Sapelo Island when a gangway suddenly plunged 20 partygoers into the water. Three people remain in critical condition, and seven people (ages 73-93) died of suspected drowning. Officials are investigating how the gangway, built in 2021, failed.
Cuba has gone dark. Much of the country, including its capital, Havanna, has been without power for days after its ailing electrical grid––described as “prehistoric” by Fidel Castro in 2006––finally collapsed. It’s unclear when power will be restored. Cuba is also bracing for Hurricane Oscar, which is bearing down on the island after making landfall in the Bahamas.
Walmart says opioid-related lawsuits are officially out of stock. The retail giant reached a $123 million settlement (paid by insurance, not out of Walmart’s registers) over allegedly mishandling prescription opioids under the Controlled Substance Act. The settlement, filed Friday, is subject to court approval and does not require any admission of liability; Walmart “expressly” denies wrongdoing.
King Charles clicked his heels and headed to Oz on Friday; it’s his first trip to an overseas realm since becoming King and marks his biggest post-cancer-diagnosis excursion. The Sovereign's presence reignited controversy over Australia’s royal connections; about ⅓ of Aussies approve of the constitutional monarchy, ⅓ are keen for an independent republic, and ⅓ say it’s a sticky wicket.