A Grab Bag of the News You Missed in August

With the start of school and the first glimpses of fall on the horizon (if not the temperature outside, then at least the Halloween candy displays at Safeway), you are likely wondering: how did I get here? Did August even happen?

Yes, it did, and with it some news from the outside world that you may have missed. Here are some assorted highlights from last month that will help you catch up and feel like the informed mom at the next playground meet-up or parents night out. No political updates here – for that kind of self-punishment, you need to look elsewhere.

Huge Contigo Water Bottle Recall

Popular water bottle maker Contigo was forced to recall 5.7 million of its Kids Cleanable Water Bottles after reports that their silicone spout could detach and pose a choking risk. The bottles were sold between April 2018 and June 2019 in 13-, 14- and 20-ounce varieties. All of the recalled bottles have a black base and black cover over the clear silicone spout. Contigo will replace the lids of any faulty products.  

Feeling Lucky?

Plans for a high-speed train from California to Las Vegas are back on track (pun intended), operated by Virgin Trains USA, the first privately funded passenger rail system in the country in more than a century. Traveling at speeds up to 150 miles per hour, the train will make the trip from the Victor Valley region of California to the Las Vegas Strip in about 75-90 minutes, for a one-way price of $60, the company says. Construction, set to begin early next year, will take about three years to complete.

Drug Giant Taken to Task in Opioid Crisis

The nation’s first trial of a drug manufacturer for the devastation caused by prescription drug abuse came to an end in August, when an Oklahoma judge issued a landmark ruling ordering health care giant Johnson & Johnson to pay the state $572 million.  The case could have significant implications for the over 2,000 opioid lawsuits pending across the country.  

None of Our College Professors Looked Like This

In some news that has us a little dazed and confused, Matthew McConaughey has joined the faculty of the University of Texas. The Oscar-winning actor and producer will teach a class on filmmaking (ok, that makes sense) this fall, after previously having served as a visiting professor at the university, his alma mater. Aww, he’s come so far since his naked bongo-playing days.

And Later This Month…

On September 10, Apple is scheduled to unveil its next iPhone, the iPhone 11. The model is rumored to be available in standard variety (to replace the XR) and two Pro varieties (to replace the XS and XS Max). Expect your current iPhone to start having mysterious performance issues any day now…