1. Officials are warning Mainers across the state about mosquito and tick-borne illnesses after a rise in cases found in both people and animals. Last week, a mosquito pool tested positive for Jamestown Canyon Virus (JVC) in Penobscot County. The Maine CDC is urging residents to try and limit exposure to mosquitoes. (WGME)
2. The Federal Reserve has held interest rates steady at a 23-year high since last July — but a rate cut is widely expected in the coming months. On Wall Street, the outlook for an interest rate cut has shifted from if to when. The central bank will issue its latest interest rate decision on Wednesday after a months-long stretch of data has established the key conditions for a rate cut: cooling inflation and slowing job gains. Economists expect the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, offering the central bank time to ensure current trends hold ahead of its next meeting in September. (ABC)
3. Online events platform StubHub is using predatory sales tactics to illegally mislead consumers into shelling out more for tickets, prosecutors allege in new lawsuit. StubHub’s use of so-called drip pricing — or when a company dangles an initial low price but later tacks on fees — can deceive consumers into paying more than they expected, the suit alleges. The complaint, filed Tuesday, also claims StubHub is failing to provide consumers with clear and accurate information about the purpose of ticket fees or how the company calculates those charges. (CBS)
4. Five former Maine Celtics are representing their home countries in the 2024 Paris Olympics in hopes of playing spoiler to the star-studded Team USA. Four players and one coach are representing their home countries of Canada, South Sudan, France, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Team USA played South Sudan on Wednesday. On Friday, Canada plays Spain, and France plays Greece. Puerto Rico and the U.S. are scheduled to play on Saturday. (NCM)
5. A Maine teenager nicknamed “Big Redd” is still in contention to earn the title of best mullet in America for his age group. Eliott Kullman, a Windham resident, has reached the final round of the USA Mullet Championships teen category by finishing in the top 10 of voting. Kullman finished fourth in the first round of voting with 676 votes. The final round of voting for Kullman and the other nine contestants competing in the USA Mullet Championships teenage group begins Aug. 14 and runs through Aug. 21. The winner of the contest will be announced on Aug. 28 (WMTW)
Made Hot in Maine by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. Accidents happen… to be their specialty. 207-CALL-JOE or online at: joebornstein.com.
