Meanwhile...

A restaurant at Newark Airport has had the last laugh after New York Times columnist David Brooks claimed to have been charged $78 for a burger and fries - but failing to mention the alcoholic drinks that made up much of his bill. Earlier this week, Mr Brooks posted a picture of his meal at New Jersey-based 1911 Smoke House Barbeque on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption: “This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible.” 1911 Smoke House later clarified that “80 per cent” of Mr Brooks’ tab came from multiple shots of whisky... 1911 Smoke House has now capitalized on its viral moment by offering customers the “D Brooks Special” of a burger, fries and double shot of whiskey for $17.78 – the original price of the food.

Recycling throughout New York City is down, but the Department of Sanitation is still picking up less garbage this year than in the past four years.Recent figures indicate that the DSNY picked up 5.6% less trash in 2023 than in 2022, and 2.6% less compared with 2019.  It's something of a mystery and while some will no doubt blame New York's booming population of hungry rats for feasting on more trash than ever, the leading theories include population decline and more composting..... The amount of food scraps and yard waste that is now composted has doubled between fiscal year 2020 and 2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to require human drivers on board self-driving trucks, a measure that union leaders and truck drivers said would save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state.