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Taco Bell Quietly Knew About Cyclospora Outbreak Weeks Before Public Warnings
Kotaku reports, citing Bloomberg’s public records, that Yum Brands was told by Michigan health officials on July 2 about a Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell locations and discussed potential interventions to curb future cases; by July 7 signs outside stores indicated lettuce and other ingredients were being removed, and Taco Bell publicly confirmed the recall on July 14, followed by a company apology on July 18. The CDC says the outbreak has sickened more than 6,700 people across 45 states and contributed to at least two deaths, with investigators still examining other possible sources.

Bored Pilot Skies a Message: 'I'm Bored' Skywritten During UK Test Flight
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White House Posts GTA 6 Trump Meme to Distract From Reflecting Pool Scandal
After Rockstar revealed GTA 6’s cover, the White House posted an AI-generated spoof featuring Donald Trump and the MAGA slogan to mock the game, a move described as a distraction from the Reflecting Pool turning green with algae and paint issues; Rockstar declined to comment.

Humanoid Robot Delivers Kick at Chinese Event, Video Sparks Online Outcry
Video from Xinjiang, China shows a humanoid robot kicking a young boy at a public event; the child wasn’t seriously injured and staff reportedly reacted slowly. The clip went viral online, prompting discussion about robot safety and misbehavior as part of Kotaku’s ongoing coverage of robotics incidents.

Arizona Graduates Boo Schmidt’s AI Future Pitch
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt urged University of Arizona graduates to help shape AI’s future, cautioning that fear of job loss and environmental impact is rational but the work ahead will require their involvement and values; his pitch was met with sustained boos from the crowd, underscoring the friction between corporate AI optimism and students’ concerns at graduation ceremonies.

Waymo Fleet Circles an Atlanta Cul-de-Sac, Echoing Cyberpunk 2077 in Real Life
Dozens of Waymo self-driving cars reportedly circled a northwest Atlanta cul-de-sac, with roughly 50 vehicles entering the area and some becoming stuck as they tried to turn around, prompting safety concerns from residents; Waymo says routing issues have been addressed, and the piece notes the eerie parallel to Cyberpunk 2077’s Epistrophy quest and its Delamain cars in real life.

Six-Year-Old Sets Cookie Sales Record, Sells 100,000 Boxes
A six-year-old Daisy Scout in Pittsburgh, Pim Neill, sold over 100,000 Girl Scout cookies in a single season, breaking the national record through a viral social media push and traditional door-to-door sales, with a storefront open through March 22; her perseverance amid early troop rejections due to age and disability is inspiring other girls.