The Daily Factum
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Five Cases of Valley Fever Identified at California Music Festival: Three Hospitalized, Public Health Director Shares Personal Experience
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024Five cases of valley fever, a potentially deadly fungal infection, have been identified among attendees of the Lightning in a Bottle music festival in California, with three hospitalized. Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan and other festivalgoers shared their experiences with the illness, which is caused by the coccidioides fungus found in certain regions of California. Kern County has the highest incidence rate for valley fever cases in the state. 
FDA Approves First Blood Test, Shield, as Primary Screening Option for Colon and Rectal Cancers: A New Convenient Tool to Detect CRC Early
Broke On: Monday, 29 July 2024The FDA approves Guardant Health's Shield blood test as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in adults over 45, marking the first approval of its kind. With an 83% sensitivity rate and potential accessibility advantages over colonoscopies, the Shield test could encourage more people to get screened for this second deadliest cancer in the US. 
Team USA's Alex Sedrick Scores Last-Second Try, Clinches Historic Bronze Medal in Women's Rugby Sevens at Paris Olympics
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024Team USA's Alex Sedrick scored a last-second try against Australia to clinch the women's rugby sevens bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, marking their first Olympic medal in rugby sevens history. Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams Sidelined for Hall of Fame Game, Eberflus Discusses Decision and Future Plans
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams won't debut against Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game. Matt Eberflus announced that starters, including Williams, would not play. Tyson Bagent will start instead. Eberflus cited extra time for preparation as the reason for keeping starters out. 
OpenAI's Advanced Voice Feature for ChatGPT: Human-Like Responses in Multiple Languages Coming Soon
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024OpenAI introduces voice feature for ChatGPT, allowing users to interact using their voices instead of typing. The advanced voice model, which offers human-like responses nearly latency-free and in multiple languages, is currently being tested extensively and will be available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers in the fall. OpenAI delayed its release due to safety concerns and improvements. 
Federal Reserve's Upcoming Decision: What It Means for Homeowners and Buyers
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024The Federal Reserve is expected to make the first interest rate reduction since 2020 on September 30, 2024, following a year of economic growth and cooling inflation. This development could lead to lower mortgage rates for homeowners and buyers, potentially refinancing or securing more affordable housing. The Fed's decision will impact markets as investors rotate from tech shares to other sectors in anticipation of broader interest rate trends. 
Tesla Recalls Over 1.8 Million Electric Vehicles: Hood Latch Issue May Obstruct Driver's View
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024Tesla recalls over 1.8 million electric vehicles due to potential hood latch issue, increasing collision risk; affected models include certain Model 3, all Model S, Model X, and Model Y from specific years; software fix already deployed through recent update. 
12-Year-Old Boy Killed in Cancun Shooting: Latest in Series of Drug Cartel Violence Incidents
Broke On: Monday, 29 July 2024On July 29, 2024, in Cancun, Mexico, gunmen on jet skis killed a 12-year-old boy during a shootout between drug dealers. This tragic incident is part of escalating violence in Mexican resorts along the Caribbean coast. Authorities are investigating and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has appealed for peace. 
Senate Passes Two Bills to Enhance Children's Online Privacy and Safety
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024In a rare bipartisan vote on July 30, 2024, the US Senate passed two bills aimed at enhancing online safety for minors: Coppa 2.0 and the Kids Online Safety Act. These bills regulate targeted advertising, data collection without consent, and provide parents with tools to supervise their children's use of social media platforms. The bills also require platforms to respond to reports of harm caused to minors. 
Secret Service and FBI Testify on Security Lapse Before Trump's Assassination Attempt in Pennsylvania
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024Former President Trump narrowly survives an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024. The Secret Service and FBI discuss investigation details, including a 25-minute heads-up about a suspicious person before the shooting, and the discovery of the shooter's social media account with antisemitic and anti-immigration themes. Acting Director of the Secret Service Ronald Rowe expresses shame over security lapses, as neither countersniper teams nor Trump's security detail were aware of the armed man on the roof before hearing gunshots.
