A "Life-Changing Storm"

Idalia tears through the southeast [For the best experience, read in browser.]( August 31, 2023 Good morning. Idalia is now a tropical storm lashing the southeast with heavy rain, but it tore a record-breaking path of destruction after landing as a Category 3 hurricane on Florida’s Gulf Coast yesterday morning. We've got the details, below. We're also navigating the debate around [the modern rules of tipping](, sharing [solutions to a pesky summer problem](, and passing along a warning about [the subtle way you might be getting manipulated](. Let's get going.   In the News [A storm-damaged gas station is reflected in a puddle]( Getty Images A "Life-Changing Storm" Yesterday, Hurricane Idalia became the strongest storm to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region in 125 years. Here's what happened, and what's next in the storm's path. Destruction in Florida: U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz called the arrival of Idalia a "life-changing event" for Florida's west coast. High water level records were set in several areas, including Cedar Key, East Bay Tampa, and Clearwater Beach. As Moskowitz told CNN, many areas weren't equipped to deal with the storm, and not everyone had the option of getting out of its way. “In those areas, a lot of them are fiscally constrained. They don’t necessarily have the resources,” he explained. The storm's path: Idalia weakened to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph as it passed over South Carolina overnight. A number of roads in Charleston have closed, and flash flood warnings have been issued in Georgia. Over 400,000 customers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina remain without power. Where next: The center of the storm has moved offshore and was about 45 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina as of 5 am ET. Coastal flooding is expected in the state's storm surge watch areas today. Idalia is expected to move into the Atlantic in the coming days, but there's still uncertainty over its trajectory. After so many concerning weather events, you may be wondering: Are we doomed to experience catastrophic summers from here on out? I got into [this and more with climate scientist, Daniel Swain](.   More Stories [Fireman standing between two fire engines in front of burnt-out building]( Getty Images Johannesburg inferno: At least 73 people are dead after a fire ripped through a five-story building that was occupied by homeless people in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some residents threw themselves out of windows in an attempt to escape the blaze, which also injured dozens of people. The youngest fatality was just one year old. “Over 20 years in the service, I’ve never come across something like this,” an emergency services spokesman said. McConnell goes mute: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for 30 seconds on Wednesday when a journalist in Covington, Kentucky, asked him whether he would run for re-election. The 81-year-old asked the reporter to repeat the question several times, then stopped, staring straight ahead. The incident echoes a similar episode on Capitol Hill last month, when McConnell went silent and was escorted off-camera. Trumpflation: Donald Trump exaggerated his net worth by more than $2 billion in one year, New York AG Letitia James has alleged. James claims that every year between 2011 and 2021 Trump, his business, and some of his children fraudulently overvalued their assets to attract favorable loans and insurance arrangements. “No trial is required for the court to determine that defendants presented grossly and materially inflated asset values,” the filing says. Trump's lawyers have argued that the case should be thrown out. Record-setting crowds: The University of Nebraska women’s volleyball match against Omaha has set a world record for the largest announced crowd at a women’s sporting event. Lincoln's Memorial Stadium hosted an extraordinary 92,003 people, beating the record set in April 2022 when 91,648 soccer fans gathered to watch a UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Wolfsburg in Barcelona.   Best of August [Stacks of cash between a hamburger bun]( Money on the Table How much should you be tipping for food service these days? And what else merits a gratuity? We dive into the ever-changing etiquette. [Read More »]( [Flowers dangling from a mechanical arm]( What To Watch For Are you a victim of "future faking"? We investigated the signs of this sneaky tactic that could be being used to manipulate you. [Read More »]( [Rubber ducky on a grimy bathtub ]( The Ick Factor From bad smells to hard-to-clean kitchen gunk and beyond, we found solutions for the grossest problems that follow you around the house. [Read More »](   In Focus Not all H2O is created equal — and if you're thirsty to understand the reasons why, we got [fascinating advice from a water sommelier]( (yes, they exist) about the best ways to stay hydrated, how purification affects what we drink, and what you should know about electrolytes. [READ MORE]( [sponsored by FIJI Water](   Extra Credit [Princess Diana wearing her famous ''Black Sheep'' sweater]( Getty Images Fit for royalty: One of Princess Diana's most famous articles of clothing is currently up for auction, and unless you've got a few crown jewels lying around to pawn off and raise some cash, we assume [you'll be startled by the eye-popping price it's expected to fetch](. Skincare saviors: Summer may be drawing to a close, but odds are high that those sun spots you developed over the past few months will be sticking around. We have the scoop on [how to fade those areas of discoloration]( (and avoid getting them in the first place), courtesy of Beauty Pie's Marcia Kilgore. On cloud nine: If feeling out of alignment when you wake up has become a literal pain in the neck, you'll definitely be interested in [this pillow that'll banish your soreness](. (And if you're skeptical, don't miss [our in-depth review explaining why it works](.) Let's get physical: We already know Wake-Up Callers love the [top-notch leggings from lululemon](, but which of their highly rated designs is right for you? We researched [the best option for every workout style](.   Make Your House a Home [A person holding a stack of pillows and blankets]( Getty Images Labor Day sales have kicked off in earnest, and today we're focusing on updating your abode without breaking the bank. Let's have a look at the biggest bargains we've found... - Rugs that are on sale and machine washable? Yes, please. [These discounts from Ruggable]( are not to be missed. - With [33% off everything from Nectar](, you can score major savings on big-ticket items like mattresses and furniture. - Whether you want something that screams "coastal chic" or prefer an aesthetic closer to the French countryside, [Lulu and Georgia’s sale section]( has you covered. - Lastly, if you snatch up [one of these unmissable deals from Amazon](, you've still got time to select shipping fast enough to have your package in hand before Labor Day.   [Know it all, and help your friends catch up, too. Share Wake-Up Call and you'll earn some superb swag.]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! 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