Too Close to Call?, Brain-Embedded Tech & 4-Day Workweek

All the news you need in 10 min:

Today's episode is brought to you by www.Noom.com/newsworthy

Story Summaries

All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want perusing the latest happenings...

Witness Changes Testimony:
Top diplomat Gordon Sondland revised his testimony to Congress in the impeachment inquiry. Sondland now says he personally told Ukrainian officials they likely wouldn't receive military aid unless they publicly commit to the investigations President Trump wanted. The White House press secretary said he's making assumptions.
Read more: CBS News, The Hill, NYT, FOX News

Election Results – Too Close to Call in KY?:
Democrat Andy Beshear declared victory when he narrowly won the race for Kentucky's governor last night, but the AP still says it's "too close to call." The Republican candidate Matt Bevin is also refusing to concede. Meanwhile, Democrats are celebrating in Virginia after flipping both the state Senate and House for the first time in a generation, but Republicans got a win in Mississippi as Tate Reeves will become governor.
Read more: AP, Washington Post, NBC News, USA Today

Deadly Ambush in Mexico:
Three women and six children, all reportedly U.S. citizens, were gunned down by drug cartels in northern Mexico. Eight other children managed to escape, though some were hurt. They are members of breakaway Mormon communities who settled in northern Mexico's hills and plains. Mexican officials say the SUVs they were in may have been mistaken for a rival gang.
Read more: ABC News, NPR, Reuters, AP

Climate Change Warning:
More than 11,000 scientists from around the world have collectively come out in favor of labeling climate change as an “emergency.”
Read more: CNN, Washington Post, Weather Channel

Brain-Embedded Tech:
Researchers are conducting the first clinical trial to fight opioid addition with brain-embedded chips. The “deep brain stimulation” or DBS technology is already FDA-approved and used to treat Parkinson's disease, depressive disorders and epilepsy, but now it could be used as a last resort option for addiction, too.
Read more: TechCrunch, Engadget

AT&T Fined:
AT&T will pay $60 million to settle a case with the FTC. AT&T allegedly lied to customers about their ultimate data plans by throttling internet speeds over a certain threshold. Customers who signed up for the unlimited plan before 2011 will now get a partial refund.
Read more: The Verge, Reuters, Engadget

Google’s Pigeon App:
Google Pigeon is now available in not only New York, but also Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. The transit app gives users real-time information about public transportation, including crowds and delays.
Read more: CNET, 9to5Google

New YouTube & Twitter Features:
YouTube is introducing a new way for creators to make money. The new animated Super Stickers allow fans to support creators. They feature animated animals and fruit with prices ranging from $0.99 to $50.
Also, Twitter has teased new features its at least considering. One would let users disable re-tweets of their tweets, and another would ban users from mentioning you without permission.
YouTube Super Stickers: CNET, TechCrunch
Possible Twitter Changes: Complex, The Verge

NBA TV:
The NBA just made its 24-hour basketball channel NBA TV available as a stand-alone subscription streaming service that costs $6.99/mo. It's an effort to reach more cord-cutters, but if you already pay for cable, you won't have to pay extra to see it.
Read more: CNN, Variety

Mermaid Live!:
ABC honored the 30th anniversary of The Little Mermaid movie with a live performance on TV last night. Some fans said they loved it, while others were... less impressed.
Read more: People, USA Today

Work Wednesday - Four-Day Workweek:
Microsoft tried out four-day workweeks in Japan over the summer, and the results are promising! Even though the amount of time spent at work was cut, productivity increased by nearly 40 percent compared to the same time last year.
Read more: CNN