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Twitter is canceling politics

Ashley Shaffer   | Paste BN

An unlikely hero helps save a library from flames, and Twitter opts out of politics. It's Ashley, here's the news everyone is talking about Wednesday. 

But first, flight school: If a plane you're on lost its pilot, do you think you could land it? A Paste BN reporter did, but he had some sweet tech to help.

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Twitter doesn't want your money, politicians 

Twitter will no longer be accepting political ads, adding fuel to the fire in the highly controversial debate over free speech and politics on social media. "We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought," said Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a tweetstorm Wednesday. Twitter's ban will go into place in November. Facebook, meanwhile, is in its own heated debate over the decision to allow the spread of misinformation through ads from political campaigns. 

California's secret wildfire weapon: 🐐🐐🐐

As a fast-growing wildfire scorched Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday, flames came alarmingly close to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Unlikely heroes may have saved the day: Goats. The new blaze – dubbed the Easy Fire – burned within 30 yards of the library complex. Goats that grazed on vegetation near the property to create a fire break are partially to thank for why the building remains standing (along with shifting winds). 

  • In Los Angeles County, fire officials said the Getty Fire, which has forced evacuation of more than 7,000 homes, was caused by a tree branch that fell on a power line.
  • In Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, firefighters battling the Kincade Fire are facing another round of "Diablo" winds.

What everyone’s talking about

Is Jeffrey Epstein’s cause of death in question?

A pathologist hired by Jeffery Epstein's family to look into his death argues that the disgraced financier’s injuries point to homicide by strangulation, not suicide. But New York City's chief medical examiner says there's no need for a second investigation. Epstein, 66, was found unresponsive in his jail cell in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. 

Those Fed cuts are adding up

The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate for the third time since late July on Wednesday. The move, which lowered rates to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%, is likely to further trim borrowing costs on credit cards, home equity lines, adjustable-rate mortgages and car loans. Here’s what it means for your credit cards and savings. 

Real quick 

Juul knowingly shipped tainted products, former executive says

Did the best-selling e-cigarette brand in the U.S. knowingly ship tainted products? That's what a former Juul Labs executive is alleging in a new lawsuit that claims the vaping company knowingly shipped 1 million tainted nicotine pods to customers. The suit also claims that the one-time finance executive was fired by the vaping giant earlier this year for protesting company practices, including shipping the tainted products. A company spokesman said Wednesday that the allegations are “baseless.”

A break from the news

This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network.

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