The flu is back … alas

Happening in the World: Today, the Leonid meteor shower is anticipated to generate luminous meteors accompanied by enduring trails that traverse the nocturnal expanse. Although the peak occurs on Saturday, similar meteor rates can be observed in the days leading up to and following this event. The optimal period for observing the shower is post-midnight within any time zone, coinciding with the point at which the constellation Leo reaches its zenith in the celestial sphere. According to NASA, the Leonids are renowned for producing meteor storms, which is the designated term for a meteor shower that achieves rates of at least 1,000 meteors per hour. As the comet orbits the sun, it leaves a trail of rocks and dust behind it, which causes the annual Leonid meteor shower to appear as Earth passes through the debris on its own orbital path. (CNN)

Happening in the US:  The flu season in the United States has begun, with at least seven states reporting high levels of illness and cases increasing in other parts of the country, according to health officials. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new flu data, which showed very high activity in Louisiana last week, as well as high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, and South Carolina. It was also high in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, where health officials declared an influenza outbreak earlier this month. The winter flu season typically begins in December or January. However, it took off in October of last year and will arrive in November of this year. (AP News)

Happening in NYC: The office of Mayor Eric Adams recently unveiled a comprehensive set of reductions that would have a substantial impact on vital services for numerous residents of New York City. These cuts encompass various sectors such as libraries, summer school programs, law enforcement, and sanitation. In September, the individual issued a directive to all municipal entities to reduce their expenditures by 5%, with the indication that additional reductions would be implemented in the future. In total, the education department of the city is projected to experience a financial loss of $547 million during the current fiscal year, and an additional loss of $600 million in the year 2025, from its estimated annual budget of approximately $38 billion. The implementation of Adams’ proposed composting expansion, which was widely praised by proponents of recycling, will experience a setback of six months in both Staten Island and the Bronx. The commencement of the rollout for the aforementioned two boroughs is currently projected to take place in October 2024, as per the sanitation department’s latest estimations. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: This Sunday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, an advanced implant surgery for anterior teeth replacement session will be conducted. The session will be from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. To read more about this event, click the link here.

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