Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:
Obama: ‘Revving’ economy calls for higher wages
President Barack Obama is touting signs of a continuing emergence from the Great Recession, telling people in Milwaukee the nation’s business engines “are revving a little louder.”
The president has used a Labor Day address to put on a new push for increasing the federal minimum wage. Until now, Obama and his White House aides had been reluctant to draw too much attention to positive economic trends, worried that some might not be real.
But in Milwaukee, he dared to say, “We’re on a streak.”
US military targets extremists in Somalia
A day after an Islamic-extremist group launched an attack in Somalia, U.S. military forces have struck back.
A Pentagon spokesman says the results of the operation are being assessed. The target was apparently fighters for the al-Shabab network, which has ties to al-Qaida. Somali officials say the group launched a Sunday attack on an interrogation center.
All of the attackers, three soldiers and two civilians are said to have been killed.
US eating habits improve a bit — except among poor
A new study says Americans’ eating habits have improved — except among the poor.
Those results show a widening wealth gap when it comes to diet. Yet even among wealthier adults, food choices remain far from ideal.
The study was published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Detroit’s historic bankruptcy trial to begin
Lawyers for Detroit will try to convince a judge at the city’s bankruptcy trial that its plans to wipe out billions of dollars in debt should be approved. The trial begins Tuesday in federal court and comes just over 13 months after Detroit became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy.
Most creditors have endorsed the plan, which includes commitments from the state, corporations and foundations to donate $800 million to soften cuts to city pensions.
Dethroned Myanmar beauty queen blasts pageant boss
A dethroned beauty queen from Myanmar says she won’t return the $100,000 crown until the pageant’s organizers apologize for calling her a liar and a thief.
May Myat Noe, the 2014 Miss Asia Pacific World winner, says she never accepted an offer to provide her with free breast implants.
The director of the South Korea-based pageant says the surgery was to help boost her into superstardom.
NY police boss defends response in custody death
New York City’s police commissioner says officers behaved appropriately when they put a protective body wrap on a drug user who later died in custody.
Ronald Singleton’s death was ruled a homicide by the city medical examiner’s office, which cited physical restraint by police as a factor, along with severe intoxication from PCP, heart disease and obesity. But Police Commissioner William Bratton says “homicide” is a medical definition and doesn’t mean an officer did something wrong.
In September, minor leaguers go big or go home
We think of the baseball season as really heating up when September starts, but for minor-league players who didn’t get called up to the big leagues, the season ended on Monday. On WTOP’s Sports page, Noah Frank talks with some Orioles farmhands right after their last game of the year and learns about the bittersweet feeling of this time of year – he also finds out that they won’t be as idle as you might think.
A preview of can’t-miss fall fun
It’s hard to believe, since we’re getting some of our most summery weather of the year in September, but fall really is coming up. On WTOP’s Entertainment page, check out some of the most interesting events coming up in the next couple of months, celebrating everything from comics to kids to classic cars to — naturally for October — beer.
Everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins
Speaking of fall, a lot of people welcome the cooler temperatures because they signify pumpkin time. From pumpkin pies to pumpkin candy to pumpkin spice lattes, people go wild over the ancient American fruit. On WTOP’s Living page, find out some facts about one of the trademarks of the oncoming season. Do you know where the Pumpkin Capital of the World is? How about the size of the world’s largest pumpkin pie? And why the heck do we carve them, anyway?
Cool tech for back-to-school – and work, too
It’s a fact — having the right tool for the job makes life easier. On WTOP’s Tech page, take a look at some innovative and inexpensive gadgets that will make the transition back to school a bit smoother for students. And many of these devices will have parents thinking, “Hey, I could use one, too.”
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