JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1206

Viral infections, including Covid-19, flu and shingles, are linked to heightened heart and stroke risks, according to a large review in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The analysis of 150+ studies found heart attack risk triples after Covid and quadruples after flu; stroke risk rises fivefold in the month after flu. Chronic infections like hepatitis C, HIV and varicella zoster also raise long‑term risk. Researchers cite inflammation and clotting as key drivers. Doctors urge vaccination and attention to modifiable risks, noting traditional factors still dominate overall risk.

Michael R. Bloomberg put $1.5 million into Fix the City, a super PAC backing Andrew M. Cuomo’s mayoral bid, and urged New Yorkers to vote for the former governor. The group has run anti-Mamdani ads and a get-out-the-vote push. It is Bloomberg’s first move since spending more than $8 million on Cuomo’s failed primary bid, as super PAC spending against Mr. Mamdani rises before Tuesday’s vote. After a September meeting described as "candid and productive," Bloomberg reaffirmed his endorsement and said he had voted for Cuomo, praising his experience and toughness for a difficult job.

Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs moved to fast-track his appeal, arguing his 50-month prison term should be sharply reduced, according to court papers filed Wednesday. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said prosecutors agreed to an expedited schedule with arguments before a judge in April. A New York City federal jury in early July convicted Combs on two counts of interstate prostitution and acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking. He pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. Combs has served 14 months; his release is listed as May 8, 2028.

The Supreme Court asked the Trump administration and Illinois officials for more information as it weighs whether the president can deploy hundreds of National Guard troops in the Chicago area. The justices set a Nov. 17 deadline and requested briefs on what “regular forces” means under federal law. The case stems from a plan to post Guard units outside an ICE facility in Broadview, where protesters have gathered; DOJ cites prolonged, coordinated, violent resistance, while Illinois and Chicago dispute any obstruction. A Seventh Circuit panel previously blocked the deployment.

Several companies tied to the White House’s new 90,000-square-foot, privately financed ballroom are tamping down their online presence amid backlash over the East Wing’s demolition. EAI Rolloff’s site shows only a Routine Maintenance notice; an EAI truck was seen hauling discarded rebar, and the firm offered no comment. Demolition contractor ACECO’s site and social accounts are offline as Yelp temporarily blocked new posts over hostile reviews. Lead designer McCrery Architects pared its website to a single page and did not respond. Larger partners Clark Construction, AECOM, and Carrier remain publicly visible.

After a 10-3 Week 8, the columnist posts Week 9 straight-up and against-the-spread picks with confidence scores, leaning chalk and citing injuries, matchups and recent form. Highlights include Baltimore with Lamar Jackson back at Miami; Detroit over Minnesota; Green Bay big over Carolina; Chargers over Tennessee on the ground; New England over Atlanta; injury-thinned 49ers still over the Giants; Indianapolis over Pittsburgh; Denver edging Houston; Rams to roll past New Orleans; Buffalo over Kansas City; and Seattle over Washington. Arizona-Dallas hinges on whether the Cowboys turn it into a track meet.

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by a quarter point to about 3.9%, the second reduction this year, aiming to support growth and hiring amid still-elevated inflation. Chair Jerome Powell warned another cut in December is far from assured, citing a government shutdown that has stalled key data and sharp divisions among policymakers. Stocks slipped after his remarks. Two officials dissented — one favoring no change, another seeking a larger cut — and the Fed said it will halt the runoff of its securities holdings on Dec. 1, a shift that could modestly ease longer-term borrowing costs.

The Pentagon plans to pull up to 800 troops from Eastern Europe, prompting unusually sharp criticism from the Republican chairs of Congress’s armed services panels. Sens. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers warned the move sends the wrong signal to Russia and conflicts with President Trump’s strategy to pressure Vladimir Putin to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Army’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne, will return to Fort Campbell without replacement; about 1,000 U.S. troops will remain in Romania. A NATO official called the shift routine, and the U.S. Army said it does not lessen NATO commitments.

Nearly a month into a government shutdown, President Donald Trump has kept a full public schedule—overseas trips, fundraisers, even burger lunches at the White House—while far fewer Executive Office staff are furloughed than during 2018–19. With some 750,000 federal workers sidelined or unpaid and SNAP funding lapsing after Friday, the White House projects business as usual, a posture allies call “smarter,” while others say his attention is elsewhere. The administration blames Democrats; a poll finds blame spread across both parties. Trump says the government must reopen but has cut positions and redirected funds toward priorities like military pay.

Why some spiders decorate their webs remains unsettled, but a new study adds a fresh clue. Modeling the wasp spider’s ornate stabilimenta, researchers including Gabriele Greco found that a central, blob-like patch could reroute otherwise lost vibrations across the web, potentially improving signal reach to the spider. The effect appeared only when vibrations began tangential to the spiral threads. Outside experts said the approach revives an old idea but warned the circular models may miss real-world asymmetry. Field tests are planned; the paradox endures.