Good news from Texas: State health authorities said an outbreak of measles that led to thehighest number of cases of the highly contagious diseasein decades has ended. As of Aug. 18, more than 42 days, representing two incubation periods, had passed since a new case was reported in the counties where transmission had been still active. In all, 762 cases were confirmed in Texas, more than two-thirds of them in children, andmore than 94% of cases were in unvaccinated people, according to state health data. Two children, one 6 and one 8, died. Infections also broke out in nearby states, including New Mexico and Kansas. It turns out rats are nuts for almonds.An army of the rodentshas descended on California's $4.7-billion-a-year almond orchards, causing hundreds of millions of dollar in damage to equipment and crops over the past year. The invasion in parts of theSan Joaquin Valleyis serious business: California produces 100% of the nation's commercially produced almonds, and some growers report spending thousands of dollars an acre on rat control. The rodents appear to launch their almond raids at night, said Roger Isom of the Western Tree Nut Association, who has seen the evidence for himself: "Down in the base of a tree where it branches out, it was kind of like that was their dinner table." Rats gone wild:California cities are among the most overrun in U.S. Tipping isn't the only turnoff for diners −they have a whole menu of complaints. A new survey by the business software firm Lightspeed Commerce reports that up to a third of diners have either spun around and walked out of a restaurant before placing an order − or dined and decided to never return − because of long waits, rude staff, sticky menus or gross tables. That's probably not a huge surprise: At a time whendining out has become more of a treatbecause of higher prices, Americans are more choosy. "Customers are looking to feel valued the moment they walk through the door," Lightspeed's Adoniram Sides said in a news release. Also big on diners' hit list? Yes,tipping fatigue. 84438497007 He's Bond, James Bond, and a woman just can't fill hisCrockett & Jones brown suede shoes, Hellen Mirren says. "James Bond has to be a guy," the acclaimed British actress, 80, tells Saga Magazine, and though she notes the superspy chops real-life women have shown throughout history, "James Bond has to be James Bond. ... You can't have a woman. It just doesn't work." There's a chance, though: The last Bond, Daniel Craig, stepped away from the role after 2021's "No Time to Die," and the next Bond is up for grabs. Meanwhile, Mirren herself plays a retired spy in "Thursday Murder Club," in theaters Aug. 28. Put two of the brightest stars in NBA history on a basketball card − and knowing now, tragically, that there will never be another one − andyou have collectability gold. The card, featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant along with their signatures and two game-worn jersey patches, is expected to fetch more than $6 million at auction, a record for a basketball card. "Two of the greatest players who ever stepped on the court," said Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions. "The demand for this card is astronomical." Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, at age 41.− Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol Remembering Kobe Bryant:The NBA legend's career in images This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Rats gone wild, Hurricane Erin's wrath, dissed diners: Week in review
