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The royal family says an emotional goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at her funeral, and Hurricane Fiona causes catastrophic flooding in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as it continues to strengthen. Plus, what it means to have high cholesterol, and how to treat it.

King Charles III bids an emotional farewell to Queen Elizabeth II at her funeral.

King Charles III bid an emotional farewell to his mother as her coffin was lowered into the royal vault at St. George's Chapel yesterday while the royal family sang "God Save the King." The royals also released a never-before-seen photo of Queen Elizabeth II showing her walking alone in the countryside as a young woman. A private burial ceremony was held last night at the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle following a televised service earlier in the morning at St. George's Chapel. 

Puerto Rico reels from 'catastrophic' Hurricane Fiona as it strengthens into a Category 3 storm. 

At least one person was killed and only 11% of Puerto Rico had power overnight after the island was battered by Hurricane Fiona, which dropped more than 2 feet of rain and knocked out the electricity supply. The U.S. territory's governor called the damages "catastrophic." The storm also plowed into neighboring Dominican Republic yesterday, with photos showing devastated homes and downed trees. The storm strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane today with 115 mph winds on its way to Turks and Caicos, according to the National Hurricane Center. As celebrities like Ricky Martin plead for aid for Puerto Rico, here are 6 verified charities assisting people on the island.

A judge overturned the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, which was detailed in the hit podcast ‘Serial,' and ordered him released.

Adnan Syed walked out of prison yesterday to cheers after 23 years behind bars when a Baltimore judge vacated his murder conviction. The judge's ruling came 8 years after the hit podcast “Serial” detailed his case and raised doubts about his role in the 1999 slaying of former girlfriend Hae Min Lee. City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn gave the state 30 days to decide whether to seek a new trial after she said prosecutors made a compelling argument that his conviction was flawed. Syed had long claimed his innocence. You can read more here.

💉 When is the best time to get your flu shot this year?

Flu season typically starts next month and continues through the winter. Experts are warning that the U.S. could be in for a particularly bad flu season if trends in the Southern hemisphere hold true. We found out what to expect for this flu season, and how this month or next month are the best times to get a flu shot. With almost all pandemic restrictions gone, people are mixing in public more, and one virologist told us “it’s more important this year to get the flu shot than it has been in the prior couple of years."

Achieve your life goals with easy tips.

If you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol and need to make some dietary changes to combat the condition, we have 4 expert-approved ways to lower your cholesterol by managing your diet. We break down what having high cholesterol means and how it can affect your health, as well as strategies like eating more foods with soluble fiber and eating a plant-based diet that can help bring down your levels of bad cholesterol. 

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Now, for those of you without cholesterol problems 😉 ... this gooey and delicious homemade queso dip can double as a family mealtime treat or a welcome addition to your football tailgate. The one-pot, jalapeno-spiked dip is one of 5 recipes to try this week, including eggplant with tomato, broccolini and mozzarella, and a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. 

A little pick-me-up before you go.

"In loving and devoted memory, Charles R." That was the message on a handwritten note tucked in a floral arrangement atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin yesterday as it traveled from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle, her final resting place. King Charles III's simple but poignant note to his mother carried on a long tradition of royals marking the funerals of loved ones with handwritten notes. The queen herself left one on Prince Philip's coffin last year, while William and Harry's note to Diana was heartbreakingly addressed to "Mummy." For more on the history of these royal tributes, go here. 

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Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield

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