Tax On Grocery Items, Restaurants To Increase: 

Connecticut residents can expect to dig deeper into their wallets starting Oct. 1.

Food “for immediate consumption” will be taxed at a rate of 7.35 percent rather than 6.35 percent, according to Connecticut’s state budget passed in June. The items being taxed range from things like pizza, soup, ice cream, rotisserie chicken and more.

The increase in taxes is expected to raise 48.3 million this fiscal year and bring in $65.8 million the next, the Hartford Courant reported.

Republican state senators condemned the increase, saying it will be confusing for supermarkets to know how much to charge since only certain items will be taxed more heavily.

Third Democratic Debate Brings Larger Issues But Fewer Candidates: 

The line up of candidates looked a bit smaller compared to last time as Democratic presidential hopefuls made their way off of the campaign trail and onto the debate stage.

The 10 candidates collided over a variety of issues ranging from healthcare, gun control and climate change, with the topic of assault-style weapons dominating a large portion of the night.

Though every candidate on stage agreed to a need for stricter gun laws, former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rouke laid out his plan, which includes a buyout, to confiscate certain weapons, saying “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15.”

While gun control played a large role in Thursday nights debate, the candidates who seemingly dominated the rest of the conversation were former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusettes Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who was often critical over Mr. Biden’s healthcare plan that he said leaves “millions” uncovered.

Oil Attacks Could Raise Tensions And Gas Prices:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to restore one-third of its crude output after drone attacks on two major oil facilities, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to CNBC News, the strikes could cause oil prices to rise to $10 a barrel, increasing the price of gasoline by as much as 25 cents per gallon.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the attacks, rejecting claims that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had carried out the attacks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the U.S. of  “deceit” after Pompeo’s claim, stating that “blaming Iran won’t end the disaster.”