Canadian wildfire smoke goes global. Chicago took the title of “worst air quality in the world” yesterday after smoke from Canada’s wildfires drifted to the Great Lakes region and other parts of the US. Chicago residents most vulnerable from the smoke were urged to spend more time indoors, while all Michiganders received an air quality alert. The smoke from Quebec’s fires has even wafted over the Atlantic Ocean to Portugal, Spain, France, and other European countries—but unlike the haze that Dune-ified NYC a few weeks ago, the smoke in Europe does not present a health risk, since it’s much higher up in the atmosphere.

 Diageo ditches Diddy after dispute. Spirits company Diageo broke off ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs after Combs sued it last month. In his lawsuit, the rapper and business mogul claimed that Diageo under-promoted his liquor brands—Ciroc vodka and DeLeón tequila—while hyping other celebrity spirits brands in its portfolio, such as George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila. Diddy accused Diageo of racial discrimination, claiming the company considered DeLeón a “black brand” to be marketed to “urban” customers. Diageo has denied the allegations but decided their business relationship was irreparable.

 United CEO blasts the FAA as delays and cancellations mount. Tens of thousands of US flights have been delayed or canceled over the past several days, causing one of the worst stretches for air passengers this year. And while widespread thunderstorms have caused havoc, United CEO Scott Kirby also blamed the FAA for air-traffic controller shortages: “The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,” Kirby told staff on Monday. Airlines are biting their nails ahead of a Fourth of July air travel weekend that could top 2019 levels.

An EV startup that was supposed to save an Ohio town from going under…has gone under.

Lordstown Motors, maker of the Endurance electric pickup with in-wheel motors, filed for bankruptcy yesterday. It’s also suing its largest shareholder, Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, for failing to plug it with promised investments.

But just four years ago, it seemed like Lordstown Motors would be the Batman to its Gotham City: Lordstown, Ohio. In 2019, the company swooped in to buy a recently shuttered GM plant that used to be Lordstown’s largest employer.

• The facility was repurposed for producing the Endurance, which Lordstown hoped would beat the likes of Rivian’s R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning as the first electric pickup to hit the road.
• The Trump administration touted the deal as a major win for a town that believed its carmaking days were over, and the former president even showcased the pickup at the White House.

But after going public via SPAC in 2020, Lordstown has sputtered. One of its test vehicles spontaneously combusted, and it produced just 31 trucks by early this year, of which several were recalled.

All may not be lost for Lordstown, Ohio…Lordstown Motors sold the auto plant for $230 million to Foxconn last year, and the factory is due to start churning out EVs for another startup, Fisker, in 2025.—SK

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