This week at BangShift Mid-West, we have been celebrating all things related to the red paper wasp. No, wait…scratch that. We’ve been battling those angry little monsters while trying to breathe life back into the Project Raven Imperial, which you can check out later. We’re also gearing up the the rush of events that are going down this week, including a return to Gravelrama in Ohio. So expect plenty of great photo content coming down the pike soon, but in the meantime, satisfy your news snacking needs with these lightly-roasted chips of stories from this past week. It’s Scrapple…enjoy!

1. Cue the theme music! Wait…what does “fts i’m out” mean?The woman at the microphone is Heidi King, who until August 31st, 2019, is filling in as the deputy administrator and the acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). She has filled that role since 2017 and has been one of the instrumental voices behind the battle of the fuel economy rules that are slated to go into effect for 2026. There is no word yet on who will replace her at the top of NHTSA.

2. “See that wobble, see that wiggle…”

Getting senators involved gets action, regardless of the reason. Case in point: the “death wobble” that was a big deal for the JK-era Jeep Wranglers. In 2012 FCA had to put out a tech service bulletin and press release that informed the public that if you have a solid front axle, that death wobble is always a possibility…especially if you modify or neglect to keep up your front suspension. However, there is now a new customer satisfaction campaign out now that offers a free repair on the steering damper as a way to alleviate the situation. Regulators are still looking into death wobble and how to prevent car-illerate panic-prone customers from freaking out when physics and mechanics collide.

3. Ford Motor Company vs. some very pissed-off cops. All rise…

Six police officers from the Washington State Patrol have filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Company , claiming that the issue of exhaust fumes entering the cabin, a long-standing point of contention for the current generation of Explorer, hasn’t been remedied. Ford has been offering free repairs for civillian models since 2017 and claims that Police Interceptor Explorers are suffering due to “unsealed holes from the installation of police equipment by third parties after the vehicle was purchased.”

4. At least there won’t be anymore stale French fries under the seats this way!

Minneapolis, Minnesota has approved a measure that will deny any future plans for any kind of drive-thru service, from fast food to ATM use. Part of the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the move for a drive-thru-free scene is meant to encourage a better quality of life, which suggests limiting automobile use. Current drive-thrus are grandfathered in, and future locations can provide special parking for pick-up/drop-off if needed. But if you were really craving that 1 a.m. Taco Bell fix, here’s hoping the old spot has plenty of life left.

5. That’s some Matrix crap if I’ve ever heard of it.

Her name is Aimee DD. She owns a Tesla Model 3. She has had the RFID key card for her Model 3 implanted into her right arm inside of a “biosafe polymer”, and now can start her car so long as her arm is within an inch of the Tesla’s center console. Oh, and the implantation was done by a guy named “Pineapple”.

I quit. Have a good week, everybody.