Monday, May 10th, 2021
Pipeline Shuts Down, Cicadas Comeback & Derby Drug Scandal
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by Framebridge.com (Listen for the discount code) and BetterHelp.com/newsworthy
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to review the latest happenings...
Pipeline Cyberattack
It’s being called the worst cyberattack to date on critical U.S. infrastructure. It hit one of the nation’s largest pipeline systems. It carries about 45% of fuel used on the east coast. Colonial Pipeline was hit with a ransomware attack. That’s when criminal groups hold data hostage until the victim pays a ransom. The pipeline had to shut down all 5,500 miles of pipeline that moves diesel, fuel, and jet fuel from Texas to New York while it deals with the threat. So far, there hasn’t been a big effect on fuel prices or supply. Multiple government agencies are investigating.
Read More: WSJ, AP, NY Times, WaPo, Reuters
CO Birthday Party Shooting
A shooting became the deadliest mass shooting in Colorado Springs history. A gunman opened fire at a birthday party, killing six people and then himself. So far, authorities haven’t named the victims or the suspect and they’re still working to figure out what motivated the shooter. They do know one of the victims was the suspect’s girlfriend and all the victims were adults. The Colorado Springs police chief promised to find more answers.
Read More: Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post, AP, CSPD
Times Square Shooting
Another shooting happened Saturday afternoon in a popular tourist spot, New York City’s Times Square. It reportedly started as a fight between men. One pulled out a gun and opened fire. Two women and a four-year-old girl were shot. They were not reported to be related to each other or the shooters. They’re all expected to survive. Police say they’re now looking for information about at least one person of interest.
Read More: NY Times, WSJ, CNN, Fox News
Kabul Girls School Bombing
Violence in Afghanistan’s capital city seems to be getting worse. Over the weekend, a high school was the latest target. Three explosions went off as girls were leaving for the day. At least 50 people died, most of them were students between 11-15 years old. More than 100 other people were hurt. Afghan government officials have blamed the Taliban, but the militant group has denied being behind it. Rights groups are criticizing the Afghan government over a lack of security and they say they’re worried about violence getting worse as the U.S. and NATO forces have started to leave the country.
Read More: NY Times, AP, NBC News, WSJ
China’s Rocket Debris Hit Earth
As expected, debris from a Chinese rocket crashed back to Earth. So far, there are no reports of anyone getting hurt. The large piece of the rocket landed in the Indian Ocean, just west of the Maldives. Scientists, satellite trackers, and the Pentagon had been watching the debris for more than a week to make sure it wasn’t going to hit a populated area. Yesterday morning, the Chinese Manned Space Agency confirmed there was no longer a threat. It said most of the debris was burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere, so the risk was low anyway.
Read More: The Verge, CNN, CBS News, Fox News, CMSE, NASA
Brood X Cicadas Coming Back This Week
Starting this week, billions, maybe trillions, of cicadas are coming out from underground. The insects are part of a group called Brood X. They only exist in the eastern U.S. and they’ll mostly be seen from Tennessee to New York. They’ve been underground for 17 years, tunneling and feeding under the soil. Now, it’s time for them to come up and find mates. When they do, they’ll make a loud buzzing sound. These periodical cicadas are said to be among the loudest insects on the planet. They don’t bite or sting, so they won’t hurt humans or animals.
Read More: CNN, AP, CBS News
Kentucky Derby Winner Failed Drug Test
The winner at this year’s Kentucky Derby could be stripped of the title. The horse named Medina Spirit failed a drug test after the race. Officials say it tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug. It’s not banned, but the horse had more than twice the legal limit in its system. However, trainer Bob Baffert denies the allegation. There will now be a second test. If it comes out the same, Medina Spirit would no longer be considered the Kentucky Derby winner. The horse’s owners would lose the prize money, but anyone who bet on their horse would keep their winnings.
Read More: WSJ, AP, CNN, Churchill Downs
SpaceX Accepting Dogecoin
SpaceX is now accepting the digital currency dogecoin as payment for an upcoming space launch. It’s part of a project called “DOGE-1 Mission to the Moon.” On that mission, SpaceX will fly a satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket early next year. The company that hired SpaceX to launch it will pay entirely with dogecoin. Fans have embraced the digital currency recently and sent its value skyrocketing over the last month. One of those fans is SpaceX founder Elon Musk. He mentioned dogecoin several times when he hosted Saturday Night Live over the weekend.
Read More: Reuters, CNBC, The Verge, Elon Musk, Geometric Energy Corporation
Elon Musk Reveals he has Asperger’s
Elon Musk’s performance on Saturday Night Live got extra attention for another reason. Musk revealed he has Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s believed to be the first time he’s publicly said this. Some applauded the announcement, calling it an important representation. However, others pointed out he used an outdated term. Asperger’s is no longer an official diagnosis. Instead, it’s part of a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Read More: Today, WaPo, WSJ, Autism Speaks
Clubhouse on Android
The popular audio-only chat app Clubhouse is now available on Android devices for the first time. The company launched a beta version for Android in the U.S. Clubhouse has been available for iPhone users since last year, but you still need an invitation to access the chat rooms. In the month of February, Clubhouse was downloaded nearly 10 million times. However, downloads slowed more recently to fewer than one million last month.
Read More: Business Insider, Reuters, TechCrunch, Clubhouse
Money Monday: Higher Consumer Prices
Almost everywhere you shop, you’ll notice prices are going up. Last week, Kellogg said it was going to have to raise prices on food products. Whirlpool’s CEO said the same thing about its company's appliances. Plus, Proctor and Gamble and its competitor Kimberly-Clark have said they’ll raise prices on personal care items. The Wall Street Journal says the problem is costs are rising at every step in production. The price of oil, crops and other commodities have shot up this year. Plus, trucking companies are having to pay overtime and some companies are trying to recoup pandemic-era losses. Still, the Federal Reserve says the increases are likely just temporary.
Read More: WSJ, NY Post, PYMNTS