On this date in 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was rocked by explosions, releasing a vast amount of radiation. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. (See Photos)
U.S. Economy Shows Signs of Slowdown
U.S. economic growth slowed significantly last quarter, increasing by only 1.6%, well short of expectations and considerably lower than the 3.4% growth rate reported in the final three months of 2023.
Consumer spending climbed only 2.5%, outpaced by an inflation rate of 3.7% in the first quarter. Analysts blamed a surge in imports and a buildup of unsold goods at businesses.
The poor economic news wasn’t received well by Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, the Dow dropped 375 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.6%. It also dampened expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates at next week’s meeting.
Anti-Israel Protests Spread to 30 Campuses
Anti-Israel protesters have built protest encampments on at least 30 colleges across the country, including campuses in Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and California. Click here for the latest on pro-Palestinian campus protests.
Not all protests were peaceful. Boston’s Emerson College canceled Thursday’s classes after more than 100 protestors were arrested and four police officers injured Wednesday night. At the University of Texas in Austin, state police arrested more than 50 protesters.
In Washington D.C., students and faculty from area colleges and universities converged on the George Washington University campus for a combined demonstration.
Meanwhile, at Columbia University, the so-called epicenter of the student Anti-Israel movement, university officials have given protesters a Friday deadline to vacate or face “alternative options.”
List: A Quirky Fact About Every State
A new list looks at “bizarre but brilliant” oddities about every state in the nation, from Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage store to Wyoming’s two — and only two — sets of escalators in the entire state.
In Utah, they consume more Jell-O per capita than any other state. In Delaware, chickens outnumber people 200-1, and North Dakota has the world’s largest French Fry Feed.
It’s not the most serious list in the world, but it does provide a treasure trove of potential trivia tidbits. You can find the quirky fact for your state by clicking here.
The Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s claim of immunity from criminal charges. The justices peppered both sides with hypothetical presidential crimes to see how far the claim could go. (See Details)
An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, former President Trump’s chief of staff, for their alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. (More)
Expelled former Rep. George Santos of New York suspended his independent House bid this week after his campaign failed to raise significant funds. (More)
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s interview with a local news crew turned violent when a pedestrian began a fistfight with the Mayor’s bodyguard. (See Video)