Keeping Up With America

High school track athlete facing battery charge after viral video of competitor hit with baton: A Virginia high school track athlete is facing a misdemeanor charge following a viral video of her at a meet where her competitor gets struck in the head with a baton.

Stepmom police say abused captive man over 20 years posts bail following arrest: A severely emaciated Connecticut man was allegedly forced to urinate in bottles and locked inside for nearly 24 hours a day during two decades of captivity by his stepmother, police said Thursday.

How Oklahoma’s AG used a frontier-era law to charge Robert Morris in sex abuse scandal: The indictment of former megachurch pastor Robert Morris on child sex abuse charges this week was made possible by an accuser who refused to quit, a novel legal theory and an archaic section of state criminal code that dates to Oklahoma’s origins on the wild frontier.

Judge orders some federal agencies to reinstate thousands of probationary workers: A federal judge in California on Thursday ordered that the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, Agriculture and Treasury reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were fired last month.

Trump announced mass expulsions, but the pace of deportation flights has been slower than Biden’s: Four days after President Donald Trump returned to office, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made an announcement: “Deportation flights have begun. President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: If you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences.”

Around the World

Kremlin told U.S. it didn’t want Trump’s Ukraine-Russia envoy at peace talks: President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia was excluded from high-level talks on ending the war after the Kremlin said it didn’t want him there, a U.S. administration official and a Russian official tell NBC News.

South Korea charges air force pilots with criminal negligence in accidental bombing of village: South Korean military investigators charged two Air Force pilots on Thursday with criminal negligence over an accidental bombing of a village last week during a training exercise, which injured at least 29 people and caused extensive property damage.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Spirit Airlines, fresh from bankruptcy, is ready to take on the new Southwest, CEO says

Binance token rises following report that Trump family has discussed stake in the crypto exchange

Dollar General CEO warns consumers are cash-strapped, and says 2025 won’t be better

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Amid stock market uncertainty, here are 3 ways to protect your money now: A drop in inflation announced this week did little to smooth over the markets as stocks sank early Thursday. That comes amid extended stock market uncertainty that has caused investments to rise and fall, sometimes within the same day. Combined with an inflation rate still almost a full percentage point above the Federal Reserve’s target 2% goal and a pause in interest rate cuts that most expect to be extended when the bank meets next week, many savers may be exploring ways to protect their money right now.

Think You Know Bitcoin? Here’s 1 Little-Known Fact You Can’t Overlook. | Anders Bylund, Fool. Is Bitcoin’s unchangeable nature a security liability? Here’s what you need to know about the largest cryptocurrency’s development before jumping to conclusions about its long-term security. Some cryptocurrency investors worry about data security in the future. Bitcoin (BTC -2.76%) owners often tout the largest coin’s unchanging qualities as a major selling point. But if Bitcoin’s technical platform never changes, how can it meet unexpected challenges and adapt to new security threats? In particular, won’t Bitcoin’s encryption soon crumble under an assault from quantum computing systems?

How a reverse mortgage affects generational wealth: If you’re a homeowner over age 62, you may be sitting on your biggest financial asset while struggling to pay your bills. With inflation squeezing those with fixed incomes and retirement savings falling short, many wonder how to tap into their home’s equity without selling the place they love.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Bucks to honor Junior Bridgeman with jersey patch | Rafael Devers: I’ve told Red Sox I’ll do whatever they need

‘Black Mirror’ Season 7 Trailer: ‘USS Callister’ Sequel Blasts Off as Netflix Sets April Release for New Episodes With Issa Rae, Paul Giamatti and More | Barry Jenkins in Talks to Direct Glen Powell in Sci-Fi Thriller ‘The Natural Order’

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ team claims CNN ‘substantially altered’ video of him assaulting Cassie | Donatella Versace stepping back from role at Versace: ‘Always in my heart’

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

Is It Safe to Eat Meat In Bloated Packaging?

What happens when you drink olive oil every day?

How to Grow Peppers Indoors for Crunchy, Delicious Produce Year-Round

How to Clean a Copper Sink So It Gleams, According to Cleaning Experts