Good morning! The weekend edition is 745 words, a 3 minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Major winter storm

• Lost dog found after 8 years

• Who owns the Titanic

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Today’s Big Story

Alaska Airplane Crash

Search teams located the wreckage of a missing Bering Air plane about 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska.

• Three people were found deceased inside the aircraft, and the remaining seven passengers are believed to be dead but currently can't be reached inside due to the plane's damaged condition.

• The Cessna Caravan, carrying nine passengers and one pilot, disappeared Thursday afternoon while flying from Unalakleet to Nome. Around 3:18 PM, the plane experienced a sudden loss of altitude and speed over Norton Sound.

• Before going missing, the pilot had informed Anchorage Air Traffic Control that he planned to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to clear. However, the plane did not send out an emergency distress signal that would typically be activated during a crash.

• The area where the plane went missing is known for its harsh winter conditions and is part of the famous Iditarod sled dog race route. People often rely on air travel during the winter because other options are limited.

• The incident follows two other major US aviation accidents that occurred in late January 2024, including a commercial jet collision near Washington, D.C., and a medical plane crash in Philadelphia.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• The Federal Highway Administration has suspended a $5 billion electric vehicle charging network program started under Biden. The program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aimed to expand charging stations nationwide and had already distributed over $3 billion. New guidance will be released for public comment in the spring. (More)

• President Zelenskiy showed interest in sharing Ukraine's mineral wealth with the US, responding to Trump's suggestion to exchange military support for access to rare earth minerals. Zelensky said that less than 20% of Ukraine’s mineral resources are under Russian control and that his country has the largest deposits of titanium and uranium in Europe. (More)

• A major winter storm that hit the West Coast moved eastward on Friday and dumped up to 8 inches of snow in the upper Midwest. The system will merge with southern moisture on Saturday, causing significant snowfall in the Northeast through Sunday. Many New England cities are under a winter storm watch, with some areas expecting up to 12 inches of snow. (More)

• President Trump announced he's revoking Biden's security clearance and stopping his intelligence briefings, citing Biden's similar action against him in 2021. Trump referenced Biden's past statement questioning the value of Trump receiving intelligence updates. (More)

• Snake handlers in Sydney discovered 102 red-bellied black snakes in a backyard mulch pile, including 5 adults and 97 babies. Initially called to help a bitten dog, they found 40 snakes, with four giving birth after capture. Though venomous, these common Australian snakes have never caused human deaths and will be released into a national park. (More)

• The US added 143,000 jobs in January, with unemployment falling to 4%. While hiring slowed from late 2024, the job market remains strong. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, but potential trade tensions with China, including upcoming tariffs, could impact future economic conditions. (More)

• Billabong, Quiksilver, and Volcom stores will close across the US after their operator, Liberated Brands LLC, filed for bankruptcy. The company, which manages 124 retail locations, including RVCA and Roxy, cited economic challenges like inflation, interest rates, and changing consumer habits. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• Ten-year-old Trey Howard shielded his toddler sister from debris when a medical jet crashed near their car in Philadelphia. After emergency brain surgery, his first words were “Daddy, did I save my sister?” (More)

• A beaver colony in the Czech Republic accidentally solved a government problem by building dams overnight, creating a wetland that officials had planned to make with a $1.2 million project. (More)

• The FDA has approved the Impella 5.5, the world's smallest heart pump, for pediatric use. The pen-sized device can be implanted without major surgery and has already proven successful in treating adult heart failure. (More)

• An Arizona man's dog named Damian was found in Oklahoma and returned home after being lost for eight years during a 2017 move. (More)

Extra Credit

🚢 Who owns the Titanic?

🔑 One in ten people have the same four-digit passcode.

🐘 Meet the Oregon Zoo’s new baby elephant.

📚️ Check out reader’s favorite books from 2024.