Broadband discounts expire, Asia heatwave, and a stealth submarine.

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Big Stories

Millions to see broadband bills go up in May

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides discounts on internet and phone service, is about to run out of money.

• Established in 2021, ACP has helped bridge the digital divide by offering subsidies to qualifying households with incomes below 200% of the poverty line or those participating in government assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or WIC. Over 20 million households currently rely on ACP benefits.

• While households have enjoyed a maximum $30 monthly subsidy on internet or phone bills, that amount will shrink to $14 in May. The reduction is even steeper for those living on tribal lands, where the maximum benefit will drop from $75 to $35. By June, without congressional intervention, these bills are likely to surge back to pre-program rates.

• The potential for millions to lose access to affordable internet has spurred calls for an extension of the program. Senators and Representatives from both parties have introduced companion bills to allocate additional funding for ACP. However, these bills have stalled in Congress.

State health care plans can’t exclude gender-affirming surgeries

A federal appeals court in Virginia determined that state health plans can’t deny coverage for gender-affirming surgeries to transgender people.

• The court case centered on challenges to policies in North Carolina and West Virginia that excluded coverage for gender-affirming care within their respective state health plans. North Carolina specifically excluded treatment for gender dysphoria, while West Virginia's Medicaid program had excluded "transexual surgery" since 2004.

• The ruling sets a significant legal precedent. Judge Roger Gregory, in his written decision, called the state policies "obviously discriminatory" and highlighted that such discrimination based on sex and gender identity is unconstitutional.

• According to the Movement Advancement Project, nearly half of US states lack laws guaranteeing inclusive insurance coverage for LGBTQ individuals, and two states, Mississippi and Arkansas, explicitly allow insurers to deny coverage for gender-affirming care.

Southeast Asia is getting roasted

Millions in South and Southeast Asia are suffering through scorching temperatures.

• The Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India are all experiencing unusually hot weather, forcing school closures, threatening public health, and disrupting agriculture.

• The heatwave coincides with the El Niño weather phenomenon, which brings hotter and drier conditions to the region. This has exacerbated the already high temperatures, with some areas reaching over 105°F. In the Philippines, half the country is experiencing drought conditions, and the upcoming harvest is expected to be below average.

• Thirty heatstroke deaths have been reported in Thailand, and dangerous heat indexes exceeding 122°F are forecast in Bangkok. Authorities are urging people to avoid outdoor activities and stay hydrated.

Little Stories

• Britney Spears and her father Jamie have settled their legal battle over his fees and management of her $60 million estate during her conservatorship. The details of the settlement, including the amount paid, are not public. This comes nearly three years after the conservatorship itself was terminated. (More)

• Students at Columbia's pro-Palestine protest have defied a deadline to leave, and now risk being barred from completing the spring semester. The university confirmed suspensions began after the deadline, but the remaining protestors voted to stay and even marched on campus. (More)

• Multiple law enforcement officers were shot and killed in Charlotte, North Carolina while serving a warrant. At least 3 officers died and 2 were wounded. The details of the shooting are still emerging, and police said there was still active gunfire at the scene as of Monday afternoon. (More)

• Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish is out. The company will replace him with a committee of three executives following reported clashes with controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. (More)

• Four major mobile carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon) were hit with a hefty fine of nearly $200 million by the FCC for selling customers' location data without permission. The providers continued to sell the data even after they were warned to stop. (More)

Extra Credit

NASA’s best photos of the year.

Tokyo, with 37 million residents, is the world’s most populous city.

Engineers develop the world’s first manta ray-inspired stealth submarine. 

Dumbphones are making a comeback.