Good Morning! Today’s edition is 884 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• China Releases U.S. Prisoner

• Caitlin Clark Breaks Another Record

• Why do we laugh when we’re scared?

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Big Story

Maryland Beaches Closed

Officials have closed beaches in Maryland due to safety concerns.

• Ocean access has been restricted at Assateague State Park, Ocean City, and other Maryland beaches after a large amount of medical waste, including needles and syringes, washed up.

• Officials aren't sure where the debris is coming from, and the affected areas include beaches from Virginia to Delaware. Swimming, wading, and surfing have been banned until it's safe to enter the water again.

• Cleanup teams in Ocean City have been collecting the waste by hand to ensure the beaches are safe. While the sand remains open, people are advised to wear shoes to avoid stepping on any dangerous debris. Most of the cleanup happened on Sunday, with only a few items washing up on Monday. Nonetheless, the ocean remains closed due to rough surf and the trash risk.

Big Story

“Diddy” Arrested

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the famous hip-hop producer, was arrested in New York after being indicted by a federal grand jury.

• The exact charges haven't been revealed yet, but officials said they will provide more details soon. Diddy's lawyer said he had been cooperating with the investigation and believes the charges are unfair. The arrest follows an investigation that included raids on Diddy's homes earlier this year.

• Diddy has faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse, starting with a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend Cassie in November. She accused him of years of physical abuse, rape, and sex trafficking. Although that lawsuit was quickly settled, more people came forward with similar claims. The accusations have hurt his reputation, with leaked footage of him abusing Cassie adding to the damage.

• As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Diddy became a key figure in hip-hop, working with top artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige. However, his businesses have suffered due to the recent allegations. His partnerships in fashion, spirits, and media have taken hits, and institutions like Howard University cut ties with him. Diddy has faced legal trouble before, including a 1999 nightclub shooting, but was acquitted of serious charges at that time.

Big Story

China Releases U.S. Prisoner

David Lin, a 68-year-old American pastor, was released from a Chinese prison after 18 years.

• He was arrested in 2006 and sentenced to life for "contract fraud," but many believe he was targeted for spreading the gospel. The U.S. State Department said Lin's release had been worked on for a long time.

• Lin’s sentence was reduced several times, thanks in part to the advocacy of a nonprofit group called Dui Hua. They said "contract fraud" is often used to target church leaders in China. Lin was one of three Americans that the U.S. State Department considered wrongfully detained.

• Two other Americans, Mark Swidan and Kai Li, are still imprisoned in China. Swidan was sentenced to death for drug trafficking, while Li was sentenced to 10 years for espionage. U.S. lawmakers are urging stronger efforts to free Americans detained in China, with Rep. Chris Smith calling China’s actions “hostage diplomacy.”

Little Stories

• Amazon is telling its staff to return to the office five days a week, ending the option to work from home part-time. Starting in January, CEO Andy Jassy said they want to return to how things were before COVID, believing it will help people work better together. Amazon used to allow employees to work from home two days a week. Workers have already begun protesting the changes. (More)

• TikTok is asking a federal court to stop a law that might ban the app in the U.S. due to concerns about its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The law says TikTok will be banned if it doesn’t separate from ByteDance by January 2025. U.S. officials worry China could use TikTok to spy on American users or spread propaganda. (More)

• Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark broke the WNBA rookie season scoring record on Sunday, previously held by Seimone Augustus. Clark now has 761 points in 39 games, surpassing Augustus' 744 points, which she set in 2006 when the season had only 34 games. (More)

• Two former New York City fire chiefs were arrested for taking bribes to give special treatment to certain people and companies in the fire-safety division. Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco were charged with bribery and corruption, and accused of accepting payments from 2021 to 2023. The arrests are tied to the investigation of NYC Mayor Eric Adams. (More)

• U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles, who was stripped of her Olympic bronze medal from the Paris Games, filed an appeal in Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court on Monday to challenge the decision. Her medal was given to Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu after a review. Chiles originally placed fifth, but after a review of her routine, her score was raised, earning her the bronze medal before it was later revoked. (More)

Extra Credit

💵 Mapped: The purchasing power of $100 in each U.S. state. 

🦴 Prehistoric fossils discovered under L.A. school. 

🌕️ Earth to have mini moon for two months.

😆 Why do we laugh when we’re scared?