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Today’s Big Story

El Niño Could Turn Up the Heat

It has been hot, and it might get hotter: an El Niño weather pattern could form this year and the warming sea temperatures will bring new extremes in weather, according to US and international meteorologists.

What are we in for?
La Niña — a weather pattern that cools ocean temperatures — has been keeping the heat in check for the past three years, but she’s on the way out as El Niño moves in. Meteorologists are now warning that the US could see a hotter year in 2024— the effects are usually felt the year following an El Niño event — than they did in 2016, which was the warmest in history.

Yes, but:
El Niño weather patterns bring calm conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, which means Hurricane season in the southeast should be rather mild. After Hurricane Ian blasted Florida in 2022 and caused $112 billion in damages, southern coastal communities should get a break from extreme weather in 2023. Conversely, the Pacific Ocean tends to get rougher during El Niño and the west coast will likely have to deal with a magnitude of storms they haven’t felt in three years.

Big picture:
El Niño’s rains could bring respite for some drought and storm stricken parts of the world, but it could also trigger more extreme weather and climate issues in others.

Little Stories

Business & Economy

*Darden Restaurants will buy Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse chain for $715 million adding to its lineup of eateries that include Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, and Longhorn Steakhouse.

*The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate 0.25% on Wednesday pushing it past 5% for the first time since 2007.

World

*A 13-year-old fatally shot 8 fellow students and a guard in Serbia on Wednesday before he called the police and was arrested. A teacher and six other students were injured and are recovering in the hospital. The shooter drew maps of the school and created a list of kids he planned on targeting according to police said.

*Russia claimed Ukraine tried to assassinate Vladimir Putin with a drone strike on the Kremlin early Wednesday morning. Ukraine denied involvement in the strike and said its focus is to “free its own territory not attack others”.

US New, Politics, & Government

*The FBI captured Francisco Oropesa who allegedly shot and killed five neighbors for telling him his shooting was keeping their child awake. He was booked on 5 counts of murder.

*A McDonald’s franchisee employed two 10-year-olds in Kentucky in violation of federal labor laws. The children weren’t paid and sometimes worked until 2 am, even operating the fry station, a prohibited task for anyone under 16 years old.

Sports & Entertainment

*Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. A Saudi club, Barcelona, and Inter-Miami have shown interest in signing the World Cup champion.

*Tori Brown, a three-time United States Olympic medalist and former world champion sprinter died at the age of 32 on Wednesday. She was found in her home and the cause of death is unknown.

Science, Health, & Tech

*Google began allowing users to access their accounts using a passkey on Wednesday, an easier and more secure sign-in method than traditional passwords. With passkeys, users can access their accounts much like they do their phones with a fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock pin.

*Apple and Google submitted a plan on Tuesday to help fight the secret stalking of Bluetooth devices that help people find their lost keys, luggage, and other things that get misplaced. Bad actors often abuse the devices and use them to track former love interests and others who are unaware they are being followed.

Extras

*Hate planning trips? This Romanian getaway has the intenary taken care of.

*COVID detectives gathered at a CDC event and caused an outbreak.

*Watch a bear spook a West Virginia school principal as he opens a dumpster.