Fake Botox, Bitcoin halving, and an alien plant.

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Big Stories

Fake Botox causing bad reactions in 9 states

Fake Botox injections have caused vision problems, shortness of breath, and swallowing issues in at least 19 women across nine states.

• The FDA found that the counterfeit injections were obtained from unlicensed sources and administered in non-medical settings. Fake Botox can spread toxins throughout the body, causing life-threatening breathing difficulties. There's no link to authentic Botox, which is safe for its intended uses.

• Botox uses a purified form of a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin that paralyzes muscles for a while. It is injected into specific areas of the face to relax muscles that cause wrinkles. However, the fake products can spread to other body parts, incapacitating muscles needed to breathe.

• All the affected women developed symptoms after receiving injections for cosmetic reasons. Nine required hospitalization, and four received antitoxin treatment to prevent further toxin spread. No patients required ventilation, and no deaths have been reported.

• The FDA warns that fake Botox products often have "Botulinum Toxin Type A" listed as the ingredient instead of "OnabotulinumtoxinA" and have non-English language on the packaging.

Bitcoin halving event

A “halving” is about to happen in the Bitcoin world, and some experts believe it will cause a massive rally in the digital currency.

• The halving is an event programmed into Bitcoin's code that cuts the reward for mining new bitcoins in half, roughly every four years. This effectively reduces the supply of new bitcoins entering circulation.

• Historically, Bitcoin's price has increased significantly after each halving event. However, there is debate about whether the halving itself is the main cause of the price increase. Other factors, such as increasing adoption and speculation, may also play a role.

• The impact of the halving on energy consumption is also a hot issue. Some believe it will force miners to use more energy to compete for fewer bitcoins. Others argue that it will force miners to become more efficient or even cause some to give up mining altogether.

Mid-West storms

Severe storms brought hail, tornadoes, and lightning strikes to parts of the Mid-West on Tuesday.

• Severe storms swept through the central US on Tuesday, spawning tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa. An EF-1 tornado injured two people in Kansas and damaged buildings in nearby towns. Another tornado ripped through rural Iowa, demolishing a barn and damaging other structures.

• The National Weather Service warned of continued severe weather throughout the day, with thunderstorms, hail, and damaging winds expected in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.

• In a separate incident, a possible lightning storm forced a Chicago-bound flight to return to Kansas City.

Little Stories

• The federal Bureau of Prisons announced the closure of a women's prison in California, nicknamed the "rape club," following widespread reports of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. Despite serious efforts to reform the facility after an AP investigation, the prison still doesn’t meet the standards needed to continue operating. (More)

• A major fire ripped through Copenhagen's historic stock exchange building, destroying part of the 17th-century structure and its spire. The fire caused significant damage to the landmark and forced evacuations of nearby buildings. (More)

• The average tax refund this year is higher than last year, but fewer people have received their refunds so far. IRS data shows a 3.3% decrease in processed refunds compared to 2023. While the number of refunds is down, the average refund amount is up by 4.6%. (More)

• The UK Parliament approved a world-leading tobacco bill that bans anyone born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes. There are several more steps before it becomes law, but a decision is expected in the second half of 2024. (More)

• House Speaker Mike Johnson faced Republican backlash over his proposed aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. Despite calls to resign, Johnson is standing firm, labeling himself a "wartime speaker" and pledging to advance the aid package, even if it means getting Democratic support. (More)

Extra Credit

Americans are sleeping less, and stressing more. 

An escaped circus elephant took a stroll through a Montana town.

Ranking the world’s busiest airports. 

Alien-like plant blooms for the first time in 10 years.