Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,119 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Mexico drug bust

• Bitcoin hits $100K

• World’s oldest new bird mother

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Big Story

US Government Closes Women’s Prison Known for Abuse

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is permanently closing FCI Dublin, a California women’s prison known for abuse and mismanagement.

• The closure of FCI Dublin follows a temporary shutdown due to rampant sexual abuse, earning it the nickname "rape club." BOP is also closing six other minimum-security prison camps across the US.

• Many former inmates from FCI Dublin are suing the agency for the abuse they faced. Critics argue the closures prove the agency will shutter problematic facilities rather than reform the prison system effectively. However, the BOP maintains it’s shutting the prisons to address “a critical staffing shortage, crumbling infrastructure, and limited budgetary resources.”

• The closures highlight deeper problems within the federal prison system, including employee misconduct, frequent inmate escapes, and violence. An Associated Press investigation exposed these issues in 2022, leading President Biden to sign a law to strengthen oversight of the BOP.

Big Story

Mexico Fentanyl Bust

Mexican soldiers and marines seized over a ton of fentanyl pills in Sinaloa, marking the largest bust of the drug in the country’s history.

• The operation began when soldiers spotted two armed men and then chased them into houses. After clearing the buildings, they found found around 2,410 pounds (1,100 kilograms) of fentanyl. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the bust resulted from an ongoing investigation, but some say it was just a coincidence.

• Security analyst David Saucedo suggested that the Mexican government responds to US pressure rather than viewing fentanyl as a national problem. He noted that Mexico often increases drug seizures when Washington applies diplomatic pressure.

• Experts say the seizure is significant but won’t stop the fentanyl crisis unless labs producing the drug are shut down. In 2024, Mexico's fentanyl seizures fell by 94% compared to 2023, even though the opioid is responsible for 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the US.

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Big Story

EV Charging to Get Easier

A new universal protocol aims to simplify the confusing and time-consuming EV charging process.

• Drivers often need different apps, accounts, and payment methods at various charging stations. To solve this, automakers, charging companies, and the US government are developing a "Plug & Charge" system, allowing drivers to plug in their cars and have charging and payment happen automatically.

• Tesla Superchargers already use a similar system. Now, other automakers must work with different charging companies to provide a seamless experience. The new framework will use a digital "trust list,” helping EVs and chargers communicate safely and allowing users to roam between charging networks without extra steps.

• It will also enable vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, where EVs can send electricity back to the power grid to help balance energy use. This could stabilize the grid and prevent issues as more people switch to electric cars.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Thursday, briefly prompting a tsunami warning for areas from southwestern Oregon to Santa Cruz, including San Francisco. The warning has since been canceled. (More)

• A message left on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson contained the words "deny," "defend," and "depose." These words resemble the phrase "delay, deny, defend," which is often used to describe tactics by insurers to avoid paying claims. (More)

• Search crews resumed efforts Thursday to find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who is feared to have fallen into a sinkhole above an abandoned coal mine in Pennsylvania. She went missing Monday while looking for her cat. (More)

World

• Rebel forces took control of the Syrian city of Hama on Thursday, forcing government troops to leave. The army accused the rebels of using suicide attacks to breach its lines in the country’s fourth-largest city. (More)

• Scientists in Spain are searching for the nest of the first southern giant hornets found in Europe. Nicknamed "murder hornets" because they are known to destroy beehives, the insects can grow up to 2 inches long. (More)

• A man in northern Canada jumped on a polar bear to save his wife from being attacked. The bear seriously hurt the man, but he is expected to recover. The couple had gone outside their dogs when the bear charged at the woman. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.19%, Nasdaq -0.18%, Dow -0.55%). Stocks pulled back yesterday, as investors awaited today’s big job report. (More)

• The average 30-year mortgage rate in the US dropped to 6.69% this week, its lowest since late October, according to Freddie Mac. Last week, it was 6.81%, and a year ago, it averaged 7.03%. (More)

• Bitcoin surged past $100,000 for the first time on Thursday. The jump was fueled by President-elect Trump’s nomination of crypto-friendly Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. After hitting a record high of $103,649, it settled at $98,803. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The hit sitcom Scrubs is set to return with a reboot currently in development at ABC. Series creator Bill Lawrence is working on the new version, with plans to bring back the original cast, including Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, and John C. McGinley. (More)

• Pitcher Luis Severino has agreed to a three-year, $67 million contract with the Oakland Athletics. It is the biggest deal in the team's history. (More)

• The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set, with the tournament scheduled to run from June 15 to July 13 in the United States. The opening match will pit Leonel Messi and Inter Miami against Egyptian club Al Ahly.  (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A team of engineers from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the University of California created a bird-like robot that uses spring-loaded legs to launch itself into flight. (More)

• Duke and Florida State researchers found that lead exposure in the 20th century had a major impact on brain health in the US, possibly leading to a higher number of mental illness cases than would have occurred without it. (More)

• A Harvard study found that nurses who ate dark chocolate five or more times a week had a 21% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely or never ate it. This was based on a 25-year follow-up of over 111,000 nurses surveyed in the 1970s and 1980s. (More)

Extra Credit

🔍️ Up-close views of ordinary objects.

💵 How much you have to earn to be in the top 1% in each state.

🐣 World’s oldest wild bird lays egg at 74.

🏈 High school quarterback beats Tom Brady in a throwing competition.