Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,024 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Polar vortex…again

• Daytona 500

• Pictures of an ancient galaxy

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Big Story

Toronto Plane Crash

A Delta Air Lines plane arriving from Minneapolis crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.

• The plane flipped over on the snowy tarmac during landing. Eighteen people were injured in the accident. Two adults and a child needed to be airlifted to trauma centers. Airport officials confirmed that all passengers and crew members were accounted for. (See evacuation video here *Caution Explicit Language)

• The incident caused significant disruption at the airport, with over four dozen flights delayed and a ground stop put in place. Canadian transportation officials are investigating the cause of the crash. It follows other recent aviation accidents in Alaska, Pennsylvania, and D.C.

• Meanwhile, the Trump Administration fired approximately 300 Federal Aviation Administration employees over the weekend, affecting workers in various roles and specialist positions. Union reps said the firings would increase the workload of a workforce that is already stretched thin.

Big Story

Cult Murders

Police have arrested Ziz (real name Jack Lasota), the leader of a cultlike group called the "Zizians.”

• The group has been linked to six deaths in three states and first came onto the radar in 2019 during a protest in California. Later, in 2022, they were involved in several violent incidents, including attacking a landlord in California who tried to evict them and murdering an elderly couple in Pennsylvania. The same landlord who survived the attack was then killed last month.

• The situation came to a head on January 20, 2025, when two group members got into a shootout and killed a Border Patrol agent in Vermont. In response, the FBI searched properties in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where some Zizians had been living.

• Law enforcement found evidence suggesting the group was well-equipped, including tactical gear like night-vision goggles, ballistic helmets, and weapons.

• The cult is mainly made up of intelligent computer scientists, and its beliefs combine various ideologies, including anarchism, veganism, gender identity, and concerns about artificial intelligence.

Big Story

Polar Vortex Round 10

A polar vortex is bringing extreme cold to most of the US.

• Temperatures are forecast to plunge below -10 degrees Fahrenheit across the Dakotas and Upper Midwest, while regions from Kansas to Maine will likely see readings at or below zero. Meteorologists call this the 10th polar vortex event of the season — usually, each winter has two to three.

• The cold front follows severe storms that caused widespread flooding in several states. Kentucky was hit particularly hard, with 11 deaths (nine from flooding and two from weather-related crashes) and over 1,000 people needing rescue. West Virginia reported one death and multiple missing persons, while Georgia had one death from a fallen tree.

• The severe weather has also brought dangerous snow conditions across multiple states. The Rocky Mountains are under avalanche warnings affecting Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The Midwest and Northeast are both under winter weather advisories.

Quick Stories

US News

• Four deputies to NYC Mayor Adams reportedly plan to resign after Trump's DOJ moved to drop criminal charges against him. The news puts more pressure on Adams to step down after mass DOJ walkouts last week. (More)

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday. They discussed Gaza and the need for a solution to ensure regional security. (More)

• SpaceX officials will visit the FAA's Air Traffic Control Command Center to study the current system. Transportation Secretary Duffy announced the visit as part of efforts to modernize air travel and improve safety. (More)

World

• Russia released American Kalob Byers, who was arrested at Moscow airport for alleged edible cannabis possession. The move seems aimed at reducing tensions before discussions on Ukraine and Gaza. (More)

• Pope Francis is still in the hospital because of a complicated chest infection. The facility admitted him Friday thinking it was bronchitis, but doctors found he needed further drug therapy. (More)

• At least 124 people in Turkey have died from bootleg alcohol poisoning in Ankara and Istanbul, with dozens more hospitalized. Illegal alcohol is often tainted with toxic methanol in Turkey. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Friday (S&P -0.01%, Nasdaq +0.41%, Dow -0.37%). The three major averages ended last week in the green after investors got more clarity on President Trump’s tariff plans. (More)

• Amazon workers at a North Carolina warehouse strongly rejected unionization, with three-quarters voting against joining the Carolina Amazonians United group. (More)

• Southwest Airlines is cutting 1,750 corporate jobs (15% of the workforce) to save $210 million in 2024 and $300 million in 2026. CEO Bob Jordan said it was the company’s first large-scale layoff. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• William Byron claimed his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory after race leader Denny Hamlin crashed on the final lap. The win came following a restart triggered by a major wreck with less than five laps to go. (More)

• Auburn’s win at Alabama kept the Tigers at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Florida sits at No. 2 with Duke right behind them at No. 3. (More)

• "Captain America: Brave New World" led by Anthony Mackie dominated with a $100 million domestic opening over Presidents Day weekend. It earned an additional $92.4 million internationally, totaling $192.4 million globally. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• British astronaut John McFall, who has a prosthetic leg, became the first disabled astronaut cleared for International Space Station missions. (More)

• A new predator species from 30 million years ago was discovered in Egypt's Fayum Depression. The leopard-sized creature, named Bastetodon after an Egyptian goddess, had a well-preserved skull and was part of the extinct Hyaenodonta group. (More)

• A Texas measles outbreak has reached 48 cases, the state's largest in 30 years, with 13 hospitalizations. The virus has also appeared in New Mexico, Alaska, Georgia, New York, and Rhode Island. (More)

Extra Credit

🛏️ Do pillows expire?

🔭 James Webb Telescope captures an ancient galaxy named Leo P.

🏖️ Ten cheapest vs. most expensive destinations. 

🐍 Grocery worker finds venomous snake in box of bananas.