Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,003 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Jackie Robinson Park memorialized

• Tech founder gets stuck in self-driving car

• Is 10,000 steps a day too much?

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Big Story

Biden Bans More Offshore Drilling

President Joe Biden announced a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along much of the US coastline.

• The ban protects 625 million acres across the East Coast, Pacific Coast, eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. However, the ban does not include the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which provides 15% of US oil supplies.

• The ban will likely face court challenges from the oil industry and pushback from Republicans in Congress. Incoming President Donald Trump has vowed to reverse the ban, calling it harmful to the economy.

• Trump previously tried to reverse an Obama-era ban on oil that was protected under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, but a federal judge ruled it unlawful. He will have a similar issue with the new Biden ban.

• The ban impacts about 40% of untapped resources in US offshore areas.

Big Story

Justin Trudeau Resigns

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will step down as Liberal Party leader after serving since 2015.

• Under pressure from poor poll results and party dissatisfaction, Trudeau asked for Parliament to be suspended until March 24, delaying any election until at least May. He will stay prime minister until a replacement is chosen.

• Trudeau’s popularity dropped over the past two years due to high living costs, surging immigration, and a housing shortage. Tensions within his party rose when he attempted to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, leading to her resignation and criticism of his leadership.

• Polls show the Liberals are down by 20% to the opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, ahead of this year’s general election.

Big Story

Jackie Robinson Ballpark Becomes Commemorative Site

President Biden signed a bill recognizing Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, as a commemorative site and part of the African American Civil Rights Network.

• The historic site, where Robinson played his first game in modern organized baseball in 1946, is now closer to becoming a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1914, the ballpark is already listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

• Jackie Robinson played his first game at the ballpark for the Montreal Royals in 1946, breaking the color barrier in organized baseball. A year later, he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first Black player in Major League Baseball. Despite racial discrimination, Robinson excelled, earning Rookie of the Year in 1947 and MVP in 1949.

• The new designation will allow for federal funding to preserve the ballpark, which now hosts the Daytona Tortugas and Bethune-Cookman University games.

Quick Stories

US News

• Donald Trump was officially confirmed as the next president after the Electoral College results were certified by Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the ceremony, which had no objections from lawmakers. (More)

• A winter storm caused over 1,880 flight cancellations and 4,300 delays on Monday. United, Southwest, American, and other airlines waived change fees and fare differences for travelers affected by the storm. (More)

• The Minneapolis City Council approved a federal agreement to reform police training and use-of-force policies following George Floyd's 2020 murder. (More)

World

• Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to lead a major Vatican office, making her the prefect of the department overseeing the Catholic Church’s religious orders. (More)

• Russian officials have raised alarms about significant environmental damage following a major fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Two storm-hit tankers caused the spill, which has impacted local wildlife and ecosystems. (More)

• Indonesia has officially joined BRICS as a full member, expanding the group that already includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The nation's inclusion reflects its goal to strengthen emerging economies and represent the Global South. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P +0.55%, Nasdaq +1.24%, Dow -0.06%). Chipmakers drove gains in the S&P and Nasdaq, helping them notch back-to-back winning days. (More)

• The Walt Disney Company will merge Hulu with Live TV and competitor Fubo. Disney will own 70% of the new entity. Fubo’s stock soared 250% on the news. (More)

• McDonald's is ending some diversity practices following the US Supreme Court's 2023 decision against affirmative action in college admissions. The shift aligns with actions taken by other companies like Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The NFL playoffs kick off on Saturday, with the Los Angeles Chargers taking on the Houston Texans. The Detroit Lions secured the NFC's top seed and a bye with a dominant. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs hold the top seed as they aim for a third straight Super Bowl title. (More)

• Aaron Rodgers became the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 regular-season touchdown passes in the second quarter of the Jets’ 32-20 win over the Dolphins on Sunday. (More)

• The 82nd Golden Globes drew an average of 10.1 million viewers on CBS and Paramount+, holding steady from last year's 9.4 million. However, the show’s numbers are way down compared with pre-pandemic levels, which were near 20 million. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Los Angeles tech entrepreneur Mike Johns was temporarily stuck in a malfunctioning self-driving Waymo car, which repeatedly circled a parking lot. The issue nearly caused him to miss his flight. (More)

• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made history by detecting a record number of new stars in a distant galaxy 6.5 billion light-years away. A recent image captured 44 individual stars. (More)

• Researchers have developed a new lithium-sulfur battery that charges fully in just 12 minutes and maintains 82% capacity after 1,000 cycles. (More)

Extra Credit

📖 Adult literacy rates by US state.

🚶 Watch: Do you really need to take 10,000 steps a day?

🐏 Why do sheep have rectangular pupils? 

📸 The best trail camera photos of 2024.