Good morning! The weekend edition is 704 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• FBI arrests suspect in Charlie Kirk murder

• Popi the orangutan gets a new home

• World’s tallest sunflower blooms

First-time reader? Sign up here!

*Editor’s note: Hi all. This month has been heavy. Take a break from the noise on your devices this weekend. Call or spend time with someone you love. Tell a stranger with a different background that they’re welcome in your world. Cherish life. - Adam

Today’s Big Story

Government Shutdown Threat

• Senate Democratic Leader Schumer threatened to block government funding unless Republicans extend health insurance tax credits and protect other health programs. That stance marks a reversal from March, when he joined Republicans to avert a shutdown.

• Both parties are digging in as the September 30 deadline approaches. Democrats want health care commitments and rollbacks of Medicaid cuts from Trump's legislation. Trump told Republicans not to negotiate with Democrats, saying the GOP will pass a funding bill alone.

• A shutdown would halt non-essential operations and suspend paychecks for millions of federal workers and military personnel. The last shutdown lasted 35 days in 2018-2019 when Trump demanded border wall funding.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Friday for killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Robinson's father saw police photos, recognized his son, and called authorities after convincing Tyler to surrender. Police found the rifle wrapped in a towel near campus and tracked Robinson's movements from arrival to rooftop shooting to escape. He had discussed Kirk's visit with family the night before the shooting. (More)

• Missouri Republicans approved a redistricting plan Friday that could flip a Democratic House seat. The new map targets Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City district by adding rural Republican areas while reducing Black and minority voters. Cleaver easily won recent elections with over 60% Opponents will petition for a statewide referendum on the changes. (More)

• A study of nearly 17,000 students found that mandatory phone collection in class improved grades, especially for struggling and first-year students. The bigger surprise: students who experienced phone bans became more supportive of them, seeing greater benefits than before. Teachers were more engaged, and classrooms had less disruption and chatter. Despite some phone withdrawal effects, student well-being stayed the same. (More)

• The WNBA playoffs start Sunday with the Finals expanding for the first time ever. Top seed Minnesota hosts expansion team Golden State, while surging Las Vegas faces Seattle. Atlanta plays Indiana, and defending champion New York visits Phoenix. Higher seeds host more games throughout - first round is best-of-three, semifinals best-of-five, then the introduction of best-of-seven Finals. (More)

• Trump announced Friday he's deploying federal agents and National Guard to Memphis after crime complaints from a FedEx board member. The president said Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee agree with the plan. This follows Trump's recent federal takeover of D.C. police, which he claims cut carjackings by 87%. FBI data shows Memphis violent crime has dropped in recent years to near-record lows. (More)

• NATO launched "Eastern Sentry" on Friday to strengthen defenses on its eastern border after Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday. France, Denmark, Germany, and Britain are sending fighter jets, frigates, and ground systems to plug defense gaps. Britain also announced new sanctions on 70 Russian oil vessels and 30 companies supporting Russia's war effort. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• A hockey player gave 10-year-old Bleu, who has severe cerebral palsy, a thrilling wheelchair ride across an ice rink in England. Click the link for a video. (More)

• Popi, an orangutan rescued as an infant, returned to the wild in Borneo after nine years of rehabilitation and reunited with her rewilded friends. (More)

• A railway manager in India turned an old train car into a mobile hospital that treats 25,000 railway workers and families in remote areas. (More)

• A Canadian musician won a house raffle just days after his own home burned down, calling the $50 ticket "life-changing" good luck. (More)

Extra Credit

How to take mini retirements.

World’s tallest sunflower blooms in an Indiana backyard. 

New island appears in Alaska.

Albania appoints an AI bot as cabinet minister to tackle corruption.