Guthrie Ransom Notes, Cocaine vs. Oil, & Carry On Ranch Dressing

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Adam Rogers
June 24, 2026

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Investigators believe two ransom notes sent days after Nancy Guthrie's disappearance were likely written by her abductors, including one demanding millions in bitcoin and a second stating that the 84-year-old had died.
Authorities say the messages contained highly specific details about Guthrie's Tucson home that were not publicly known and were likely sent by the same person or group from the same computer IP address.
Despite the second note's claim, Guthrie has not been found and has not been declared dead. The FBI and local investigators continue to search for answers, while her family has offered a $1 million reward in addition to an FBI reward of up to $100,000.

Colombia's illegal cocaine trade generated an estimated $16.5 billion in 2024, surpassing the country's oil exports for the first time and becoming its largest source of foreign currency, according to a new report.
Researchers said the surge was driven by record production rather than rising prices. More productive coca plants and improved chemical processing techniques helped boost Colombia's estimated cocaine output from less than 300 tons in 2013 to nearly 3,000 tons in 2024.
Cocaine revenue also now exceeds earnings from coal, coffee, gold and flower exports, underscoring how deeply the illicit drug trade has become embedded in Colombia's economy.

The PGA Tour unveiled a major overhaul Tuesday that will split professional golf into two circuits beginning in 2028, introducing a promotion-and-relegation system similar to those used in European soccer.
The new structure will feature a top-tier Championship Series and a lower-tier Challenger Series. Players who perform well on the Challenger circuit will earn spots in the Championship Series, while poor performers on the top circuit can be relegated to the lower level.
The Championship Series will feature purses of at least $20 million per event and more frequent appearances by the sport's top players. Tour officials say the changes are designed to strengthen competition and improve the product following years of disruption from LIV Golf.

The Senate passed a largely symbolic resolution opposing military action against Iran, marking a rare bipartisan challenge to President Trump's war policy despite lacking binding force. (More)

Congress approved a bipartisan housing bill aimed at boosting home construction and limiting large investors' home purchases, sending the measure to President Trump for his signature. (More)

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a Louisiana inmate could not seek damages from prison officials who allegedly violated his Rastafarian beliefs by forcibly cutting his hair. (More)

Kenya's health minister stopped work on a US-supported Ebola quarantine facility after a judge ruled the government had defied an order blocking construction. (More)

The EU held its first meeting with Taliban representatives in Brussels, discussing deportations and migration policy despite ongoing concerns over human rights in Afghanistan. (More)

Public opinion has shifted sharply in the 10 years since Brexit, with most Britons now saying the move was wrong and more than half favoring closer ties with the EU. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -1.44%, Nasdaq -2.21%, Dow -0.09%) as the tech stock sell-off continued. (More)

US factory job cuts were among their highest since the financial crisis and COVID-19, driven by concerns over slowing demand and higher costs, S&P Global said. (More)

Google parent Alphabet is joining the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon and giving the 30-stock index greater exposure to major technology and AI companies. (More)

AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer were selected with the first three picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, landing with the Wizards, Jazz, and Grizzlies, respectively. (More)

Milwaukee traded franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami for young players and draft picks, closing a championship era and launching a major rebuild. (More)

At age 41, Cristiano Ronaldo made World Cup history by scoring in a sixth tournament, a feat no player had previously achieved. (More)

Just four minutes of daily resistance training significantly improved strength, balance, and mobility in older adults, with researchers reporting fitness gains up to four times greater after 12 weeks. (More)

The last eight Americans held in quarantine following a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship were released after completing a 42-day monitoring period. (More)

Sloths have unique genetic adaptations linked to energy production, potentially helping explain how they thrive with the slowest metabolism of any mammal. (More)

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