Happy Saturday! Today’s edition is 923 words, a 3 minute read.

First time reader? Sign up here!

🏃 

Saturday’s Quick Hits

Hamas releases 2 American hostages held in Gaza

An American mother and daughter, Judith and Natali Raanan, who were taken hostage by Hamas during a terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, have been released for humanitarian reasons. Israel confirmed their release and stated its commitment to locating other missing people. This development comes while aid trucks bound for Gaza are awaiting clearance on the Egyptian side because Israel insisted that no aid can enter Gaza until hostages are released. (More)

Biden seeks $105 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, border security

The Biden administration is seeking $106 billion in emergency funding to address global crises. This includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel, $14 billion for U.S.-Mexico border needs, and $3 billion for the U.S. submarine industrial base. Another $2 billion each is allocated to counter China's financing efforts and enhance security in the Indo-Pacific. Finally, $10 billion will be used for humanitarian response in Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions. (More)

Maryland circuit court judge fatally shot in own driveway

Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson was fatally shot at his home. Police have identified Pedro Argote as a person of interest. Judge Wilkinson was found in his driveway with gunshot wounds and later died at a local hospital. Argote had a divorce case before Judge Wilkinson, who recently awarded custody of Argote's children to his wife. State troopers were dispatched to protect judges in Washington County as a precaution. (More)

Spirit Airlines cancels dozens of flights to inspect some of its planes

Spirit Airlines canceled approximately 100 flights due to inspections, with the disruptions expected to last several days. The airline did not specify the nature of these inspections. The FAA said it was aware of the decision and will ensure the issue is addressed before the planes are returned to service. About 11% of Spirit's scheduled flights for the day were canceled, primarily impacting Orlando International Airport. (More)

House Republicans remove Jim Jordan as House speaker nominee

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was removed as the GOP's nominee for House Speaker in a closed-door vote, following three consecutive losses in House floor votes. The vote count was 86 in favor of Jordan and 112 against. The race for the next House Speaker is now wide open, with two new candidates entering the competition: Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). A candidate forum is scheduled for Monday, with the vote expected on Tuesday. (More)

US wraps up fiscal year with a budget deficit near $1.7 trillion

The US federal budget deficit for fiscal 2023 reached $1.7 trillion, up $320 billion from the previous fiscal year. A 9.3% decline in federal revenue, largely due to a $456 billion drop in individual income taxes, contributed to the increased deficit. The budget shortage adds to the US debt total, which stood at $33.6 trillion earlier this week. Since Covid-19 hit in 2020, the number has jumped by more than $10 trillion after the government was forced into a spending spree to make up for the damage done to the economy. (More)

😄 

Weekly Dose of Positive

14-year-old invents soap for treating skin cancer and wins top honor as America’s top young scientist

14-year-old Heman Bekele won the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge by creating a bar of soap that treats melanoma. Bekele was inspired by the stark difference in melanoma recovery rates between the US and sub-Saharan Africa (99% to 20%). Skin cancer is a common and costly health issue in the US, and Bekele hopes to refine his innovation and create a nonprofit to provide this affordable solution to communities in need. (More)

24,000 pounds of life-saving aid deployed to 100,000 civilians in Sudan

In a collaboration between Project HOPE, Airlink, and other partners, $13 million worth of aid supplies, including medical essentials, pharmaceuticals, hygiene items, and food, will reach over 100,000 people in Sudan. These supplies are crucial for hospitals and clinics treating various health issues amid violence and displacement, including cholera and dengue outbreaks. (More)

In an Act of Solidarity, Chicago-Area Rabbis Attend Funeral of Boy Killed in Anti-Muslim Hate Crime

In a tragic incident, a six-year-old Palestinian Muslim boy in Chicago, Wadea Al-Fayoume, and his mother, Hanan Shaheen, were stabbed by their landlord, Joseph M. Czuba, reportedly due to hatred towards Muslims. In a show of solidarity, Chicago-area rabbis attended Al-Fayoume's funeral, emphasizing the importance of unity and peace among communities. More acts of Arab-Jewish solidarity have begun around the world including, support groups, community protection guards, and meal preparation for displaced families. (More)

Nonprofit Provides Free Cleaning Services for Cancer Patients

Cleaning for a Reason is a nonprofit that offers free home cleanings to cancer patients across the United States and Canada. It partners with over 1,200 cleaning services to provide families battling cancer with the gift of free cleaning services, allowing patients to focus on recovery. The nonprofit has served more than 50,000 patients and donated approximately $15 million in services. Cleaning for a Reason recently partnered with Truly Free, a company specializing in non-toxic and refillable cleaning supplies, to provide free cleaning supplies to cancer patients and its partner companies in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. (More)

🎁 

Bonus Material

Meet the extraordinary animals that have human jobs.

Map Explainer: The Gaza Strip.

Wait, people are making money renting out their driveways?

A bird lost its ability to fly, so it learned to paint.