Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,100 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• The FTC sues US’ largest private apartment company

• $20 M Los Angeles jewelry heist

• Coffee and capybara cuddles

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Big Story

Harvard Funding Freeze

The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University.

• The move comes after the school rejected demands to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and screen international students for ideological concerns, including antisemitism.

• Harvard President Alan Garber defended the rejection, stating "No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

• Federal agencies criticized Harvard's response, saying it "reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges — that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws."

• President Trump has taken similar actions against other universities. Columbia University lost $400 million but ultimately acquiesced to many White House demands. Cornell and Northwestern had approximately $1 billion and $790 million in funding halted, respectively.

Big Story

FTC Takes on Big Apartment

Federal regulators are suing Greystar for hiding mandatory fees while advertising artificially low rent prices.

• The FTC and Colorado Attorney General claim this practice has generated billions in extra profits for the country’s largest private apartment landlord by misleading renters about true housing costs.

• The lawsuit alleges Greystar only revealed actual prices after tenants paid non-refundable application fees or signed leases. Hidden charges for pest control, trash service, and amenities reportedly add hundreds or thousands to advertised rates.

• Greystar, which manages over 800,000 rental units nationwide, denies the accusations, calling them "gross misrepresentations." The company insists that advertising base rent is a standard industry practice and claims no resident has ever paid fees they hadn't seen and agreed to in their lease.

• In response to the lawsuit, Greystar has added a popup disclaimer on its website clarifying that advertised prices are "Base Rent" and promising more detailed cost breakdowns for tenants "soon." The company plans to ask a judge to dismiss the case.

Big Story

Snacking Can Stunt Growth in Children

Researchers discovered that constant snacking, rather than structured meals, could stunt children's growth by disrupting hormone patterns.

• The Cardiff University study found that set meal-eating mice grew faster than those who grazed continuously, with growth hormone levels tripling in meal-fed rats.

• The key mechanism involves two hormones: ghrelin (released when the stomach is empty) and growth hormone (which accelerates childhood growth). With structured meals, ghrelin levels naturally rise and fall, creating rhythmic bursts of growth hormone that promote better skeletal development. Continuous snacking keeps ghrelin consistently elevated, signaling starvation to the body that can slow growth despite adequate nutrition.

• Human volunteers fitted with nasogastric tubes showed similar results – those receiving meal-style nutrition experienced natural hormone fluctuations, while continuous feeding disrupted patterns.

• The findings suggest parents should maintain structured mealtimes for optimal child development, though researchers note the study only included males and further research is needed to confirm effects in females.

Quick Stories

US News

• Biden criticized Trump's administration for Social Security cuts in his first public speech since leaving office. Speaking to disability advocates on Tuesday, he didn't name Trump directly but called the administration's damage in fewer than 100 days "breathtaking." (More)

• Police are searching for a team of thieves that tunneled into Love Jewels, an LA jewelry store, stealing millions in merchandise. Owners believe the criminals worked for weeks through an abandoned theater to access their safe. (More)

• For the first time, a female Army Ranger competed in the Best Ranger Competition. First Lt. Gabrielle White and Capt. Seth Deltenre finished 14th out of 52 teams, making it through all three grueling days. (More)

World

• Hamas rejected Israel's six-week ceasefire proposal requiring disarmament without committing to end military operations or withdraw troops from Gaza. The plan offered the release of half the hostages Hamas holds but didn't address their key demands for ending the conflict.  (More)

• Armed attackers struck several French prisons overnight, setting cars ablaze and firing at one facility. Justice Minister Darmanin linked the violence to government crackdowns on drug trafficking networks. (More)

• A sandstorm engulfed Iraq, filling the air with choking dust. It reduced visibility to less than one-half mile, closed airports, and hospitalized over 3,700 people with breathing difficulties. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.17%, Nasdaq -0.05%, Dow -0.38%). Stocks traded relatively flat after having back-to-back winning days. (More)

• Universal will open Epic Universe on May 22 in Orlando, creating the first major Florida theme park in 25 years. The 750-acre property features five themed worlds and will generate $2 billion yearly while creating 17,500 new jobs. (More)

• American Airlines will offer free Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members starting in January, sponsored by AT&T. It joins Delta, JetBlue, and United in providing complimentary internet service. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Orlando Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 in the Play-In Tournament to earn the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. (More) Golden State hung on 121-116, beating the Memphis Grizzlies to secure the 7th seed in the Western Conference. (More)

• Bucks guard Damian Lillard will miss the start of NBA playoffs against the Pacers on Saturday due to blood clots. He's been sidelined since March 18 but is hopeful to make a return in a later round. (More)

• Jury selection for Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault retrial began on Tuesday. Former jury foreman Bernard Cody still supports their 2020 verdict, which was overturned when an appeals court ruled the judge admitted inappropriate testimony. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A judge ruled Florida violated the Endangered Species Act by allowing wastewater discharge that kills seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. The plant is the main food source for endangered manatees. (More)

• Babies absorb harmful chemicals from mattresses during sleep, including phthalates and flame retardants. These toxins cause neurological damage, reproductive issues, asthma, hormone disruption, and cancer, according to University of Toronto research. (More)

• Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude now integrates with Google Workspace, allowing Max, Team, Enterprise, and Pro subscribers to search and reference their Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs. (More)

Extra Credit

☕️ Get your coffee and capybara cuddles at this Florida spot.

🇸🇪 Sweden is locked in on another “Great Moose Migration.”

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🏀 Jumpshots at 6,000 feet: Inside a Mexican town’s love of hoops.