Good morning! The weekend edition is 750 words, a 3 minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Senate approves stopgap spending bill

• Travis Kelce donates home to foster care program

• 21 most beautiful places on Earth

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Today’s Big Story

2025 Iditarod Race Honors 1925 Serum Run

Jessie Holmes, once a cast member of National Geographic's "Life Below Zero," won this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

• The race was the longest in the event’s history due to Alaska’s lack of snow this year. It began in Fairbanks instead of the traditional starting point in Willow, stretching the course to a grueling 1,129 miles.

• Holmes completed the journey in just over 10 days, taking home $57,200 plus gold nuggets and fresh salmon from earlier stage wins. The Alabama-born carpenter credited his lead dogs Hercules and Polar for the win. Matt Hall finished second, while Paige Drobny took third place, becoming the first woman on the podium since 2020.

• The Iditarod was created to honor the historic 1925 "Serum Run" to Nome when mushers and their dogs organized a relay to deliver life-saving diphtheria antitoxin after winter weather cut the remote town off from medical supplies. This year's event celebrated the run’s 100th anniversary.

• In January 1925, teams covered 674 miles through below zero temps, with snow and wind reducing visibility to zero. While Balto famously led the last leg of the journey into Nome, a Siberian Husky named Togo ran the longest and most dangerous leg. Togo guided his team over 261 miles, including 84 miles in one day. (Read Togo’s story here)

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• A massive storm system is bringing severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes from the Midwest to the Southeast. Over the weekend, about 100 million people face threats of wind damage, hail, and tornadoes. Today (March 15th) carries the greatest threat of powerful tornadoes in the Southeast. (More)

• The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown as ten Senate Democrats joined Republicans in a 54-46 vote. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer faces party backlash for supporting the bill, which maintains 2024 spending levels with additional defense funds and $500 million for ICE. Many Democrats had wanted to force a shutdown to protest Trump-Musk spending cuts. (More)

• Stephen Curry became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers during the Warriors' 130-104 win over Sacramento. After recovering a loose ball, Curry hit the historic 28-foot shot at the 8:19 mark in the third quarter. He has added over 1,000 threes since breaking Ray Allen's previous record of 2,973 in December 2021. (More)

• Swiss researchers have developed engineered cartilage implants using patients' nasal septum cells to treat complex knee damage. The approach may also treat osteoarthritis, with MRI scans confirming better tissue composition at implant sites and in neighboring cartilage after the procedure. (More)

• Gold futures surged above $3,008 per ounce Friday, with market prices topping $3,001, marking a second straight week of gains. Gold’s rise comes during cooling inflation data and escalating trade tensions, including President Trump's threat of 200% tariffs on European wine and spirits. It is up over 12% year to date after multiple record highs. (More)

• Apple TV+ has officially ordered a fourth season of Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso after Jason Sudeikis agreed to return as the beloved AFC Richmond manager. The announcement ends over a year of speculation following the May 2023 season finale. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• The nonprofit Little Free Library has installed its 200,000th book-sharing box, with locations spanning the globe—including Antarctica. The community mini-libraries promote literacy worldwide. (More)

• NFL star Travis Kelce has donated his recently purchased $3.3 million Kansas City mansion to Foster Love. The property will become transitional housing for homeless young adults aged 18-24 exiting the foster care system. (More)

• A karate expert named Mairi Kerin stopped a robbery at a convenience store in Shropshire, England. After hearing a hooded man threaten the cashier, Kerin grabbed his arm and delivered shin kicks, sending the would-be thief fleeing. (More)

• The Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship program has returned to New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The program aims to match 81,000 volunteers with children who need positive role models. (More)

Extra Credit

🌎️ Travel to the 21 most beautiful places on Earth.

🪳 Why cockroaches are so resilient.

🐢 Watch a giant sea turtle return home after flipper surgery.

🍋 Trying to save the world’s rarest fruit.