L.A. heist, elephant attack, and a pasta soundtrack.

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Big Stories

No Labels ends its presidential bid

No Labels, a centrist political group, announced it will not pursue a third-party ticket in the 2024 presidential election.

• "No Labels" is a US political organization founded in 2010 that promotes bipartisanship and problem-solving across party lines. Its core goal is to get politicians and voters to focus on finding solutions to national issues rather than strictly following partisan ideologies.

• Despite being well funded, No Labels cited the lack of viable candidates with a credible path to winning the White House as the reason for ending their effort. Politicians the organization considered included Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, and Nikki Haley but they all said they weren’t interested in running as independents.

• The threat of third-party candidates remains a concern for Biden's re-election campaign, but with No Labels dropping out of the race, some believe that the potential challenge to Biden and Democrats from the center has ended.

The LA job

Thieves pulled off a heist straight from a movie scene in Los Angeles over the weekend.

• Thieves stole $30 million from a Los Angeles money storage facility by breaking into the building and cracking the safe on Easter Sunday. The theft wasn’t discovered until the business operators opened the vault the following day.

• The LAPD and FBI are conducting a joint investigation into what is considered one of the largest cash burglaries in the city's history. Police Cmdr. Elaine Morales confirmed the story.

• Media outlets discovered that the facility is a location of GardaWorld, a global cash management and security company. The company hasn’t responded publicly.

• Southern California has been a hotspot for big-money heists. Two years ago, thieves stole $100 million in jewels and other valuables from a Brinks truck at a truck stop. They still haven’t been caught.

Elephant attack

A bull elephant charged a truck carrying tourists during a game drive in Zambia's Kafue National Park on March 30.

• The elephant flipped over the vehicle, killing an 80-year-old American tourist and injuring five others.

• Wilderness, the safari company, described the bull elephant as "aggressive" and said the attack was unexpected. One injured tourist was flown to South Africa for treatment while others received minor injuries.

• Keith Vincent, CEO of the safari company, said that the rough terrain prevented the guide from quickly moving the vehicle out of harm's way. Although wildlife parks in southern Africa are filled with dangerous animals, such incidents are rare.

Little Stories

• Early forecasts indicate an extreme Atlantic hurricane season ahead. Colorado State University predicts 11 hurricanes, including five potentially major ones. The forecast of 23 named storms is the highest April prediction ever. Typically, a season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. (More)

• Judges rejected Donald Trump’s attempts to dismiss indictments in two of his active criminal cases. In Florida, charges related to his mishandling of classified documents post-presidency were upheld, while in Georgia, a request to dismiss an election interference case was denied. (More)

• CVS Health will cover the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US at no cost for many health plan sponsors. Opill from Perrigo is now included in CVS Caremark's preventive services oral contraceptives list. The pill has been available nationwide since April 1st. (More)

• President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that US policy on the war in Gaza will depend on Israel's actions to address civilian deaths and aid worker casualties. The call followed the deaths of seven aid workers in Israeli strikes. Biden urged Netanyahu to conclude hostage talks for an immediate ceasefire and increased aid distribution in Gaza. (More)

• The oldest man in the world, Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, died just weeks before his 115th birthday. Pérez Mora held the title since February 4, 2022, attributing his longevity to hard work, rest, faith, and a daily glass of aguardiente. (More)

Extra Credit

America’s healthiest and unhealthiest cities in 2024.

Why loneliness is bad for your health.

Watch: California hiker dangling from a cliff gets rescued.

Listen: A soundtrack designed to amplify the pasta-eating experience.