LaGuardia Crash, Prediction Markets, & World's Best Cheese

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
March 24, 2026

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Two pilots were killed and 41 people injured — 32 of whom have since been released from hospitals — Sunday night when Air Canada Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The plane was traveling 30 mph at the end of landing when the collision occurred at 11:40 p.m. An air traffic controller is heard on audio saying "I messed up" after clearing the truck to cross the runway then telling it to stop.
The NTSB confirmed ATC staffing will be central to its probe, with investigators also examining whether airport surveillance alerts were triggered before the collision. At least one controller has been removed from duty pending an interview, and the cockpit voice recorder was retrieved undamaged.
LaGuardia reopened Monday after a 14-hour closure.

Researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that lets wild rice regrow year after year, raising the possibility of converting modern rice — an annual crop — into a perennial one. The discovery, published in Science, could reduce farming costs for the billions who depend on rice by eliminating the need for replanting.
By analyzing 446 wild rice varieties and crossbreeding them with cultivated strains, the team isolated a genomic region called EBT1 that controls whether the plant keeps producing new shoots. Disabling the gene stopped regrowth in wild rice, while adding it to farmed rice allowed the plant to continue growing after harvest.
The difference is driven by epigenetic changes, chemical switches that control gene activity, which turn the genes off in modern rice but allow them to reactivate in wild varieties. Researchers say the finding could lead to more sustainable crops requiring less labor and fewer resources, though further testing is needed before commercial use.

US senators introduced a bipartisan bill yesterday that would bar prediction markets from offering contracts tied to sports events and casino-style games. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have built nationwide sports betting operations under federal derivatives rules rather than state gambling laws, a loophole the bill aims to close.
These markets operate through financial contracts overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, enabling them to reach users in all 50 states. Activity has surged, with more than $1.2 billion traded during this year's Super Bowl and $4.5 billion for the week.
The push comes amid growing scrutiny over insider trading risks and national security concerns after bets on Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death drew widespread attention.
On the same day, Kalsi announced plans to block athletes, coaches, and officials from betting on their sports, and politicians from trading on their campaigns.

The Supreme Court refused to hear a journalist’s case over her arrest for asking police for information, ending her lawsuit; Justice Sotomayor said the decision was a serious mistake. (More)

The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem amid criticism of DHS immigration policies and an ongoing partial shutdown. (More)

Trump postponed strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, citing talks he says show "major points of agreement" on nuclear weapons — though Iran denied any negotiations are taking place. (More)

Hungary's foreign minister allegedly briefed Russia's Sergey Lavrov during EU meetings, a Washington Post report says. PM Orban ordered a probe into what he called illegal wiretapping of his minister. (More)

Four ambulances from a Jewish charity were burned in north London in a suspected antisemitic attack; no injuries were reported, and police are searching for three suspects. (More)

A Colombian Air Force transport plane crashed just after takeoff, killing at least 34 of the 125 soldiers and crew aboard, authorities said. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +1.15%, Nasdaq +1.38%, Dow +1.38%) after Trump said the U.S. held talks with Iran and paused planned strikes on its energy infrastructure. (More)

The Trump administration struck a $928M deal to cancel TotalEnergies’ offshore wind leases, redirecting funds to US oil and gas projects. (More)

Toyota will invest $1B in U.S. plants—$800M in Kentucky and $200M in Indiana—as part of a broader $10B domestic expansion plan through 2030. (More)

Travis Kelce re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, agreeing to a three-year deal worth up to $54.7 million. (More)

No. 10 Virginia upset No. 2 Iowa 83–75 in double overtime, rallying from a nine-point deficit behind Kymora Johnson’s 28 points to reach its first women’s Sweet Sixteen in 26 years. (More)

Actor Alan Ritchson is under investigation after a dispute with a neighbor over dirt bike noise escalated into an alleged physical altercation, leaving the neighbor injured. (More)

A study found nanoplastics that degrade outdoors become more harmful, triggering stronger inflammation and stress in lung cells than fresh particles (More)

Pfizer plans to seek approval for a Lyme vaccine despite a failed trial, citing 70% efficacy; results were inconclusive due to low infection rates, with no safety concerns reported. (More)

About 25% of North Korean defectors near a nuclear test site show chromosome mutations possibly linked to radiation, though no cancers are confirmed, and causation remains unproven. (More)

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