O.J. Simpson, gun laws, and taxes.

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Big Stories

O.J. Simpson dies at 76

O.J. Simpson, the former professional football player and Hollywood actor, has died of cancer.

• Simpson gained fame as a football star for the University of Southern California and later in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. He won numerous awards, including four NFL rushing titles and the Heisman Trophy in 1968. Simpson also had a successful acting career, appearing in films such as "The Naked Gun" series and TV shows like "Roots" and "Monday Night Football."

• Simpson's life took a dark turn when he was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. The highly publicized trial, marked by racial tensions and celebrity spotlight, ended in Simpson's acquittal of murder charges but a later civil trial found him liable for the deaths. Despite his legal troubles, Simpson maintained his innocence.

• Simpson's life was characterized by ongoing public fascination and debate about his guilt or innocence. He spent nine years in prison for unrelated charges and continued to face scrutiny even after his release on parole in 2017.

Pacific castaways rescued in Micronesia

Three Mariners stranded on Pikelot, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean, have been rescued.

• The Marines were fishing near the island and became stranded after swells damaged their boat’s engine. They used palm fronds to spell out "HELP" on the beach, signaling for assistance because their radio had lost power. Living off coconuts and well water, they awaited rescue for over a week.

• The crew went missing on April 1st but the search didn’t begin until the 6th after one of their relatives called rescue officials in the US Pacific territory of Guam. The search area was vast — Piklelot is part of Micronesia, which comprises more than 600 islands across 2.5 million square kilometers of ocean. A US Navy jet saw their sign on April 7th and radioed their location to a Coast Guard ship that rescued them the next day.

• This was the second rescue from Pikelot in four years. In 2020, three other men washed up on its shore after their boat ran out of fuel. They spelled out “SOS” on the beach, and were rescued in similar fashion.

Vietnam sentences real estate tycoon to death

Truong My Lan, a Vietnamese property tycoon, was sentenced to death for her involvement in Vietnam's largest financial fraud case.

• Lan was found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and violating banking regulations, with each charge carrying significant penalties. As the chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, Lan was accused of misappropriating funds from Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank through illegal loans to her company and shell firms.

• Lan's defense argued that she held a minor stake in the bank and lacked an official position. However, witness testimonies revealed Lan's substantial control over the bank through proxies, leading the court to conclude she effectively owned over 90% of SCB. The loans, totaling $44 billion and comprising over 90% of SCB's lending from 2012 to 2022, were allegedly diverted to Van Thinh Phat and used for personal purposes.

• The case is part of Vietnam's broader anti-corruption campaign, with high-profile figures resigning and numerous officials and businesspeople facing legal consequences. Death sentences aren’t uncommon in Vietnam but are unusual for financial crime cases.

Little Stories

• The Biden administration approved an expansion of background checks for gun purchases. This new rule targets thousands of gun sellers, requiring them to register as federally licensed firearms dealers. Once registered, they must conduct criminal and mental health background checks on potential buyers, closing the "gun show" and "online sale" loopholes. (More)

• Russia destroyed Ukraine's largest power plant in Kyiv, the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant, in a missile attack. The attack left energy company Centrenergo without power generation across its three plants. No casualties were reported, and power supplies in Kyiv and other regions remain unaffected. (More)

• Trump's campaign is urging the Commission on Presidential Debates to reschedule and add more debates earlier in the year. They argue that the adjustment is crucial to accommodate early voting. Biden has yet to confirm his participation in the general election debates, though he hasn't ruled them out. (More)

• FBI agents in high-cost-of-living cities are facing financial challenges, with some resorting to lengthy commutes or shared living arrangements due to affordability issues. According to Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, these struggles hurt recruitment and retention efforts in these areas. (More)

• Ford is reducing the starting prices of certain all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup trucks following a pause due to quality concerns. The adjusted models, set to ship later this month, will be available at prices $2,000 to $5,500 lower than before the pause. (More)

Extra Credit

A metrologist explains “April showers.”

Concession prices at the Masters are still ridiculously cheap.

A rare blind hairy mole has been spotted in the Australian outback. 

Who pays the most (and least) in federal income taxes.