Tornadoes, World Central Kitchen, and a cat return.

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Big Stories

The rise of earned wage access apps

Earned Wage Access (EWA) apps have emerged as a financial tool for workers struggling to make ends meet between paychecks.

• These apps allow users to access a portion of their already earned wages before payday, for a fee. The industry boomed during the pandemic as financial instability became more widespread. Proponents argue that EWA apps offer a convenient and affordable alternative to traditional payday loans or bank overdraft fees, which can carry much steeper charges.

• However, EWA apps aren't without their drawbacks. While they often advertise themselves as interest-free, they typically charge fees for instant transfers and nudge users towards optional "tips" to provide no-fee options. These fees can quickly add up, especially for frequent users. Critics argue that these charges can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt.

• The Earned Wage Access industry is pushing for federal legislation that would exempt them from certain regulations, arguing that these regulations would hinder their ability to provide a valuable service to workers. On the other hand, some states are enacting laws to cap the fees charged by EWA apps.

• Consumer advocates are calling for more transparency in how EWA apps calculate their fees and are pushing for stronger worker protections to prevent users from falling victim to predatory lending practices.

Tornadoes hit middle America

Deadly tornadoes tore through Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa over the weekend.

• At least four people were killed in Oklahoma, including an infant, after a series of tornadoes ripped through the state overnight. Towns like Sulphur and Holdenville suffered significant damage, with Governor Stitt declaring a state of emergency. The severe weather threat continues eastward towards Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri, with the potential for more tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding.

• A separate severe weather system brought tornadoes to Nebraska and Iowa on Friday, causing widespread devastation. One person died in Minden, Iowa, and dozens were injured. There were reports of mangled structures and debris scattered across communities, with many homes and businesses left severely damaged.

• In Omaha, another hard-hit community, a preliminary rating of EF-3 was given to one of the tornadoes, with winds exceeding 135 mph. The National Weather Service reported over 80 tornado reports on Friday alone across at least five states.

World Central Kitchen to resume operations

World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit from the United States led by chef José Andrés, will restart its activities in Gaza on Monday.

• WCK’s decision comes nearly a month after seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the region. The organization had stopped working in Gaza following the attack on April 1. The aid workers who died included individuals from Palestine, Australia, Poland, the US, Canada, and the UK.

• Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu admitted that the strike had unintentionally harmed innocent people, with the Israeli military taking responsibility and stating that the workers were mistaken for Hamas fighters. Before pausing operations, World Central Kitchen had provided over 43 million meals in Gaza, which accounted for the majority of international NGO aid in the region.

• Despite the tragedy, World Central Kitchen's CEO Erin Gore said there is an urgent need to resume operations due to the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza. The organization plans to resume delivering meals with a fleet of trucks and is exploring partnerships with other humanitarian groups. They are also opening a new kitchen named after one of the aid workers who was killed in the attack.

Little Stories

• A large study found a strong link between a healthy diet and brain health. Researchers analyzed food choices of nearly 182,000 people in the UK and compared it to their brain function, mental health, and even brain structure. People who ate a balanced diet scored better on cognitive tests, reported better mental well-being, and had more gray matter in their brains, which is associated with intelligence. (More)

• WNBA star Candace Parker announced her retirement after 16 seasons. Widely considered one of the best female basketball players of all time, she finished her career with 3 WNBA championships, and 2 Olympic gold medals. (More)

• Elon Musk made an unexpected visit to Beijing to discuss Tesla's Full Self-Driving software and data transfer permissions with Chinese officials. During the visit, he met with Premier Li Qiang, who praised Tesla's contribution to US-China economic cooperation. Tesla plans to introduce Full Self-Driving to its Chinese customers soon. (More)

• There were major protests on college campuses this weekend against Israel's actions in Gaza. Universities cracked down, arresting over 275 students who wouldn't disperse. At Arizona State, over 70 people were arrested after refusing to leave a designated protest area. (More)

• Three women in New Mexico contracted HIV likely due to unsafe practices at an unlicensed spa offering "vampire facials." This is the first documented instance of HIV transmission through a cosmetic procedure using needles according to the CDC. The investigation revealed the spa likely reused single-use equipment during these facials, which spread the virus. (More)

Extra Credit

A Utah cat was found in an Amazon warehouse after it snuck into a return package.

You can now buy a $9,420 flame-throwing robot dog called “The Thermonator.”

The winning bakeries of the best baguette in Paris.

How to get people to listen to you.