War or Peace?, Glowing Forests, & Rarest Dog Breeds

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Adam Rogers
April 22, 2026

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President Trump extended the Iran ceasefire yesterday, saying Tehran's government was "seriously fractured" and the extension would hold until Iran submits a "unified proposal" to end the war. The announcement came after Iranian negotiators refused a second round of talks, and Vance's planned trip to Pakistan was put on hold.
An advisor to Iran's parliament speaker called the extension "a ploy to buy time" for a surprise strike and warned that the continued US naval blockade of Iranian ports "must be met with a military response." Iran's foreign minister had earlier called the blockade "an act of war." The ceasefire had been set to expire today.
Separately, the US sanctioned 14 individuals under a program dubbed "Economic Fury," targeting networks that procure drone parts for Iran's Revolutionary Guard, part of a broader pressure campaign tied to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchanged fire despite a ceasefire announced last week, with Hezbollah accusing Israel of more than 200 violations.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned yesterday as House Ethics Committee members were arriving for a hearing to consider recommending her expulsion from Congress. The third-term Florida Democrat is charged with stealing $5 million in FEMA COVID relief funds. She called the proceedings a "witch hunt" and said she was choosing to "step aside" rather than "play these political games."
The Ethics Committee had found "clear and convincing evidence" of dozens of charges. Expulsion would have made her only the seventh member ever removed from Congress. The last was George Santos, convicted of wire fraud, whose sentence Trump later commuted. Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest pushed back on her characterization: "This was not a rush to judgment as some claim."
Her resignation ended the Ethics Committee's jurisdiction, and the panel will not deliberate over punishment. A federal criminal trial in Florida remains pending. She has pleaded not guilty, and the case is expected to go to trial next year.

Penn State researchers have photographed a long-theorized electrical phenomenon called a corona discharge — faint, nearly invisible sparks forming on tree leaves during thunderstorms — confirming that entire forest canopies shimmer as storms pass overhead. Scientists suspected the effect for nearly 100 years, but had never proven it until now.
Using a specialized UV-sensitive camera mounted on a research vehicle, scientists tracked hundreds of tiny flashes across multiple tree species and five storms from Florida to Pennsylvania, showing the effect is widespread. It occurs whenever strong electric fields build above forests.
Though subtle, the discharges may have outsized impacts: they generate molecules that help scrub air pollution, can damage leaves over time, and may feed energy back into thunderstorms. As climate change drives more frequent storms, both effects are likely to grow — a potential catch-22 for forest health and atmospheric chemistry.

Virginia voters approved a Democratic redistricting plan Tuesday that could net the party up to four new House seats, a major win as Democrats push to flip the narrowly divided chamber in the midterms. (More)

The Trump administration is giving all 50 states 30 days to submit Medicaid anti-fraud plans, with CMS chief Mehmet Oz warning that laggards could face aggressive federal audits. (More)

Two Southwest flights came within 500 feet of each other at Nashville International Airport after a controller error, forcing both crews to take evasive action to avoid a midair collision. (More)

Mexico is investigating whether CIA operatives illegally joined a drug lab raid in Chihuahua after two US embassy officials died in a car crash following the operation. (More)

England will legally ban smartphones in schools, giving teachers clear authority to confiscate them. (More)

A gunman killed a Canadian tourist and wounded at least 13 others at Mexico's Teotihuacán pyramid complex before shooting himself. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.63%, Nasdaq -0.59%, Dow -0.59%) as investors grew nervous over a possible ceasefire collapse. (More)

US retail sales jumped 1.7% in March, the biggest monthly gain in over three years, but most of the surge came from gas stations as Iran war-driven fuel prices hit a national average above $4 a gallon. (More)

Michael and Susan Dell gave the University of Texas another $750 million, pushing their total giving past $1 billion and funding a new north Austin medical research campus aimed at making UT a top-10 health center. (More)

Victor Wembanyama left Tuesday's playoff game with a concussion after a hard fall in the second quarter, and the Spurs lost 106-103 to Portland to even the first-round series at 1-1. (More)

The Mets lost their 12th straight game Tuesday, falling 5-3 to Minnesota, with closer Devin Williams allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of what is now the team's longest losing streak since 2004. (More)

Billy Donovan stepped down as the Chicago Bulls head coach after six seasons. (More)

A Chinese man who inhaled wildfire smoke developed a rare but dangerous condition where rubbery, blackened mucus blocked his airways, requiring emergency removal before he fully recovered. (More)

Amazon launched a program to prescribe and deliver GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy through its One Medical and pharmacy services, with prices starting at $25 a month for insured patients. (More)

NASA's Curiosity rover detected more than 20 organic molecules on Mars using a first-of-its-kind chemistry experiment. (More)

Why is it easier to remember faces than names?

International destinations where airfare is cheaper than last year.

Mapping average rent across 100 US cities.

Norwegian Lundehund tops list of America’s rarest dog breeds.

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