Baltimore bridge labeled "fracture critical," Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced and Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' released
The Yodel newsletter: The stories you need to start your day
Good morning, all. If you’re celebrating Easter on Sunday, this quiche recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Now, on to the news.
NEED TO KNOW
Baltimore bridge was 'fracture critical'
The National Transportation Safety Board revealed that Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was “fracture critical” — meaning the entire structure could crumple if one vital piece failed.
America’s bridges: Data shows that 17,468 bridges out of 615,000 nationwide are fracture critical or lacking built-in redundancies and other protective measures. [Business Insider]
The bigger picture: The collapse has put greater focus on President Biden’s $442 billion infrastructure package, $282 billion of which is earmarked for improving U.S. transportation. [Yahoo Finance]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
🏀 Clemson’s win
Clemson made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA men’s tournament for the first time since 1980 after beating Arizona 77-72. “They were the deserving team today,” Arizona’s coach said. [Yahoo Sports]
⛈️ Easter weather
It’s shaping up to be a wet Easter weekend in Southern California, where rain is in the forecast along with a chance of severe thunderstorms, small hail, strong winds and tornadoes. [Los Angeles Times]
➡️ Census changes
The U.S. government revised how the census categorizes people by race and ethnicity to better reflect Hispanic, Middle Eastern and North African heritage. It’s the first major change in 27 years. [Yahoo News]
🏛️ Mayorkas impeachment
Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House will deliver two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10. [NBC News]
⚖️ Bankman-Fried sentencing
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the major cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of fraud and conspiracy in November. [Reuters]
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
🎵 Beyoncé released Cowboy Carter, her much-anticipated country album. (More on that below.) [Yahoo Entertainment]
🎬 In theaters: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire brings together two icons of the monsterverse. [USA Today]
📺 A Gentleman in Moscow, which is adapted from the bestselling 2016 book, premiered on Paramount+. [Hollywood Reporter]
🏀 At the NCAA tournaments: The women’s Sweet 16 begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, while the men’s Sweet 16 continues at 7:09 p.m. ET on CBS. [Yahoo Sports]
⚾ Baseball fans: The Cardinals and the Dodgers play again at 10:10 p.m. ET on Bally Sports. [AP]
☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1999, Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky, who's considered by many to be the greatest player in NHL history, scored the final goal of his career. He retired at the end of the season. [Los Angeles Times]
3 QUESTIONS
...about Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter
Beyoncé’s country album is here. I talked to Taryn Ryder, our resident Queen Bey correspondent, about what you’ll hear on the album.
Lily: Why did Beyoncé decide to go country?
Taryn: She said she was motivated after “an experience” years ago “where I did not feel welcomed ... and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” It’s believed she’s talking about the 2016 CMAs.
Lily: Are there any guest features on the album?
Taryn: Yes, a lot. It’s an impressive list that includes big names like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Beyoncé had teased “a few surprises” and she delivered.
Lily: How are fans celebrating the album’s release?
Taryn: It’s all about cowboy fashion. Google searches for “cowboy hat” reportedly increased 212.5% following Beyoncé’s album announcement, while “bolo tie” exploded by 566%.
How do Beyoncé’s previous albums stack up? See her records ranked.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
Animal lover Dale Zimmerman, a 6-year-old with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 1, got to be zookeeper for a day at Zoo Miami courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His favorite animal? The rhino. [USA Today]
Have a great day. See you on Monday!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: How does the oldest person in the world stay healthy? She says positive relationships help. [Yahoo Life]
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