Daily Briefing: A barricade of desks and chairs

Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
·4 min read
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It's Tuesday and almost the end of April. Here's the news: Columbia University students protesting the Israel-Hamas war have occupied and renamed an academic building. Four officers were killed in a North Carolina shooting. As pet ownership numbers continue to skyrocket across the U.S., the number of vets has lagged well behind.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's some inspo for Mother's Day gifts.

Students escalate standoff with Columbia University

Early Tuesday morning, pro-Palestinian Columbia student protesters broke into Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves with wooden chairs, metal tables, and trashcans. People linked arms to form a line protecting the entrance to the academic building while others picketed, leading chants in support of Gaza and divesting from Columbia.

The move comes after the school's administration began suspending students on Monday as demonstrators defied a deadline for clearing the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at the center of campus.

Demonstrators from the pro-Palestine encampment on Columbia's Campus barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, where the office of the Dean is located on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City.
Demonstrators from the pro-Palestine encampment on Columbia's Campus barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall, where the office of the Dean is located on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in New York City.

Four law enforcement officers killed while serving warrant

Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were attempting to serve a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at a suburban home in Charlotte, North Carolina, when the suspect opened fire at the officers with a "high-powered rifle," said local officials. Four officers were killed and four others injured. Read more

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Death of Frank Tyson echoes George Floyd

Newly released body camera footage shows the arrest of an Ohio man who died during an encounter with police. Frank Tyson, 53, died April 18 after he crashed his car and entered a nearby private club. Both Tyson and George Floyd, who was murdered in 2020 in Minneapolis, said, "I can't breathe," before their deaths. Read more

Veterinary care, animal hospitals are more scarce

More people own pets than ever before, fueled in part by the forced isolation of the pandemic and in part by the rise of remote and hybrid work. But the number of veterinarians is holding steady ‒ meaning companion care vets are seeing more animals and are busier than ever. Now, advocates are concerned there soon won't be enough veterinary doctors to give treat our fur babies, estimating shortages of as many as 24,000 companion animal veterinarians by 2030. Read more

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Deciding between renting or buying a home?

If you live in the big city, it’s officially better to rent than buy a home pretty much anywhere, according to financial analysts. The monthly cost of renting across all 50 of the largest cities in America is 37% cheaper than buying a typical home, Bankrate said. Across the Northeast and Midwest, where the cost of living tends to be lower, there were the smallest gaps between renting and buying, but renting is still cheaper. So if you're looking to buy a home, think hard about whether now is the best time. Read more

Photo of the day: These zebras like to 'move it'

Last week it was horses in the streets of London. This week drivers in Washington state were in for a surprise when they spotted a group of zebras galloping on the highway.

The four zebras running on a highway in Washington.
The four zebras running on a highway in Washington.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Columbia University, Charlotte shooting, Frank Tyson, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, zebras: Daily Briefing