2.23.2018

All your news in a single email. We scour 100+ sources so you don't have to. Culture, science, sports, politics, business, and more - all packaged in a 5-minute read below.
 

Severe Floods in Midwest.
At least three were killed as severe floods hit large swaths of the Midwest and South, with some areas experiencing their worst flooding in nearly five decades. From Texas to Michigan, officials opened emergency shelters and called for evacuations - in the Midwest, rapidly melting snow from recent warm temperatures combined with days of strong rains pushed rivers past their breaking point. In South Bend, IN, the St. Joseph River broke its all-time record after rising more than eleven feet. More waves of heavy rain are set to roll in today and tomorrow, bringing the risk of flash floods and and extending the possibility of long-term flooding into next week.

Trump Endorses Age Restrictions on Guns.
President Trump endorsed a limited expansion of restrictions on gun purchases yesterday, tweeting that he supported raising the age limit to buy semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21. The statement came one week after the attack in Parkland, FL, where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 with a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle legally purchased from a local sporting goods store. Under federal law the age limit to purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer is 21 (but only 18 if buying from a private dealer), while the age limit for rifles and shotguns - including semi-automatics - is only 18 years old (with no minimum for private dealers). Trump also said he'd push for tougher background checks and floated the idea of arming safety-certified teachers. 

In related news, an armed deputy who was on patrol at the school when the shooting occurred resigned after video showed he never engaged the shooter. 

MO Governor Indicted.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens was indicted by a St. Louis grand jury on Thursday on a felony charge of invasion of privacy, in an incident related to an affair carried on by Greitens and his former hairdresser. According to the woman's now-ex-husband, Greitens threatened to blackmail a woman with whom he was having an affair, saying he would release nude photos if she went public (see timeline). According to a press release, the grand jury found probable cause that Greitens violated a statute that prohibits recording nude images of a person without their consent and digitally transmitting the material. While Greitens - a former Navy SEAL and rising GOP star - has since admitted to the affair after the story broke in January, he denied the charge, calling it a "consensual relationship". 
 

> American women miss out on medals in Figure Skating for 3rd straight Olympics; Russian Alina Zagitova takes gold (More) | Medal count by country (More)
> Brendan Fraser alleges sexual assault by ex-Golden Globes president (More)
> Daily Show's Michelle Wolf tapped to host White House Correspondents' Dinner; President Trump's attendance still in flux (More)
 

> New brain wiring that grows in adults (as opposed to babies) primarily focuses on rewards (More)
> Tiny diamond anvils make chemical reactions without heating, may unlock new chemical products (More)
> UPS pilots electric delivery van fleet, with 100-mile-range and reported lifetime costs lower than diesel (More)
 

> US unemployment claims at second-lowest figure in 45 years (More)
> Snap CEO Evan Spiegel earned $637M in total comp in 2017, 3rd highest recorded CEO compensation ever (More) | Kylie Jenner's tweet regarding unhappiness with Snap's new interface may have wiped out $1B+ in market value (More)   
> Earnings Season: HP beats revenue and profit expectations, stock up 5% (More) | GoDaddy revenue up on international growth, shares increase 4.5% (More)
 

> Pennsylvania GOP files emergency brief with Supreme Court over redrawn congressional state map made by state-level courts (More)
> Mueller unveils new 32-count indictment against former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Rick Gates on bank and tax fraud charges (More)
> Myanmar bulldozes remains of Rohingya villages where 2017 massacres occurred (More)

Sports Illustrated | Jon Wertheim, Jessica Luther. Ex-employees of the NBA franchise describe it as a real-life Animal House, starting with the now-former President Terdema Ussery and filtering down. (Read)

Editor's Note: Owner Mark Cuban, who was not accused of misconduct, vowed to clean up the organization.
 

LA Times | Jonathan Kaiman. This is the story of Yukio Shige—a retired police officer who scours Japan's Tojinbo cliffs nearly every day looking to help those contemplating suicide. (Read)
 

A Wrenching Dilemma. 

China’s Great Leap Forward In Science.

Oregon now requires students to get vaccinated to attend school. 

From earlier in the month, one of the best (and most unique) renditions of the National Anthem. 

Innovation is hard - 11 failed products on display at the Museum of Failure. 

Drexel pulls off the largest comeback in NCAA men's basketball history. 

Founder of Dell Technologies buys most expensive home ever sold in NYC. 

33 best movie songs of all time. 

Mosquitoes can smell your anger (science in a two-minute listen). 

See the best toys on display at the 2018 International Toy Fair. 

Clickbait: Neil deGrasse Tyson is frustrated with Pink Floyd. 

Historybook: Gutenberg Bible is published (1455); RIP John Keats (1821); RIP John Quincy Adams (1848); HBD W.E.B. Du Bois (1868); Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima photo taken (1945).

"THE COST OF LIBERTY IS LESS THAN THE PRICE OF REPRESSION."
- W.E.B. Du Bois
 

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