Friday, April 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1800, President John Adams approved $5,000 to purchase books for Congress, establishing the Library of Congress. The first catalog listed 964 volumes and nine maps.

A new ranking reveals the states where lightning is most likely to kill, and the top spot might not surprise anyone who's spent a summer afternoon in the Sunshine State. Details below.

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Wildfires Destroy Homes Across Southeast

Rapidly growing wildfires have destroyed at least 87 homes in Georgia's Brantley County alone as drought and wind-fueled flames scorched the Southeast, with new evacuation orders issued Thursday afternoon.

Georgia's two biggest fires burned more than 53 square miles combined, and crews responded to 34 additional fires across the state. Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for more than half of Georgia's counties.

Southeastern Georgia has received just 11 inches of rain since September, nearly 15 inches below normal, prompting the state's forestry commission to issue a burn ban for the first time in its history.

In Florida, firefighters battled more than 130 wildfires in what officials called one of the worst fire seasons in decades. Blazes also shut down rail lines, stranding Amtrak passengers for more than 20 hours near Palatka.

Meta to Lay Off 8,000 as AI Costs Mount

Meta confirmed Thursday it will cut about 8,000 workers, or 10% of its workforce, beginning May 20 as the company redirects spending toward artificial intelligence. Another 6,000 open roles will go unfilled.

The company warned investors its 2026 expenses will reach $162 billion to $169 billion, driven by data center construction and compensation for AI engineers it has been hiring at record pay levels.

Also Thursday, Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to roughly 8,750 U.S. employees, or 7% of its domestic workforce, as it faces similar pressure from massive AI investment.

Analysts said the twin moves reflect a broader shift across the tech industry, with companies betting that AI tools can automate tasks that once required large teams.

Where Lightning Kills the Most by State

A new analysis of lightning deaths by state over the past two decades found Florida far ahead of the pack with 97 confirmed fatalities since 2006, more than double any other state.

Texas ranked second with 42 deaths, followed by Colorado with 27, Alabama with 23, and North Carolina with 23. Florida averages 1.2 million strikes per year, fueled by the collision of Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes.

Nearly two-thirds of all deaths occurred during outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and camping, with July being the deadliest month.

Adjusted for population, Wyoming has the highest fatality rate at 5.13 deaths per million, followed by Alabama and Montana. Five states recorded zero lightning deaths: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Washington. See your state on the map here.

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ An unexplained wave of scientist deaths in China’s military AI, hypersonic, and space sectors is raising questions. (Hear Details)

➤ A fatal chemical leak in West Virginia killed two and shut down classes at a nearby university. (Hear Episode)

➤ High school seniors are facing a growing wave of scams tied to college enrollment. (Listen Now)

➤ President Trump announced Thursday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been extended by three weeks following a second round of peace talks at the White House involving both countries' ambassadors. (More)

➤ President Trump also said he ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and tripled minesweeping operations in the waterway. (More)

➤ The Justice Department reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products as Schedule III drugs, easing restrictions while leaving recreational use illegal under federal law. (More)

➤ Senate Republicans approved a budget blueprint early Thursday to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, the first step toward ending the record 69-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown. (More)

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➤ The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback and reigning Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in last night’s NFL Draft. (See Draft Results)

➤ Alabama agreed to a seven-year, $87.5 million contract extension with head coach Kalen DeBoer, making him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college football. (More)

➤ NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that the Grizzlies aren't leaving Memphis, pushing back on recent calls from LeBron James and others to relocate the franchise to Nashville. (More)

➤ Four tickets to the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are listed on FIFA's official resale site for nearly $2.3 million apiece, and the lowest-priced tickets are just under $11,000. (More)

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Daily Market Report 04/23/2026

▼	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	24,438.50	-0.89%
▼	SPX S&P 500	7,108.40	-0.41%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	49,310.32	-0.36%
▼	BTC Bitcoin	$77,760.39	-0.57%
▼	GOLD Per Ounce	$4,710.90	-0.46%
▼	SILVER Per Ounce	$75.43	-3.16%
▲	OIL West Texas Intermediate Crude	$97.02	4.37%
▲	URI United Rentals Inc	$986.78	+22.92%

Bitcoin, gold, silver, and oil are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ Big Stock Move: United Rentals stock surged roughly 23% on Thursday after the equipment rental giant posted record first-quarter revenue of nearly $4 billion, beat earnings estimates, and raised its full-year outlook. (More)

➤ Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved Paramount Skydance's $111 billion acquisition deal but voted against the executive pay packages, including CEO David Zaslav's estimated $550 million exit payout. (More)

➤ Trump Media replaced former congressman Devin Nunes as CEO after the parent company of Truth Social saw its stock plunge 67%, wiping out more than $6 billion in investor wealth. (More)

➤ AI-powered scams helped criminals steal an estimated $20 billion from Americans in 2025, with more than half of those funds funneled through cryptocurrency, according to FBI and IRS investigators. (More)

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➤ Since 1971, the dollar has lost over 80% of its purchasing power, and now a new threat is taking shape. Executive Order 14067 laid the groundwork for a "Digital Dollar": a programmable, trackable currency, giving Washington full visibility into your transactions. The good news: there's a way out. Physical gold can't be hacked, deleted or frozen. Download the free digital dollar guide and protect your retirement before its too late

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➤ A 62-foot kraken-like octopus with a bone-crushing bite likely ruled the seas 100 million years ago, potentially preying on the mighty mosasaur, long considered the ocean's top predator. (See Study)

➤ A 1,115-foot asteroid named Apophis will pass closer to Earth than many satellites in 2029, a once-in-several-thousand-years event NASA says has likely never happened in recorded human history. (See Details)

➤ MIT engineers found that plant seeds can actually sense the sound of rain, with rice seeds germinating 30% to 40% faster when exposed to the vibrations of falling water droplets. (See Study)

Friday Entertainment is brought to you by:

➤ The Simpsons Movie 2 will receive $21.9 million in tax credits through the California Film Commission, part of a $193 million package for 38 films as the state expands incentives to include animation. (More)

➤ Spotify ranked Taylor Swift as its most-streamed artist of all time, with Bad Bunny, Drake, The Weeknd, and Ariana Grande rounding out the top five. (See List)

➤ Lego will commemorate the Shrek franchise’s 25th anniversary on June 1 with its first themed set, featuring buildable versions of Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots. (See Shrek Set)

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➤ Celebrate Mom with thoughtful gifts she’ll love at CVS’s Mother’s Day Sale, featuring beauty favorites, self-care essentials, and sweet treats all in one place. With special deals, rewards, and convenient shopping options, it’s never been easier to find the perfect gift without overspending. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Giant ice chunks crashed right through the windows and doors of homes along Michigan's Black Lake this week as spring rainfall and melting ice overwhelmed neighborhoods and stressed local dams. (See Damage)

➤ There's a new camera that doesn't actually take photos. Instead, it uses AI to study what its lens sees and prints a poem on thermal paper, with dials to choose haiku, sonnet, or free verse. (See Camera)

➤ Ruth Slenczynska, who debuted with an orchestra at age 7 and went on to become the last living student of legendary pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, died at 101 in California. (More)

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➤ Blurry vision may not be aging. Harvard research points to a toxin called lipofuscin that damages vision cells. A new at-home method helps flush it out, improving clarity and reducing the risk of macular degeneration by up to 82%. Over 64,000 Americans have regained sharper vision—without surgery or prescription eye drops. (Watch Full Video)