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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Tue Apr 30 2024

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

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.

•	Protesters say they plan to remain in Hamilton Hall until Columbia concedes to their three demands of divestment, financial transparency of investments, and amnesty for all students, staff and faculty disciplined.
•	The scene at Columbia has spurred similar encampments and demonstrations across the country. From Ohio to Virginia Tech to USC, students sparred with school administrations on Monday.
•	Zooming out: Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas on Monday to swiftly accept Israel's latest and "extraordinarily generous" proposal for a Gaza truce.

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.

Alex Kent, Getty Images

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

More news to know now

•	Storms may bring more tornadoes and floods across the central U.S. on Tuesday.
•	Trump's New York hush money trial is back this week.
•	The first container ship arrived since Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed.
•	Why did Biden update Title IX?
•	On today's The Excerpt podcast, the latest on a tight race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

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

Keep scrolling

•	Verizon, AT&T other major carriers face nearly $200 million in fines for sharing customer data.
•	This is a warning for hunters about "zombie deer disease."
•	Taylor Swift's "Tortured Poets" claimed the top 14 spots of Billboard's Hot 100.
•	Travis Kelce's two-year extension with the Chiefs makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
•	With the 2024 NFL draft in the rearview mirror, these teams have big needs to address.

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.

Garrett Akol

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.

Could top Israeli officials face criminal warrants?

TOPSHOT - A Palestinian looks at the damage to buildings after Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on April 29, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: 2150161328

Israel's foreign minister singled out "rumors" the ICC will issue arrest warrants against high-ranking Israel officials and told embassies to prepare.

READ MORE