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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Mon Apr 29 2024

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

A lot of headlines about the Israel-Hamas war this Monday morning: Tensions over the war in Gaza were front and center as attendees of the White House Correspondents Dinner waded through crowds of pro-Palestinian protesters to enter the formal event where President Joe Biden spoke. Meanwhile, dozens of students protesting the war were arrested coast-to-coast over the weekend and the U.S. is beginning to construct a maritime aid route to Gaza.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. How do birds get their colors ?

Tensions over war felt on campuses and beyond

Activists rallied outside a hotel hosting the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday night, painting an uncomfortable scene as fanciful attendees entered the event. Demonstrators targeted President Joe Biden, who spoke at the dinner, for his support of Israel's military campaign. Meanwhile, "physical altercations" ensued on Sunday at UCLA after demonstrators breached a security barrier separating counterprotesters. The clash came one day after student arrests occurred on at least four universities. Read more

Demonstrators try to block arriving guests outside of the Washington Hilton, the site of the Annual White House Correspondents Dinner, on April 27, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Kent Nishimura, Getty Images

Tornadoes and storms blast Midwest

A swath of the Midwest braced for more deadly storms after brutal weather blasted across the Plains, killing at least four people in Oklahoma, destroying homes and knocking out power to tens of thousands. The storm system threatened parts of Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa through Sunday night and thunderstorms are expected across the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast into Monday, posing another risk of severe weather hazards such as hail, gusty winds, and flash flooding. Read more

Tornado damage is seen in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on April 28, 2024.

BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

More news to know now

•	South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem defended shooting a family dog.
•	A paramedic was sentenced to probation in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.
•	Georgia's election integrity laws could create risks for poll workers in 2024.
•	Woman after woman told her story, so why didn't Weinstein's rape conviction stand?
•	On today's The Excerpt podcast, what to know about the new AP African American studies course. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

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

Can a floating aid island save Gaza?

American troops have begun constructing a floating pier three miles from Gaza's shore that will receive shipments of food and other humanitarian aid transported from Cyprus by commercial ships.

How it will work: Smaller ships will pick up the aid from the 72-feet wide and 270-feet long pier and ferry the aid to a pier on Gaza's shore for delivery inland, where millions of people face food insecurity.

•	U.S. troops won't take the aid to shore or step foot in Gaza. Instead, American military personnel are training Israeli counterparts to anchor the pier on Gaza's shore.
•	Why aren't deliveries by truck possible? Land routes provide aid more efficiently but have been restricted by Israel over security concerns.
•	The whole floating operation hangs in a fragile balance as Israel promised not to invade Rafah, a city where millions of Palestinians are seeking shelter, without consulting the U.S.

Is Mexico blocking migrants' path to the US?

The Biden administration and Texas are taking credit for an unusual springtime lull in illegal border crossings, with the White House touting its legal pathways and Gov. Greg Abbott championing his troops and concertina wire. But analysts, immigrant advocates and migrants themselves say it's Mexico blocking the path north. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's immigration agency has intensified a busing program that aims to hurt migrants' chances of reaching the U.S. border – or at least delay their arrival. Read more

Keep scrolling

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•	Caitlin Clark "keeps the momentum rolling" on her first day of Indiana Fever training camp.
•	Zendaya broke down her dance scene in "Challengers."
•	No one rocks like The Rolling Stones on tour.

No HBCU players picked in 2024 NFL draft

For the second time in four years, no prospects from a Historically Black College or University were called during the 2024 NFL draft over the weekend. The shutout comes despite the creation of numerous initiatives designed to improve inclusion, such making the 2021 HBCU Legacy Bowl – sponsored by the Black College Hall of Fame – for draft-eligible prospects and the 2022 NFL-backed HBCU Combine. Read more

Detroit Lions fans celebrate at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit on April 26, 2024.

Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK

Photo of the day: A moment for Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman glittered in gold as she stepped out to receive her Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute at an all-star tribute gala Saturday night in Hollywood.

(L-R) Reese Witherspoon, Lee Daniels, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Zac Efron attend the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Nicole Kidman at Dolby Theatre on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images for AFI

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.