Welcome to the daily briefing. Please read the following first.
nicole farato here. From America’s hantavirus to Alabama’s redistricting push, we bring you the news you need to know on Thursday.
U.S. monitors passengers returning from ship due to hantavirus outbreak
Residents of Georgia, Arizona and California are being monitored for possible hantavirus infection after boarding a luxury cruise liner hit by a deadly outbreak, according to reports.
Health experts at the World Health Organization say the outbreak may have started with passengers who boarded the ship after becoming infected with the virus.
This virus has been identified as Andesvirus, the only species of hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person. Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, but human-to-human transmission is rare. Track the virus here.
More news you need to know right now
- President Trump reignites feud with Pope: Tensions between the two leaders have increased as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to make a high-stakes visit to the Vatican on Thursday.
- Destroying 420,000 Clinton peach trees: California growers plan to destroy thousands of peach trees after a decades-long partnership with Del Monte Foods collapsed, leaving farmers without buyers for tens of thousands of tons of fruit.
- Meet the hockey CEOs who are profiting from their kids’ teams. A nine-month investigation by USA TODAY found that Marie Ganty, founder of Blackstreet Capital Holdings, used her private investment firm’s youth sports arm, Black Bear Sports Group, to rapidly acquire ice rinks and teams in the Northeast and Midwest, using that control to steer families into an ecosystem of unique leagues, tournaments and high membership fees.
2026 Midterm Elections
Alabama accelerates toward redistricting
A special legislative session in Alabama this week sparked widespread protests as the state Legislature considered redrawing congressional maps to favor Republicans, according to USA TODAY Network’s Montgomery Advertiser. Alabama’s primary election will be held on May 19th, with voting for the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races scheduled.
memory
Atlanta media icon leaves behind huge legacy
Ted Turner, former owner of the Atlanta Braves, founder of CNN, philanthropist, and media mogul who changed the American news landscape, has died at the age of 87. Mr. Turner became known as the “Mouth of the South” as he built a broadcasting empire and developed the nation’s first 24-hour news cycle. He died after battling progressive Lewy body dementia. Jane Fonda, his spouse of 10 years, recalled that Turner was “not a normal person.”
before you go
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
