Louisiana Is Set To Classify Abortion Pills As Controlled Substances

What's Happening

US News

Louisiana Is Set To Classify Abortion Pills As Controlled Substances

What's going on: Louisiana’s state Senate passed a bill that reclassifies abortion-inducing drugs as controlled and dangerous substances. Now the state is on track to become the first in the US to designate mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV drugs — a label for medications with some potential for abuse or dependence like Xanax and Valium. The legislation now heads to Gov. Jeff Landry (R), who’s expected to sign it.

What it means: Under the law, anyone caught with the drugs without a valid prescription could face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 10 years in prison. The bill also makes the medication harder to obtain because only doctors with a specific license can prescribe it. Over 200 doctors in the state have spoken out against the measure, saying it would create “fear and confusion among patients, doctors, and pharmacists” that would delay care and worsen outcomes.

Related: Where Abortion Is on the Ballot in November (Axios)

International

US Military’s Aid Project in Gaza Is Struggling To Reach Palestinians

What's going on:  Yesterday, US officials said the UN has gotten more than 500 metric tons of aid into Gaza through the US’ floating pier off the territory’s shoreline that became operational about a week ago. The distribution comes after the pier’s launch faced logistical and security setbacks. The operation had been put on pause for at least two days after crowds recently intercepted aid trucks. The Defense Department said the US plans to continue increasing the flow of aid.

What it means: While the military aims to bring more aid in through the pier, the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows more dire each day. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died and 77,000 have been wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Those numbers are expected to increase as Israel moves forward with its operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Related: The UN Stopped All Food Distribution in Rafah (AP)

Business

The DOJ Wants to Break Up Live Nation

What's going on: Yesterday, the Justice Department along with dozens of states and DC sued Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, alleging it has hurt consumers and monopolized live events. The long-awaited lawsuit says Live Nation directly manages more than 400 artists and, through Ticketmaster, controls roughly 80% of ticketing at concert venues.

What it means: Live Nation and Ticketmaster have faced complaints for years, but the recent mishandling of ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has put it under further scrutiny. If successful, the suit could lead to big changes in the ticketing and live entertainment industry. Still, it will likely be awhile before fans see any of the benefits as it's expected to take years to make its way through the court system. Live Nation has denied the DOJ’s allegations and said it will “continue to push for reforms.”

Related: Ticketmaster Has Clashed With Artists and Fans for 30 Years (AP)

Let's Unpack This

Why are cancer rates rising so sharply in young adults?

Studies have found global cancer rates are on the rise among adults younger than 50. If that’s not alarming enough: breast and colorectal cancers are seeing the steepest rise in rates. We reached out to Dr. Veda Giri, professor of internal medicine and director of Yale Cancer Center’s Early-Onset Cancer Program, to ask: Why is this happening?

“It is the number one question,” Dr. Giri said. “It’s likely there are a host of reasons as to why this is occurring and there is a lot of research going on that’s looking into what are those factors.”

Studies are looking at things like lifestyle, obesity, and the gut microbiome, among other things. As the research continues, experts have been raising awareness about what people can do to assess their risk, from following prevention guidelines to determining whether to pursue a cancer screening. “Family history could be important in terms of thinking of age to begin screening for a certain cancer,” Dr. Giri told theSkimm.

“The awareness about genetic testing or family history of cancers could point a person to say, ‘I'm at higher risk of cancer at a younger age. What should I do about that?’”

Quick Hits

🏈 The NCAA's multibillion dollar agreement is changing the way student athletes get paid.

🎒 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas went after Brown v. Board of Education in his latest opinion.

✈️ American Airlines backtracks after claiming a 9-year-old girl should have seen a hidden camera in the bathroom.

🎬 Celine Dion opens up about “life-altering” illness in her new documentary trailer.

📺 Surprise duo Kim Kardashian and Gypsy Rose Blanchard shared the spotlight.

Extra Credit

Watch

The latest installment of George Miller’s “Mad Max” cinematic universe is here, and this time, Anya Taylor-Joy is at the center. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” tells the action-packed origin story of Furiosa (Taylor-Joy), who is kidnapped as a child by a gang of bikers. Held captive by Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), Furiosa transforms from a young girl trying to survive to a resilient fighter who won’t stop until she gets revenge.

Game Time

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.

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Settle This

“Vanderpump Rules” fans waited more than three hours for Ariana and Katie's sandwiches. Would you wait that long for a sandwich?