Federal workers will not be paid; US-Colombian tension: NPR

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Today’s best stories

Many federal workers expect not to be paid this Fridaymarking the first full salary they will miss due to the government shutdown, which began three weeks ago. So far, the economic benefits have been limited. But analysts say the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the impact it could leave.

• 🎧 By law, federal workers are supposed to receive back pay once the shutdown endsbut the White House has tried to sow doubt about it, said NPR’s Scott Horsley. First. This rhetoric could cause some federal workers to rethink their spending habits, which could impact some of the businesses they frequent. The full cost of the shutdown is unknown, but precedent shows it has been costly to the government and the economy as a whole. Horsley says that if Congress doesn’t resolve the government shutdown by early next month, the food stamp program, which helps feed millions of people, may not be able to provide benefits.

Colombia announced yesterday that it would withdraw its ambassador in Washington. The country was once the United States’ main ally in Latin America and a key partner in the war on drugs. But his relations with the United States have deteriorated since the start of his second term. Colombia’s decision to withdraw its ambassador comes after Trump threatened to cut U.S. aid to the country and intervene in Colombia to combat the flow of cocaine.

• 🎧 Colombian President Gustavo Petro is a leftist who disagrees with Trump on almost every issue and isn’t afraid to say so.says journalist John Otis. Over the weekend, Petro expressed support for “No Kings” rallies in the United States and said yesterday that his country does not accept kings. Colombia receives about $230 million a year in U.S. aid. Otis says much of that funding goes toward helping Colombians fight drug cartels.

French authorities are still searching for the culprits who stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry from the Louvre on Sunday. The heist exposed huge security flaws at the museum. A recent French government report indicates that more than half of the rooms in some of the museum’s main wings are not equipped with video surveillance.

• 🎧 Prosecutors say they are not ruling out any possibilities to determine who did this. Time is running out on the investigation because the thieves will likely dismantle the jewelry, melt the gold and sell the gemstones separately, says NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley. If this happens, part of French history and culture will disappear forever.
• ➡️ This is not the first high-profile robbery at the Louvre. Take a look at some previous flights in the museum’s history.

Deep dive

Many people try cannabis for back pain. Now, new European studies show this could be an effective option.

Tinnakorn Jorruang/iStockphoto/Getty Images

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Tinnakorn Jorruang/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Medical marijuana is a common resource for people with chronic pain, but there are few high-quality studies on its benefits. That’s why two major clinical trials in Europe evaluating cannabis for lower back pain have caught the attention of those studying the plant’s potential for pain management. The first showed that a mixture of cannabis oil, containing the psychoactive compound THC, as well as CBD and other natural compounds from the plant, outperformed a placebo. The other trial compared the same proprietary cannabis elixir with opioids, finding that patients who used the elixir experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects like constipation than when they used painkillers.

• ➡️ Supporters of medical cannabis say the drug’s safety is a distinct advantage over opioids because it doesn’t carry the same concerns about overdose and addiction.
• ➡️ Currently, there is one cannabis-derived drug approved by the FDA and it contains no THC. Although it is not entirely clear, experts believe that THC is one of the main compounds responsible for reducing pain.
• ➡️ While most Americans reside in states where marijuana is legal, there are significant concerns about the quality and consistency of cannabis products. If the FDA were to approve a cannabis product, it would give chronic pain patients more confidence to use it.

Learn more about cannabis as an option for pain relief.

Live better

A hand holds a paddle against a clear blue sky, preparing to hit a yellow pickle ball. The scene suggests a clear, sunny day, with the pickleball clearly in motion.

Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Moment RF/Getty Images

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Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Moment RF/Getty Images

Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.

Pickleball quickly gained popularity in the United States. Nearly 20 million people have picked up their racket to practice this sport. As more players take to the courts, pickleball-related eye injuries, including lacerations around the eye, corneal abrasions and inflamed irises, have increased. A recently published article JAMA Ophthalmology The study estimates that the incidence of these injuries increased by approximately 405 cases each year from 2021 to 2024.

• 🥽 The study authors called for the development of standardized guidelines for eye protection, which can reduce sports-related eye injuries by up to 90%.
• 🥽 Wearing eye protection would require players to purchase another piece of equipment and bring it with them. There are many options on the market today, which can make the purchasing decision difficult without standardized guidelines for eye protection.
• 🥽 One of the most common reasons some players don’t wear protective eyewear is because they aren’t aware of the risks, says Dr. Daniel Henick, an ophthalmology resident at the Yale School of Medicine. Henick says posting counseling outside of court could help reduce these injuries. Professional pickleball athletes could also set an example by wearing glasses.

3 things to know before you leave

The first phase of the Reefline project will be Leandro Ehrlich’s “Concrete Coral,” an installation of 22 cars that will be covered in coral.

Courtesy of Reefline

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Courtesy of Reefline

1. The first phase of “Reefline,” an artificial reef off the coast of Miami Beach, begins this month. It will serve as an art installation, a way to restore the island’s coral habitat and as an underwater tourist attraction.
2. Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins calls on Trump to remove his performance of “Danger Zone,” a hit single from the 1986 film Top Gunfrom a fake “King Trump” video he posted on Truth Social.
3. In Iowa City, Iowa, three high school students started a book club focused on reading books frequently banned in the United States. They launched the initiative after state officials signed a law banning books with sexual content in 2023. (via Iowa Public Radio)

This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.