World’s Oldest Living Land Mammal Very Much Alive Despite Rumor to the Contrary

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World’s Oldest Living Land Mammal Very Much Alive Despite Rumor to the Contrary (Maria)

The author writes, “Reports on April Fools’ Day of the death of the world’s oldest living land animal — a 193-year-old tortoise called Jonathan — were greatly exaggerated. Jonathan is still kicking — albeit slowly — on the island of St. Helena. ‘It was a hoax,’ Anne Dillon, head of communications on the island, told The Associated Press Thursday. ‘I can just assure you that he is very much alive.’”

Trump’s Justice Department Dropped 23,000 Criminal Investigations in Shift to Immigration (Sean)

From ProPublica: “In the first days after Pam Bondi was appointed attorney general last year, the Department of Justice began shutting down pending criminal cases at a record pace. The cases included an investigation into a Virginia nursing home with a recent record of patient abuse; probes of fraud involving several New Jersey labor unions, including one opened after a top official of a national union was accused of embezzlement; and an investigation into a cryptocurrency company suspected of cheating investors.”

Fired FBI Agents File Class-Action Suit Claiming Political Retaliation (Dana)

The author writes, “Over the past year, several FBI agents fired by the bureau have sued its director, Kash Patel, seeking to get their jobs back and claiming they were victims of political retribution by the Trump administration. The agents have included new recruits, seasoned investigators and some of the FBI’s most senior executives. While they each have accused Mr. Patel of dismissing them for improper reasons, the suits have so far all been filed by individuals or small groups of employees. On Tuesday, however, three fired agents took a new approach and sued Mr. Patel not just on their own accord, but also on behalf of a proposed class of all FBI employees who have already been dismissed — or could be in the future — for political reasons.” 

Iran War’s Environmental Toll Could Leave Damage and Health Risks for Decades, Experts Say (Laura)

The author writes, “Oil depots spewing black smoke. Debris sinking in the Persian Gulf. Missiles pounding military sites. The Iran war has unleashed a toxic mix of chemicals, heavy metals and other pollutants that threaten everything from agriculture to drinking water to people’s health — and will leave behind environmental damage and health risks that could persist for decades, experts said.”

Grandpa, 101, Goes Viral From Pottery Class: ‘Happiest Guy in the World’ (Russ)

From The Washington Post: “George Strausman’s wife asks him in a video what his plans are for the day. Strausman, 101, says he’s going to the office. He then details the rest of his day: ‘Join my poetry class, write some poetry, then off to my pottery class, in time to make some pieces and pots. And then take my lover out to dinner.’ (He means his wife of 66 years.) … Strausman recently went viral on social media for his robust calendar — in particular the pottery class he has been taking for 10 years with people half his age. And also for being ‘the self-proclaimed happiest guy in the world,’ according to his granddaughter Francesca Rietti.”

Who Are the ‘Mystery Orcas’ Swimming Around the Northwest? (Reader Steve)

From The Oregonian: “The mystery orcas are back in the Puget Sound. For the last few weeks, a pod of unfamiliar orcas has been coming and going from the waters around Seattle and British Columbia, delighting whale watchers and making headlines as they swim through the waters home to the famous Southern Resident orca population.”