Stars Accused In College Cheating Scheme; Tiny Desk Contest; U.S. Diplomats Out Of Venezuela

Should you be worried if you’re flying on a Boeing 737 Max 8? [NPR] by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [actress Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman — two notable names in what the Justice Department says is a massive cheating scheme that rigged admissions to elite universities.]( AP Here’s what we’re following today. The Justice Department has charged actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin in a college admissions cheating scheme. They are among dozens of parents who [allegedly paid large sums of money to cheat admissions standards]( by fabricating academic and athletic credentials and paying bribes to help their children attend prestigious universities. The 737 Max is the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history, but now it's under immense global scrutiny after the model has been involved in two deadly crashes soon after takeoff in less than five months. The Federal Aviation Administration says [it will require a series of design changes]( to the Boeing 737 Max fleet. Boeing says it will issue a software update and is working on changes to its flight controls and training guidelines. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that all remaining U.S. Embassy personnel would be pulled from Venezuela this week. The country is wracked with power outages, which [President Nicolás Maduro blames on the U.S](. British Prime Minister Theresa May has returned from meetings in France ahead of today's crucial vote on Brexit in Parliament. May has secured new promises from European Union leaders, but they could all come to nothing, as today U.K. lawmakers are expected to again reject her Brexit plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn fire for saying Arab citizens have equal rights under the law but that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people — and only them. The comment prompted many people — including Israel's president and the star of Wonder Woman — to [defend Israel's Palestinian Arab minority](. Democrats will hold their 2020 national convention in Milwaukee. The decision to hold the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin is a symbolic choice for a party that's been [working to reverse its 2016 losses]( in the industrial Midwest. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Good A former Royal Marine has become the first amputee to row solo across the Atlantic. [Lee Spencer, a 49-year-old single-leg amputee, celebrates after rowing solo across the Atlantic.]( Handout/Rowing Marine via Getty Images It took 96 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes. That was the record for an unsupported row solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west. [Former Royal Marine Lee Spencer, 49, did it in 60 days](. And Spencer, an amputee, did it with one leg — becoming the first disabled person to row unsupported from mainland Europe to South America, according to the BBC. --------------------------------------------------------------- The 2019 Tiny Desk Contest NPR We started the Tiny Desk Contest in 2014 with the humble goal of discovering new music. Since then, your entries have blown us away. It's been incredible to watch artists in this community grow. Now, for the first time ever, our contest will be open to artists 18 years and older. The winner will come to NPR headquarters to play their very own Tiny Desk concert, and then come on tour with NPR Music. We'll be accepting entries now through April 14 at 11:59 p.m. EST. [Click here for instructions on how to film and submit a video]( of you or your band performing an original song at a desk. Any desk will do. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen Should you be worried if you’re flying on a Boeing 737 Max 8? [A Boeing 737 Max 8 airliner lands at Boeing Field to complete its first flight on Jan. 29, 2016, in Seattle. The Boeing 737 Max is the fastest-selling plane in the company's history.]( Stephen Brashear/Getty Images Given the recent news about two fatal crashes in five months involving Boeing’s 737 Max 8, many travelers are looking more closely at the type of plane they’re traveling in. David Greene talks to former Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector David Soucie, co-author of the book Why Planes Crash, about why he would fly on a 737 but wouldn't put his family on one after Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash. (Listening time, 4:58) [▶ LISTEN]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [A jaguar attacked a woman at the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Ariz.]( Adam Wilkerson via Reuters - The [selfie-taking woman slashed by a jaguar]( at an Arizona zoo has apologized. - Fans are mourning [Olympic cycling medalist Kelly Catlin]( who died in her dorm at Stanford University last Thursday. Catlin’s family said the 23-year-old took her own life. - Apparently, there’s [no such thing as fancy vodka](. Wish we had known that several thousands of dollars ago. - [Walking a dog on a leash]( is linked to an increase in bone fractures. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [dailynewsletter@npr.org](mailto:dailynewsletter@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to our Daily News emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]