Open Season On Biden; Navy Jet Crash; Peppa Pig Drops A New Album

Plus, how a mob boss helped spur modern-day recycling. [NPR] by Korva Coleman and Suzette Lohmeyer First Up [Former Vice President Joe Biden was directly challenged by several other candidates, including Sens. Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker.]( Michael Zamora/NPR Here’s what we’re following today. What happened at last night’s debate? We [have the highlights]( and a [fact check]( including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand questioning former Vice President Joe Biden’s view of working women; Sen. Cory Booker condemning [Biden’s record on crime legislation]( and [protesters in the audience]( heckling New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio over policing policy. Health workers are struggling to stop Ebola’s spread in war-torn areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There have been [198 attacks on Ebola clinics]( and response teams over the past year. Media reports indicate that Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, is dead. He [was reportedly killed]( before February 2019, when the U.S. issued a $1 million reward for information on his whereabouts. A U.S. Navy jet has crashed during a training mission in California’s Death Valley National Park, injuring seven park visitors. The [pilot is missing](. Military awards given to prosecutors in a case against a SEAL who was acquitted of murdering a prisoner in Iraq have been revoked by the Navy's top official; this happened after [President Trump tweeted]( that the commendations should be withdrawn. The Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point for the first time in more than a decade. Chairman Jerome Powell says the reduction is a [kind of insurance policy]( to keep the economy humming. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Good Don’t cut those trees — because big food might be watching. [New tool to prevent cutting down trees. ]( Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images A new tool tracks forests so that big food companies can better tell [if suppliers are cutting down trees]( to supply them with crops or graze cattle. It also monitors forest fires. Also, while [miniature toiletries in hotel rooms]( might be cute and convenient, they're also the source of a whole lot of plastic waste; a major hotel group says it is phasing them out. And chemist Stephen Mayfield is turning various [kinds of algae into raw plastic]( which can be converted into goods and products that people want — like flip-flops. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen How a mob boss helped spur modern-day recycling. In the 1980s, the mafia controlled garbage in New York. So when Alabama businessman Lowell Harrelson wanted to turn trash into energy, he found a mob boss, bought 3,186 tons of garbage, put it on a big ship and set sail for a North Carolina landfill. Except word got out, there were huge protests, and a North Carolina court blocked his delivery. The Garbage Barge, as it came to be known, resulted in an epic mess. Planet Money takes a look at the birth of residential recycling in the U.S. (Listening time, 25:03) [▶ LISTEN]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Throwback Thursday The women who invented American popular music. [Women in music image]( Edward Elcha/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The [music you love today]( would not exist if it weren’t for these eight women. They originated genres, broke through political boundaries, nurtured generations of followers and, in most cases, became icons. --------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper A new Trump administration rule could weaken a housing discrimination law. NPR has obtained a draft rule of a Trump administration initiative that would make it harder to bring lawsuits alleging [racial discrimination in housing](. Currently, plaintiffs don't have to prove direct discrimination; they can show that a company may have a business practice that has a discriminatory effect. Supporters say it allows them to work toward fair housing without having to prove each act of discrimination. But conservatives claim these cases can be unfair because cases find discrimination when none is happening. Housing activists say African American homeownership rates are at their lowest level in 50 years. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [Bull meat image]( Alberto Simon/AFP/Getty Images - From the moment you step into the restaurant Casa Toribio in Madrid, you will see that it's, well, [full of bull](. - Get ready to groove out to Peppa Pig; “My First Album” just dropped, and she rocks out to lyrics on her favorite pastime: [jumping in muddy puddles](. - [Annie is out and Mamma Mia! is in]( according to the new high school theater rankings. - To de-escalate a standoff between scientists and protesters blocking the construction of a massive telescope, Hawaii Gov. David Ige [rescinded an emergency proclamation](. - “LOL” has a different meaning depending on the age group, says linguist Gretchen McCulloch, who in her book unravels how the [Internet is changing words](. - A new measure in New York expands the number of public officials who can break into a vehicle to [rescue an endangered pet]( from an extremely hot or cold car. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]