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Today's top stories
In just a few hours, millions of Americans will be turning their heads to the sky to get a glimpse at the total solar eclipse. The moon will begin to block out the sun a little before 1:30 p.m. Central time in Eagle Pass, Texas. The moon will then move across the country through Maine. Cities and counties across the U.S. are holding watch parties and celebrations for the event. But weather in certain parts of the United States may play a role in how visible the eclipse will be.
The Department of Education released new proposals that could eliminate student debt for millions of Americans. The new proposals emphasize reducing or eliminating accrued interest. The proposal would cancel $20,000 in interest for any borrower, regardless of income. It would also make it so that low and middle-income borrowers could become eligible to have all of their interest forgiven.
It has been six months since the war between Israel and Hamas first started on October 7, when 1,200 people were killed by Hamas, according to the Israeli government. Over 30,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, making it the deadliest period of violence in Israeli-Palestinian history. Ceasefire negotiations have failed to bring a new pause in fighting or a hostage exchange deal for the remaining hostages taken by Hamas. Over the weekend, Israel withdrew a significant number of troops from the southern city of Khan Younis. And there has been a significant increase in the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza.
Life advice
Blended families are common in pop culture. But in real life, the blended family experience is usually somewhere in between Cinderella and The Brady Bunch. When it comes to the stepsibling relationships, one thing is almost always true: it takes work to get along. Here are some science-backed tips for blended families:
Behind the story
I grew up in New Jersey, so naturally, I love diners. New Jersey is considered the diner capital of the world. And Peter Sedereas, head of an unofficial New Jersey diner coalition and owner of Townsquare Diner in Wharton, N.J., estimates that there are around 450 diners in the state.
Diners are closing nationwide. When the diner across the street from my apartment in Maryland suddenly closed to be replaced by an apartment building, I started to wonder how diners were doing in my home state.
Around 150 diners have closed in New Jersey over the past decade. And it's not just because of the pandemic. Most New Jersey diners are family businesses, and many members of the next generation are not interested in taking over their family's diner.
When I spoke to Peter Sedereas for this Morning Edition story, he said diners are always at the best locations. He gets at least one offer a month to buy his diner.
As a diner lover, it eased my mind to see and hear that people still go to diners and that Sedereas' business is doing better than 20 years ago. Even though diners are closing and the remaining ones are changing a lot, he says he doesn't see diners ever leaving New Jersey. And I don't think the passion people from New Jersey have for diners will ever go away.
Before you go
This newsletter was edited by Treye Green. Anandita Bhalerao contributed.
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