From "Dreamgirls" to "Renaissance": Beyoncé's Journey Through Music and Activism

A new Republican bill, the Affordable Loans For Students Act, proposes lowering federal student loan interest rates to 1% and allowing refinancing. This differs from blanket student loan forgiveness, a topic that remains divisive. The bill's future is uncertain as Republicans are set to control the federal government in 2025. Current income-driven repayment (IDR) plans like SAVE have varying payment structures depending on the borrower's situation. Under a House Republican proposal, monthly payments for borrowers would significantly increase compared to existing IDR plans. The average borrower could see an almost $200 rise in monthly payments. The IDR system was created to address borrowers struggling with "standard" repayment plans, but research shows navigating these plans can be complex.

Snap Inc. (SNAP), facing competition and ad market challenges, is seeking to break its losing streak and achieve sustainable profits. Analysts maintain a neutral stance on SNAP stock, with a Hold consensus rating from Wall Street based on 24 Holds, six Buys, and one Sell in the last three months. The average price target of $12.15 suggests a potential 52% upside. Investors considering tax-loss harvesting may find SNAP an appealing candidate due to its significant decline from its 52-week high.

Mark Zuckerberg faced a lawsuit from Facebook's co-founders shortly after the platform's launch, resulting in a settlement. Facebook rapidly expanded, reaching 500 million users by July 2010. Zuckerberg's influence was recognized in 2010 when he was ranked number 16 on New Statesman's list of the world's 50 most influential figures. Co-founder Eduardo Saverin filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg and Facebook in 2005, claiming Zuckerberg misused Saverin's funds for personal expenses.

Willie Nelson owns the biodiesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, whose product is made from vegetable oil. "Hello Walls", written by Nelson, was a hit for Faron Young in 1961, and gave Nelson national recognition as a songwriter. A USA Network television special celebrated Nelson's 70th birthday, and he released The Essential Willie Nelson as part of the celebration. In 2005, Nelson and several business partners formed Willie Nelson Biodiesel ("Bio-Willie"), a company that was marketing bio-diesel bio-fuel to truck stops. In 2024, Nelson was featured in the "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson" and "Smoke Hour II" interludes of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Marvin Gaye was born on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C. He released his first single, "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide", in 1961. His debut album, "The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye", followed shortly after and received critical acclaim. Gaye's live performances were highly praised, leading to the release of the live album "Marvin Gaye Live!". His name has been featured in several hit songs, including Big Sean's "Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay" and Charlie Puth's "Marvin Gaye" featuring Meghan Trainor. In 2006, Watts Branch Park in Washington, D.C., was renamed Marvin Gaye Park in his honor. Gaye's music continues to be popular decades after his death due to his immense talent as a singer and songwriter, as well as his social conscience that advocated for change. He broke stereotypes within black music and influenced countless artists across genres, including R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, and The Rolling Stones.

Shohei Ohtani achieved a historic feat by becoming the first player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He accomplished this during a Dodgers rout of the Marlins, hitting three homers and driving in 10 RBIs. This victory also clinched the Dodgers' playoff berth.

Jeremy Renner achieved early success with roles in films like "Dahmer" (2002), "A Little Trip to Heaven" (2005), and "North Country". He continued acting in various projects throughout his career. Recently, he starred in the Paramount+ series "Mayor of Kingstown", which has been renewed for a second season. Renner also launched mobile apps titled "Jeremy Renner" and "Jeremy Renner Official" in 2017.

Due to high voter turnout, particularly through special ballots and advance polls, ballot counting requires more time for accuracy. Counting in front of witnesses has resumed, with preliminary results for all ridings expected today. Users can search for electoral district results by province or territory, viewing up to four at a time.

"Now You See Me" won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Thriller Movie and received nominations for Best Thriller awards from the Empire Awards and Saturn Awards. The film performed well internationally, with significant box office revenue in France, China, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Australia. A sequel, "Now You See Me 2," was confirmed shortly after the original film's success and released in June 2016. Michael Caine revealed that Daniel Radcliffe would portray his son in the sequel.

UPS is cutting 20,000 jobs and closing over 70 facilities due to a reduction in Amazon shipments. UPS claims this decision was made to focus on revenue quality, increase domestic operating margin, and profitability. Amazon initially stated they requested a volume reduction from UPS, but later denied any such agreement. UPS CEO Carol Tomé previously mentioned that while Amazon is their largest customer, it's not their most profitable one. UPS maintains its previous full-year outlook despite macroeconomic uncertainty.

The summaries provided define various weather advisories and warnings, such as Wind Advisory, Coastal Flood Advisory, River Flood Watch, and Heat Advisory. They explain the conditions under which each warning is issued but do not offer information about a specific severe thunderstorm warning.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 9 p.m. for Charleston County and 10 p.m. for Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. Severe thunderstorms were located from near Hampton Plantation State Park to over Isle of Palms, moving southeast at 45 mph. The Live 5 Weather team has declared a First Alert Weather Day for Monday due to the increased threat.

Nine Big Lots locations in six states reopened on April 10th. The company plans to reopen 55 more stores on May 1st. Variety Wholesalers acquired 219 Big Lots stores and two distribution centers as part of the bankruptcy sale. Other retailers, including Ollie's Bargain Outlet, have also purchased former Big Lots locations.

Madison Beer received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording in 2024 for her song "Make You Mine." Her previous singles include "Unbreakable," "All For Love" featuring Jack & Jack, and "Hurts Like Hell" featuring Offset. In 2020, she collaborated with Morphe on a cosmetics collection.

Hims & Hers Health (NYSE: HIMS) stock has dropped 60% from February highs, falling to under $30. The company saw success by selling compounded alternatives to weight loss drugs when Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk faced shortages. Subscriber numbers have nearly quadrupled since 2021, reaching 2.2 million. Despite the recent decline, strong fundamentals and growth suggest long-term investors may be rewarded with patience.

A tornado warning is a public alert issued by weather forecasting agencies when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. It means immediate danger exists for the warned area and nearby locations. People in the warned area should seek shelter immediately. Tornado warnings are separate from tornado watches, which indicate the potential for tornadoes to develop. A watch does not mean a tornado is present, but residents should be prepared to take action if a warning is issued. A tornado emergency is declared within a tornado warning when conditions are exceptionally dangerous, often involving an intense tornado (like an F3 or higher) that poses significant threats to life and property.

Some Amazon sellers are facing pressure from the company regarding potential tariff increases. The Levines, owners of a party supply business, haven't received direct requests from Amazon but plan to raise prices if wide-ranging tariffs persist. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that the company is still assessing the impact of President Trump's tariffs and anticipates third-party sellers may pass those costs onto consumers. Third-party sellers constitute a significant portion of Amazon's marketplace, with millions based in China or sourcing products from the region. These sellers account for about 60% of all products sold on Amazon's website. Amazon has already begun canceling some direct import orders from Chinese vendors in response to the tariff announcements.

Laurel Libby is a politician from Maine. She was born in Bangor and raised in a large family. Libby entered politics in 2020, running for and winning a seat in the Maine House of Representatives. In 2025, she gained national attention for a Facebook post regarding a transgender athlete competing in a girls' pole-vaulting competition. Libby is active with conservative organizations like the Club for Growth, Young Americans for Liberty, and the Leadership Institute. She attends East Auburn Baptist Church and has five children.