Today’s Big Story

Allergies on Overdrive

You’re not imagining it, allergy seasons really are getting worse. But why?

There’s a whole lot to be thankful for when spring arrives, right? Longer days, warmer weather, birds chirping … but for more than 25% of American adults, spring blooms mark the start of itchy, eye-watering, congested misery. And if you ask them, it’s getting worse.

Maybe you were never bothered by it, but lately you’ve been suffering. That’s because it really is getting worse. Experts agree that more people are becoming allergic to airborne irritants like pollen and mold, allergy symptoms are more severe, and allergy seasons are lasting longer than ever. North American pollen seasons are 20 days longer than they were in 1990, the nonprofit news organization Climate Central reports.

You may also feel the increasing pollen burden even if you don’t have hay fever, as studies show that pollen perturbs the immune system even if it doesn’t inflame your airways. Why? According to CNN, scientists are saying intensified seasonal allergies are among the first wave of anticipated health impacts from global warning, along with greater exposure to infectious diseases.

USA Today reports that changes in our climate in recent years have increased frost-free days and led to warmer seasonal temperatures and changes in rain patterns. These factors lead plants to blossom sooner and longer. That would explain why more temperate areas— the South, Southeast and parts of the Midwest—have the highest pollen counts in the nation as of early April, according to recent data from Pollen.com.

Is there any relief? “The key is to prevent the outdoor allergens from becoming indoor allergens,” one well-respected allergist told the New York Times. He says the first step is to reduce exposure. Keep your windows shut to prevent pollen from blowing into your home. And if it’s really bad, consider changing out of your clothes and taking a shower after you get home, and doctors also recommend a saline nasal rinse to flush the pollen out of your nose.

Israel Withdraws Troops From Southern Gaza

As the war hits the six-month mark, the conflict is at an apparent impasse

The Israeli military said it has withdrawn its ground forces from Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of fierce fighting. The Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday that its 98th division had “concluded its mission” in Khan Younis. The division was leaving the Gaza Strip to “recuperate and prepare for future operations.”

According to the New York Times, Israel has significantly reduced the number of troops it has on the ground in Gaza over the past several months. Only a fraction of the soldiers that it deployed in the territory earlier in the war against Hamas remain. Six months after the initial Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, the war is in limbo. But that's not necessarily a bad thing for beleaguered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's fighting for his political survival, reports Axios. There's also no ceasefire in sight, despite increasing calls for one from U.S. officials and many others worldwide.

Israeli defense officials said Sunday that troops were merely regrouping as the army prepares to move into Hamas’ last stronghold, Rafah. “We will reach a point when Hamas no longer controls the Gaza Strip and does not function as a military framework that poses a threat to the citizens of the state of Israel,” Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, told the Times. But the prospect of that offensive has raised global alarm, including from Israel’s top ally, the U.S., which has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Will You Catch the Eclipse?

Clouds and storms may obscure today’s eclipse view in states along its path

After months and months of anticipation, today’s the day for the solar eclipse … but serious cloud cover and storms may potentially obscure views in states along the path of totality in the southern Plains and the western Gulf Coast.

According to NBC News, around 20 million people in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma are at risk for severe weather at the start of the week, where multiple rounds of storms are forecast to begin this afternoon. States where clouds may impede the view of the eclipse include parts of Texas, southern Arkansas, Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and New York, according to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.

If that bums you out, don’t worry. Even if you’re nowhere near the path of totality or if grey clouds spoil your view, you can still catch the total solar eclipse online, reports the Associated Press. NASA is offering several hours of streaming online and on NASA TV starting at 1 p.m. ET from several cities along the totality path. The Exploratorium museum will feature live telescope images of the sun from Junction, Texas, and Torreón, Mexico. Researchers and students from the University of Maine will launch high-altitude balloons in an experiment that will be livestreamed from the stratosphere.

Global Entry Will Soon Cost You More

Which means you should apply now before the rate hike goes into effect

When the United States launched the Global Entry program in the summer of 2008, the application fee was $100—and so it has remained for 16 years. But that’s going to change. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency just announced that the cost to apply for Global Entry will jump to $120 on October 1, 2024.

The new fee is “better reflecting the program costs,” the agency said in a news release about the change. “As these programs have matured and expanded, updating the fee structures is critical to the continuation and management of the programs.”

Customs and Border Protection says on its website that it can take “several months” to get an application processed. Customers need to fill out an application online, await conditional approval, then take the final step of doing an in-person interview. That can happen at an enrollment center ahead of travel or upon arriving in the country at participating airports. But those who apply before that deadline will pay the lower, original rate, which is charged at the time the application is filed.

Your April Reading List

From a mystical novel and a historical nonfiction thriller to some harrowing memoirs, this is a big month for books

What are you reading these days? If you’re looking for some engaging books to occupy your time this spring, April is the month with some of the most anticipated titles of the season dropping. And best of all, there’s really something for anyone’s taste. It was difficult to narrow them down to just four, but these are the ones worth your time.

There’s always gonna be a Monday.