What to Know
- President Donald Trump has scheduled another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first since the U.S. strike in Syria
- Hershey's is debuting a new line of candy that involves barbecue, key-lime pie, cheesecake and other foodie favorites, Today reported
- A tentative deal was reached between screenwriters and producers, averting a strike that could have crippled TV and film production
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THAAD Can Defend Against Attack, South Korea Says
A contentious U.S. anti-missile system in southeastern South Korea is now operating and can now defend against North Korean missiles, a South Korean official said. The Terminal High Altitude Defense system set up at a converted golf course in Seongju has "early capability" to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threat, Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said. He didn't say when Washington and Seoul expected THAAD to be operating fully. The deployment has triggered anger from Seongju residents who fear North Korea may target their town and who worry about rumored health hazards linked to THAAD's powerful radar. People also debate whether the security benefits of THAAD would outweigh drawbacks if relations worsen with China, which sees the system as a threat, and they have been angered by President Donald Trump's statement that he would make South Korea pay $1 billion for the system.
Trump: Why Couldn't the Civil War Have Been Avoided?
The U.S. president had a historical question: Why did America's Civil War happen? "Why could that one not have been worked out?" Remarks by Donald Trump showed presidential uncertainty about the origin and necessity of the Civil War, a defining event in U.S. history with slavery at its core. Trump also declared that President Andrew Jackson was angry about "what was happening" with regard to the war, which started 16 years after his death, and could have stopped it if still in office. Trump, who has at times shown a shaky grasp of U.S. history, questioned why issues couldn't have been settled to prevent the war that followed the secession of 11 Southern states from the Union and brought death to more than 600,000 Americans, North and South. "People don't realize, you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why?" Trump said in an interview with The Washington Examiner that also aired on Sirius XM radio. "People don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?"
Trump, Putin to Speak in 1st Call Since US Stike in Syria
Local
President Trump has scheduled another phone call with Russian President Putin. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the expected topics of the conversation. But the bloody civil war in Syria and Putin's continued backing of Syrian President Bashar Assad loom large. It will be the first phone call for the leaders since Trump ordered an airstrike on a Syrian airbase on April 6 following a chemical weapons attack in the country that killed dozens of civilians. Trump and Putin have spoken several times since Trump's election, though, including last month following an attack in St. Petersburg, which Trump condemned. The St. Petersburg attack took place in the days before the chemical weapons attack. Trump said last month that U.S.-Russian relations "may be at an all-time low." It was a reversal from the rhetoric during his campaign, when Trump said he hoped he and Putin could work together in the fight against terrorism.
Nevada Coalition Seeks Unprecedented Insulin Refund Law
Aiming to rein in soaring prescription drug prices, an unlikely Nevada coalition is trying to force pharmaceutical companies to disclose how they set insulin prices — and issue refunds to diabetics or their insurance companies if annual price hikes surpass inflation. Las Vegas casino owners have banded together with their employees' unions of cooks, servers and other resort workers to support the unprecedented legislation in their effort to control their own medical insurance costs. The bill expected to face its first vote in early May would attempt to cap how much employers, insurers and corporate middle men pay for insulin, which is injected to manage blood sugar levels. Lawmakers also hope the bill would cap what diabetics pay out of their own pockets near their current cost levels — typically between $50 and $600 per month, depending on diabetics' insurance coverage. It remains far from clear that the bill, if passed, would survive legal challenges or have the intended effect. But it would make Nevada the first U.S. state to force detailed release of drugmakers' proprietary information and effectively establish a price control on prescription drugs via the refund plan.
Strawberry Kit Kats and BBQ PayDays? Weird Candy Flavors Heading Your Way
Hershey's is debuting a new line of candy that involves barbecue, key-lime pie, cheesecake and other foodie favorites, Today reported. The candy company announced this week that it is rolling out a "Flavors of America" line of limited edition candies and chocolate bars inspired by popular summer destinations. Some of the places inspiring the flavors include New York, Florida and California. The new chocolate bar choices include strawberry-flavored Kit Kats, cheery cheesecake Hershey’s bars and BBQ-flavored PayDay bars. Honey-roasted Reese’s peanut-butter cups are also included in the mix, along with coconut-almond Hershey’s kisses and key-lime pie and orange cream pop Twizzlers.
Writers' Strike Averted, Deal Reached After Late-Night Talks
A tentative deal was reached between screenwriters and producers, averting a strike that could have crippled TV and film production and inflicted harm on the wider California economy. The three-year agreement, which requires ratification by members of the Writers Guild of America, was confirmed by the guild and producers' spokesman shortly after the current contract expired. Further details weren't immediately available. The two sides held to a media blackout during negotiations that began March 13 and centered on compensation and health care. The agreement spares the late-night shows that would immediately have gone dark without writers, and allows the networks to pursue their schedules for the upcoming TV season without interruption. Movie production would have felt a strike's sting more gradually. Guild members voted overwhelmingly last month to authorize a strike, and the WGA could have called for an immediate walkout Tuesday absent a deal. The previous writers' strike extracted an estimated $2 billion toll on the state.
Tony Award Nominations Murky Without 'Hamilton'
If last year's Tony Award nomination announcement was pretty simple, this year's is much, much messier. The question around this time in 2016 was just how many Tony nods the megahit "Hamilton" would earn. This season there's a glut of 13 musicals all vying for four best new musical slots (or five if voting is close). The long-term fate of many shows now on Broadway often rests on how many nominations - and later wins - they can accumulate. Answers will become clearer after Christopher Jackson and Jane Krakowski announce the candidates at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from 37 eligible shows. The biggest crown is the best new musical trophy and most observers expect "Dear Evan Hansen" - a critical and box office hit - to easily claim a nomination. Others in contention to land a coveted spot include "A Bronx Tale," ''Come From Away," ''Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812," ''Bandstand," ''War Paint" and "Groundhog Day."
