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Good morning readers. Who likes paying taxes? 99.9% of us would probably say we don’t. But ask Mark Cuban and he’d tell you he’s happy to pay the $275.9 million he owes for 2023. “I pay what I owe”, the billionaire wrote on X this past Sunday. “This country has done so much for me, I’m proud to pay my taxes.” While some of us might find it a little unpleasant to fork up so much in taxes, the Shark Tank star said, “I don’t. I find it patriotic.”

I wonder if he’d find it patriotic to send some of that dough our way. You know, the whole sharing is caring thing…

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Mark Zuckerberg wants to change the way kids learn in schools

• Headline Hustle: Tesla announces it will lay off 10% of its global workforce, FBI opens probe into Baltimore bridge collapse, Justice Department will launch antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation next month

• How melatonin has sent thousands of kids to the ER over the last few years

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

TECH

Headsets on, reality off: Meta's classroom of the future

Forget about chalkboards and textbooks; Meta is gearing up to send school kids on a VR trip to ancient Rome or inside a human cell—no permission slips needed.

Meta's latest venture aims to transform traditional learning environments with its Quest virtual reality headsets, promising a new software launch later this year that will allow educators to simultaneously manage multiple devices, access educational apps, and maintain strict oversight on student activity. Imagine high school students not just reading about Shakespeare but standing in the Globe Theatre as Hamlet ponders life and death. That could be the reality fairly soon.

Tech meets textbook

Meta's initiative isn't just about wowing students with flashy tech. It's about crafting experiences that could transform how educational content is delivered and absorbed. Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, suggests that VR can replace the need for costly physical labs and offer virtual field trips that slash school budgets on transportation.

But the integration of VR in schools isn't without its challenges and controversies.

• Critics argue that while the technology offers an engaging way to learn, the impact on actual learning needs more thorough investigation.

• Education researchers stress the importance of distinguishing between what's merely cool and what's truly impactful.

• Although early studies, like a PwC report from 2022, suggest VR can enhance engagement in learning soft skills, the jury is still out on its broader educational efficacy.

There’s also the question of accessibility. Meta's Quest 3 devices, which start at $499 each, may not be feasible for every school, especially those already grappling with tight budgets. The risk is that while some students get a front-row seat to technological advancements, others could be left behind, potentially widening the educational divide.

The final bell. As Meta gears up to roll out these tools, educators and policymakers will need to weigh the benefits of engaging students through cutting-edge technology against the challenges of ensuring equitable access and genuinely effective learning outcomes.

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IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

 🚗 Elon Musk announces Tesla will lay off more than 10% of its global workforce. Tesla plans to lay off over 10% of its global workforce to reduce costs for future growth, CEO Elon Musk announced. This follows a decline in vehicle deliveries and increased competition in the electric vehicle market, particularly from Chinese manufacturers. Challenges include supply chain disruptions and logistical issues. Executives Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel are also leaving the company. Tesla is set to report its first-quarter financial results on April 23.

🔍️ FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse. The FBI launched a criminal inquiry into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, focusing on whether the containership Dali had undisclosed issues before departure. Agents boarded the ship to investigate potential engine, steering, or electrical problems. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating. The March 26 incident killed six workers. The bridge debris is obstructing port access, impacting Baltimore's car importation hub. Legal action is being pursued against the ship's entities to mitigate the city's losses.

🎤 The Justice Department files antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation. The Justice Department is gearing up to sue Live Nation next month over antitrust concerns related to its dominance in concert promotion and ticketing. The lawsuit follows an investigation initiated in 2022, gaining momentum after Ticketmaster's technical issues during a Taylor Swift presale. Critics accuse Live Nation of stifling competition since its 2010 merger with Ticketmaster. Live Nation refutes claims of monopoly, attributing pricing decisions to artists and teams. The lawsuit could impact a 2010 settlement agreement extended to 2025.

HEALTH

Sweet dreams or nightmares? The sticky situation of melatonin gummies

Ever thought a harmless bedtime gummy could send your kiddo to the ER? It's more likely than you think, thanks to the wild west of melatonin supplements.

In a move to tighten the reins on these sleep-promoting snacks, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has rolled out a wake-up call: within 18 to 24 months, melatonin products need child-deterrent packaging and clearer cautionary labels. This comes in the wake of startling findings, including a spike in ER visits involving young children and some melatonin gummies packing a much heftier hormonal punch than their labels suggest — or swapping melatonin for CBD entirely.

Unregulated and overdosed

Despite melatonin's popularity for snooze support in both grown-ups and kids, these supplements skate by without FDA oversight. The recent buzz? A study revealed that certain melatonin gummies contained up to 347% more melatonin than advertised. Others missed the melatonin mark entirely, cozying up with CBD instead — a no-go per the FDA in foods or dietary supplements.

The stakes are high, with a CDC report from March 2024 highlighting over 11,000 children who landed in ERs from 2019 to 2022 after unsupervised melatonin munching. The culprits? Mostly gummies, with over half of these incidents involving toddlers aged 3 to 5. Thankfully, these visits rarely required hospital stays, but the risk of underestimating these numbers looms large.

A label makeover. CRN isn't just stopping at tougher packaging. They're calling for labels that scream caution: melatonin can cause drowsiness, shouldn't mingle with alcohol, and isn't a nightly candy fix but rather for occasional use. For the tots under four, there’s a new choke hazard warning on the horizon for not-quite-nibbled gummies.

Big picture: The industry's push to safeguard its pint-sized audience is a step in the right direction, albeit a voluntary one. With manufacturers given two years to make these changes, the hope is that these new rules will bring more yawns and fewer night frights. The clock is ticking—let's hope the industry doesn't hit snooze on this critical update.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Trump Media's share price fell over 18% after the company announced plans to allow existing investors to exercise stock warrants, closing at $26.61, following a nearly 20% drop the previous week.

• Hong Kong regulators approved the launch of spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with three ETF providers receiving approval from the Securities and Futures Commission.

• Elon Musk plans to address the persistent bot problem on his social media platform, X, by introducing a "small annual fee" for new users, claiming this is the only solution to curb the issue.

• Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer responsible for weapons on the "Rust" film set where a cinematographer was fatally shot, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

• As expected, Caitlin Clark was chosen as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever on Monday night.

• A pair of sneakers worn and signed by Michael Jordan during his rookie season may fetch nearly $500,000 at an auction featuring basketball and baseball memorabilia.

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