Good morning, everyone. It’s National Creamsicle Day. If you can’t get one, consider making this 3-ingredient instead. Now, on to the news.
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NEED TO KNOW
Missouri and Arizona approve abortion ballot initiatives
Missouri and Arizona are the latest in a growing number of states to greenlight ballot initiatives that would potentially restore abortion rights in November.
Their goals: Both and measures would protect the right to receive abortion care up until fetal viability (usually around 24 weeks of pregnancy), and would prohibit the government from limiting access to it. [NBC News]
Bigger picture: Voters in six other states — Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota — will decide this November whether to . Montana and Arkansas are also considering ballot measures. [CNN]
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What women say: A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that most reproductive-age women in the U.S. whether abortion is legal, regardless of their party affiliation. [The Hill]
The Perseid meteor shower in southeastern Turkey (Emrah Gurel/AP)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
✨ Rare cosmic event
The Perseid meteor shower hit its peak across the northern hemisphere at the same time as the northern lights in some areas yesterday. Here’s a look at the around the world. [Yahoo News]
➡️ Tropical Storm Ernesto
Nearing hurricane strength, Tropical Storm Ernesto is projected to bring heavy rain and cause power outages as it today. It could also bring dangerous rip currents along the East Coast next week. [CNN]
🩺 Biden’s ‘Cancer Moonshot’
President Biden announced $150 million in grants as part of his “Moonshot” initiative to by 50% over the next 25 years. “It’s not just personal,” he said. “It’s about what’s possible.” [AP]
⚖️ Trump, Musk charged
The United Auto Workers against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, alleging that they tried to “threaten and intimidate” workers during their recent conversation on X, which Musk owns. [Reuters]
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📺 ‘AGT’ golden buzzer
America’s Got Talent judge Sofia Vergara pressed the golden buzzer during the quarterfinals to give what she called one of the show’s “most ambitious acts” a direct pass to the final. . [Entertainment Weekly]
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
🔎 Bad Monkey, a crime dramedy series starring Vince Vaughn, is on Apple TV+. . [TVLine]
📺 The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras premieres at 8 p.m. ET on MTV. Here’s . [TheWrap]
⚾ In baseball, the Yankees and the White Sox at 8:10 p.m. ET on the MLB app. [USA Today]
☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily . Play . Check the in your area.
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Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images
TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the U.S., ending World War II. Celebrations erupted internationally, but one famous but controversial photo of a sailor in New York City became the enduring symbol of post-war jubilation. [Time]
3 QUESTIONS
…about the WNBA season
The WNBA season ramps back up tomorrow. I asked sports reporter Cassandra Negley to break down what we could see in the coming games.
Lily: So, who are the teams to beat at this point?
Cassandra: New York Liberty’s chemistry , but the Connecticut Sun just in Marina Mabrey. I also believe the fifth-place Las Vegas Aces are still dangerous as the two-time reigning champs.
Lily: Caitlin Clark now has half of a WNBA season under her belt. How’s she faring?
Cassandra: I think Clark is living up to expectations as the league’s assists leader and Rookie of the Year favorite. Hopefully with recent rest she’ll hit more of her .
Lily: What’s the one game to watch this week?
Cassandra: I’d say the Liberty-Aces Finals super-team rematch on Saturday [4 p.m. ET on CBS]. It’s the first time they’re meeting this year with point guards Courtney Vandersloot and Chelsea Gray available.
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Who else could win Rookie of the Year? Here’s .
@twintornadoes92 via Instagram
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
More than 4,000 people recently attended an Ohio festival called Twins Days, which is the for multiples. “You automatically have this very innate connection with other twins,” one person said. “You’re all part of a special club.” [Today]
Have an excellent day. See you tomorrow!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: How much money should you actually save each month? Experts recommend . [Yahoo Finance]
About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News.
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The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether the so-called “Missouri First” map is unconstitutional.
The map, passed by Republican lawmakers in September and signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, stretches the boundaries of the 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold, eastward into heavily Republican regions of the state. It also moves part of the current 5th District into the 4th and 6th districts, currently represented by Republican congressmen Mark Alford and Sam Graves. Incumbent Democrat Emanuel Cleaver is running for reelection in the 5th District.
Opponents of the Missouri First map’s main argument focused on the map being passed by lawmakers without any new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The congressional boundaries tossed out by the Missouri First map were based on the 2020 U.S. Census.
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Attorney Chuck Hatfield represents those challenging the new map passed by Republican lawmakers last fall.
“The whole idea is tethered to the census data. You must do it at the census, and you only do it at the census,” Hatfield told the High Court. “The court’s precedents also support this.”
Solicitor General Louis Capozzi, representing the Missouri Sec. of State’s office, disagreed, saying the Missouri Constitution is silent on mid-decade redistricting.
“Mid-decade redistricting had happened in Missouri in the 1870s, and mid-decade redistricting was common around the country in the first half of the 20th century,” he argued. “Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution sets out only three requirements for the redistricting of seats in Missouri, ‘The district shall be composed of contiguous territory, as compact, and as nearly equal in population as may be.’ And as long as the General Assembly complies with those three rules, this court said that Missouri courts, ‘shall respect the political determinations of the General Assembly.’”
Meanwhile, roughly a hundred demonstrators held signs across the street from the Missouri Supreme Court building, condemning the Missouri First map and calling for the Missouri Supreme Court to strike it down.
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“Voters should choose our politicians,” said Missouri League of Women Voters Director Kay Park. “The League (of Women Voters) believes redistricting should keep communities of similar culture and race together to strengthen their vote and promote partisan fairness.”
The Missouri Supreme Court will rule on the congressional district map later.
Missouri senior forward Mark Mitchell was recognized Monday with a second-team selection to the All-Southeastern Conference teams.
Mitchell has led the Tigers all season long and tops the team in scoring (17.9 points per game), rebounding (5.2) and assists (3.6). He would be the just the second player in program to lead all the categories in one season, joining Albert White from the 1998-99 season.
Mitchell is also on pace to become the first player in program history to average at least 17 points, five rebounds and three assists since Anthony Peeler in 1992, the year he took home the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year award.
Mitchell was the only Missouri player to be recognized in SEC postseason awards.
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Five players were named to each of the three All-SEC teams.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama) and Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) made the first team.
Acuff was named the conference’s player of the year and freshman of the year.
Joining Mitchell on the second team were Nate Ament (Tennessee), Rueben Chinyelu (Florida), Otega Oweh (Kentucky) and Dailyn Swain (Texas), while Rashaun Agee (Texas A&M), Alex Condon (Florida), Keyshawn Hall (Auburn), Aden Holloway (Alabama) and Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State) were named to the third team.
The All-SEC defensive team consisted of Chinyelu, Somto Cyril (Georgia), Felix Okpara (Tennessee), Billy Richmond III (Arkansas) and Tanner. Chinyelu was selected as the defensive player of the year.
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Appearing on the all-freshman team were Acuff, Amari Allen (Alabama), Ament, Malachi Moreno (Kentucky) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas).
Swain was selected as the newcomer of the year, while Urban Klavzar of Florida was named the sixth man of the year.
The 2026 Missouri high school basketball state championship brackets continue on Monday, March 9, with eight games in the sectional and quarterfinal round of the higher classifications.
High School On SI has brackets for every classification in the Missouri high school basketball playoffs. The championship games will begin on March 19.
Missouri High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (MSHSAA) – March 9, 2026
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Sectionals
Doniphan vs. Potosi – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
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St. James vs. St. Francis Borgia – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Notre Dame de Sion vs. Oak Grove – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Smithville vs. Benton – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Cardinal Ritter College Prep vs. Clayton – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
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Orchard Farm vs. Kirksville – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
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Boonville vs. Strafford – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
Reeds Spring vs. Nevada – 03/09, 6:00 PM CT
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Quarterfinals
Festus vs. Lift for Life Academy – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Grandview vs. Kearney – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
MICDS vs. St. Dominic – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
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Helias vs. Marshfield – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
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Quarterfinals
Jackson vs. Marquette – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
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Rock Bridge vs. Staley – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Incarnate Word Academy vs. Troy-Buchanan – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT
Kickapoo vs. Lee’s Summit West – 03/13, 6:00 PM CT