June 3, 2022

What a cultural slate for the weekend: Top Gun, Stranger Things, the NBA Finals, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Roca Treasure Hunt are all at your fingertips. Unless, of course, you don't like $13 Milk Duds or Tom Cruise barrel rolls, in which case you can cross off the first. Happy final day of hunting!

In today's edition:

• Healthy, Heavy Drinkers
• Treasure Hunt Clue 4
• 20 Questions!

 Key Stories

CNN to Cut Back on Breaking News

CNN announced it will cut back on the “breaking news” label

• CNN has a new CEO, who said the label “has become such a fixture on every channel and network that its impact has become lost on the audience”
• CNN says it is moving away from partisan commentary toward original journalism. It now has  a set of rules to limit overuse of “breaking news”
• According to YouGov, 36% of Americans consider CNN “trustworthy.” 66% of Democrats and 11% of Republicans trust the company, the largest gap of  22 news outlets covered in the survey

• Do you believe CNN news coverage is too sensationalist? Let us know in today's poll of the day!

Biden to Forgive Some Student Loans

The Biden administration announced that it will forgive $5.8B in student loan debt — the largest single debt cancellation ever by the federal government

• The money will support people who attended Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit system of colleges that went bankrupt in 2015 after a series of lawsuits that accused the company of deceptive and misleading marketing practices
• The policy applies to 560,000 former students
• Total US federal student loan debt is $1.6T. Some expect President Biden to announce a mass debt forgiveness program ahead of midterm elections

Healthy, Heavy Drinkers?

A study found older women who drink “potentially unhealthy” alcohol quantities are healthier

• The study, conducted by researchers at Germany’s University Hospital Bonn, examined 682 women — median age 72 — before and after elective surgery
• 186 adults belonging to the “medium to hazardous alcohol consumption group” were less likely to be overweight and reported better health and less pain than those who drank less
• “Alcohol consumption… might support older patients to experience a better quality of life before and after elective surgery,” one author concluded

• That same author said that “one explanation may be that higher alcohol consumption may lead to elevated mood, enhanced sociability and reduced stress." Another researcher added that healthier adults may be more likely to drink in the first place

Reagan Shooter Freed

A judge ruled that John Hinckley, who shot President Reagan in 1981, will be freed from all restrictions

• “He’s been scrutinized. He’s passed every test. He’s no longer a danger to himself or others,” the judge said
• A jury found Hinckley, now 67, not guilty of shooting Reagan for reason of insanity. He spent 20+ years in a mental hospital, and has shown no signs of mental illness since the 1980s
• In 2003, Hinckley moved out of the hospital, but officials had access to his online activity and he faced travel limitations. Those restrictions will now end

• Now totally free, Hinckley plans to pursue a career in music. He has launched a record label and will give a show in Brooklyn this summer, however the "John Hinckley Redemption Tour" he had planned has been cancelled

• The first person to send a Google Street View screenshot of the correct place wins $2,000, second wins $300, third wins $200 
• No in-person photos will be accepted. This is an entirely virtual game
• You have only 1 guess and it can not be changed
• You can guess at any time by replying to a newsletter, which goes out at 11:00 AM ET daily 
• Winners will be announced on June 6
• Full rules are at the bottom of this email!

• Stormy day: Michael Avenatti, who represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then Pres. Trump, received a 4-year prison sentence for stealing $300k from Ms. Daniels
• Ailing Stones: The Rolling Stones began their 60th anniversary tour with a concert in Madrid. Their drummer Charlie Watts died last year
• King James' Treasure: LeBron James became the first active NBA player worth $1B, according to Forbes. He made $121.2M last year

 What do you think?

See yesterday's results below the Wrap!

 20 Questions

Whether you have had the best or worst week of your life; whether you have gotten engaged or dumped; whether you have solved the treasure hunt or are still trying to make sense of Tuesday's clue – one thing is for certain:

On Fridays, you will have 20 Questions. And given that today is, indeed, Friday, 20 Questions are below. 

Send your answers to Max@RocaNews.com, and answer as many or few as you want. We'll feature our favorites next week. Last week's answers are included below.

(P.S.: That email link above opens an email with the questions already in it!)

1. Are you a better or worse dancer than average?
2. Why does almond butter have such a better rep than peanut butter?
3. What is one right you would add to the Constitution/Bill of Rights?
4. What's the hottest place you've ever been? Describe it.
5. Do you have a hilarious story from this week?
6. What would you choose as a treasure hunt location?
7. What was your favorite school lunch?
8. A hobby you'd like to pick up?
9. A deal-breaking red flag on a first date?
10. Recommend your fellow Roca readers a podcast.
11. What's the best kind of donut?
12. Do you prefer chips & queso or chips & guac?
13. Should cyclists be allowed on the road?
14. Do you still listen to the radio?
15. If you could increase something by 5% what would it be...
16. If you could decrease something by 5% what would it be...
17. Thoughts on paper straws?
18. Strangest thing in your fridge right now?
19. Strangest song on your phone right now?
20. A country in the world that fascinates you?

 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

Yesterday's Question:

Spread the Wave!

 Final Thoughts