Good morning. It's Monday, May 10, and we're covering doping allegations at the Kentucky Derby, the shutdown of a major US gas pipeline, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.

First time reading? Sign up here.

NEED TO KNOW

Derby Doping Allegations

Medina Spirit, the winner of last Saturday's Kentucky Derby, reportedly tested positive for an excess amount of the steroid betamethasone during a postrace check. The synthetic drug is used to relieve joint pain in horses, but its use is prohibited within two weeks of a race. If the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit would be disqualified and runner-up Mandaloun would be declared the winner. It would be the first disqualification of a Derby winner due to performance-enhancing drugs since Dancer's Image in 1968.

Churchill Downs, the track that hosts the race, immediately suspended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who notched a record seventh Kentucky Derby victory with Medina Spirit's win. Baffert, who denied the charges, is widely considered the sport's best trainer, having accumulated more than $320M in winnings over his career.

Thirteen horses in history have won the Triple Crown—placing first in the Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes—with Baffert guiding two of them. Medina Spirit is currently scheduled to run in Saturday's Preakness. 

Pipeline Cyberattack 

Colonial Pipeline, which supplies an estimated 45% of the East Coast's gasoline, was shut down over the weekend after officials revealed the company had been the victim of a ransomware attack. The 5,500-mile network stretches from Texas to New Jersey, traveling through the Southeast and up the East Coast (see map).

In such attacks, hackers typically take control of an organization's IT systems, preventing access until a ransom is paid. In this case, company officials indicated that while some of their systems were hijacked, the pipeline was shut down as a proactive measure—not shut down by the hackers themselves. The company declined to comment on whether the ransom had or would be paid; experts say gas prices would only be affected in the event of a prolonged shutdown. 

Officials believe DarkSide, a cybercriminal group, is behind the attack.

Jobs Report Whiffs

The US economy added 266,000 new jobs in April, according to government estimates released Friday, far below analysts' estimates of 1 million. Unemployment also ticked up slightly, from 6.0% to 6.1%. The country has roughly 8.2 million fewer jobs than it had before the pandemic. 

The figures caught many off guard, with analysts banking on rising vaccine rates and the reopening of many state economies around the country to boost hiring. Some argue a stimulus-provided boost in unemployment benefits, roughly equal to a $15-per-hour wage, has kept workers from returning ($$, WSJ). Data showed the average hourly wage rose 21 cents in April to $30.17.

Others have argued many low-wage jobs are undesirable amid the pandemic, while highlighting separate issues making it difficult to return to work, such as lack of child care. 

Enjoy reading? Share 1440 with your three closest friends.

OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN

The Motley Fool cofounders—brothers David and Tom Gardner—have developed a bit of a reputation.

Their Stock Advisor service recommends companies with incredibly high growth potential and excellent leadership, then holds on as long as possible to achieve maximum returns. We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves:
> Amazon, recommended at $15.31/share (up 21,532%)
> Netflix, recommended at $1.85/share (up 27,036%)
> Shopify, recommended at $32.32/share (up 3,436%)
> Tesla, recommended at $31.84/share (up 10,478%)

If you look closely, there are two common threads with all of the above: low share prices and phenomenal returns. And now, The Motley Fool has done it again. They’ve compiled a list titled “5 Growth Stocks Under $49.” The best part? You can read it for free today.

Returns as of 5/6/21

Please support our sponsors!

IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Brought to you by The Ascent

> Canelo Alvarez bests previously undefeated Billy Joe Saunders via eighth-round technical knockout to unify the super-middleweight titles; crowd of more than 73,000 sets a US indoor attendance record for boxing (More)

> Vax Live concert featuring appearances by President Joe Biden, Jennifer Lopez, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, raises $302M and helps procure 26 million vaccine doses (More)

> Tawny Kitaen, “Bachelor Party” and 80s music video star, dies at 59 (More) | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer Lloyd Price dies at 88 (More)

From our partners: No credit card interest until late 2022? Sounds like a deal to us. This card offers one of the longest 0% APR periods on the market to help you save big and pay off debt. Get a decision in under two minutes today.

Science & Technology

> Early studies show Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine protects against COVID-19 variants (More) | US cases fall steeply, with the rolling average near 40,000 new cases per day, down 20% over the past 10 days (More) | At least 58% of US adults have received at least one vaccine dose (More) 

> New study suggests sharks use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate; findings may explain why certain sharks congregate at specific geographic spots every year (More)

> Tiny aluminum membranes played like drums provide the most direct evidence to date of quantum entanglement in macroscopic objects (More) | What is "action at a distance?" (More)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets up (S&P 500 +0.7%, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.9%) despite April unemployment whiff, as investors believe lax monetary policy will remain for extended time period (More)

> Tesla CEO Elon Musk hosts "Saturday Night Live," reveals he has Asperger's syndrome for the first time publicly (More)

> Goldman Sachs unveils new cryptocurrency trading team, situated within the bank's global currencies and emerging markets division (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> At least 50 killed and more than 100 wounded in bombing at girls' school in Afghanistan capital of Kabul; Taliban deny responsibility for the attack (More) | At least 180 Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli police at Al-Aqsa Mosque (More)

> Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, along with three other officers present on the scene, indicted on federal civil rights violations for the killing of George Floyd (More)

> New DNA evidence suggests an alternate suspect in the 1993 Arkansas killing of Debra Reese; Ledell Lee, who maintained his innocence, was executed for the murder in 2017 (More) | Seven killed, including shooter, after gunman opens fire at Colorado birthday party (More)

WORDS TO INVEST BY

In partnership with The Motley Fool

“Buy low, sell high.” It’s a wonderful mantra for investment, but easier said than done … right??

Well, The Motley Fool wants to help you live a smarter, happier, and richer life. How, you ask? Today, they’re offering all 1440 readers a free report titled “5 Growth Stocks Under $49.” It’s a list of what they believe are the most promising—and affordable—to add to your portfolio today. Read the report now, no strings attached.

Please support our sponsors!

ETCETERA

China's lost rocket debris lands in the Indian Ocean.

Ranking the best TV sitcoms of all time.

How much it costs to place a product in a movie.

Our team is growing! We're hiring a Senior Writer and a Growth Marketing Manager to help take 1440 to the next level. Interested in joining? Send a resume and intro to jobs@join1440.com.

Explaining England's floating cargo ship.

Reviewing the reviews Jeff Bezos left on Amazon.

The one house where California condors aren't rare.

Famed documentarian Ken Burns releases new film on Ernest Hemingway. (via PBS)

When you give an unexpected birth on the right flight.

Clickbait: COVID-19 scales Mount Everest.

Historybook: RIP Paul Revere (1818); First American transcontinental railroad is completed (1869); Winston Churchill becomes prime minister of the UK (1940); RIP actress Joan Crawford (1977); Nelson Mandela inaugurated as president of South Africa (1994).

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

- Nelson Mandela

Enjoy reading? Forward this email to a friend.

Why 1440? The printing press was invented in the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. Guess what else? There are 1,440 minutes in a day and every one is precious. That’s why we scour hundreds of sources every day to provide a concise, comprehensive, and objective view of what's happening in the world. Reader feedback is a gift—shoot us a note at hello@join1440.com.

Interested in advertising to smart readers like you? Apply here!