Thursday briefing: Pope Francis hospitalized; Kentucky helicopter crash; anti-trans law; Narcan; MLB Opening Day; and more

(Illustration by Katty Huertas/The Post)

1

Pope Francis was hospitalized yesterday.

• Why? He is being treated for a respiratory infection, the Vatican said, but improved overnight. He had delivered his weekly address earlier in the day.
• The timing: It’s less than two weeks until Easter Sunday, one of the busiest times of year for the pope. The 86-year-old’s schedule has been cleared through the end of the week.

2

Kentucky lawmakers yesterday passed a major anti-trans law.

• The details: It restricts how doctors and schools treat transgender youths. The state legislature overrode the Democratic governor’s veto and objections from experts.
• The big picture: A record number of anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country.
• What else to know: A mass killing at a school in Nashville this week led to right-wing personalities falsely connecting violence to transgender people.

3

Mexico issued arrest warrants for suspects in the migrant center fire.

• What to know: 39 people died in the disaster Monday night in Ciudad Juárez, across from El Paso. Security video showed guards walking away from a locked cell while it burned.
• The big picture: This has put a spotlight on both U.S. and Mexican immigration policies. Growing numbers of migrants are stuck in border cities. Authorities round them up and place them in detention centers.

4

Two U.S. military helicopters crashed in Kentucky last night.

• What happened? Nine soldiers were killed, an official said. The helicopters were flying out of Fort Campbell Army base on a routine training mission.
• What else? We don’t yet know what caused the crash. Fort Campbell, on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, is one of the Army’s largest U.S. installations.

5

A drug that reverses opioid overdoses will soon be available over-the-counter.

• What to know: The FDA made this long-awaited decision yesterday. Narcan is a nasal spray that requires no special training to deliver.
• Why it matters: The U.S. is in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis, and this could dramatically increase availability of this lifesaving drug.
• When will it be in stores? It’s expected to be available by late summer, but the drugmaker hasn’t yet shared how much it will cost.

6

It’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball.

• Teams to watch: The San Diego Padres, the MLB’s most interesting experiment, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Houston Astros, last year’s World Series champions. (See all the main characters.)
• Two changes to know about: Games now run with a pitch clock to make them faster, and the bases have gotten bigger to improve safety (and, possibly, encourage more stolen bases).

7

Apple Wallet started rolling out a “buy now, pay later” option this week.

• How it works: You can ask for a loan of $50 to $1,000 inside the Wallet app. If approved, you’d repay in four installments over six weeks with no interest or fees.
• How to get it: The feature will take a few months to get to everyone. But be careful — it can be risky to buy things on credit.

And now … making plans to glow up your garden? Avoid these rude, aggressive plants. Plus, how to make over your laundry room on any budget.

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