Oh, how I wish there was a way to tell the difference between fake accounts and real ones!

Happening in the World: Twitter has removed blue check marks from nonpaying users’ accounts, implementing a change that had been previously announced. The change means that only paying subscribers who have verified their phone numbers will be entitled to Twitter verification and the blue check mark. Government and some corporate accounts will still maintain verification through separate silver and gold icons, respectively, but several offices remain unverified. (CNBC)

Happening in the US: Today, the US Supreme Court faces a self-imposed deadline to decide whether to restrict women’s access to the abortion pill, mifepristone, while a legal challenge to its FDA approval continues. The court is weighing arguments that allowing lower-court restrictions to take effect would severely disrupt the availability of the drug, which has been used by over 5 million women in the US since it was approved in 2000. The challenge to mifepristone is the first abortion controversy to reach the nation’s highest court since its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade 10 months ago, allowing more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. (AP)

Happening in NYC: The New York City Council is considering a bill that would require the Parks Department to identify and build new public swimming pools, with a focus on low-income and minority neighborhoods. The bill would also require the department to offer free swim lessons to both children and adults. The move follows a shortage of lifeguards that left the city without swim programming last year. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: The panel “LGBTQ+ in STEM: Resolving Disparities Using Demographic Data” will take place on today from 1 to 2:30 pm in Buell Hall. LGBTQ+ individuals are underrepresented by approximately 20% in STEM fields and are less likely to pursue STEM degrees or remain in STEM majors compared to non-LGBTQ+ individuals. The panel will explore how collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data could help address LGBTQ+ challenges in STEM and how universities in the U.S. can achieve inclusive excellence and bridge disparities through SOGI data collection. 

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