U.S. missiles; Michigan primaries; Flu shots : NPR

Key Points:

• The U.S. Army has nearly depleted its stockpile of long-range precision missiles, such as PrSMs and ATCAMs, used in the war with Iran, raising concerns about future military readiness due to the lengthy replenishment time.
• Patriot interceptor missile stocks have also dropped by two-thirds since the conflict began, impacting U.S. and allied defense capabilities, including urgent needs in Ukraine, with each missile costing around $4 million to replace.
• Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary remains too close to call between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Haley Stevens, with the winner facing Republican Mike Rogers in a crucial swing state; Democratic voters show increased frustration with their party compared to 2018.
• The FDA is considering approval of Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine, mFlusiva, which has shown stronger protection for adults 50+ and faster adaptability to new strains, though public skepticism persists due to misinformation and pandemic-era controversies.
• Central Appalachian underground coal miners are experiencing the highest rates of black lung disease in nearly 50 years, attributed to increased exposure to toxic silica dust despite previous declines following stricter regulations.