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Good morning, it's Saturday, Oct. 3. Northwestern University just unveiled the most expensive stadium in college sports history. First time reading? Join millions of insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Also in today's Digest: student protests cancel classes in France (Quick Hits), helicopter pilots take a detour for a toddler (Humankind), the states with the most generous tippers (Etc.), and much more.
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One Big Headline
Athletics Spending Spree
Northwestern University debuted its roughly $875M football stadium—the most expensive college stadium ever built—in a primetime matchup against Penn State last night (see renderings). The debut is part of a broader influx of money into college athletics.
The College Sports Commission this week announced that athletes received nearly $1.8B in revenue-sharing payments during the 2025-26 academic year. The system was established last year to settle lawsuits alleging that schools were denying college athletes a share of the commercial value they generated. A bill that passed the Senate this week would more than double the revenue-sharing cap, from roughly $20M per school to nearly $50M, with specific funds earmarked for player retention and women's and Olympic sports. It would also increase federal oversight over name, image, and likeness deals, which have generated over $582M in revenue for college athletes since June 2025.
The top 75 college athletic programs in the US were worth a combined $51.2B last year, up 13% from the previous year.
In partnership with Pendulum
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Quick Hits
G7 leaders agree to release up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil.
The Group of Seven, a forum of leading industrialized democracies (see 101), has agreed to release stockpiled fuel to counter soaring energy prices. The release will occur over the next four months, starting with a substantial amount of diesel, which is crucial for long-haul trucking and farming. The average price of US diesel has surged 70%, to $6.37 per gallon, since the Iran war began in late February. (More)
US hiring slows and unemployment rises ahead of November midterms.
US employers added 29,000 jobs in September, below expectations of 84,000 and down sharply from the 133,000 added in August. The unemployment rate also ticked up 10 basis points to 4.2%, according to the final jobs report before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. A poll published Thursday found that 61% of adults say the national economy is worse off since President Trump took office in 2025. (More)
Congo's Ebola outbreak death toll surpasses 4,000 as unrest mounts.
The latest figures come as soldiers burned down an Ebola transit and treatment center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this week while searching for weapons and people suspected of belonging to non-state armed groups (conflict 101). The fire forced 19,000 people to flee the camp. Meanwhile, healthcare workers gathered in a nearby city to protest unpaid wages. (More, w/charts)
Student protests in France close over 400 schools, lead to around 2,000 arrests.
The nationwide protests were spurred by overcrowded classrooms, poor facilities, and teacher shortages. Several have grown violent, with fires started in at least two schools and dozens reportedly injured. The demonstrations come as the French government this week proposed a below-inflation 1.7% increase to the education budget, amid wider austerity measures to rein in the nation's budget deficit. (More)
Tony Romo leaves CBS Sports as NFL analyst following OWI arrest.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback is parting ways with CBS Sports after nine years as a lead NFL game analyst. The 46-year-old was arrested during a July traffic stop in Milwaukee after performing poorly on a field sobriety test. He pleaded no contest last month and said he had developed an overreliance on alcohol to cope with pain from injuries sustained during his playing career. (More)
Feathered dinosaur fossil sheds light on the evolution of flight.
Researchers discovered a new feathered dinosaur species in northeastern China that could likely fly. However, certain bone features hint that it may have belonged to a distinct lineage from that of modern birds, indicating that flight may have evolved separately in different groups of dinosaurs. (More)
Humankind
Man, 93, donates homemade baseball bats and rolling pins to charity auction. (More, w/video)
Entrepreneur who lost his voice to cancer creates noninvasive device to help others like him speak with emotion. (More)
Two helicopter pilots loop around and fly low to wave to an infatuated 3-year-old. (More)
Detroit educator purchases vacant, deteriorating school building with plans to transform it into a state-of-the-art public charter school. (More)
In partnership with AutoCamp
The Secret Winner of the National Park Boom
America's National Parks are packed, and not with trail mix. In 2025, 323M people visited, as 26 parks set record highs.
But lodging lags. Those able to book campsites trade proximity for comfort. And “nearby” hotels fully miss the point. AutoCamp’s built for this moment, bringing boutique comfort to destinations like Yosemite and Zion. Exclusive Hilton Hotels and Airstream partnerships helped attract 1M+ campers across 8 locations.
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Humankind(ness)
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Beth P. in Sealy, Texas.
"I was on a Southwest flight, connecting in Baltimore. I went to wash my hands after we landed and noticed my diamond wedding ring was missing. I was really upset. I went back to the gate I deplaned from, knowing I couldn't go back on the plane. After a frantic minute or so, a nice airline employee was coming up the gangway. I told him what I lost and he asked where I had been sitting. I gave him my row and seat. Five minutes later he came out with my ring. He had gotten down on hands and knees to look under my seat and found it. I was so grateful for his help. I wish I would have gotten his name."
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here).
Etcetera
Record-low 31% of Americans say college is very important.
Which state has the most generous tippers?
How NFL players got caught up in an alleged Ponzi scheme.
Six ways to be more persuasive. (w/video)
Robots plunge to a fiery death, thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger. (w/video)
See some of the best looks from Paris Fashion Week.
Can you draw country borders from memory? (w/game)
Ranking the nation's top pumpkin-producing states.
Blind taste test reveals the best boxed mac and cheese. (w/video)
Bronx Zoo debuts a rare snow leopard cub.
Would you quit sleeping if a drug eliminated the need?
Why do only certain leaves turn red? (w/audio)
Most Clicked This Week: How often should you wash sheets and towels?
Historybook: American singer-songwriter Chubby Checker born (1941); Gwen Stefani born (1969); East and West Germany are unified (1990); OJ Simpson acquitted of murdering ex-wife and her friend (1995); "Psycho" actress Janet Leigh dies (2004).
"After you make a fool of yourself a few hundred times, you learn what works."
— Gwen Stefani
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