Hello from CNN, I'm Joe Beck, with the five things you need to know for Monday, April 29th. Arrests, clashes, and canceled ceremonies. Several U.S. colleges are in crisis.
Many pro-Palestinian protests across the country are calling for universities to stop funding any companies with leaks to Israel. And even though the majority have been peaceful, hundreds of people have been arrested, including Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, whose campaign says she was one of the more than 80 people detained at Washington University. But despite the arrests, the protests have been growing, as more colleges join the demonstrations in solidarity. There have also been counter-protests, like at UCLA, where CNN's Camila Bernal is this morning.
Jill, things are quiet this morning at UCLA, but the university did increase the number of security officers because protesters got violent on Sunday. There were fights and tents and counters between people who were here to support the Jewish students and the pro-Palestinian group. Eventually, with the help of campus police, protesters were moved off campus. But those who are staying in the encampment are still here this morning, and we're also seeing at least one tent in support of the Jewish students.
Not enough has been done to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That's what Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, told a group of Arab country leaders in Saudi Arabia this morning, although he did say there's been, quote, measurable progress in getting aid in. And yesterday, President Joe Biden reiterated the U.S.'s position on Israel's upcoming invasion of Rafe, in a call with Israel's Prime Minister, saying he wants a clear plan on how the more than a million civilians sheltering there would be protected. While the ground offensive hasn't started, a local hospital in the southern Gaza city says Israeli airstrikes killed at least 19 people yesterday.
This week, tens of millions of low-income Americans could lose their internet access, as a government program is expected to run out of money. From Wednesday, more than 23 million households are at risk of being kicked off their plans, or of having to pay hundreds more per year to get online. The Affordable Connectivity Program provides discounted internet services, and people living on tribal lands are expected to be the worst hit by running out. Lawmakers have known about the approaching deadline for months, but haven't approved funding to keep the program going.
Experts say the collapse of the ACP would be a devastating but entirely prevencible economic catastrophe. More than 100 people have died in Kenya, and many are still missing, as violent flash floods have been hitting the African country. CNN's Larry Madoo is on the ground. Hey Joe, I'm in my mind here, about 31 miles northwest of Nairobi.
What I can see is this damage spreading for kilometers in every direction. Entire homes swept away, families, property, cars lodged onto trees. That's just how bad the devastation overnight was. Across the country, before this latest tragedy, about 103 people have died because of heavy rains that has led to some flooding.
All of East Africa has been seeing some strong rainfall. In Tanzania, the government says at least 155 people have died, and the forecast says there's still going to be some strong rainfall to come, and government's here asking people to be careful. Coming up, El Nino losing steam could affect how hot it gets this summer. It's going to be a hot one this summer, but we're not sure if it'll be as bad as last year.
As CNN meteorologist Mary Gilbert tells us, while the weather phenomenon El Nino played a part in last summer's record-breaking heat, it's weakening and likely to vanish by the time the 2024 season kicks into gear. Hey Joe, even without El Nino's warming influence, it's shaping up to be a hot summer in the U.S., driven largely by human-caused climate change. Long-term data from NOAA shows summers have gotten warmer in the U.S. over time, especially in the western states.
Additionally, La Nino is likely to start forming in the summer, and La Nino conditions drive very active at Atlantic hurricane seasons. That's all for now. Our next episode drops at noon Eastern. We'll see you next time.