Government Shutdown; Writers' Strike Looms; Hernandez Suicide Notes: Patch Morning Briefing

Good morning! It's Tuesday, and hopefully it will be an even better day than Monday. Here's what you need to know to start the day.

Government Funding Dries Up On Friday

If members of Congress, just returning this week from their April recess, are unable to pass a spending bill by Friday, much federal government funding will dry up, and the operations of dozens of agencies will grind to a halt. We're not going broke; legally, Congress just needs to authorize the government to continue to pay people. In other words, the country could face another government shutdown, which last occurred in October 2013. But what exactly does that mean? (Patch)

Aaron Hernandez Suicide Notes: Judge Orders Release to Family

As friends and family gather to mourn the suicide of Aaron Hernandez, a Bristol Superior Court judge has ordered the state to give the former NFL star's family three suicide notes he had written before his death. The ruling holds that the Worcester District Attorney's Office must produce copies of the notes written by the former New England Patriots tight end. (Patch)

Hollywood's Writers Guild Votes To Authorize A Strike

Government officials aren't the only ones on a tight fiscal deadline. The Writers Guild of America, which represents much of the nation's most famous talent in TV and movies, is preparing for a strike against the studios if an agreement isn't reached by May 2. On Monday, the writers voted by absurdly high margins to authorize a strike if negotiations fail. (Hollywood Reporter)

Quick Hits

Tanker Explosion Off Cape Cod: 1 Dead, 3 Seriously Burned (Patch)

Baby Left In 123-Degree Car Seat As Mom Paid Fine: Cops (Patch)

ICE Raids Capture 95 People In Houston Area (Patch)

First Woman With Down Syndrome To Compete In Miss USA State Pageant (Patch)

George H.W. Bush Hopes To Leave Hospital By End Of Week

The former president, recovering from pneumonia, is in good spirits, a spokesperson says. (Patch)

Texas Prisons Violate Internationally Recognized Human Rights Standards: Report

"Designed to Break You: Human Rights Violations on Texas' Death Rows" finds conditions for death row inmates are "inhumane." (Patch)

Frito-Lay Recalls Jalapeño-Flavored Chips Over Salmonella Fears

Voluntary move comes after supplier recalls jalapeño powder seasoning blend which could contain salmonella. (Patch)

Erin Moran, 'Happy Days' Actress, Likely Died Of Cancer

The actress was found dead in a trailer park in Indiana on Saturday. (Patch)

Bunkerville Trial: Jury Announces Partial Verdict In First Bundy Ranch Trial

The jury had been deliberating for almost two weeks. (Patch)

Obama Administration Misled Public About Iranian Prisoner Exchange: Report

According to a sprawling, in-depth report, the White House and State Department under President Obama downplayed the significance of the prisoner transfers related to the Iran deal. Without explicitly lying, the administration seemed to suggest that the prisoners posed less of a threat to national security than the Justice Department believed, sources told Politico. However, some of the strongest claims in the report, including the idea that the actions of the State Department and high-level officials undermined the administration's own efforts in the deal, are less than airtight. (Politico)

Today In History

1953 – Francis Crick and James Watson published their discovery of the double-helix shape of DNA

Famous Birthdays

1908 — Edward R. Murrow, an American broadcast journalist made famous for his reporting during World War II

1969 — Renée Zellweger, an American actress known for roles in "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Jerry Maguire"

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images