Daily Briefing: Max 9s may return to the skies

The Federal Aviation Administration paved the way for Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft to come back into service after nearly three weeks on the ground. Also in the news: Alabama will attempt to put an inmate to death with nitrogen gas, a never before used execution method. We have the best photos from Paris Haute Couture Week.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Do you flush with the lid open or closed?

Now here's the news to know Thursday.

FAA approves inspection procedure for grounded Boeing aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration approved an inspection procedure for grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, meaning the planes could be airborne again soon.

Following an explosive decompression of an Alaska Airlines Max 9 on Jan. 5, the FAA ordered 171 of the jets out of the skies until inspections could be performed on their mid-cabin door plugs, one of which was installed improperly and ripped away inflight in the Alaska incident.

• United Airlines said it is targeting its Max 9s return to the skies on Sunday, and "will only return each MAX 9 aircraft to service once this thorough inspection process is complete."

• “This won’t be back to business as usual for Boeing": The FAA said it would hold Boeing from expanding its production of the plane, pending further review.

• Worried whether your plane is safe? Here's what to look for.

McConnell and many Senate Republican leaders haven't endorsed Trump

As former President Donald Trump closes in on the GOP nomination, Republican leaders in the Senate remain markedly silent on whether they support him. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., emphasized on Tuesday he has "stayed essentially out of it." He's not alone: GOP Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Republican Policy Committee Chair Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Conference Vice Chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., also have not yet endorsed the former president. But the leaders are a waning faction in a party quickly coalescing around Trump. About 60% of Republicans in both chambers of Congress have already endorsed him. Read more

• Does Nikki Haley have a chance to beat Trump?

More news to know now

• A fake Biden robocall ratcheted up concerns about AI in the 2024 election.

• Heavy rains brought flash flooding threats to the South.

• A record number of Americans enrolled in Obamacare in 2024.

• The U.S. Navy shoots down missiles targeting an American cargo ship.

• United Auto Workers union endorsed President Biden over "scab" Donald Trump.

• On today's The Excerpt podcast, the national debt is at a record high, but no one can seem to agree on what that means. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Why Alabama's execution of Kenneth Smith stirs ethical controversy

Alabama is expected to carry out the first-ever execution by nitrogen hypoxia on death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith on Thursday. The planned execution raises heated questions about the ethics of using the untried method to execute Smith, who has been through one previous execution attempt. If the execution is carried out, nitrogen hypoxia would be the first new method of execution since 1982, when the lethal injection was introduced. How the method will work is still unclear, and even if it does work, experts said Smith could suffer an intensely painful death. Read more

• States can't figure out how to execute inmates, so they're trying something new.

Ohio restricts health care and athletics for transgender kids

The Ohio Senate voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of legislation that restricts medical care for transgender minors and blocks transgender girls from female sports. The bill prohibits doctors from prescribing hormones, puberty blockers or gender reassignment surgery before patients turn 18 and requires mental health providers to get parental permission to diagnose and treat gender dysphoria. It also bans transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams in high school and college. DeWine vetoed the legislation in December, arguing decisions about gender transition care should be left to families and their medical providers. Read more

• California offers abortion training lifeline for medical residents.

Keep scrolling

• Why some are turning to "death doulas" as the of life end approaches.

• Pickleball is now a competitive high school sport.

• Why did "The Bachelor" blur the Canadian flag?

• Think you'll work past 70? Good luck.

• Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at a Bob Marley movie premiere.

• The Libs of TikTok creator was appointed to Oklahoma's state library committee.

Jim Harbaugh decides to return to the NFL

Jim Harbaugh has agreed to become the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach. Harbaugh spent the past nine years with the Michigan Wolverines, compiling an 89-25 record in that span. His time at Michigan didn’t come without controversy. Harbaugh was suspended by the school for the first three games of the 2023 season because of a recruiting violation and subsequent failure to cooperate with an NCAA investigation. He was then suspended for Michigan's final three regular-season games by the Big Ten for alleged sign stealing. Prior to becoming Michigan’s head coach, Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons. Read more

• Can NCAA punish Jim Harbaugh? Former Michigan football coach leaves amid investigations.

• Who replaces Jim Harbaugh at Michigan?

Photo of the day: Stormi takes Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

It's Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week and Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi Webster stunned as a family duo at the Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show. Check out all the photos of stars flaunting high-fashion looks in France.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boeing 737 Max 9, Trump 2024, Alabama execution, Jim Harbaugh, Kylie Jenner: Daily Briefing