A day of 'horror' in California
It's a grim day for news, Short Listers. There was a high school shooting in California, and hundreds of koalas are dying in fires. Here's the news you need to know Thursday.
But first, a case against Disney+ and how the streaming wars are killing TV, from USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler.
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California reels from a fatal high school shooting
A gunman opened fire at Saugus High School in California on Thursday, killing two people and injuring four – including himself. Here's what we know: The gunman shot five students in the school's quad area with a semiautomatic weapon, then shot himself in the head. In the aftermath, a female student, 16, and a male student, 14, died at a hospital. The gunman was taken into custody and treated at a hospital. Authorities said the suspect, a 16-year-old Asian male, was a student at Saugus High School. In even more depressing news, this was the 30th shooting attack at a school this year, according to the gun safety group Everytown.
Santa Clarita students made an active-shooter video. Two months later, they took shelter in fear.
Australia fires could land koalas on the endangered species list
Unprecedented bushfires raging in Australia have killed at least four people and devastated wildlife in the region, killing hundreds of koalas and burning through their colonies so badly the animals may end up on the endangered species list. More than 100 fires racing through the country since last week have destroyed more than 300 homes and forced thousands to evacuate. The fires ripped through a major koala colony in the Lake Innes Nature Reserve, once home to about 600 koalas, and continue to spread to other koala habitats. At the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, more than a dozen of the furry creatures were treated for burns, said Clinical Director Cheyne Flanagan. Hundreds have died, she said.
What everyone’s talking about
It's officially OK to eat Twinkies for breakfast: The popular golden pastry will hit grocery stores in cereal form by the end of the year.
A first look at the new MacBook Pro: Apple fixes the keyboard on its pricey 16-inch laptop.
"Frozen 2" is bigger in every way – from songs to scope – but definitely not better.
Andy Cohen's son was named People's "Cutest Baby Alive," and we couldn't agree more.
"Jeopardy!" stars ask fans to play along during the Tournament of Champions Finals – for pancreatic cancer research.
Judge to USC dad: 'That's what you are – a thief'
A former real estate and title insurance executive was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday for paying $450,000 to get his daughter and son admitted into the University of Southern California as fake athletic recruits. It marks the longest prison sentence handed down among 13 parents and one college coach in the nation's college admissions scandal. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton didn't hold back: He told Toby MacFarlane that his actions should be tolerated no more than a common thief's actions, "because that's what you are – a thief." The judge's decision could be a preview of how he will approach other parents in the scandal – including actress Lori Loughlin.
If you're 65+, the regular flu vaccine just won't cut it
Flu season is upon us. If you don't have the flu vaccine, the CDC advises nearly everyone over the age of 6 months to get vaccinated. The demographic most vulnerable to the disease is people 65 and older. A terrifying statistic: About 70%-80% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in this age group, according to the CDC. James Steckelberg of the Mayo Clinic said people 65 and over should be administered high-dose vaccines to stimulate their immune system. The FDA has licensed two high-dose vaccines to people 65 and older: Fluzone High-Dose and FLUAD. The upside is that both vaccines are covered by those who qualify for Medicare with no out-of-pocket cost.
How effective is it? Here's what doctors say about the flu shot
Real quick
Move over, Taco Bell. Nutella is getting into the "pop-up hotel" game.
Missed the CMA Awards? These were the 9 biggest moments of "country music's biggest night."
Not so fast: "Normal" temperatures remain days away as the record-smashing arctic blast subsides.
Player 18 has entered the game: Deval Patrick, former Massachusetts governor, joined the 2020 Democratic presidential race.
ICE tried deporting a U.S.-born Latino veteran. Now, a city is paying him $190,000.
Welcome to 2004: The Motorola Razr is back
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? It’s 2004 and you’re in school, sitting in class trying to play it cool while fervently texting your friends under the desk, T-9 style. Those days are BACK: Motorola officially unveiled its long-anticipated Razr reboot Wednesday, featuring a fancy foldable screen and hefty price tag ($1,500). Think of it as a futuristic take on the classic flip phone, but with faults. The good: It still fits in your pocket, and you can dramatically slam it closed to end a phone call. The bad: Reviewers say the processor is slow, and the sleek design seems to attract a lot of visible fingerprints.
A break from the news
This is the best way to prevent your holiday packages from getting stolen.
These are the most common Thanksgiving fails – and how to avoid them.
Here's a hot tip: How much should you tip at American hotels?
This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saugus school shooting, Motorola Razr, Australia fire: Thursday's news
