Election update, watching Eta, Rock Hall of Fame and Pac-12: 5 things to know this weekend

Editors, USA TODAY
·4 min read

Election results: Biden eyes victory, power of the Senate in flux

We are still waiting for the next president to be named (former Vice President Joe Biden needs to win Pennsylvania, Georgia or Nevada — states where he is currently leading President Donald Trump — in order to be declared the new president), which could happen over the weekend. But we'll likely be waiting even longer to learn whether Democrats or Republicans will control the Senate. Republicans currently have control, but Democrats could flip the Senate if they have two more wins, or three if Biden does not win the White House. It could take weeks to determine whether the Democrats win those seats, because two Senate elections in Georgia are heading to runoff. The last remaining options for Democrats are North Carolina and Alaska.

Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts:

Eta could regain strength, hit Florida as a tropical storm

Tropical Depression Eta may again strengthen into a tropical storm after claiming dozens of lives in Central America, where the death toll is expected to rise. Eta was forecast to become a tropical storm again on Saturday as it moved over the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm watches for the northwestern Bahamas, southern Florida and the Florida Keys.The center of Eta was expected to approach the Cayman Islands Saturday, be near Cuba Saturday night and Sunday, and approach the Florida Keys or south Florida late Sunday. If Eta hits the United States, it would be the 12th named storm to make landfall this year — an all-time record. Rescuers in Guatemala pulled the first bodies Friday from huge landslide believed to have buried at least 100 people. The storm has also claimed dozens of lives from Mexico to Panama, including at least 19 as heavy rains caused mudslides in southern Mexico, and at least 21 in Honduras.

Pac-12 football kicks off 2020 season

Starting Saturday, the Pac-12 will attempt to squeeze in seven college football games in seven weeks, counting the conference championship on Dec. 18, in an effort to make up ground with the remaining Power Five leagues. If all goes according to plan, an unbeaten Pac-12 champion would be in strong contention for the College Football Playoff. There are two games scheduled for this week, with the earliest at 12 p.m. ET between Arizona State and USC. Two games scheduled for Saturday — Washington at Cal and Arizona at Utah — were canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G, more get inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

This year, the formal Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is replaced by a virtual celebration premiering on HBO and HBO Max Saturday (8 p.m. ET/PT). The two-hour special pays tribute to the eclectic class of 2020, which includes Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G., Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T. Rex and the Doobie Brothers. The virtual format lacks electrifying performances and rousing crowds, but it does feature stars including Charlize Theron feting Depeche Mode, Ringo Starr honoring T. Rex, and Miley Cyrus and Iggy Pop venerating Nine Inch Nails.

Dave Chappelle to host another post-Election Day 'Saturday Night Live'

Four years after hosting "SNL" for the first time, right after Donald Trump was elected president, comedian Dave Chappelle returns to Studio 8H on Saturday. In 2016, Chappelle opened the show with an incisive and wide-ranging monologue that addressed the election, mass shootings and police brutality. At the end of the monologue, he wished the then-president-elect luck and said, "I’m going to give him a chance, and we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too.” Chappelle will be joined by musical guest Foo Fighters.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election results, Rock Hall, Eta: 5 things to know this weekend