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- INSIDER
One person dead, multiple hospitalized in a mass shooting in Bryan, Texas
Police rushed to the scene of the reported shooting at an industrial park in Bryan, Texas, on Thursday afternoon.
- INSIDER
Disneyland Resort is opening a Marvel-themed land this June. Here's everything to know about Avengers Campus.
The massive expansion is coming to Disney California Adventure on June 4, 2021 and will feature an "Ant-Man"-themed restaurant and Spider-Man ride.
- USA TODAY
Manchin: 'No circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster'
Sen. Joe Manchin came out against eliminating the filibuster, a stance that could jeopardize President Joe Biden's legislative priorities.
- The Independent
Biden gun control: Don Jr and Cruz lead GOP outrage as President declares ‘no amendment is absolute’
Follow the latest updates
- The State
What channel is the NASCAR race at Martinsville on? Betting odds and how to watch
Here’s what to know for Saturday’s NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway under the lights.
- Associated Press
Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernández on IL after COVID close contact
The Toronto Blue Jays have placed outfielder Teoscar Hernández on the injured list after he was exposed to someone with a positive coronavirus case outside of the team. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Friday the team is conducting contact tracing and testing in accordance with Major League Baseball's guidelines after Hernández's close contact. Left-hander Ryan Borucki also went on the injured list with vaccine side effects, which included a fever and fatigue.
- The State
NC State basketball signs a rival guard from the ACC via the NCAA transfer portal
The 6-foot-3 guard was the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today Player of the Year for Washington, D.C., coming out of St. John’s College High School.
- Reuters Videos
Iran frees S.Korean ship, months later
The South Korean tanker ship and its captain that were detained by Iran in January, have been now been freed after South Korea promised to try and release Iranian funds that have been frozen in South Korean banks because of U.S. sanctions.That's according to a South Korean government source.The tanker was seized in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman by Iranian authorities, who had accused it of polluting the waters with chemicals.A diplomatic emergency arose when, separately, Tehran was demanding that Seoul release $7 billion in frozen funds.20 crew members except the captain were released in February after a South Korean delegation visited Iran.Both the South Korean foreign ministry's statement and Iranian state news agency's report on the ship did not mention the demand for the release of funds.The news also comes as Iran and the United States have began informal talks this week over salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal.Iran has denied allegations that the seizure of the tanker and its crew constituted hostage-taking, saying it was South Korea that was holding Iranian funds hostage.
- Business Insider
Humanoid robot Sophia has moved into the art world with a music project and an NFT sale, which reached almost $700,000
The CEO of Hanson Robotics, which made Sophia, said the company is excited about her career as an artist. She will reportedly help create both music and lyrics.
- Reuters Videos
S&P 500 closes at record as interest rates retreat
The S&P 500 set a record closing high for the third time this week as interest rates further cooled-off on Thursday.The Dow waffled throughout the session but finally ended 57 points higher. The S&P 500 tacked on 17 points. The Nasdaq outperformed by far, in a 140-point surge.Large cap tech names are in favor once again, as Art Hogan, chief market strategist, National Securities - points out. "So I think we threw all of technology out - the baby with the bathwater - in the first quarter in that rotation, and as interest rates started inching up and then we realized, wait a second, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, all have earnings in the here and now and actually can be measured on a multiple of price to earnings. So I think that has gotten investors back into those names."Investors had to overlook a surprise rise in unemployment claims for the second week in a row. New applications for jobless benefits rose to 744,000 - that's in contrast to other economic data suggesting the economic rebound is firmly in place. As of late March, 18.2 million received some sort of government unemployment assistance.Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell highlighted that as a key concern during an International Monetary Fund panel."So it's important to remember, we're not going back to the same economy. This will be a different economy. And one of the things we hear from from companies is that they've spent a lot of time looking at ways to have more effective technology and perhaps fewer people. So you're going to see some of that in these public-facing jobs. So there will be millions of people who have a hard time finding their way back into the workforce and recovering the lives that they had just a year ago. And I think it would be appropriate for us to continue to support those people."GameStop - back in the news. The company says it will tap activist investor Ryan Cohen as Chairman of the Board. The co-founder of Chewy, the online pets retailer, is said to be the mastermind behind a plan to turn GameStop into an e-commerce retailer after years of struggling to grow vide-game sales in its brick-and-mortar locations. Shares of GameStop shed 4 percent.
- The Telegraph
Government must engage with loyalist paramilitaries amid fears over unrest, NI security sources say
The Government must begin engaging with loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to prevent a repeat of the violence that has erupted in recent days, Belfast security sources have warned. A well-placed insider close to loyalist paramilitaries in the province told The Telegraph that ministers must engage with the groups to “help shape the debate” over Northern Ireland’s future. The source claimed that while Northern Ireland’s justice department refused to engage, there was a need to start a similar dialogue with loyalists to that initiated by Margaret Thatcher with Sinn Fein and IRA during the Troubles. “The Department of Justice [part of the Northern Ireland Executive] won’t speak to the paramilitaries, but somebody has to make that relationship work - talk and shape the debate. They did it 20 years ago,” the source said. Their calls have been echoed by senior figures in the DUP, one of whom told this newspaper they had warned ministers of the need for more “fundamental engagement” to help address the complex and deep-rooted concerns of unionists. However, the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), the umbrella organisation for paramilitary groups, denied any involvement in the rioting, adding that any action taken by “the loyalist community should be entirely peaceful.”
- Raleigh News and Observer
Publix pharmacies in NC will open COVID-19 vaccine appointments on Monday
This is the first time the company has offered COVID-19 vaccination appointments in North Carolina.
- USA TODAY
Exclusive: How Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi pushed Barack Obama to go big on health care
First Pelosi cut off the exits that opened to a smaller White House bill. Then Kennedy wrote a dying letter to bolster Obama's boldest goals.
- Associated Press
Connor Hellebuyck makes 36 saves, Jets beat Canadiens 4-2
Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Thursday night to open a five-game trip. Josh Morrissey, Trevor Lewis, Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp scored for the Jets. Jets captain Blake Wheeler is sidelined indefinitely by head injury.
- LA Times
Tackle or corner? Chargers coach Brandon Staley shoots breeze on draft
Coach Brandon Staley talked about the Chargers needs at cornerback and offensive tackle, but would not say what position they might target with the No. 13 pick of the NFL draft.
- Business Insider
Video shows sailors fighting off a pod of killer whales with poles and flares after they break boat's rudder
Crew members of the Serena IV in the Strait of Gibraltar were shocked after a pod of killer whales broke their vessel's rudder.
- Business Insider
Former Rep. Katie Hill says it's 'gross' to think that Matt Gaetz defended her to possibly cover up for 'his own indiscretions'
"Clearly I have a history of trusting men that I shouldn't," Hill, who is a victim of revenge porn, said during an interview with CNN.
- Business Insider
DOJ veterans say the latest twist in the Matt Gaetz sex-trafficking investigation could be the most 'scary' one yet for the lawmaker
Joel Greenberg's potential cooperation means someone Gaetz may have conspired with "is now working with the government," an ex-FBI agent said.
- TheGrio
Lil Mama says Jay-Z, Alicia Keys ignored apologies for 2009 VMAs incident
Lil Mama is still speaking on the time she joined Jay-Z and Alicia Keys on stage. The “Lip Gloss” rapper took to Instagram to respond to a fan who made a comment about the time she ran on stage and interrupted Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” performance at the VMA awards in 2009. “I thought they canceled you back when you jumped up on stage with Alicia and Jay Z?” a fan asked Lil Mama in regards to the viral moment.
- Los Angeles Times Opinion
Opinion: This is what happens when you celebrate godlessness on Good Friday
Two op-eds — one on Good Friday, the other on Easter — didn't sit well with readers who questioned the timing of the pieces.