NRA conference takes place in Houston, Biden in Annapolis, Depp-Heard trial: 5 things to know Friday

Guns will be banned during Trump's speech at Texas NRA conference

The National Rifle Association recommitted to holding its annual convention in Houston, beginning Friday, even after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday and killed at least 19 children and two adults. But some scheduled speakers and performers have backed out, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who will stay in Uvalde and address the convention by prerecorded video instead. Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Dan Crenshaw also will no longer attend. "American Pie" singer Don McLean, who said "it would be disrespectful" to go ahead with his act in the aftermath of the shooting, has withdrawn, as have singers Lee Greenwood and T. Graham Brown. Former President Donald Trump and Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz both still plan to attend and speak at the event. However, audience members will not be allowed to carry guns as the Secret Service will control the hall during Trump's speech and won't permit firearms, or knives, among other items, according to the NRA.

• A 'gun celebration' in the shadow of a massacre: NRA convention capitalizes on Uvalde, critics say

• 'It shouldn't have happened here': Before Texas shooting, Uvalde was a place for families, friendship

• Texas shooting: They thought Sandy Hook would 'wake up' the US. Uvalde school shooting proves it didn't

• 'This is on you.': Beto O'Rourke confronts Abbott, Cruz at Uvalde school shooting press conference

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Biden to give commencement speech at Naval Academy

President Joe Biden will speak at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation and commissioning ceremonies Friday. The ceremony for 1,100 graduates will be held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Last year, Biden delivered his first commencement address as president when he spoke to the U.S. Coast Guard's graduating class in Connecticut. Biden challenged graduates to "go out and be the future" in a rapidly changing world. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks last week to the Coast Guard’s class of 2022.

• 'We need you badly': Biden gives first commencement address as president at Coast Guard Academy

• Returning to his alma mater: Joe Biden announced as University of Delaware commencement speaker

Virginia jury to hear closing arguments in Depp-Heard libel trial

A jury is scheduled to hear closing arguments Friday in Johnny Depp's high-profile libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. Each side will have two hours to summarize their case in a trial that has stretched on for six weeks. Heard and Depp's legal teams called witnesses to the stand Thursday to testify one final time, refuting accounts of how the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star lost the tip of his finger, the legitimacy of photos of Heard's alleged abuse and discussion surrounding mental health. Heard tearfully testified about allegedly being "harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day" by Depp's fans since the trial began. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million in Fairfax County, Virginia, over a December 2018 op-ed Heard wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." His lawyers say the piece defamed him even though it never mentioned his name. Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against Depp after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax.

• Earlier this week: Kate Moss testifies in libel trial that Johnny Depp 'never pushed' her down 'any stairs'

• Who is Camille Vasquez? Depp's internet-famous lawyer is inspiring Latina admirers

• Health and wellness perspective: Amber Heard, Johnny Depp and who we choose to believe

Largest asteroid to approach Earth this year is zooming past our planet

The largest asteroid expected to get relatively close to Earth this year is zooming past our planet Friday. The asteroid, named 1989 JA, is estimated to be 1.1 miles long and at least 3,280 feet wide, according to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies. For reference, it is twice the size of the tallest building in the world — the Burj Khalifa. The asteroid is labeled "potentially hazardous" because it is an Apollo asteroid, meaning it crosses Earth's orbit. An asteroid that large could cause catastrophe on Earth, but there is no need to worry. It will be 2.5 million miles away, or about 10 times the distance to the moon. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the asteroid flying past Earth from Australia at 9 a.m. ET.

• Past near-Earth encounters: Asteroid bigger than any building in the world flies past Earth

• False alarm: 230-foot wide asteroid initially expected to hit Earth in 2023 was false alarm

• Did you follow the news this week? Take our news quiz to test your knowledge

A blockbuster buffet: 'Top Gun' hits theaters, 'Stranger Things,' 'Kenobi' start streaming

If you'd rather spend the upcoming holiday weekend in a movie theater or at home enjoying your favorite streaming services, you'll have several outstanding options. Most notably, Tom Cruise reboots his iconic fighter pilot persona in "Top Gun: Maverick," the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 classic, which opens in theaters nationwide Friday. Cruise returns as Pete Mitchell (call sign "Maverick"), a Navy test pilot. But in the sequel, he gets reassigned as an instructor at San Diego's Top Gun flight school. On Netflix, the first seven episodes of Season 4 of "Stranger Things" dropped early Friday. The 1980s youngsters of the horror-tinged hit series have a nasty supernatural threat to face. But many of the heroes from seasons past will be separated geographically, across America and the globe. Finally, the first two episodes of the "Star Wars"-universe series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" arrived on Disney+ early Friday. Ewan McGregor again plays the Jedi master and the story picks up 10 years after 2005's "Episode III – Revenge of the Sith."

• The 'Top Gun' gang: Meet Rooster, Hangman and the rest of the elite crew

• TV review: 'Stranger Things' loses its magic in scary but soulless Season 4

• Memorial Day movie guide: 'The Bob's Burgers Movie' also heads into theaters and more to watch this weekend

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NRA conference, Joe Biden in Annapolis, Johnny Depp: 5 things to know Friday