Outrage after NYC subway killing

Protesters in New York City demand justice after a man was killed by another rider on the subway. And Clarence Thomas is in hot water again over payments from a Republican megadonor.

👋 May the 4th be with you! Laura Davis here. Read all about how today came to be "Star Wars Day." Then, come back here and read Thursday's news!

But first, the end of the world as we know it? 😳 The "Godfather of AI," who recently quit Google, warned AI could someday take over the world and push humanity toward extinction. Keep reading.

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Chokehold killed man on NYC subway

A well-known Black street performer aboard a New York City subway train died after fellow riders tackled him and a former Marine, who is white, put him in a chokehold until his body went limp, according to police officials and video of the encounter. Jordan Neely, 30, died from compression of the neck, the city’s medical examiner determined Wednesday, ruling the death a homicide. The 24-year-old man who killed Neely was interviewed by investigators but not detained. Hundreds of people gathered to protest as pressure mounts on authorities for an arrest. Here's the latest.

4 Proud Boys found guilty

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and three lieutenants were found guilty Thursday of entering into a seditious conspiracy against the U.S. government that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. A fifth Proud Boy was acquitted. Prosecutors painted Tarrio as the leader of the plot, despite not physically being in Washington that day. But Tarrio's attorneys argued that he is a scapegoat – that the true culprit of Jan. 6 was former President Donald Trump, who inflamed a mob of supporters and directed them toward the Capitol. Read the full story.

What everyone's talking about

• The Kardashians finally realize they've caused a problem. Is it too late?

• Flying buzziness class: Delta flight delayed by a swarm of bees.

• How will the housing market be affected by the Fed's latest rate hike?

• U.S. star's comment spurs debate on perception of male figure skaters.

• Save Our Shows 2023: How did your endangered TV favorites fare?

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Clarence Thomas under fresh scrutiny 

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' ethics mess just got messier. Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid private boarding school tuition for Thomas' grandnephew, according to a ProPublica report Thursday, bringing a fresh round of scrutiny to both Thomas and the ethics practices at the nation's highest court. Thomas had taken legal custody of his grandnephew at the time and said he was "raising him as a son." Tuition at the Georgia boarding school ran more than $6,000 a month, ProPublica reported, and Thomas did not note the payments from Crow on his annual financial disclosures. What to know about the potential impact of the revelations.

• Did a billionaire buy Clarence Thomas part of the moon? Mind your own business, simpletons. | Opinion

Russia turns blame to US for drone attack

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday blamed the U.S. for what Russia claims was an assassination attempt by Ukraine targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin − and said retaliation options were being weighed. Kyiv has dismissed the allegation as a manufactured pretext by Moscow to justify strikes on Ukraine's battered cities. Meanwhile, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said several indicators suggest the strike was internally conducted and purposefully staged by Russia to drum up public support for its war. Keep reading.

A break from the news

• 🍇 Quick question: Should you be eating more grapes?

• 👗 Sick of ironing? Here’s how to get wrinkles out of clothes without one.

• 😱 Don't Google that! Steer clear of online scams by avoiding these search terms.

• ⚔️ No matter which side of the Force you're on, there's a fun new Star Wars product for every fan.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jordan Neely, Proud Boys, Clarence Thomas, Kremlin: Thursday's news