Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Get the news
Log In or Subscribe to skip
98 5 [h=6]Share This Story![/h]Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about
[h=4]5 things you need to know Thursday[/h]The biggest news to start your morning.
{# #}
[h=4]Sent![/h]A link has been sent to your friend's email address.
[h=4]Posted![/h]A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
[h=6]Join the Nation's Conversation[/h]To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
Pope Francis waves to the crowds gathered to see him as he arrives at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2015.(Photo: Tony Gentile, epa)
1. Pope addresses Congress, visits D.C. homeless
The pope makes history Thursday when he delivers the first-ever papal address to Congress. The event is about 20 years in the making. Pope Francis is expected to exhort lawmakers to open America's doors to struggling immigrants rather than build bigger fences to keep them out. After his address he will likely appear on the West Front of the Capitol, where his speech will be broadcast live to the waiting public. Before leaving Washington for New York, Francis will visit St. Patrick's, D.C.'s oldest Catholic church, and stop by Catholic Charities next door. He will also<span style="color: Red;">*</span>walk among 55 lunch tables set up to serve lunch to the poor and homeless.
[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington serves dinner to the homeless. Pope Francis is scheduled to bless the food on Sept. 24, 2015. USA TODAY
2. Hurricane Rita's lessons learned
Thursday marks the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Rita, which struck along the Texas-Louisiana border on Sept. 24, 2005. Because it hit just three weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Rita is known locally as the "forgotten hurricane." But Rita taught emergency planners important lessons. As Rita approached, millions of Texans evacuated at nearly the same time, causing 12-hour traffic jams. In Louisiana, thousands of older, ground-level homes were destroyed by flood. Texas responded by requiring better evacuation plans, and Louisiana upgraded its building codes. When Hurricane Ike struck in 2008, traffic flow was much better, and Louisiana homes survived.
Traffic is stalled on I-45 in Houston as Huricane Rita approached on Sept. 22, 2005.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Paul Ancya, AP)
3. Bronx Bombers honor Berra
The New York Yankees take the field on their home turf, the "House that Ruth built," to pay tribute to another Hall of Famer who wore the pinstriped uniform. Yogi Berra, who died Tuesday at 90, will be honored before the 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Chicago White Sox. Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner wouldn't elaborate on the planned pregame ceremony, but told ESPN, "obviously we're going to do some nice things at the Stadium. It will be a special night."
4. China's leader Xi visits Obama
That other world leader visiting the United States, China's President Xi Jinping, flies from Washington state to Washington, the nation's capital, for his turn to meet with President Obama. If they're in the mood for some serious talk over their scheduled, informal dinner at Blair House, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, they may begin tackling thorny issues such as cyber security, human rights and territorial concerns over the South China Sea.
Chinese President Xi Jinping tours the Boeing plant near Seattle on Wednesday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Jason Redmond, AP)
5. Sheriff showdown in Arizona
After five months of delays, tugs-of-war over evidence and two unsuccessful bids to disqualify a presiding judge, Phoenix-area Sheriff<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Joe Arpaio's civil contempt hearings resume<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Thursday. The proceedings in U.S. District Court, initially expected to last just four days in April, could run through early November. They are expected to help U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow determine whether defiance of three court orders by Arpaio and top aides during an ongoing racial-profiling lawsuit was willful or inadvertent.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Ross D. Franklin, AP)
And, the essentials:
Weather:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The first full day of fall will feature an ongoing stormy pattern in the Southeast and a few showers for the Plains
Stocks:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday, as investors awaited a speech on inflation and monetary policy by the Federal Reserve chief.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Grey's Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, and Lang Lang at Lincoln Center.
If you missed Wednesday's news, we've got you covered here.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox or find us on the Yo! app: justyo.co/usatoday.
0) { %> 0) { %>
0) { %>
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed