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[h=4]The Short List: Atlanta educators sentenced; Rita Wilson's cancer diagnosis; Chicago torture ring[/h]Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed on Atlanta educators being sentenced in cheating scandal, Rita Wilson's breast cancer story, and a new poll that shows Democrats really want a Hillary Clinton challenger.
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Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.(Photo: Kent D. Johnson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Educators in Atlanta cheating scandal are headed to jail
One of the things we learn in school is not to cheat. So when the teachers, principals and administrators cheat, we really have a problem. Eleven former educators in Atlanta Public Schools were convicted in a test-cheating conspiracy, and 10 of them were sentenced today. (The 11th had a baby over the weekend, so she'll be sentenced at a later date.) Nine of the defendants will serve prison time, ranging from one to seven years. Two defendants accepted plea deals. The scandal, which goes back as far as 2005, has fueled the national debate over high-stakes testing. Teachers said they cheated (by giving students answers or changing their answer sheets on statewide exams) because of the pressure to meet targets. The judge in the case said the children promoted based on false test scores were the real victims. Community activists pushed for leniency. They didn't get it.
What else is in #TheShortList:
• Rita Wilson reveals she had a double mastectomy
• Find out why Democrats are jealous of Republicans in the presidential race
• Chicago wants to give back to victims of police torture ring
• Why more Uber-like companies will probably crop up
Short on time? Listen to the audio version of #TheShortList in the player below:
Rita Wilson's breast cancer story shows us how important that second opinion is
Rita Wilson has breast cancer. The actress, who is married to Tom Hanks, shared the news in People, revealing she had a bilateral mastectomy and is expected to make a full recovery. Wilson said she's had an underlying condition of LCIS, (lobular carcinoma in situ), which is an area of abnormal cell growth that increases your risk of developing cancer (basically, pre-cancer). Her doctors monitored the area for years. Recently, she had two breast biopsies that showed PLCIS (pleomorphic carcinoma in situ), which is a more aggressive type of LCIS. She was relieved when the pathology report came back showing no cancer. Then a friend suggested she get a second opinion. She agreed, and a different pathologist did find cancer. A third confirmed the diagnosis. "I share this to educate others that a second opinion is critical to your health," Wilson said. "You have nothing to lose if both opinions match up for the good, and everything to gain if something that was missed is found, which does happen. Early diagnosis is key."
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Rita Wilson had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The 58-year-old actress says she underwent the procedure last week -- with husband Tom Hanks by her side.
Hillary Clinton may be all that, but Dems still want a challenger
Republicans have a wide-open presidential race. Democrats are jealous. Presidential contenders officially began announcing their campaigns in the past few weeks (Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio). A nationwide USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll finds there's no consensus among Republicans on their candidate. It's a different story on the other side. There seems to be no real contest for the Democratic nomination, even though an overwhelming majority of Democrats wish there was. Fifty-five percent of Dems say it's "very important" to them to see strong challenges to Clinton. Speaking of Clinton, her efforts to become more of an "everyday American" may be paying off.
Chicago police commander tortured black men for decades. The city wants to make it right
It's a stain on Chicago's history. From 1972 to 1991, more than 100 people — almost all African-American men — said they were subjected to horrific abuse by officers in the Chicago Police Department. It all went down under police commander Jon Burge, who ran a torture ring using electrical shock, burning and mock executions to get confessions from suspects. Today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the city reached an agreement to provide a package of reparations to victims. The Chicago City Council is likely to approve it tomorrow. As part of the reparations, a $5.5 million fund will be created for victims, public school students will learn about the case in their eighth- and 10th-grade history classes, and city college tuition and job training will be provided for free to Burge victims, their immediate family members and their grandchildren. As for Burge, the statute of limitations ran out on his alleged crimes, but he was convicted in 2010 of perjury in civil proceedings for lying about torture he oversaw. He was released from prison to a halfway house in October, then was released from the halfway house this year. He still receives a pension for his years on the force.
Former Chicago Police Department commander Jon Burge was released from custody in Tampa in 2008.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Steve Nesius, AP)
It's like Uber, for everything! Sharing economy is coming
Do you use Uber? Airbnb? Maybe, but you've at least heard of them, right? The companies are part of the sharing economy, which is poised to explode. That's according to a new PwC Consumer Intelligence Series report that says consumers are looking to leverage tech to save money. Nearly 60% of adults say "access is the new ownership," a nod to the coming boom in the sharing economy, the report says. That means hot companies ranging from ride-hailing service Uber to house-rental player Airbnb are likely to generate like-minded offspring as consumers look to leverage tech to save money.
Uber's growth in the ride-hailing sector has been unrelenting and has contributed to the overall boom in the sharing economy.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP)
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Extra Bites:
Dude, you rock. Swipe through more great shots from the Day in Pictures.
Andy Knapp prepares guitars for presentation at the stand of guitar manufacturer Gibson at the international music fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, April 14.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Arne Dedert, dpa, via European Pressphoto Agency)
Tomorrow is April 15, and the taxman cometh. Need more time? Personal finance reporter Hadley Malcolm explains how you can file for an extension:
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Personal finance reporter Hadley Malcolm explains how you can file for an extension if you need more time to file your taxes. Paulo Fugen
Today is #EqualPayDay. For every $1 men earn, women earn 78 cents. Not cool.
The famous mountain lion P-22 made himself at home under an L.A. porch this week. Wildlife officials tried to coax him out, but he wasn't having it. The unwanted house guest eventually left on his own.
What else is on our reading list:
With Cuba off terror list, floodgates open
Black Army officers struggle to climb ranks
Hubble at 25 hailed as greatest scientific instrument
We all need a little distraction at some point during the day (what else are smartphones for?), so add DISTRACTME on the YO app. It'll be fun, we promise.
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: Susan Page, William Cummings, Aamer Madhani, Marco della Cava, Ann Oldenburg, Cara Richardson, USA TODAY; Duffie Dixon, WXIA-TV, Atlanta; Associated Press
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