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[h=4]The Short List: FIFA's corruption scandal; National Spelling Bee; quiet hurricane season[/h]Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.
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Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.(Photo: Ennio Leanza, AP)
U.S. wants to clean up global soccer corruption
It goes something like this: Big leaders, big egos, big money, big cheating. Federal prosecutors allege that two generations of soccer officials abused their positions in a wide-ranging corruption scandal. A federal indictment charges 14 defendants — nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives — with racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering and bribery, among other offenses, in connection with a near quarter-century scheme to get rich while managing the sport (FIFA is world soccer's governing body). There's been investigations over the years, and even a few punishments, but nothing of significance. Now, FIFA has met its match. FIFA President Sepp Blatter, meet U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Justice Department. The news comes two days ahead of the FIFA presidency election Friday, in which Blatter (who wasn't charged) hopes to assume his fifth term in the position. Meanwhile, Swiss prosecutors are in the midst of a separate criminal case surrounding the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
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Nancy Armour of USA TODAY Sports discusses the recent arrests of FIFA officials and what it means for the sport. USA TODAY Sports
There's just too many things to love about the National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee — just one of the most adorable national competitions ever — officially kicked off this week. The contestants are not only brilliant spellers, they've also got spunk. Evidence from their bios: Kushala S.V. Madduru, 11, says she can spell Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in under five seconds (Mary Poppins is super proud). Jenna M. King, 13, said she read all the Harry Potter books in one week (with or without magic?). When it comes to the actual competition, the days are long and the words are difficult, which means lots of sleepy bees (remember, eyebrows up means eyelids open). If you think you can compete with these superstars, we dare you to test your spelling skills with our quiz. If you're cynical about where this fits in to our new world of auto-correct, linguists say spelling still has immense value. Think about all the times auto-correct has failed you (no one ever means "ducking").
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Take a fun look at the contestants and history of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. VPC
How El Niño is saving us this hurricane season
Everyone likes to talk smack about El Niño (and sometimes it's totally justified), but right now we've got to give thanks where thanks is due. The federal government predicts a below-average 2015 hurricane season in the Atlantic this year. Why? El Niño. The warming of tropical Pacific Ocean water is the main factor for the forecast. Wind and pressure patterns spawned by El Niño tend to suppress hurricane development in the Atlantic.Three to six hurricanes are expected in the region, which includes all storms that form in the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. An average season sees six hurricanes. The Atlantic season officially starts Monday and runs through Nov. 30, though Tropical Storm Ana jumped the gun, slamming into the Carolina coast on May 10.
A May 10, 2015, NOAA satellite photo shows Tropical Storm Ana off the Carolinas. Ana made landfall on the U.S. Southeast coast on May 10, three weeks before the official start of the hurricane season.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
'19 Kids and Counting' keeps losing advertisers
They're dropping like flies. Walgreens is the fourth major retailer to pull its ads from the damaged Duggar family's reality TV show, 19 Kids and Counting. It joins General Mills, Payless ShoeSource and Choice Hotels. Eldest son Josh acknowledged he was investigated for molesting underage girls as a teenager, and his pious parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, acknowledged they knew about it and worked to make sure he was never prosecuted. Teresa C. Younger, president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, said Wednesday in a column for USA TODAY, "The Duggars want the government more involved in women's and LGBT people's lives while they worked to thwart legitimate government involvement in their own lives. The hypocrisy is palpable." The TLC network pulled reruns of 19 Kids from its schedule but hasn't decided whether to cancel the show.
It's take two for Rick Santorum
He's back. Rick Santorum has joined the 2016 GOP presidential field. Santorum, 57, mounted a surprisingly strong run in 2012 after languishing in polls for months leading up to the Iowa caucuses. He ultimately won in Iowa — belatedly, after Mitt Romney was initially declared the winner — and would go on to carry 10 additional states. His base is made up of social conservatives, but there are candidates (Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz) already in the field who claim the same supporters. So, as in 2012, Santorum faces long odds. But he's quick to point out he's been there before. Here are six things to know about the presidential hopeful.
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USA TODAY's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page explains the four reasons why Rick Santorum is worth watching for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2016. (USA NEWS, USA TODAY)
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Guys, Queen Elizabeth II is so pumped it's Wednesday. Swipe through more great shots from the Day in Pictures.
Queen Elizabeth II proceeds through the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 201,5 in London.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Pool photo by Suzanne Plunkett)
Job interviews are stressful (paralyzing, vomit-inducing, sweat-fests). We get it. But no matter what, there are four things you absolutely have to convey by the end of the interview.
Elon Musk has already disrupted the electric car business with Tesla, and has been challenging utilities with solar and batteries. Now he's looking to take on a business that's even tougher to get into: military launches.
Bill Cosby finally came into Amy Schumer's crosshairs. What do you think about the sketch?
Bristol Palin breaks her silence about her canceled wedding to a U.S. Marine, but pretty much says nothing.
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Biden cracks door to lethal aid to Ukraine
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Kevin Johnson, Doyle Rice, Maria Puente, Cooper Allen, Erin Kelly, Emily Brown, USA TODAY; Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network; Martin Rogers, Christine Brennan, Mike Foss, Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports
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