5 things you need to know Thursday
Body of Beau Biden to lie in honor at Delaware Capitol
The body of Beau Biden will lie in honor Thursday at Legislative Hall in Dover, Del., the state he served. Biden, the eldest son of Vice President Biden and Delaware's attorney general for eight years, died of brain cancer Saturday at the age of 46. While in office, Biden was a strong advocate for children and dramatically stepped up prosecution of sex crimes. He left office in January pledging to run for governor, but his cancer, originally treated in 2013, returned this spring. On Saturday, President Obama will deliver a eulogy at a funeral Mass in Wilmington, the last of several public memorials for Biden.
Key hearing on 'Viagra for Women'
The FDA has twice said no to flibanserin, Sprout Pharmaceutical's widely touted "Viagra for Women." But the third time could be the charm. The drug faces a pivotal hearing Thursday in front of an FDA advisory committee. A panel of FDA experts will discuss the drug at a public meeting, before voting on whether to recommend its approval. Flibanserin corrects bio-chemical imbalances in the brain, restoring sexual desire in premenopausal women. While it has proved effective in trials, the little pink pill previously failed to prove to the FDA that its benefits outweighed its risks — namely, sleepiness, dizziness and nausea. The agency is expected to make a decision on whether to approve the drug in August.
Cavs, Warriors meet for NBA Finals
It's the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but it's really LeBron James vs. Steph Curry. The pairing is a dream matchup for the NBA, fans, marketers and all forms of media, including TV, online, print and radio. The Warriors host the first two games, then the series moves to Cleveland.
Rick Perry makes 10 for Republican field
Add one more to the crowded Republican field for 2016. Rick Perry has a "special announcement" scheduled for Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET and this morning unveiled a presidential campaign website. Perry's wife, Anita, tweeted that she and the former Texas governor "have been discussing the future of this great country and how our family can play a role." The pilot (and former Democrat) entered the race relatively late four years ago, and his lack of national experience showed; he pulled out after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire.
NASA launches a flying saucer ... maybe?
NASA will attempt to launch flying-saucer-like technology Thursday no earlier than 1:30 p.m. ET, if weather at the missile test site in Hawaii cooperates. A balloon big enough to fill the Rose Bowl will carry the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), a device that may someday help to land humans on Mars, 23 miles high. The saucer should then be propelled at four times the speed of sound before descending again to Earth with the largest parachute ever deployed cushioning its landing.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Severe storms could rock the Plains on Thursday while the mid-Atlantic sees a dreary, cool day.
Stocks: Major market index futures were lower Thursday ahead of the opening bell.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Kimmel Live and Hannibal.
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