5 things you need to know this weekend
Hillary Clinton kicks off campaign in New York, Iowa with rally
Clinton will officially launch her presidential campaign with a June 13 speech honoring two Democratic Party icons: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Sunday, she has her first foray into large-scale retail politics in this caucus cycle at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines – she'll share it with an established gun show. The gun show's organizer, a Republican county supervisor, has invited Clinton to learn about Iowa gun enthusiasts and hunters. Clinton, a Democrat, has called for tighter gun regulations in the USA as recently as last year, calling the country's handling of firearms "way out of balance." Clinton is set to arrive in Iowa on Saturday for a house party in Sioux City, which will be simulcast at hundreds of other house parties across the country. Her rally is open to the public, and doors will open at 10:30 a.m. CT. The question is: Will she Instagram it?
Solar plane set for world's longest solo flight
A solar-powered plane attempting to circle the globe without a drop of fuel will continue its journey this weekend, its sights set on Hawaii. The journey began March 9 on a flight from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, but was grounded in Japan on June 1 because of bad weather. If all systems are go, the Solar Impulse 2 will leave Japan and embark on the longest, most perilous trip of its journey: a four- or five-day flight over the Pacific Ocean. This leg will make history as the world's longest solar-powered flight and the longest solar airplane flight (in time) ever attempted. Pilot André Borschberg calls it the "moment of truth."
NBA and NHL even the series
Get your foam fingers ready. It's Game 5 of the finals for best-of-seven series in both leagues, and all the teams are tied 2-2. The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, while the Cleveland Cavaliers battle the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. ET Sunday. In the NBA, Cleveland may have Golden State right where it wants — just watch out for courtside cameras. In the NHL, Chicago and Tampa Bay have no room for error in the historically tight series. Who are you rooting for? President Obama, the sports fan in the Oval Office, told entertainment news show Extra that he refuses to take sides on the NBA championship series. The former senator from Illinois is taking a stand on the Stanley Cup: He's rooting for Chicago. Follow all the play-by-play at sports.usatoday.com.
Big weekend at Bonnaroo music festival
If you're into music, there's no better place to be this weekend than Middle Tennessee, site of both the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester and the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Top picks at Bonnaroo include performances from Kendrick Lamar, Alabama Shakes and Earth, Wind and Fire on Friday; Mumford and Sons and Hozier on Saturday; and Billy Joel, Florence and the Machine and Robert Plant on Sunday. For a break from the music, attendees can check out engagements from comedians Chris Hardwick and Amy Schumer, and if they need help getting around the festival, Uber Chopper helicopter rides are available for a cool $1,500.
Follow Brian Mansfield and The Tennessean on Twitter, and check music.usatoday.com, cma.tennessean.com and bonnaroo.tennessean.com for updates throughout the weekend.
'Game of Thrones' season finale
HBO's Game of Thrones ends its fifth season Sunday, when the final episode airs at 9 p.m. ET. Many of the show's plot lines have evolved past George R.R. Martin's books, so it's anyone's guess what will happen to some key characters, but the show has its work cut out for it in leaving fans both satisfied and intrigued. The past two episodes, "Hardhome" and "The Dance of Dragons," each ended with epic battle scenes, though Paste BN Life's Kelly Lawler says, "Time and time again, the show has chosen shock and spectacle over story and character, a high-risk, high-reward gamble that (has) both succeeded and failed." One thing we're sure of: Game of Thrones will be trending on social media Sunday night. Until the next season or more books are released, fans can bide their time with the official coloring book.
Bonus item: Flag Day is Sunday
Sunday is Flag Day, which marks the date in 1777 that the first official national flag was formally approved by the Continental Congress. Mark the day with these photos submitted at yourtake.usatoday.com.
And the weekend essentials:
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