5 things you need to know Friday
1. 3 dead, 9 injured in La. movie theater shooting
Police are investigating a Thursday night shooting that left three people dead, including the gunman, and at least nine others injured in Lafayette, La. A 58-year-old white man allegedly opened fire at the Grand Theatre after a showing of Trainwreck began. Officials declined to name the shooter or the victims because of their ongoing inquiry. The victims range in age from the late teens to the 60s. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who arrived at the scene soon after the shooting, described a "story of heroism" about one teacher who jumped in front of a bullet to save another's life. "They were just out to watch a movie for summer break," he said. "They never thought it would be interrupted by this awful tragedy. ...I think we are going to hear other stories of heroism as well."
2. Obama arrives in Kenya, first visit of a sitting president
President Obama starts his trip to Africa on Friday and will stop in Kenya as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country. His celebrity status as president has drawn funding and tourists to Kogelo, the village where his father lived. Kogelo has added improvements like electricity and paved roads in preparation for the visit. "We're prepared to host him," said Mama Sarah Obama, the president's step-grandmother. "It's a big win to all Kenyans." Obama will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi but is not officially scheduled to visit Kogelo.
3. Part of California I-10 bridge reopens after collapse
The westbound lanes of the Interstate 10 Tex Wash Bridge in Southern California will reopen to traffic at noon Friday, after the eastbound span of the 48-year-old bridge collapsed Sunday. More than 5 inches of rain had flooded into the wash beneath the bridge, and one end of the eastbound lanes cracked and tumbled to the desert floor. The collapse cut off the primary route between Arizona and Southern California for most of this week.
4. NASA updates with new Pluto information from New Horizons
Expect more Pluto photos and the latest information from NASA's New Horizons team Friday. Last week, the team revealed data about Pluto's nitrogen-rich atmosphere, which is escaping due to Pluto's weak gravity and creating an ionized tail behind the dwarf planet. Photos also showed a vast plain that scientists believe could be fewer than 100 million years old and still geologically active. "With the flyby in the rearview mirror, a decade-long journey to Pluto is over — but, the science payoff is only beginning," said Jim Green, NASA's director of Planetary Science. "Data from New Horizons will continue to fuel discovery for years to come."
5. FDA due to decide on new cholesterol drug by Friday
Friday is the deadline for the Food and Drug Administration to decide whether to approve a new cholesterol drug, alirocumab. The injectable drug, known by its brand name Praluent and made by Sanofi and Regeneron, lowers so-called bad cholesterol (LDL) more than the common statin treatment. Critics say the cost of alirocumab and a similar drug in review, made by Amgen Inc., could add billions of dollars to the cost of health care and raise insurance premiums.
And, the essentials:
Weather: High heat will scorch the central U.S. and the Southeast while pleasant weather continues in the Northeast.
Stocks: Futures were up ahead of Friday's opening bell.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch this weekend? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at I Am Cait and BattleBots.
If you missed Thursday'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.