5 things you need to know Thursday
Steelers, Patriots kick off NFL Week 1
There is nothing quite like opening week in the NFL. After wading through rookie hype, deflategate, abuse accusations and calls for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's resignation, the time to play finally arrives Thursday with the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the New England Patriots. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sounds ready as his team faces Pittsburgh, which won the AFC North last year and could have the firepower to match New England's strong offense. But the Steelers are short-handed for the opener as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be missing running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant, both suspended by the league. Set your Fantasy Football teams with Paste BN Sports' Week 1 picks.
Hillary Clinton helps Ellen DeGeneres launch new season
Hillary Clinton joins Ellen DeGeneres' on her talk show Thursday to help kick off the program's 13th season. Clinton shares the spotlight with Caitlyn Jenner and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. Clinton has received criticism for not offering many sit-down interviews during her current campaign. During Thursday's interview, Clinton will talk about the ongoing investigations into her email servers and her prospects for becoming the first female U.S. president. DeGeneres, a longtime supporter of the Democratic presidential front-runner, first sat down with Clinton in August 2007.
Former S.C. cop back in court for shooting of Walter Scott
The former S.C. police officer facing murder charges for the shooting death of Walter Scott heads to court Thursday for a bail hearing. Michael Slager pulled Scott over for a burned-out tail light on April 7. A dash-cam video recorded Scott running from his car and a bystander's video showed Slager firing eight shots at Scott in a nearby park. Lawyers for Scott's family rejected documents filed by Slager's lawyer that indicated Scott had cocaine in his system and posed a dire threat. A Charleston County, S.C., grand jury indicted him on charges of murder. Slager has been jailed in solitary confinement since being charged five months ago.
Obama awards arts and humanities medals
Oscar-winning actress Sally Field and author Stephen King are among those who will receive arts and humanities medals from President Obama on Thursday. The 2014 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal honor people in those fields who have demonstrated support for progression in the arts through their work. Recipients this year also include the first African-American Metropolitan Opera tenor George Shirley, author of Indian-American fiction Jhumpa Lahiri and visual artist Ann Hamilton.
Toronto film festival offers sneak peak at Oscar hopefuls
A multitude of Academy Award hopefuls will be on display as the 40th Toronto International Film Festival kicks off Thursday. Last year's festival showcased eventual acting Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Julianne Moore (Still Alice), and this year's lineup may be no less stacked. Some of the buzziest offerings this year are Trumbo, with Bryan Cranston playing blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo; Emily Blunt in the FBI drug war drama Sicario; and Idris Elba as a West African warlord in Beasts of No Nation.
And, the essentials:
Weather: A cold front will bring storms to the East Coast and South on Thursday while heat builds in the West.
Stocks: Asia stocks fell Thursday and Wall Street stock futures traded flat.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Beauty and the Beast and Under the Dome.
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