5 things you need to know Friday
Cleveland bids farewell to Republican conventioneers
After four days in the national spotlight, life returns to normal on Friday in Cleveland, and Donald Trump, the official Republican nominee, is moving on to the campaign trail. The GOP convention had its share of ups and downs and some wacky moments, but the protests outside remained relatively peaceful and the divisions within more or less contained. "I am your voice," Trump told the American people, and he promised to "restore law and order to our country." Read Paste BN's analysis of the convention, and relive the defining moments of Trump's nomination.
Baton Rouge police officer to be laid to rest
As Baton Rouge continues to mourn the loss of three law enforcement officers, the funeral for city police department officer Matthew Gerald, 41, will take place Friday morning. Gerald died after Gavin Long, 29, ambushed police Sunday killing three other officers and wounding three more. The shooting came just 10 days after a sniper killed five Dallas police officers. Law enforcement officials said that Long specifically targeted police officers. Long's attack came in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a black man, by two white police officers leading to widespread protests throughout the city.
NBA bringing live games to Facebook
The NBA is making another push into live streaming — this time on Facebook with a series of pre-Olympics exhibition games beginning Friday. The league will be streaming the nine USA Basketball games, five from the men's team and four from the women's, as the teams prepare for the Olympics. It starts Friday at 9 p.m. ET, when the men face Argentina in Las Vegas. The streams will be a simulcast of the regular TV broadcast on NBA TV. There will not be commercials during the streams, and breaks will instead consist of studio segments, features on USA Basketball and some of the in-arena feeds and entertainment.
Let them eat cake! Prince George turns three
Look out world, there’s only one year left of toddlerhood for Prince George, and if the parenting blogs are to be believed, it’s going to be a doozy. On Friday, George becomes a “threenager,” which could mean “an attitude for miles" and "a stubborn streak," according to Kristen Hewitt, author of the MommyInSports.com blog. But, it also means Prince William and Duchess Kate are beginning to prepare George for a lifetime of royal engagements. He’s already begun to accompany them on many of their public appearances. For example, on July 8, without advance notice, George went along on a visit to a royal air show at a base in Gloucestershire, England. It was an early birthday present for a little boy who loves airplanes, according to his parents.
The U.S. is lagging in child well-being
The USA ranks ninth among the world’s 19 wealthiest nations in terms of overall child well-being — despite having the world’s largest economy, according to a Save the Children report released Friday. The report comes ahead of the G20 Summit in China this September and compares the countries with the biggest economies in eight areas impacting children, including health, education and income. Germany's children are the best off, followed by France and Japan. The U.S. lags behind, scoring below average in environment, health and gender equality. The report aims to shine a light on the idea that economic growth alone isn’t enough to improve the lives of children.
And the essentials:
Weather: High heat will scorch the central U.S. on Friday. Severe storms are possible in New England and the northern Plains.
Stocks: Wall Street traded sideways ahead of the market open.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch this weekend? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at the Campfest Film Festival, The Night Of and Survivor's Remorse.
Be inspired: After stepping on landmine, this elephant became the second ever to get a prosthetic leg.
If you missed Thursday's news, we’ve got you covered.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox.
Pop in those headphones and listen to the audio version below: