5 things you need to know Friday
Texas prepares for Harvey as storm could make landfall
Hurricane Harvey will turn into a "beast" of a storm, experts say, one that's forecast to bring catastrophic, life-threatening flooding to much of Texas over the next several days. Texans were bracing Friday as the storm could make landfall in the evening or early Saturday near Corpus Christi as a likely Category 3 hurricane — potentially the USA's strongest hurricane in 12 years. Harvey will then stall and spin for the next three to five days, dumping up to 2 feet of rain across the region. Some communities could be underwater for days, and in all, the storm could dump at least 15 trillion gallons of water on Texas.
Mayweather, McGregor hit the scales
Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather will meet at the scale Friday ahead of Saturday's blockbuster fight, and, like most things surrounding this fight, there could also be drama at this step. Both fighters must meet boxing’s 154-pound light middleweight limit, and Mayweather claimed on social media that his opponent will come in heavy. However, the Irish UFC star insisted he's had little issue cutting the pounds, adding Mayweather "needs to shut his mouth." Though McGregor normally weighs more than Mayweather, the weight difference is not expected to have a significant impact on the fight given the vast gulf in experience between the men.
Happy Birthday, National Park Service! (psst ... that means free admission)
Got the end of summer blues? Looking for one more outdoor adventure before the kids go back to school? You're in luck — the National Park Service is offering free admissions at all of its sites Friday in celebration of its 101st birthday. Whether it's one of the Park Service's' most popular sites, or a hidden gem, the parks will be totally free to roam around and enjoy the last bit of summer. Don't have time during the day? Here's a look at some of the most spectacular stargazing spots on public lands.
R. Kelly to hold concert in Atlanta despite calls to cancel
R. Kelly's Atlanta concert will go ahead as scheduled Friday, amid renewed calls for a criminal investigation surrounding alleged sexual misdeeds. An explosive BuzzFeed News report published last month alleges that R&B singer, who has a decades-long history of being accused of sexual misconduct, lures young women into his inner circle and keeps them against their will inside his homes in a 'cult'-like atmosphere. Fulton County commissioners previously voted unanimously to send a letter to Live Nation to shut down the concert, but the tour promoter declined the request. Kelly, through a statement from his lawyer Linda Mensch, denied BuzzFeed's allegations. --
South Korean court sentences Samsung heir to five years in prison
A South Korean court sentenced Lee Jae-yong, the heir-apparent to tech giant Samsung, to five years in prison Friday after finding him guilty of multiple charges of corruption. Lee was accused of paying $36 million in bribes to entities run by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of ousted President Park Geun-hye, in return for political favors. Prosecutors had been seeking a 12-year prison sentence for Lee, who became the acting head of Samsung in 2014. He is expected to appeal the ruling.
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