Quadrantid meteor shower, government shutdown, Kevin Hart appears on 'Ellen': 5 things to know Friday
Government shutdown talks to continue
The White House has invited congressional leaders to a meeting Friday to continue talks about ending the government shutdown that began Dec. 22. President Donald Trump and Democratic and Republican lawmakers will meet for the second time this week, but for the first time since Democrats reclaimed power in the House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi took back the speaker's gavel. The House sought to end the shutdown Thursday by voting to fund eight of the nine shuttered departments. But Republicans dismissed the effort as pointless political theater and Trump is expected to veto the bill, which lacks border wall funding.
Look to the sky for the Quadrantid meteor shower
The Quadrantid (or Quads) meteor shower will light up the sky for a few hours early Friday morning, best seen from midnight to dawn. Good news: This year, the moon will be a small crescent sliver in the sky, allowing for a darker sky. The shower will be seen best by those in the Northern Hemisphere, since its radiant point is so far north on the sky’s dome near the famous Big Dipper. The most ideal viewing conditions will appear across parts of the central and southwestern U.S. Clouds and unsettled weather may limit viewing in the Northwest, while a large storm will disrupt skygazers' opportunities in much of the Southeast.
Kevin Hart interview with Ellen Degeneres airs, post-Oscars controversy
Almost one month after Kevin Hart stepped down as the host for the 2019 Academy Awards, Ellen Degeneres is airing an interview she describes as “incredible” and “honest” with the comedian on her eponymous talk show. Hart stepped down from hosting duties in December after he became involved in a spiraling social media battle over his past homophobic tweets and his steadfast refusal to apologize for them, despite an ultimatum from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He did eventually apologize on Twitter. "I'm sorry that I hurt people.. I am evolving and want to continue to do so,” Hart tweeted.
Sears could find out if $4.4 billion bid to keep retailer in business is viable
Sears Holdings Chairman Eddie Lampert could find out whether his hedge fund’s multi-billion bid to keep the struggling retailer open for business has a shot. Transform Holdco LLC, an affiliate of ESL Investments, a fund controlled by Lampert, submitted a bid for substantially all of the assets of Sears Holdings, including 425 stores, which it says is valued at $4.4 billion. The bid, which doesn't guarantee that the business will be saved, came hours after Sears announced that it would close 80 more Sears and Kmart locations in late March. The long-embattled retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, is set to close 40 Sears and Kmart stores in February 2019. Sears and its advisers must determine by Friday whether the bid is "qualified."
John Bobbitt recalls moment when Lorena Bobbitt cut off his penis
The incident took place on June 23, 1993, and made headlines around the globe. John Bobbitt still vividly remembers the "nightmare" he woke up to more than 25 years ago when he realized his then-wife, Lorena Bobbitt, cut off his penis and tossed it in a field. In an interview with ABC News, set to air Friday, Bobbitt details the incident and said that a friend rushed him to a hospital after the attack. Lorena Bobbitt, who said that her then-husband had repeatedly sexually and physically abused her, was charged with malicious wounding but found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. The interview will air less than a month before “Lorena,” a four-part documentary series for Amazon, will be previewed at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Contributing: Associated Press