Families mourn mass shooting victims, Iowa State Fair, Eid-ul-Adha: 5 things to know this weekend
Families gather to mourn El Paso, Dayton shooting victims
Families and friends left mourning lives lost in the Dayton, Ohio, mass shooting will begin to bury the dead Saturday. According to the Associated Press, funerals are scheduled for six of the nine people killed in Sunday’s attack, which also left dozens injured. Meanwhile, the service of a 15-year-old who was killed in last week's deadly El Paso, Texas, shooting is also set for Saturday. The 22 people killed in El Paso ranged in age from 15 to 90, and included citizens of Mexico and the U.S. Following the tragic shootings, President Donald Trump said he is talking with congressional leaders and considering tougher background checks for gun buyers. "I'm looking to do background checks," Trump said at the White House as he departed for Dayton, where he met with shooting survivors and first responders, earlier this week. "I think background checks are important."
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More candidates make their pitches at the Iowa State Fair
Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 was the first presidential candidate to campaign at the Iowa State Fair, and the political world has never been the same. Aside from the agriculture competitions and fried food, the fair boasts the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox, an opportunity for White House hopefuls to discuss their positions face-to-face to Iowans in front of a live audience. The Soapbox began Thursday, but most of the action will be Saturday and Sunday, with 12 Democrats speaking plus independent Bernie Sanders and Republican Bill Weld. The Register will livestream all of the speeches at DesMoinesRegister.com/Soapbox. If you're attending in person, make sure to go with the flow.
Veteran laid to rest 52 years after he left for Vietnam
A Vietnam War veteran who died in combat will be laid to rest on Saturday, after the story of his long-awaited return to the United States caught public attention. Last week, Southwest Airlines Captain Bryan Knight flew his father’s remains back to the United States, 52 years after his dad, Air Force Maj. Roy Knight, Jr., left for Vietnam. Knight was reported MIA in 1967 after his plane was shot down, and he was declared deceased in 1974. Earlier in 2019, Knight's remains were identified and flown home. On Saturday, the eldest Knight will be laid to rest in Weatherford, Texas.
Muslims worldwide celebrate second Eid of the year
Eid-ul-Adha, the second Islamic holiday of the year, will be taking place on Sunday. This Eid further reinforces the importance of charity and giving back, specifically through the act of slaughtering an animal and distributing a third of the meat to the poor. The sacrificial slaughtering of a sheep, goat or cow is part of the tradition of Eid-ul-Adha, and is performed by Muslims all over the world. This practice is drawn from the story about the Prophet Abraham, which appears both in the Quran and in the Judeo-Christian Bible. Muslims also celebrate the holiday by attending morning prayers and spending time with family and friends.
U.S. Gymnastics Championships: Biles looks to rebound after poor first night
Simone Biles had a poor — by her standards — first night at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Friday. However, she's still all but assured of winning her sixth national title after taking a 1.75-point lead on Sunisa Lee heading into Sunday's final day of competition. Meanwhile, Jade Carey is in third place and charting her own unconventional path to the Olympics. On the men's side, Sam Mikulak has the lead heading into the second night of competition Saturday with an eye on a sixth national title of his own.
Contributing: Associated Press