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John Lewis' Atlanta funeral, NASA mission, NBA returns: 5 things to know Thursday

Editors  |  Paste BN

Three former presidents to attend John Lewis' funeral in Atlanta

Three former presidents are expected to attend the funeral Thursday for civil rights icon John Lewis, a remarkable nod of respect from the highest level of government. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend. So will Barack Obama, who is expected to deliver a eulogy, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. The service for Lewis will take place at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary, marking the end of a series of events that honored Lewis in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Alabama. Lewis, who died July 17 after battling Stage IV pancreatic cancer, left behind a titanic legacy of civil rights and social justice activism. He was one of the organizers of the March on Washington, D.C., in 1963, along with Martin Luther King Jr.

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Rep. John Lewis: The civil right icon in his own words
A look at the life of congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis in his own words.
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Mission to Mars: NASA plans rover launch to look for signs of life

An unmanned rover will look for clues of ancient life in the dry bed of a vanished lake in NASA's upcoming Mars mission — set to launch Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. If all goes as planned, the Mars 2020 Perseverance — along with its companion, the Ingenuity helicopter — will embark on a six-month journey to Mars and land on Jezero Crater. The mission will mark the first time NASA attempts to fly a helicopter on Mars, the first time the space agency will have microphones on the rover to record sound on the red planet and the first to have zoom capability on its camera.

The US economy shrank a record 33% last quarter

The U.S. economy turned in its worst performance ever in the second quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses across the country and consumers hunkered down at home. The nation’s gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S., contracted at a staggering seasonally adjusted annual rate of 32.9% in the April-June period, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a 34.8% drop in GDP.

NBA fans rejoice! Basketball is back

After a four-month hiatus, the NBA will restart its season Thursday at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, without any fans, one of many safety precautions the league has taken to resume operations during the coronavirus pandemic.  TNT will showcase a doubleheader with the New Orleans Pelicans playing the Utah Jazz (6:30 p.m. ET) followed by the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Clippers (9 p.m. ET).  The NBA has installed 17-foot video boards that will feature 320 “virtual fans” and display a player's profile after a made shot. The arena also has an in-house DJ that plays music frequently throughout the game and during timeouts. Every TNT and ESPN telecast will feature up to 31 cameras, including ones that are placed courtside and below the rim. The networks will amplify their microphones to pick up sneaker squeaks, ball bounces and on-court trash talk and strategy.

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Inside the NBA bubble: How technology keeps everyone safe
SportsPulse: Only two days into his time in the NBA bubble, Mark Media is realizing just how far the league is willing to go in order to ensure safety for not only the players and coaches, but the media as well.
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GLAAD Media Awards go virtual

After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GLAAD awards are back on schedule Thursday for an online ceremony. The annual awards highlight artists and creators for their contributions to increasing LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood. This year, pop star Taylor Swift and Pose producer Janet Mock will be honored for their work to support the LGBTQ+ community. The media advocacy organization also announced a star-studded lineup ahead of Thursday’s show, with comedians Fortune Feimster and Gina Yashere hosting the gala. Other special guests include Dolly Parton, the cast of FX’s "Pose," Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Gigi Gorgeous, Lilly Singh and Demi Lovato. 

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