Daily Briefing: Two teens. Two teachers.

A Georgia community is mourning the loss of four people who were killed Wednesday after a 14-year-old student opened fire at a high school. An uncontained Oregon wildfire spans thousands of acres. The NFL season opener is tonight.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's permission to order the cheesiest pizza you can find for dinner.

A Georgia community mourns

Two students and two teachers were killed Wednesday at Apalachee High School in an attack that sent shock waves through Winder, an Atlanta suburb of 18,300 people.

Hundreds of community members gathered for a vigil on Wednesday night. Many held candles, bowing their heads down and holding each other as they prayed for the lives lost in the tragic shooting.

• The suspect is in custody: Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student, was arrested and charged with murder, according to Georgia officials. Authorities said he would be prosecuted as an adult.
• Were there signs of this coming? The FBI previously received tips about online threats involving the suspected shooter. The FBI turned over the evidence to the Jackson County Sheriff's office, which interviewed Gray and his father, but took no further action.
• "Absolute terror:" Families recounted agonizing minutes waiting for news of their children's safety.

Harris heads into Trump debate with lead

In a new Paste BN/Suffolk Poll, Democratic prospects have brightened and Republican confidence has been shaken in a presidential campaign that has unexpectedly pitted Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump. Harris in the space of six weeks has eclipsed the enthusiasm gap with the GOP and narrowed Trump's advantage on handling the economy and immigration, the survey finds. She now leads Trump 48%-43% ahead of the Sept. 10 debate. Next Tuesday is a big opportunity: About 1 in 10 voters say they might change their mind or are undecided.

More news to know on Thursday

• Why do some want Judge Aileen Cannon removed from Trump classified documents case?
• The U.S. accused Russia of 2024 election interference.
• No, this Colorado apartment was not "taken over" by Venezuelan migrants.
• Friday's August jobs report could ease recession worries. Or fuel them.
• Column: A far-right party just won a state election in Germany — the first since WWII.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Rail Ridge wildfire in Oregon consumes over 60,000 acres

The Rail Ridge Fire in central Oregon has set over 61,000 acres ablaze and was 0% contained as of Thursday morning. The Umatilla National Forest and the Ochoco National Forest surround the blaze, which is primarily fueled by tall grass and brush that was ignited by lightning. The closure comes as another fire, the Copperfield Fire, brought level 3 “go now” evacuation orders east of Chiloquin and north of Klamath Falls, around 250 miles southwest of the Rail Ridge Fire. Read more

Is a cease-fire deal almost in place?

Israel and Hamas have settled on the vast majority of the terms for a cease-fire and hostage-release deal, according to a senior U.S. official. The current proposal seeking to break a stalemate features three elements: cease-fire arrangements, including the redeployment of some Israeli military resources; a prisoner and hostage exchange; and increased humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza. That would all be part of the initial six-week truce, which would stop the war and continue as long as the parties kept talking. Mediators would then try to guide the process to phase two, which is a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces. Read more

Keep scrolling

• Bachelorette Jenn Tran is the latest example of how reality TV fails women.
• Two American men have reached the U.S. Open semifinals.
• The Chicago Cubs achieved a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 18th in franchise history.
• Damar Hamlin is a Bills starter 20 months after a cardiac arrest.
• Will Taylor Swift attend tonight's Chiefs game?

The NFL season kicks off today

The 2024 NFL season will begin with a rematch between perhaps its two best quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night in the first game of the regular season. Read more

Photo of the day: She's got 21 medals!

Team USA’s Tatyana McFadden can truly do it all. McFadden, 35, earned her 21st career Paralympic medal Wednesday, tying with Bart Dodson for the most Paralympic track and field medals won by a U.S. athlete.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.