5 things you need to know Friday
1. US Airways will fly its last flight Friday
The overnight red-eye flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia marks the last ever departure under the US Airways name as the carrier’s merger with American nears completion. Shortly after the flight departs San Francisco at 9:55 p.m. PT, American will unify its own reservations systems for the flights of both airlines. There will be no more US Airways flights once the plane lands in Philadelphia, scheduled for 6:18 a.m. ET Saturday. American will commemorate the last day with gate-side festivities at each stop. And passengers on the final departure from San Francisco will cheer the US Airways’ name with an onboard champagne toast. At airports across the nation, airline staff will begin removing US Airways branding after the company’s last flights on Friday. The goal is to have American Airlines signage up in its place by the time flights begin again on Saturday morning.
2. America's favorite uncle in court for DUI charges
We want to write so many "Have Mercy!" and Full House jokes here, but this is serious. Actor John Stamos will be in court Friday for his arraignment after being charged with a DUI. Stamos, 52, was pulled over and arrested on June 12 for erratic driving in Beverly Hills, Calif., and taken to the hospital for observation. In July, he stepped away from production on Fox's Grandfathered and Netflix's Full House reboot and checked into rehab for substance abuse. The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail should he be convicted.
3. NTSB to give update on cargo ship disaster
The National Transportation Safety Board on Friday may release more details on the last hours of the El Faro cargo ship, which sank with 33 aboard during Hurricane Joaquin. El Faro was caught in Joaquin — which at the time was a Category 4 hurricane, with 120 mph and 50-foot waves — after it left Jacksonville on Sept. 29 bound for Puerto Rico. The last communication came Oct. 1, when the crew reported it lost power and was taking on water. The Coast Guard determined it sank that day. The family of one of the crew members has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the ships' owners and captain.
Catch this column on your commute in: listen to the column in the audio below and subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or whatever podcast app you like.
4. Third female soldier — the final woman in her class — to graduate from Army Ranger School
The woman, who will graduate Friday along with 87 male classmates, is the last in the group of 19 female soldiers who started Ranger School in April as part of the Army's gender-integrated assessment. She will become the third female soldier to earn the coveted Ranger tab. Media reports have identified her as Maj. Lisa Jaster, 37. The Army has not publicly identified her.
5. Netflix will start streaming its first feature film
Netflix, looking to make a big splash at the Oscars, will begin streaming its first feature film on Friday, the African war drama Beasts of No Nation. It's directed by True Detective's Cary Fukunaga and stars Idris Elba and will also be simultaneously released Friday in select U.S. theaters. The movie, which Netflix acquired in March, is based on Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel of the same name and tells the story of a young boy who is forced to join a group of soldiers in a West African country. It’s a role full of ferocity and depth for Elba that’s already generating award-season discussion.
And the essentials:
Weather: A cool day is on tap for the north-central U.S. Friday while showers and storms pelt the Southwest.
Stocks: Wall Street stock futures were flat Friday ahead of the market open.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch this weekend? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Amy Schumer: Live from the Apollo and The Simpsons.
If you missed Thursday's news, we've got you covered.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox or find us on the Yo! app: justyo.co/usatoday.