SpaceX Starship meets a fiery end
SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded after lifting off on its first test flight. And severe weather looms for millions after a tornado in Oklahoma left three dead.
👋 Hey there! Laura Davis here. It's high time for Thursday's news!
But first, let's be blunt: 4/20 is a day to light up. Here's how a group of teens getting high spawned a global cannabis-lovers event.
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SpaceX Starship explodes minutes after liftoff
SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful rocket in history, met a fiery end shortly after launching on its first integrated test flight Thursday in Texas. Just over three minutes into the flight over the Gulf of Mexico, it became apparent the first-stage Super Heavy booster and second-stage Starship vehicle weren't going to separate as planned, sending the combined 400-foot stack into a tumble. It eventually broke apart and crashed into the Gulf. See the video here.
📸 Photo gallery: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes after liftoff.
5th person charged with murder in mass shooting
A fourth and fifth person have been arrested in connection with the mass shooting at a Saturday birthday party in Alabama that killed four and wounded 32 others, police announced Thursday. Willie George Brown Jr., 19, of Auburn and Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee, were arrested and charged with four counts of reckless murder, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. Questions remain about what motivated the shooting, which happened during a Sweet 16 party at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville. Here's the latest.
What everyone's talking about
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House passes GOP bill to block transgender girls and women in sports
As the GOP continues to champion "culture war" issues, House Republicans passed a bill blocking transgender girls and women from participating in school athletic programs for females. The legislation would make it a violation of Title IX for federally funded education programs to allow people assigned male at birth to participate in athletic programs designated for women. It is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, and the White House has said President Joe Biden would veto it if it did. Keep reading.
- Republicans lean into anti-trans messaging ahead of 2024. But will it mobilize voters?
3 dead in Oklahoma tornadoes
For the second day in a row, the central U.S. is under threat of severe weather and tornadoes.
- Three people are dead after tornadoes struck Oklahoma: The small town of Cole – home to about 600 people – was hit hard by a tornado, McClain County Deputy Sheriff Scott Gibbon said. Multiple people were trapped in homes and several were injured.
- 40 million at risk: A tornado watch was issued Thursday afternoon for portions of the upper Midwest, including the Chicago metro area. For some in the central U.S. who aren't threatened by Thursday's severe weather, the risk remains for flooding, fast-developing wildfires and even heavy snow.
⛈ Stay in the know: See the national weather outlook.
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A break from the news
- 💔 Is jealousy destroying your relationship? Here's how to make it stop.
- 🛀 Treat yourself: Feeling anxious or stressed? 15 things to help you practice self-care.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.
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