The Senate attempts to curb Trump’s war powers. A “ghost population” lives among us (scientifically speaking). And Virginia really is for lovers.
It’s Ashley with the news to know Thursday.
But first, Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo: A group of scuba divers encountered a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Florida – a 20-foot-long great white shark. 🦈
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Lawmakers want to limit Trump’s war power against Iran
Eight Senate Republicans broke with President Donald Trump on Thursday – joining Democrats to support legislation that would restrict the president’s ability to wage war with Iran. Even if it passes the House, Trump is almost certain to veto it. The vote marked a rare bipartisan effort to curb Trump’s powers and underscored lawmakers’ concerns that U.S. tensions with Iran could escalate into a full-fledged war. Democrats said Congress had to act to rein in an unpredictable president, arguing Trump brought the United States to the brink of war with Iran when he green-lighted a deadly strike targeting Tehran’s most powerful military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Police discover body of missing 6-year-old South Carolina girl
Law enforcement officers found the body of 6-year-old Faye Marie Swetlik after days of searching, according to an official. The case is being investigated as a homicide, and no arrests have been made. Faye Marie was reported missing Monday after getting off her school bus in front of her home in Cayce, South Carolina. Authorities released video of Faye getting off the bus Monday afternoon. Cayce Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove reported the body of a deceased male was also found during the search for Faye, but no additional details were available.
What everyone’s talking about
- Calling all adorable babies: Gerber is looking for its next “spokesbaby.” Here’s how to enter your child in the national contest.
- Colin Kaepernick has spoken. Here’s what we learned from the former NFL quarterback about his new memoir.
- More than 6 in 10 Americans say they are better off than they were three years ago when Trump took office, a poll found.
- Spotted: A rare moment of PDA between Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.
- High school Pete Buttigieg gushed that Bernie Sanders was “truly remarkable” in an essay. The 38-year-old version views him as divisive.
Could the coronavirus outbreak in China affect the Tokyo Olympics?
The Summer Olympics in Tokyo are more than five months away, but as the coronavirus spreads in China, there are questions about whether the global health emergency might affect the games. According to figures released Wednesday by the World Health Organization, there have been 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Japan. There are also more than 200 confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that’s been quarantined off the coast of Yokohama (about 30 minutes south of Tokyo). Olympic committee officials offered no indications that the Summer Games could be postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus, but the impact of the outbreak is unclear.
- A person in Texas was confirmed as the 15th coronavirus case in the USA.
- Want more Olympics coverage? You should sign up for our Olympics newsletter for everything you will need to follow Team USA’s quest for gold in Tokyo.
‘Ghost population’ of humans found in modern DNA
Ancestors of people living in what is today West Africa may have reproduced with a mysterious species of ancient humans unknown to scientists, new research suggests. The “ghost population” probably split from humans and Neanderthals into a new species 360,000 to 1.02 million years ago, the study says.
Real quick
- 3,600 kids become victims of sex trafficking in Georgia each year. The first lady is trying to stop it.
- Many couples have a tried-and-true way of preparing for events such as divorce and death. They don’t.
- For the first time in a brutal fire season, all grass and brush fires in the Australian state of New South Wales have been contained. Still, the threat isn’t over.
- Guess who’s back, back again? Hope Hicks will return to the White House.
- Scientists estimate that each year in the USA, outdoor air pollution shortens the lives of about 100,000 people by one to two decades.
Burial held for 2,411 fetal remains found in doctor’s home
A mass burial was held at an Indiana cemetery for 2,411 fetal remains that were found at an abortion doctor’s suburban Chicago garage last year. Ulrich Klopfer, who died in September at 79, was one of the Midwest’s most prolific abortion doctors. He performed the abortions from 2000 to 2002, mainly in Indiana – a state with some of the nation’s toughest anti-abortion laws – at clinics in South Bend, Gary and Fort Wayne. He performed tens of thousands of abortions over 40 years as the only abortion provider in the three cities. Most of the remains were found in the garage of his Illinois home, and others were found in one of his vehicles.
A break from the news
- The 5 best Amazon deals you can get Thursday.
- Is your 401(k) balance above the average?
- Review: Not-so-super “Sonic the Hedgehog” gets the best of Jim Carrey.
This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network.