5 Things to Know This Morning
5 Things to Know This Morning
— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.
1. Oscar Pistorius Did Not Intentionally Kill Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, Judge Rules
Oscar Pistorius did not intentionally kill his girlfriend in a 2013 shooting, a South African judge ruled, but the former Olympian could still be convicted of culpable homicide in today’s verdict proceedings.
Pistorius broke down into sobs as Judge Thokozile Masipa found the athlete not guilty of murder.
Masipa called Pistorius a “very poor witness” during the murder trial and found he was at times vague and avoided answering some of the prosecution's questions. Despite that, she says this does not necessarily indicate his guilt.
2. Obama Pledges to 'Degrade and Ultimately Destroy' ISIS: What You Need To Know
In an address to the nation Wednesday, President Obama laid out his most detailed plan yet to "lead a broad coalition" to confront the vexing problem of ISIS, the militant group that executed American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in Syria and terrorized civilians in Syria and neighboring Iraq.
“I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,” the president said from the White House. “This is a core principle of my presidency: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”
3. Tradition, Changes Surround Solemn 9/11 Anniversary Commemoration
A solemn reading of the names. Moments of silence to mark the precise times of tragedy. Stifled sobs of those still mourning.
As the nation pauses Thursday to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack, little about the annual ceremony at ground zero has changed. But so much around it has.
For the first time, the National September 11 Museum — which includes gut-wrenching artifacts and graphic photos of the attacks — will be open on the anniversary. Fences around the memorial plaza have come down, integrating the sacred site more fully with the streets of Manhattan while completely opening it up to the public and camera-wielding tourists.
4. Former FBI Director to Investigate NFL's Handling of Ray Rice Situation
Former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation into the NFL’s pursuit and handling of evidence in the Ray Rice situation, league commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
The league has come under increasing scrutiny following the February assault between Rice and his then-fiancé Janay Palmer in a hotel elevator. A police report at the time stated that Rice committed assault “by striking her with his hand, rendering her unconscious.”
Rice, 27, was initially suspended for two games. But after the second video was released by TMZ.com Monday, showing Rice punching the woman, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Rice’s contract and the NFL suspended him indefinitely.
5. Scientists: Strong Solar Storm Heading to Earth
A strong solar flare is blasting its way to Earth, but the worst of its power looks like it will barely skim above the planet and not cause many problems.
It has been several years since Earth has had a solar storm of this size coming from sunspots smack in the middle of the sun, said Tom Berger, director of the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. The flare on the sun barely hits the "extreme" on forecasters' scale, but with its worst effects missing Earth it is only looking "potentially strong" at most when it arrives at Earth as a solar storm, he said.
New calculations from satellite data show that the worst of the energetic particles streaming from the sun likely will go north or above Earth this time, Berger said late Wednesday.
So while the power grid may see fluctuations because the storm will cause changes in Earth's magnetic field, it won't knock power systems off line, Berger said. It may cause slight disturbances in satellites and radio transmissions but nothing major.
"We're not scared of this one," Berger said.
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