Tropical Storm Barry, Wimbledon semifinals, R. Kelly case: 5 things to know Friday
Storm Barry threatens repeat of 2016 flooding
Wind and rain from Tropical Storm Barry were starting to hit parts of Louisiana early Friday, as it threatened to turn into the first hurricane of the season. Barry, the second named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency, warning that the "entire coast of Louisiana is at play in this storm." The warnings came on the same day that a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration report warned Americans of a "floodier" future. More than 2 million people were under some level of advisory or warning as the storm approached.
Pence visit, House hearing to examine migrant detention centers
The conditions that migrants and refugees face in U.S. detention facilities will be in the spotlight – literally – on Friday as Vice President Mike Pence visits a Border Patrol facility in Texas and lawmakers on the House Oversight and Reform Committee hold a hearing on the issue. Overcrowding at the facilities was described as "a ticking time bomb" in a June inspector general's report. While Democrats have lambasted the administration over the treatment of migrants, Pence has accused them of initially denying there was a crisis at the border and then delaying funding for the facilities. Pence says he will bring TV cameras when he visits the McAllen, Texas, facility to prove it is providing needed care, but also to show it "is a system that is overwhelmed."
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More information expected after R. Kelly arrested on new charges
R&B singer R. Kelly was arrested by federal authorities in Chicago Thursday on new sex crime charges, an official confirmed to USA TODAY. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois said the charges included child pornography, enticement of a minor, and obstruction of justice. The singer, 52, has already been charged with two sets of multiple sex-crimes (including aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault by force, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated criminal sexual abuse against an accuser who was between the ages of 13 and 17). Kelly's spokesman Darrell Johnson confirmed Kelly had been arrested and said he will hold a press conference early Friday in Atlanta.
Wimbledon: Federer-Nadal match to determine greatest ever?
The women's final at Wimbledon is set, with Serena Williams reaching her 32nd career Grand Slam final. Williams will play Simona Halep on Saturday. The men's finalists will be decided on Friday. Defending Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the first semifinal at 8 a.m. ET (on ESPN). The semifinal to follow will have a huge impact on each players' legacies. Roger Federer is an eight-time Wimbledon champ; Rafael Nadal has won it twice. This will be the 40th meeting for Federer and Nadal, who have combined to win 38 Grand Slam titles.
Alaska faces deadline on severe budget cuts
The Alaska Legislature has until Friday to meet a constitutional deadline to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes of more than $400 million in state spending, including $130 million for higher education. The University of Alaska says it may lay off more than 1,000 and cut dozens of programs if the cuts go through. The legislature met Wednesday to vote on whether to override the vetoes, but only 38 lawmakers convened in the state capital, not enough to reach the necessary 45 votes. The remaining 22 legislators, who support the governor, met at a middle school 800 miles away. Alaska is having money troubles due to a decline in oil production and worldwide oil and gas prices.
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical storm Barry, Wimbledon semifinals: 5 things to know Friday
