Daily Briefing: What's happening to golf?
The ramifications of a merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour are still developing. Also in the news: Former Vice President Mike Pence is the first former vice president in modern times to run for president against the president under whom he served and people may need to start repaying student loans as soon as late August.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Breathe, Swifties! Watch the moment Taylor ingested an insect on stage.
Now, here we go with Wednesday's news.
What do we know about the terms of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger?
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spent more than an hour explaining to players Tuesday afternoon why he changed his mind about taking Saudi funds in a surprise collaboration with the LIV Golf tour, saying it ultimately was for their benefit. The merger came as a surprise announcement after a year of bitter fracturing in men's professional golf, with many players finding out via social media. Still to come are details on how this venture will work and what it means to the tour — players that want to return, what consequences they face for defecting, and whether LIV Golf will even exist next year. Read more
LIV Golf, PGA Tour merger shines spotlight on ''sportswashing.''
From London to a partnership: LIV Golf timeline and how shocking merge came to happen.
Players' meeting with commissioner yields ''intense, heated'' discussion.
Two dead in shooting after high school graduation ceremony in Virginia
Two people are dead following a shooting outside a theater in Richmond, Virginia, where a high school graduation ceremony had recently concluded, causing attendees to flee in panic and worry for their loved ones, authorities said. Interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards confirmed that an 18-year-old male student and a 36-year-old man who was there for the graduation were killed in the incident. Five others suffered gunshot wounds. Police also said Tuesday night that a 19-year-old is in custody and will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder. A second individual who was in custody earlier was determined to not be involved in the shooting. Read more
More news to know now
Mike Pence will formally launch his 2024 presidential campaign in Iowa Wednesday.
DeSantis' administration defended relocating migrants to California.
Prince Harry returns to court today in a phone hacking trial: ''Every single article has caused me distress.''
Red flag warnings have been issued in five states: See the wildfire and smoke map of the US and Canada.
On today's 5 Things podcast, why the Southern Poverty Law Center is labeling ‘parents’ rights’ groups as extremist. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
UN warns of 'grave' impact from Ukraine dam breach
The United Nations warned of "grave and far-reaching consequences" for thousands of people following the destruction of part of a major dam in a Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine. The U.N.'s humanitarian aid chief Martin Griffiths said the scale of the catastrophe, which has triggered huge floods, mass evacuations and endangered Europe's largest nuclear power plant, will only become clear in the coming days. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday "hundreds of thousands" have been left without access to drinking water. Read more
Debt ceiling deal gives student loan repayments a hard deadline
For more than three years, tens of millions of federal student debt holders haven’t had to think about saving for or paying off their loans, but that’s all ending very soon.
In the wake of the debt ceiling deal hammered out between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, millions of former students will see their student loan payments and accrual of interest on those loans resume as early as August 29.
Last week in exchange for a raised debt ceiling, the Biden administration agreed that it wouldn’t renege on the “final” repayment pause like it did last year. Biden has extended the pause multiple times despite growing pressure to lift the moratorium.
In November, the Biden administration extended the deadline to either 60 days after the Supreme Court issues a decision on the relief program or 60 days after June 30 – whichever came first.
The repayment pause is separate from a Biden proposal that would forgive an estimated $400 billion in student loan debt, a much-debated plan under review by the Supreme Court.
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Atlanta lawmakers approve funding for 'Cop City' project amid opposition
The Atlanta City Council has approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as “Cop City.” For about 14 hours, residents, again and again, took to the podium to slam the project, saying it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority-Black area. Read more
Quick hits
''The Flash'' movie review: Ezra Miller's D.C. adventure puts a superhero spin on time travel.
Hollywood writers are on strike, are actors next? Actors guild votes to authorize a strike.
An angry bride, a bar and how people are getting even in the era of TikTok.
Elliot Page details abuse, dysphoria, coming out in memoir ''Pageboy.''
Here are 30 of the best graduation gifts of 2023.
Photo of the day: Record-breaking close-up of Earth's mantle
Geoscientists have made an unprecedented achievement on a quest to know more about Earth's mysterious depths. Researchers recovered the deepest mantle rock ever, getting samples from as deep as 4,157 feet, which they hope will give them information about the origins of life. Read more
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pence 2024, PGA and LIV golf merger, Virginia graduation shooting, Prince Harry, Ukraine dam: Daily Briefing
