Auburn University is giving away scholarships, unlimited meal plan upgrades, priority class registration and other perks to encourage students to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The Alabama school announced the program this week, as the state’s vaccination rate lags behind the rest of the United States. Only 34.2% of Alabama residents are fully vaccinated, according to…… MORE
Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked by The Vatican in 2019 over sex abuse allegations, is now facing criminal charges in Massachusetts for alleged sex abuse of a minor nearly 50 years ago, according to a court filing. According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday, McCarrick is charged with three counts of indecent assault…… MORE
A woman and her dog were fatally stabbed while on a walk in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, and police are now asking for the public’s help gathering more information. Police say the body of Katherine Janness, 40, was discovered inside the park just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Her dog, Bowie, also was killed. Police have…… MORE
Several key Covid relief projects are ending soon, which could leave millions with renewed financial risks including housing issues, unemployment, student loan payments and more. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your…… MORE
Agnes Velasquez remembers the last words her teen daughter said before Covid-19 severely attacked her respiratory system. “She told me that she loved me,” said Velasquez, who rushed her daughter to the hospital. Velasquez spoke with CNN on a video call from the ICU room where her 15-year-old daughter, Paulina, has been battling Covid-19 for…… MORE
The 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off Alaska’s coast Wednesday night was the strongest one since 1964, an official told CNN. The very strong quake was located about 56 miles (91 kilometers) east southeast of Perryville, Alaska, and happened around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. At 29 miles deep (46.7 km), the…… MORE
A man accused of anti-Muslim attacks in New York City was charged Wednesday with hate crimes by the Queens District Attorney’s Office. Naved Durrni, 30, faces charges of assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon in the recent physical and verbal attacks on Muslims…… MORE
Disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who is currently serving a decades-long sentence in federal prison for sexual abuse, has been delinquent in his payments toward court-ordered criminal penalties, according to a new court filing. A motion filed Wednesday by the US Justice Department said that since Nassar’s incarceration, he had received deposits into…… MORE
A man is in custody in connection with the shooting at a California movie theater Monday night that left a woman dead and a well-known TikTok user in critical condition, police said Wednesday. Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, were at a showing of “The Forever Purge” at a movie theater in Corona, California,…… MORE
Infomercial king Ron Popeil died “suddenly and peacefully” Wednesday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to a statement provided to CNN by Popeil representative Eric Ortner. He was 86. Popeil started his sales career in Chicago-area flea markets at the age of 16, according to his official biography. In 1959 he appeared…… MORE
