| It's game over for Al Franken |
| Sen. Al Franken is officially on his way out the Senate door. The Minnesota Democrat said he will resign by the end of the year after more than a half-dozen women came forward over the past several weeks with allegations that he touched them improperly or made unwanted sexual advances. During his Thursday announcement, Franken made sure to take a dig at President Trump and Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who have both been accused of sexual abuse. Franken said the nine years he spent in the Senate were the "greatest honor of my life." |
| Speaking of sexual abuse ... |
| Larry Nassar, a former Michigan State Univeristy and USA Gymnastics doctor, was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges. The sentencing ends one of three criminal cases against Nassar. In July, he pleaded guilty to having thousands of images and videos of child pornography and to obstruction of justice for trying to destroy the evidence. "I was blown away with what the judge did today, and I thought it was very fitting," said Larissa Boyce, who had first raised concerns about Nassar to an MSU coach in 1997. Nassar's public downfall began in September 2016, when The Indianapolis Star named Nassar in a report on USA Gymastics' lackluster response to allegations of assault. He has been accused of sexual abuse by more than 140 women, including three members of the Fierce Five Olympic gymnastics team. |
| Looking for a new car? These are the safest vehicles in 2018 |
| That sports car sure looks cute, but its safety rating makes driving a cardboard box on wheels look safer. Car shopping this year doesn't have to be a headache — 13 cars and two SUVS earned a "Top Safety Pick Plus" from the Institute for Highway Safety. The group now requires better headlights and solid performance on a crash test to earn the top safety designation. Another 47 vehicles earned "Top Safety Pick" honors. On the small car list, Kia Forte and Subaru Impreza earned top safety picks; Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry made the list for midsize cars; and the Hyundai Sante Fe earned a midsize SUV top safety pick. |
| 'I wish this never would have happened' |
| That's what Michael Slager said Thursday in court. Slager, a white former North Charleston police officer, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the shooting death of Walter Scott, an unarmed black motorist. Reminder: Scott was shot five times from behind during the April 4, 2015, incident that was caught on a bystander's cellphone video and sparked a national outcry. The city of North Charleston agreed to pay a $6.5 million settlement to the Scott family. |
 |
| Nikki Haley casts doubt on whether U.S. athletes will participate in 2018 Olympics |
| Will Team USA participate in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea with tensions high between the U.S. and North Korea? "It's an "open question," Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox News. She said "every precaution" will be taken to ensure the team's safety. The comments come as North Korea said nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula is a matter of when, not if. Other countries skipping the Winter Games? In September, France said it would not compete, unless safety could be guaranteed. The U.S. has boycotted one Olympics, in 1980, when the Games were held in the Soviet Union and as a response to that country's invasion of Afghanistan. |
| What's in a pill? |
| A large Danish study suggests that birth control pills modestly raises the risk of breast cancer , especially with long-term use. So should you stop taking the pill? Not exactly. Hormonal contraceptives remain safe and effective, said JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. Is there a way to use birth control and not increase the risk of breast cancer? "No type of hormone contraceptive is risk free unfortunately," said the study's lead author, Lina Morch of Copenhagen University Hospital. |
| This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY. Want to get our newsletter? Sign up! |
| |
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment