promoearn: A somber Sacramento pays respects to Stephon Clark

Thursday, March 29, 2018

A somber Sacramento pays respects to Stephon Clark

Stephon Clark, 22, died in a hail of police gunfire

Heightened emotions, grief and anger grip Sacramento over Stephon Clark's death

The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy Thursday at the funeral of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man killed March 18 by Sacramento police in his grandmother's backyard. Officers said they initially thought Clark, 22, had a gun, but he was holding a cellphone . After 10 days of protests and disruptions at City Hall and sports events, mourners gathered at Bayside of South Sacramento church to say goodbye. What's next for the city? The Sacramento Kings announced a new partnership with the coalition called Build. Black. Coalition and Black Lives Matter Sacramento to "fundamentally transform Black communities through deep investment in Black youth." Earlier this week came word that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office will provide "independent oversight" into the investigation of Clark's death.

About that massive Chinese space station hurtling toward Earth

Not to freak you out, but a Chinese space station roughly the size of a school bus will crash into Earth's atmosphere any day now. China's Heavenly Palace, also known as Tiangong-1, launched in 2011. Scientists expect it to come crashing down this weekend. Where the flaming debris will land is largely a mystery because contact was lost in 2016. But we're lucky that much of it is likely to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Here's what you need to know.

Parkland survivor David Hogg got an apology from Laura Ingraham

Fox News host Laura Ingraham called outspoken Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg a whiner, pointing out he was rejected from four colleges. In response, Hogg mounted a call for an ad boycott of her TV show. By Thursday afternoon, Ingraham apologized "in the spirit of Holy Week." As for Parkland students: Hogg and other Parkland students want meetings with members of Congress in every district. Oh, as for his college options, Hogg said he was accepted at Florida Atlantic University, Cal Poly and Cal State San Marcos.

Other news of note:

Clara Ester witnessed Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination at the Lorraine Motel 50 years ago. Today she reflects on how his life and death changed her — and America. This is today's #MustRead.

As part of the escalating dispute over the poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy and his daughter, Russia announced Thursday it was expelling Western diplomats and closing the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg. The move comes after President Trump this week and more than 20 nations said they were expelling Russian diplomats in their countries. Ex-spy Sergei Skripal was poisoned on March 4, possibly at the front door of a home near London, according to police.

While March Madness is not yet over ... baseball is here! Thursday's start of the new season brings hope for 30 teams, but only one can win the World Series. Will the Houston Astros repeat? This is what USA TODAY Sports' experts predict.

The Short List is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.

MOST SHARED STORIES