promoearn: Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

Former President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush,

An emotional goodbye to Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush wasn't entirely persuaded that her funeral was going to draw a crowd. Maybe it could be held in the side chapel at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, she suggested to aides at one point. Maybe it didn't need to be in the big sanctuary. On this, Barbara Bush turned out to be wrong. More than 1,000 seats were taken at the former first lady's memorial service Saturday in the church she had attended for more than a half-century. Sitting in the polished oaken pews were four former presidents, including husband George H.W. Bush and son George W. Bush. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were seated in the front row. First Lady Melania Trump attended. So did the grown children of presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy and Gerald Ford. For an emotional goodbye, America's political royalty showed up. (And in case you were wondering, here's why President Trump did not attend.)

Deadly shooting at a Tennessee Waffle House

At least four people were killed and four others wounded Sunday when a gunman opened fire at a Waffle House in Tennessee until a patron wrestled the gun away, according to Metro Nashville Police. The suspect first fired from the parking lot, shooting two men and shattering the glass window at the front of the restaurant before going inside and continuing to spray the restaurant with bullets, according to police. Police spokesman Don Aaron said the patron rushed the suspected shooter, disarmed him and threw the assault rifle over the restaurant's counter. The suspect fled on foot, nude, after shedding his coat, Aaron said.

Trump: We are still 'a long way' from North Korea meeting with Kim Jong Un

President Trump said Sunday he is still hoping for an unprecedented meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but many details remain and it may not happen. "We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won't — only time will tell," Trump tweeted about efforts to get North Korea to give up nuclear weapons. While Trump has praised some of Kim's recent moves — including his announcement he will suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests — he and aides are still negotiating details of a prospective summit, from its location to a specific agenda.

Trump adviser dodges question about the president's 'drunk/drugged up loser' tweet

Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to President Trump, dodged questions Sunday about Trump's tweet deriding an unnamed person as a "drunk/drugged up loser." "I don't know who he's referring to there," Conway said on CNN's State of the Union. Trump's tweet was in response to a New York Times story examining whether the president's longtime attorney, Michael Cohen, might cooperate with federal investigators. The president on Saturday said the story relied on "non-existent 'sources' and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael." Critics have blasted the president's comment as insensitive to those suffering from substance abuse and ill-timed given the deadly opioid epidemic ravaging the country.

World's oldest person, last survivor of 19th century, dies in Japan at 117

The century of Lincoln, Darwin and Van Gogh has quietly passed into history with the death of the world's oldest known person and last survivor of the 19th century. Nabi Tajima, 117, died in a hospital Saturday in Kikai, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan's Kyodo News reported. Tajima had been mostly bedridden at a nursing home in recent years. She was hospitalized about a month ago, family members told the news service. Tajima was born Aug. 4, 1900. The new reigning age champion is another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, according to the U.S.-based Gerontology Research Group. Miyako, 116, was born on May 2, 1901, a date that pushes her into the 20th century.

White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar in critical condition after brain hemorrhage in dugout

Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage Friday night during a game against the Houston Astros and is in critical condition, the team announced Saturday. Farquhar, 31, suffered a ruptured aneurysm that caused the brain bleed, according to the team. Farquhar faced four batters in the top of the sixth inning, then fainted in the dugout, the team said. He is stable, the team says, but remains in the neurosurgical intensive care unit at RUSH University Medical Center.

'Austin Powers' star Verne Troyer dead at 49

Verne Troyer, the actor best known for playing Mini Me in the Austin Powers movies, has died at 49, his family posted on Instagram Saturday. A representative for Troyer, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed his death to USA TODAY. "It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today," the statement read. The cause of death is still unknown, but the statement hints that it was due to "his own battles." Troyer has been frank about his struggles with alcohol addiction, which was documented by VH1's The Surreal Life in 2005. His hospitalization came almost exactly a year after he told fans he was voluntarily checking into a rehab clinic. Stars, including Mike Meyers, mourned the actor's death.

Avicii, electronic dance music DJ, found dead in Oman at 28

Swedish electronic dance music DJ Avicii, 28, died Friday afternoon in the Persian Gulf nation of Oman, according to a statement from his representative. "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii," reads the statement from Diana Baron. "The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time." While the cause of his death is unknown, Bergling struggled with medical issues over the years following his hospitalization in January 2012 for acute pancreatitis, causing a string of show cancellations that culminated with him having his gall bladder and appendix removed in 2014.

This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.