promoearn: Retaliation against Iran? 'You'll soon find out'

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Retaliation against Iran? 'You'll soon find out'

Thursday, June 20

Retaliation against Iran? 'You'll soon find out'

A U.S. drone is shot down by Iran, and Ashton Kutcher addresses breakup rumors: Thursday's news

Iran shot down America's drone. A cross can stay on government land. And Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher let us know if they "are over." It's Ashley. Here's the news you need to know.

But first, blame it on the booze: Russell Crowe once bought a dinosaur skull from Leonardo DiCaprio. There was apparently a "bunch of vodka" involved.

'Iran made a very big mistake'

Tensions between the United States and Iran are heating up big time. A U.S. drone was shot down by Iran on Thursday in what the U.S. called an "unprovoked" attack. President Donald Trump called it a "very big mistake," and the Pentagon considered a military response.

Here's what to know:

•	Two sides to the story: The drone was shot down in "international airspace," the U.S. says, but Iran alleged the drone violated Iranian airspace.
•	Trump's words: "Iran made a very big mistake," he said, adding that "you'll soon find out" if the U.S. will retaliate.
•	Fuel to the fire: The drone drama came a week after two oil tankers were attacked, an assault the U.S. blamed on Iran.
•	The U.S. has deployed more troops to the Middle East in what Pentagon officials say is a direct response to Iran's oil provocations.
•	Sound familiar? There are parallels between the recent escalations and the events leading to the Iraq War in 2003.

Abortion bans that began at a sleepover

You've heard about "heartbeat" abortion laws a lot lately. How did this wave of anti-abortion bills begin? It all started with a sleepover party (really) and a sample bill copied over and over for nearly a decade (!!) before being passed. A USA TODAY analysis of state laws found more than 400 abortion-related bills were copied from language by special-interest groups. This year's boom in "heartbeat" bills, which ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, stem from a 10-year effort to restrict abortion through copy-and-paste legislation.

More on USA TODAY's Copy, Paste, Legislate investigation:

•	You elected them to write laws. They let corporations do it instead.
•	How we uncovered 10,000 times lawmakers introduced copycat model bills.

What people are talking about

•	Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher reacted to breakup rumors in the best way.
•	There's gold in them thar Rockies (maybe), and people are getting hurt looking for it.
•	Want TSA PreCheck? It might soon be cheaper and easier to sign up.
•	Attention Freddie Mercury ~~fans~~ stans: Check out the Queen singer's previously unreleased 1985 track.
•	Dear millennials: This columnist says you need to stop "saving" for retirement.
•	The best NBA player drafted at every slot, from 1-30, in league history.

'Free Dad Hugs' are a hit

People around the country are talking about Scott Dittman's hugs. The Pennsylvania dad, wearing a "Free Dad Hugs" shirt he bought on Amazon, gave more than 700 hugs at the Pittsburgh Pride Parade last week, offering tenderness to many who needed it. "There's a segment of folks that held on so long, where the hug was so deep, who started to hug and began to cry," he said, imploring parents of LGBTQ kids to accept and love their children. More than one in four young LGBTQ people say parents and relatives who don't accept them are their biggest problem. Advocates say hugs are a start, but kindness from strangers is no substitute for family support.

Scott Dittman gives a hug at the Pittsburgh Pride Parade.

Pamela Luu

The 'Peace Cross' stays

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the gigantic Latin cross on government land in Maryland does not have to be moved or altered in the name of church-state separation. The justices reasoned that the 40-foot "Peace Cross" was erected nearly a century ago as a World War I memorial, not an endorsement of Christianity. Although their verdict could extend to other existing monuments, it does not offer a blank check to new ones.

The World War I memorial cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, has been the focus of a Supreme Court case on the separation of church and state.

Algerina Perna, AP

Real quick

•	72 Philadelphia police officers are on administrative duty amid an investigation into racist or offensive posts.
•	Thunderstorms across the Southern USA were blamed for one death and more than 200,000 people being without power.
•	'Jeopardy!' champ James Holzhauer honored Alex Trebek with a pancreatic cancer donation.
•	The economy is doing great. Stocks are soaring. But that isn't enough to ease the financial worries of many Americans.
•	The 9/11 first responder who testified with Jon Stewart in Congress entered hospice care in his battle with cancer.

Was shooting gang-related? Authorities think so.

At least 10 people were wounded early Thursday in an apparent gang-related shooting as three gunmen fired on patrons leaving a nightclub in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to police. Thankfully, reports say all the victims are expected to survive. "It appears that at least one individual was a target," Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin and Allentown Police Chief Tony Alsleben said. "It is more likely than not that the outcome of the investigation will reveal a connection to gang violence."

Police look for evidence early Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Allentown, Pa., following a shooting outside a nightclub. The street shooting in eastern Pennsylvania that left 10 people wounded early Thursday is likely to be gang-related, authorities said.

Rich Rolen,The Morning Call, AP

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