Grand jury indicted 1 of 3 officers in Breonna Taylor shooting. An asteroid the size of a small school bus is heading near Earth. It's Wednesday's news.
A Louisville police officer was charged in the Breonna Taylor case, immediately sparking protests. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned for the final time to the Supreme Court. And an RV-size asteroid is about to zoom closer to Earth than the moon.
It's Ashley with a reminder to take a small break from the news when you can. Now, let's dive in.
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Louisville officer charged in Breonna Taylor shooting — but not for her death
Protesters in Louisville and across the U.S. have called for "justice for Breonna Taylor" for more than six months. On Wednesday, a Kentucky grand jury decided that one of three Louisville police officers involved in her fatal shooting will face criminal charges. Taylor, a 26-year-old ER technician, was fatally shot by police officers who were executing a "no knock" search warrant at her apartment on March 13. Her death has sparked more than 125 days of protests in Louisville as well as national outrage and calls for the officers involved to be fired or charged.
Former detective Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangermentfor shots he fired into a neighboring apartment, not directly tied to Taylor's death. The felony charge generally carries up to five years in prison.
Protesters say the single indictment is not enough, and vowed Wednesday to continue their fight for racial justice. After the indictment was announced, protesters immediately began marching in downtown Louisville.
Three Louisville Metro Police Department officers fired their guns into Breonna Taylor's apartment: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove.
LMPD
RBG returns to Supreme Court one last time
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the Supreme Court for the final time Wednesday, as family, friends, former law clerks and colleagues on the high court gathered for one last goodbye. The flag-draped casket of the 87-year-old justice, who died Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer, was carried to the Supreme Court's Great Hall, just outside the courtroom where she served for 27 years. Chief Justice John Roberts, during a brief ceremony, said Ginsburg's life "was one of the many versions of the American dream." After the ceremony, Ginsburg's casket was placed at the front portico of the court for two days of public viewing. Among those who visited were former President Bill Clinton, who nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993, and former secretary of State and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.
A woman salutes Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose flag-draped casket rests on the Lincoln Catafalque outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 23 in Washington. Ginsburg died Sept. 18 at the age of 87 after a long battle against cancer.
Alex Wong, Getty Images
What everyone's talking about
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This asteroid is a little too close for comfort ☄️
An asteroid the size of a small school bus will zoom a little close to Earth early Thursday, NASA says. Flying at at a casual 17,200 mph, the asteroid will pass within 13,000 miles from Earth — that's closer than the moon and some of our weather satellites. The asteroid – 2020 SW – will be closet to Earth around 7:18 a.m. EDTaccording to EarthSky. Sadly, it's too small to be visible with the naked eye. For anyone a little freaked out by this (just me?): If the asteroid were on an impact trajectory with Earth, which again, it isn't, the space rock would almost certainly break up high in our atmosphere, becoming a bright meteor known as a fireball.
COVID-19 vaccine check: Where are we at?
The final stage of a single-shot vaccine candidate for COVID-19 has begun. Johnson & Johnson's trial for its vaccine candidate, which would require only one dose, is set to begin Wednesday. Other companies have already begun their late-stage trials, but Johnson & Johnson's is the first vaccine candidate to reach Phase 3 requiring only one dose, which could ease the challenges of vaccine distribution. As a squeamish person who hates shots, this is especially exciting news. The news comes as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top health expert, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul went another round in their ongoing clash over the pandemic response. Faucitold Paul he has the facts wrong on COVID-19.
Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, testifies at a Senate Health, Education, and Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill on September 23, 2020. Dr. Fauci addressed the testing of vaccines and if they will be ready by the end of the year or early 2021.
Pool, Getty Images
Real quick
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WWE Hall of Fame inductee Joe Laurinaitis, aka Road Warrior Animal, died at 60.
Hall of Fame running back and Bears legend Gale Sayers has died at 77. Despite playing only seven seasons due to knee injuries, Sayers was one of the most explosive players in the NFL, earning rookie of the year in 1965, four Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro selection in his first five seasons. Sayers' family announced in 2017 that he had been battling dementia since 2013.
In this Sept. 1968, file photo, Chicago Bears' halfback Gale Sayers runs with the ball.
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