promoearn: Tragedy in Atlanta

Wednesday, March 17

The suspect says sex addiction drove him to commit drives, according to police. Eight people are reported to have been killed in the shootings.

The suspect in the Atlanta-area spa shootings has been charged with eight counts of murder. It's Wednesday's news.

The nation is reeling from the Tuesday night shootings of eight people, most of them Asian women, in Atlanta. More than 40 million Americans are in the path of fierce storms. And procrastinators, you may be getting more time to file your taxes.

It's Alex, let's get to the news.

But first, there's been a rise in anti-Asian attacks. Here's how to be an ally to the community.

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Suspect charged in spa shootings after 8 people, mostly Asian women, killed

Eight people were killed Tuesday night in three shootings at Atlanta-area spas before police arrested the 21-year-old suspected lone gunman. At least four of the victims of the Atlanta-area spas shootings were women of Korean descent, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Two others were of Asian descent, police said. The suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, Georgia, was charged with eight counts of murder Wednesday in all three shootings. Authorities said Long may have previously frequented the businesses but that it was too early to determine if the shootings would be considered a hate crime. "A crime against any community is a crime against us all," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said.

The killings come amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of COVID-19 across the United States. Stop AAPI Hate, a group that tracks incidents of discrimination and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said it found nearly 3,800 incidents of hate, discrimination, or attacks on Asian Americans from March 2020 through February 2021.

•	Atlanta spa shootings increase fear amid an increase in violence and hate incidents: "Asian American communities were already set on edge."

Fierce storms, tornadoes threaten Southern states

More than 40 million Americans are in the path of fierce storms Wednesday as several tornadoes were reported across portions of the Deep South . A tornado reportedly damaged homes in Wayne County, Mississippi, and at least six other twisters were reported on the ground in central Alabama, the National Weather Service said. Other tornado warnings were in effect in parts of Mississippi and Oklahoma and tornado watches were in effect for portions of Texas and Tennessee. In addition, the storms will also be capable of producing hurricane-force winds and baseball-sized hail. "This severe weather event, coupled with the COVID-19 public health emergency, poses extraordinary conditions of disaster and of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.

•	The 2021 tornado season may be more destructive because of La Niña. Here's the forecast.

Real quick

•	Two people were found dead at a Wisconsin distribution center and a possible suspect died after a pursuit, police say.
•	The LSU administrator in charge of punishments for rapists, stalkers and abusers regularly chose to issue the lowest possible sanctions, per USA TODAY investigation.
•	The Army has rejected an appeal to return medals for valor to the soldier former President Donald Trump pardoned for alleged murder.
•	Katherine Tai confirmed as Biden's trade envoy, becoming the first Asian American person and woman of color to hold the position.
•	Stimulus checks sent to 90 million Americans in the initial round of COVID-relief payments, the IRS says.

Two jurors excused in Chauvin trial

Two jurors seated in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin were excused Wednesday because they couldn't be impartial after hearing about the city's historic $27 million settlement with George Floyd's family. They said they were shocked and swayed by the announcement, particularly the dollar amount. So far, nine of 12 jurors have been seated after the court seated two new jurors Wednesday after failing to seat any Tuesday. "We're back where we started this morning, but it's better than being behind," Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

In this image from video, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over pretrial motions before jury selection in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd.

Court TV, via AP, Pool

What everyone's talking about

•	Sharon Osbourne is claiming she was "set up" during a controversial exchange on "The Talk" with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
•	California Gov. Gavin Newsom readies for recall election fueled by backlash to pandemic restrictions.
•	These 12 fruits and vegetables contain more pesticide residue than others, "Dirty Dozen" study reports.
•	Disneyland reopening to California residents beginning April 30 after year-plus closure due to COVID-19.
•	Facebook will punish groups, members who break its rules after Capitol riot and COVID-19 vaccine fearmongering.

A tax day in May?!

When is it not tax season? The Internal Revenue Service is extending the tax deadline by a month The IRS has not put out a public statement yet but multiple outlets are reporting the new deadline is expected to be in mid-May. The delayed filing deadline comes as the IRS is dealing with a massive backlog that has left it unable to fully process roughly 24 million tax filings from individuals and businesses since the 2019 tax year. The American Institute of CPAs was calling for extending the filing and payment deadline for the 2020 tax year until June 15. Keep in mind: Tax season was delayed from the start as the IRS began to accept and process tax returns on Feb. 12, which was a two-week delay.

Are you wearing green? 🍀

•	Answers to your St. Patrick's Day questions: Who he was, why we wear green and more.
•	6 alcohol delivery service deals to stock your bar for St. Patrick's Day 2021.
•	Stimulus checks, green beer, free doughnuts and more deals on tap.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.