promoearn: 'Difficult to watch'

Thursday, April 15

Abigail Garcia, 7, right, takes a knee with her mother Judith Garcia and other protestors during a peaceful protest on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 in downtown Chicago, demanding justice for Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo, who were shot dead by police.

Footage from the police killing of a 13-year-old Black boy was released. Derek Chauvin pleads the Fifth. It's Thursday's news.

Chicago city officials are urging calm following the release of footage from the shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo. The defense in Derek Chauvin's murder trial rested its case. And President Joe Biden's second round of sanctions aimed at Russia is tougher than the last.

👋 It's Laura, and I've got your news roundup for today!

But first, the day of the invasion of Brood X draws nigh. That's right – cicadas. Swarms of them. Sure, call me dramatic. I don't care! These bugs only show up every 17 years. That's suspicious enough – but wait until you hear about their red eyes and how they're just out there hollerin' louder than a freight train. I sound like a cicada hater, but these creepy-crawlies are admittedly pretty amazing. Here's when they'll show up – and so much more about these nifty insects.

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'We failed Adam'

The video is difficult to watch. Officials released footage today from police-worn body cameras that appear to show an unarmed Toledo as he attempts to surrender with his hands up last month. The young Black boy was then shot and killed by a police officer who chased him into an alley. "They are incredibly difficult to watch, particularly at the end," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has a 13-year-old daughter, said at a press conference. "Simply put, we failed Adam, and we cannot afford to fail one more young person in our city," she said. City officials pleaded with residents for calm, not violence, ahead of a night of planned protests.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot discusses the videos of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer, during a news conference at City Hall, Thursday, April 15, 2021.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times, AP

Chauvin pleads the Fifth

And the defense rests. Closing arguments are set for Monday in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin after he told the court on Thursday that he would not testify in his own defense. "I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Chauvin said. The defense rested its case after calling seven witnesses over two days. A physician with 46 years of experience in the physiology of breathing briefly returned to the witness stand to refute testimony given by a medical expert for the defense.

•	Should children watch the verdict? The answer to this question and more.
•	The evidence is in at the trial of Chauvin, charged in the death of George Floyd. What happens now?

In this image from video, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin speaks Thursday for the first time at his murder murder trial in Minneapolis.

What everyone's talking about

•	Former Vice President Mike Pence recovering after surgery to place a pacemaker.
•	Biden administration frees up $39 billion to help an ailing child care industry.
•	The student debt crisis is crushing Black Americans. Here is how loan forgiveness could help.
•	What would happen if cops didn't make certain traffic stops? This North Carolina city offers a case study.
•	Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez officially call it quits after reversing their breakup announcement.

Biden's tough sanctions

Biden's second round of sanctions aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin is tougher and more sweeping than the last. Ten Russian diplomats were expelled from the Russian Embassy in Washington and more than three dozen individuals and companies were sanctioned Thursday in retaliation for a massive cyberhacking of federal agencies and interference in the 2020 presidential election. Russia is accused of hacking the networks of at least nine federal agencies five months ago to gather U.S. secrets in the SolarWinds cyber breach. Russia also allegedly tried to influence the 2020 presidential election by waging disinformation campaigns to help the candidacy of former President Donald Trump, mirroring meddling efforts in the 2016 election.

•	What you need to know about the FireEye hack: Cybersecurity attack against U.S. government, first of all.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Coordination Center of the Russian Government in Moscow on April 13. The center was set up as a line of communication with the whole of Russia for analyzing and collecting information, promptly using big data and solving arising problems.

Pool photo by Mikhail Metzel

Pelosi nixed that expansion idea

Before lawmakers formally unveiled the bill to expand the Supreme Court to 13 justices, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she had no intention of bringing it to the floor. The legislation, introduced by Progressive Democrats, set up a caustic rhetorical battle that Democratic leaders – including Pelosi – signaled they are eager to avoid. The introduction came days after Biden created a 36-member commission to study potential structural changes to the Supreme Court. "I think it's an idea that should be considered and I think the president's taking the right approach to have a commission to study such a thing," Pelosi said. "I have no plans to bring it to the floor."

•	'Think long and hard': Supreme Court Justice Breyer pushes back on 'court-packing.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in her United States Capitol office on Tuesday.

Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Real quick

•	Wyatt Pike breaks his silence on sudden 'American Idol' exit, explains he left the show for 'personal reasons.'
•	Kobe Bryant will be presented by Michael Jordan at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
•	'Slave Trade' group message among high schoolers on Snapchat assigned prices to students of color.
•	John Stamos talks about career regrets – and being tied to 'Full House' forever.
•	Some health experts worry Johnson & Johnson pause could cause 'grave damage' to public perception of COVID-19 vaccines.

Ex-officer appears in court as family demands justice

In a largely procedural first appearance court hearing, former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter appeared briefly on Zoom Thursday. Potter, who has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, spoke only to confirm her presence at the hearing. Her next court date is scheduled for May 17. At a news conference, Wright's mother, Katie Wright, said she feels like she will never get justice for her son. "Justice would be bringing our son home to us," she said. Wright said she wants accountability to the highest level. "If that even happens, we're still going to bury our son," she added.

Katie Wright, left, the mother of Daunte Wright, and other family and friends gather during a news conference Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Minneapolis as family attorney Ben Crump speaks. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

Jim Mone, AP

A break from the news

•	Sisters fighting. Spouses at odds. How to fix relationships damaged by COVID-19.
•	Thinking about selling? It could be a good move if you live in one of these 20 hot housing markets.
•	Busch wants to pay your dog $20,000. To drink beer.

For your listening pleasure

🎧 The newest episode of the third season of "The Sneak" — a serialized, sports true-crime podcast from USA TODAY and For The Win — dropped Thursday anywhere you get your podcasts. This season, we investigate the 1983 disappearance of NASCAR crew chief Mario Rossi and how it could be related to an international drug-smuggling ring. Three of eight total episodes are available now, and a new episode will be released each week. Check it out!

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.