promoearn: Guilty of murder.

Wednesday, November 24

Ahmaud Arbery's father Marcus Arbery, center, his hugged by his attorney Benjamin Crump after the jury convicted Travis McMichael in the Glynn County Courthouse, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in Brunswick, Ga. Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery were convicted of murder Wednesday in the fatal shooting that became part of a larger national reckoning on racial injustice.

Ahead of the holidays, hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. It's Wednesday's news.

All three men were found guilty of murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Officials are worried about COVID-19 hospitalizations ahead of the holidays. And if you need some help with Thanksgiving, we've got some tips for you.

👋 Hey! Laura here, and it's the day before Thanksgiving, so I'll be working on my mac 'n' cheese and collard greens soon. In the meantime, here's Wednesday's top news.

But first, calories don't count on Thanksgiving, right? 🧈 If you're making a typical Thanksgiving plate, here's how many calories you'll be consuming.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

3 men found guilty of murder

In the courtroom, Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, mouthed a silent prayer as the judge prepared to read the verdict in the trial over her son's shooting early last year. What the jury found:

•	Travis McMichael, who fired the shots, was found guilty on all nine counts, including malice murder and four counts of felony murder.
•	His father, Gregory McMichael, was found not guilty of malice murder but guilty of felony murder and all other charges.
•	Their neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, who recorded video of the killing, was found guilty of three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He was not convicted of malice murder, one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault.

Cheers erupted as the verdicts were read, and people cried and embraced one another. Outside the courthouse, as the crowd chanted Arbery's name and "No justice, no peace," Cooper-Jones told them her son "will now rest in peace." Defense attorneys said that they intended to appeal and that the McMichaels are "sorry for what happened to Ahmaud Arbery." All three men face the minimum penalty of life in prison.

•	What were the charges, sentences in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery?
•	'Justice being served': Viola Davis, Kathy Griffin, more react to Ahmaud Arbery verdict.

Community mourns lives lost in Waukesha parade tragedy

"You couldn't help but love him." That was one of the impressions Jackson Sparks left on Jeff Rogers, president of the baseball club the 8-year-old boy played for and was marching with when he was killed. On Tuesday, Jackson became the sixth fatality and first child to die after an SUV roared through the Waukesha Christmas Parade two days earlier . Jackson's brother Tucker, 12, also was struck by the SUV. Both were hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee, which admitted 16 minors after the incident. An update posted Tuesday on the hospital's website said six remained in critical condition. Five adults were killed, and more than 60 people were injured.

👉 How you can help: Fundraisers, GoFundMe, other ways to help victims of the Waukesha tragedy.

•	Suspect tried to 'hurt as many people as possible,' complaint says.
•	Waukesha suspect captured on doorbell camera shortly after parade deaths.

Catie Bauer with Smart Asset Realty finishes off writing Waukesha United outside the business on Main Street at the scene of the deadly Waukesha parade tragedy in Waukesha on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

What everyone's talking about

•	50-year-old woman gives birth to first child after years of infertility.
•	Fatal disease doesn't keep woman from music, motorcycles – or helping others.
•	Chrissy Teigen's eyebrow transplant drew haters, and she – of course – fired back.
•	Keanu Reeves says he's 'married under the eyes of God' to 'Dracula' co-star Winona Ryder.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

NASA launches spacecraft to crash into an asteroid

NASA launched a spacecraft Tuesday night on a mission to smash into an asteroid and test whether it would be possible to knock a speeding space rock off course if one were to threaten Earth . The DART spacecraft, short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a $330 million project with echoes of the Bruce Willis movie "Armageddon." If all goes well, in September 2022 it will slam head-on into Dimorphos, an asteroid 525 feet across, at 15,000 mph. "This isn't going to destroy the asteroid. It's just going to give it a small nudge," said mission official Nancy Chabot. The DART technique could prove useful for altering the course of an asteroid before it bears down on Earth with the potential for catastrophe.

The DART spacecraft, short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen Tuesday from Simi Valley, California, after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Mark J. Terrill, AP Images

Some US hospitals overwhelmed going into Thanksgiving holiday

As families prepare to gather over the Thanksgiving holiday, some hospitals across the country are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages, and surges tied to holiday gatherings could make it worse . A potentially weekslong closure of a New York emergency department Monday was sparked by a staffing shortage after unvaccinated health care workers were not allowed to continue work because of a state mandate. Officials in Denver said that hospitals are filling up and that about 80% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, 9News reported. Dr. Robin Wittenstein, CEO of Denver Health, told the outlet the system is on the "brink of collapse." The University of Iowa's hospital also is worried about hardship as COVID-19 and flu cases are on the rise. In Dubuque County, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are as high as they were a year ago before vaccines were available.

•	Home COVID-19 tests make it impossible to track all cases.
•	How well are government agencies complying with vaccine mandate for federal workers?

Aaron Zavala, is held by his grandmother during the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children 5-11 years old inside the Greenfield Community Center in Greenfield, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

David Rodriguez/The Salinas Californian

Real quick

•	45-year-old declared dead found alive after 7 hours in a morgue freezer.
•	Sweden's first female prime minister quits hours after she's elected.
•	Native Americans are winning at the Supreme Court – with help from Justice Gorsuch.
•	Man locked up in mental hospital for more than two years because of mistaken identity sues Hawaii.

Got Turkey Day questions? We got you.

Cooking a turkey? Trying to figure out last-minute side dishes? Help has arrived. The day before Thanksgiving is a hectic one, especially if it's your first time making a turkey. From sourcing your bird to serving up beautifully carved pieces, this meal requires a bit of time and energy, but achieving turkey perfection is easier than you might think – and here are some tips from Reviewed on how to do it. If you are planning to deep-fry your turkey this year, make sure to stay safe and not throw a frozen turkey into the fryer – it's a fire hazard. And remember, there is no shame in ordering takeout . Have a happy, safe and delicious holiday!

•	Drinking tonight? Here's how much alcohol is too much.
•	Looking for a turkey replacement? Chefs share their tasty alternatives.
•	Easy as (apple) pie: Here's a step-by-step guide to the perfect pie.
•	From charcuterie boards to takeout: The top 5 Thanksgiving trends for 2021.

The dishes Americans add to their Thanksgiving dinner

USA TODAY graphic

A break from the news

•	💝 Home for the holidays? What to do when your family hates your partner.
•	🤑 Make Black Friday worth it: Here's how to save and when to shop for deals.
•	🛍 The best 250+ Black Friday deals we're monitoring on iRobot, Apple and more.

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.