Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. Dozens rescued as flash floods ravage Texas
Flood warnings were issued early Friday for 21 communities as people throughout Texas had to be rescued from raging floodwaters created by another storm system rolling across the state. There were no immediate reports of deaths, but officials are being extra-cautious after 23 people have died in flooding across the state this week. Read more in NEWS.
2. Ex-Speaker Hastert indicted over alleged hush money
Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted on federal charges Thursday for allegedly structuring the withdrawal of over $950,000 in cash in a way to avoid reporting requirements — and then lying to the FBI about it. Each of the two criminal charges against him carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Read more in POLITICS.
3. FIFA boss Blatter looks to keep seat amid scandal
FIFA's beleaguered president Sepp Blatter was expected to be re-elected for a fifth term Friday, despite this week's scandal that saw several of his closest allies arrested for alleged corruption on his watch. U.S. officials on Wednesday alleged executives with soccer's governing body received more than $150 million in kickbacks over more than two decades. Read more in SPORTS.
4. Japanese island evacuated as volcano erupts
Japanese authorities ordered all of the estimated 137 people on the southern island of Kuchinoerabuto to evacuate after a volcano erupted Friday morning in a towering plume of thick, black smoke. The trail was almost 6 miles high with a shower of fiercely hot rock and toxic gases. Read more in NEWS.
5. Bergdahl sexual harassment allegation unfounded
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who's charged with desertion after he left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban for five years, has not been accused of sexual harassment, according to Army officials seeking to tamp down "false reports." Read more in NEWS.
6. Why did Defense accidentally mail anthrax to states?
Hard-to-kill anthrax spores may explain why the Department of Defense accidentally sent out "live" samples of the bacteria, experts say. The spores are so tough, and so tiny, that the irradiation procedure used to deactivate the spores might not have killed every single one. Read more in HEALTH.
7. Two students crowned co-Spelling Bee champs
This year's Scripps National Spelling Bee was a historic moment again after two students — Gokul Venkatachalam, of Chesterfield, Missouri, and Vanya Shivashankar, of Olathe, Kansas — were called co-winners, the second year in a row there have been dual champs. In addition, Vanya is the first sibling of a past champion to win. Read more in NEWS.
Nightly Spotlight
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