Morning headlines: Rising stars open GOP convention; clashes in Wisconsin; Jerry Falwell Jr.’s whirlwind day
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Today is Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Let’s get caught up. These non-virus headlines are in the news this morning: A rising generation of Republican stars kicked off the Republican convention with dire warnings and a defense of the president; protesters and police clashed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after a police shooting of a Black man; and Jerry Falwell Jr. left his future at Liberty University in doubt amid a sex scandal. Read on for these stories, other top headlines, celebrity birthdays and more. Top stories
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh Republican convention showcases rising stars, dark warnings
A rising generation of Republican stars offered an optimistic view of President Donald Trump’s leadership but was undermined on the opening night of the GOP’s scaled-back convention by speakers issuing dark warnings about the country’s future and defending the president’s record, particularly on the coronavirus pandemic.
As Trump faces pressure to expand his appeal beyond his loyal supporters, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, sought to cast the GOP as welcoming to Americans of color, despite the party’s overwhelmingly white leadership and voting base.
But the prime-time convention proceedings, which featured a blend of taped and live speeches, focused largely on dire talk about Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic challenger in the November election. Full coverage here:
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Protesters walk past police with their arms up, late Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis., as a building burns in the background. Protests have erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake a day earlier.
AP Photo/David Goldman Kenosha protesters, police clash again after Black man shot
Anger over the shooting of a Black man by police spilled into the streets of Kenosha for a second night Monday, with police again firing tear gas at hundreds of protesters who defied a curfew, threw bottles and shot fireworks at law enforcement guarding the courthouse.
The southeastern Wisconsin city became the nation’s latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest after cellphone footage of police shooting Jacob Blake — apparently in the back, as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle — circulated widely on social media Sunday. The 29-year-old was hospitalized in serious condition. Read the full story here:
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In this Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 file photo, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. speaks at convocation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
Jay Westcott/The News & Advance via AP Liberty University: Falwell agreed to resign, then reversed course
Jerry Falwell Jr.’s future at evangelical Liberty University amid a sex scandal was uncertain Monday, after the school said he had offered his resignation but then reversed course.
Falwell agreed to “resign immediately as President of Liberty University today but then instructed his attorneys to not tender the letter for immediate resignation,” according to a university news release distributed late Monday night.
The news of Falwell’s possible departure followed the publication of news stories about his wife’s sexual encounters with a much younger business partner. Read the full story here:
In other news today …
Click on the links below for full versions of these stories and scroll further for trending stories, a look at today in history and celebrity birthdays.
Today’s national forecast
Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to be a major hurricane at landfall on the Gulf Coast according to the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center. CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the latest. Watch here:
Trending today Image of the day
A flag flies over a department of corrections building ablaze during protests, late Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis., sparked by the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha Police officer a day earlier.
AP Photo/Morry Gash On this date
During World War II, Paris was liberated by Allied forces after four years of Nazi occupation, and more events that happened on this day in history.
Here’s a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Aug. 25:
Happy birthday to … Alexander Skarsgard
Actor Alexander Skarsgard is 44.
Invision Ally Walker
Actor Ally Walker is 59.
Invision Billy Ray Cyrus
Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus is 59.
Invision Blair Underwood
Actor Blair Underwood is 56.
Invision Blake Lively
Actor Blake Lively is 33.
Invision Claudia Schiffer
Model Claudia Schiffer is 50.
Invision Elvis Costello
Rock singer Elvis Costello is 66.
Invision Gene Simmons
Rock singer-actor Gene Simmons is 71.
Invision Jeff Tweedy
Alternative country singer Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) is 53.
Invision John Savage
Actor John Savage is 71.
Invision Kel Mitchell
Actor Kel Mitchell is 42.
Invision Rachael Ray
Television chef Rachael Ray is 52.
Invision Rachel Bilson
Actor Rachel Bilson is 39.
Invision Sean Connery
Actor Sean Connery is 90.
AP Tim Burton
Movie director Tim Burton is 62.
Invision Walter Williams
Rhythm-and-blues singer Walter Williams (The O’Jays) is 77.
Invision Wayne Shorter
Jazz musician Wayne Shorter is 87.
AP