What the bombs that went off in Austin might tell us about the bombmaker
Details about the deadly bombings in Austin remain scarce, but one thing is clear, experts say: whoever made the bomb knew what they were doing.
Sense of humor 'as vast as the universe': Tributes flood in as world remembers Stephen Hawking
Figures from the scientific community and beyond came together to mark the passing of famed physicist Stephen Hawking, who died at age 76 on Wednesday, the same day as Albert Einstein's birthday, also known as "Pi day."
GOPer: We're in trouble
However the special election for Pennsylvania's Congressional District turns out -- and, at this writing, it remains essentially a tie, while absentee ballots are counted -- it represents a major loss for the GOP. It is the latest canary in the coalmine for the party.
What is ALS, the condition Stephen Hawking lived with for over 5 decades?
By Euan McKirdy, CNN (CNN) -- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS, is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease. It affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that make the muscles of both the upper and lower body work. Those nerve cells lose their ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which leads to paralysis and death. People with the condition lose control of muscle movement, eventually losing their ability to eat, speak, walk and, ultimately, breathe. Its most famous sufferer was famed physicist Stephen Hawking, who died on Wednesday at the age of 76. ALS is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous baseball player who retired in 1939 because of the condition. Other notable sufferers actor David Niven, NBA Hall of Famer George Yardley and jazz musician Charles Mingus. Little is known about the causes of the disease, and there is currently no cure. The condition is slightly more common in men than women. Unusually long life-span Hawking, diagnosed with the condition in 1963, lived with it for more than 50 years -- a remarkably long time for an ALS sufferer. The disease left him paralyzed and completely dependent on others and/or technology for everything: bathing, dressing, eating, mobility and speech. He was able to move only a few fingers on one hand. "I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many," he wrote on his website. "I have been lucky that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope." Hawking's life, including his battle with ALS, was made into a 2014 biopic, "The Theory of Everything," starring Eddie Redmayne. Ice bucket challenge The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 people have ALS in the United States, with around 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year. People usually find out they have it between 55 and 75 years of age. On average, sufferers live two to five years after symptoms develop. There are two types of ALS, sporadic, which is most common, and familial. The latter is inherited -- the children of sufferers have a 50% chance of inheriting the condition, and people with familial ALS live an average of only one to two years after symptoms appear. But it much more rare than sporadic ALS, which accounts for over 90% of cases. The condition gained widespread prominence in 2014, when Pete Frates, a former baseball player at Boston College who has been living with ALS since 2012, started the Ice Bucket Challenge. The viral sensation vastly improved awareness of the condition and caused a huge uptick in donations to the ALS Association. "We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease," said Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of The ALS Association, in a news release at the time. Cause unknown No one knows what causes the disease, and for reasons not yet understood, military veterans are two times as likely to be diagnosed with ALS as the general public, according to the ALS Association. "Scientists have been studying many factors that could be linked with ALS, such as heredity and environmental exposures," the CDC says. "Other scientists have looked at diet or injury. No cause has been found for most cases of ALS. In the future, scientists may find that many factors together cause ALS." Up until last year, there was only one FDA-approved drug for ALS, which only extends survival by several months, but in May 2017 the FDA approved the first new drug in more than 20 years to treat the condition.
Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace: How Lewis Hamilton inspired NASCAR star
Lewis Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 and a year later he became the sport's youngest champion at the age of 23.
'It's not over yet:' Nail-biter Pennsylvania special election heads into 2nd day
Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone are locked in a neck and neck battle to decide who will represent Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District.
Trump's intelligence whisperer prepares for State role
As news of Donald Trump's upset victory flashed across the TV screen in front of him in November 2016, Mike Pompeo watched in astonishment.
There's no mandatory recount for Pennsylvania's special election
A recount is not mandatory in Tuesday's special election for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, according to Pennsylvania Secretary of State spokesperson Wanda Murren.
Reporter's viral eye roll causes trouble with Chinese censors
It was the eye roll that resonated with millions -- and broke the internet in China. On the sidelines of the country's annual parliament session, a Chinese journalist on Tuesday morning showed her contempt for a fellow reporter's softball question with such force that videos of her facial expression went viral.
Russian exile Nikolai Glushkov found dead in his London home
Nikolai Glushkov, a Russian exile who had links to compatriots who died in mysterious circumstances in the UK, has been found dead in his London home, his lawyer confirmed.
Family of slain Democratic staffer Seth Rich sues Fox News
The family of slain Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Fox News, one of the network's reporters, and a wealthy Texas businessman over their roles in the publication of a baseless conspiracy theory about Rich's 2016 death.
Mayor Appoints Mary Benton as Press Secretary
Houston Mayor Sylvester has appointed seasoned communicator Mary Benton as his press secretary, two months after she stepped into the job on an interim basis.
TLC's Say Yes to the Prom Hosts Prom Shopping Day for Houston
-Monte Durham of TLC’s SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ATLANTA, Macy’s and more join TLC initiative to gift students with head-to-toe prom attire-
TLC’s SAY YES TO THE PROM initiative is back, and is coming to Houston on March 22 at the Marriott Marquis to make prom dreams come true for more than 200 underserved and academically high-achieving high school students. As part of the all-day event, deserving young women and men will be treated to a day of mentoring, prom dress and formal wear “shopping,” as well as head-to-toe makeovers with TLC’s Monte Durham.
“Black Panther” Crosses $1 Billion in Global Box Office; “A Wrinkle In Time” Debuts in 2nd with $33.5 Million
“Black Panther” continues to dominate the North-American box office for the fourth weekend in a row, earning $41.1 million , according to Variety.com. In second place is the Ava DuVernay‘s family-friendly fantasy adventure “A Wrinkle in Time” with $33.5 million, not only giving Disney the two top movies for the weekend, but the first weekend in box office history where the top two movies are directed by African-Americans.
She could be the first woman ever to run the CIA
President Donald Trump's pick to head the CIA, Gina Haspel, would be the first female director of the intelligence agency if confirmed. Haspel, who served as deputy director of the agency under Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, since February 2017, has accepted the new role, saying in a statement that she was "grateful to President Trump for the opportunity, and humbled by his confidence in" her.
Prosecutors will seek death penalty in Parkland school massacre
Prosecutors will seek to put Nikolas Cruz to death for carrying out last month's massacre at a Parkland, Florida, high school, they announced in court filings Tuesday.
If you're planning to take part in the national school walkout, read this
Students across the country are expected to walk out of their classrooms Wednesday morning to protest gun violence. The National School Walkout is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in every time zone and last for 17 minutes -- a minute for each life lost in the Parkland school shooting.
Trump remakes America in his own image: Angry, hateful, afraid
Donald Trump seems determined to make America ugly again. He has insulted scores of nations, undercut our allies and projected the worst of American xenophobia, racism, small-mindedness and vulgarity overseas.
Google cofounder's flying taxi takes to the skies in New Zealand
Google cofounder Larry Page's flying taxi project is cleared for take off. Kitty Hawk, the Silicon Valley startup backed by Page, said it is building and testing "all-electric vertical take-off and landing products" in New Zealand.
3 Bombs, Many Questions: What we know about Austin box explosions
In these attacks, it's unclear if the victims were targeted or picked at random. That's a big reason why a trio of package bombs in the heart of Texas has challenged investigators and terrified a city of almost 1 million people.
