Big retail day; UK action on Russia; Prudential split
1. Retail bonanza: It's a big day for global retailers. The US Census Bureau will publish retail sales data for February at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists expect the report to show a 0.3% increase in sales over the previous month.
The dog was put inside an overhead bin on a United flight. It didn't survive
For more than three hours, a passenger's dog was inside an overhead bin on United Airlines Flight 1284 from Houston to New York after a flight attendant told the passenger to put it there.
Blizzard slams New England in third major storm of past 2 weeks
New England's third nor'easter in less than two weeks slammed parts of the region Tuesday in a barrage that dropped as much as 2 feet of snow in some places and brought dangerous whiteout conditions on the roads.
Stephen Hawking, renowned scientist, dies at 76
Stephen Hawking, the brilliant British theoretical physicist who overcame a debilitating disease to publish wildly popular books probing the mysteries of the universe, has died, according to a family spokesman. He was 76.
Austin police identify 17-year-old killed by porch package bomb
A 17-year-old victim in a series of deadly package bombs delivered to homes in Austin, Texas, was identified Tuesday as Draylen Mason, as a law enforcement source revealed the same person may have constructed the three devices.
Pennsylvania's special election isn't an isolated incident. The GOP is in trouble.
Even without a winner declared Tuesday night, it was clear based on the results what the race would tell us about the 2018 midterm elections.
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.
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.
