5 things you need to know Thursday
Johnny Manziel's assault case goes to grand jury
A Texas grand jury will hear assault allegations from the ex-girlfriend of former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel on Thursday. Colleen Crowley has accused Manziel of striking her and threatening to kill her and himself after the two left a Dallas bar on Jan. 30, according to an affidavit. Dallas County District Attorney spokesperson Brittany Dunn said the grand jury could decide within days whether to charge Manziel with misdemeanor assault, which carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Queen Elizabeth II turns 90
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her birthday Thursday, marking another royal record just seven months after becoming England's longest-serving head of state: She's the first British monarch to reach the age of 90. Despite the milestone, the day will be business as usual. The queen will be working on her birthday, just as she has worked on most of her birthdays since her accession to the throne in 1952. Later in the day, the royal family will have a private birthday gathering at Windsor Castle, but the official celebrations will be held in June. Here are 90 facts about the queen on her 90th birthday.
Torch relay begins for Rio Olympics
The Olympic flame for the Rio games waslit Thursday at the official lighting ceremony in the Greek city of Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient games. After the flame was ignited, champion gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias was to start the torch relay that will culminate in the opening ceremony in Rio's Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5. Following Thursday's ceremony, the torch will tour Greece before being handed over to Rio organizers April 27. It will then make its way to the Brazilian capital Brasilia, where the host country's relay begins May 3.
Stephen Curry to sit out of Game 3 against Houston
The Golden State Warriors likely will be without Stephen Curry for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The reigning NBA MVP, who missed Game 2 after suffering an ankle injury in Game 1, said he probably won’t be ready to play. An MRI showed no major injury to Curry’s ankle, but the move to sit out would be a precautionary measure. The Warriors carry a 2-0 lead over the Rockets in the Western Conference playoffs first round.
Court-ordered deadline approaches for Volkswagen plan
Volkswagen is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to provide a specific plan for bringing nearly 600,000 diesel cars into compliance with clean air laws after an emissions cheating scandal. The German automaker is said to be close to announcing a deal to compensate U.S. owners of its affected diesel vehicles, according to a report by German newspaper Die Welt. The plan could help the embattled German automaker avoid a trial before U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, who had set the Thursday deadline.
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And the essentials:
Weather: Rain and storms will soak parts of the central and eastern U.S. Thursday while most of the West stays dry.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures were higher Thursday, while Asian stocks rallied.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Mom and Inside Amy Schumer.
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