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Trial of men in Ahmaud Arbery killing, Diwali, 'Eternals': 5 things to know Thursday

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USA TODAY

Jury selected in trial of men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery

After a lengthy jury selection process, Thursday will be spent on motion hearings and getting "acquainted with the court," said Judge Timothy Walmsley in the trial of three men accused of killing 25-year-old jogger Ahmaud Arbery last year in Georgia. A panel of 16 with 12 jurors and four alternates – and only one Black person –  was finalized Wednesday after a selection process made challenging due to the high-profile nature of the case and many prospective jurors' personal connections. Jurors will be sworn in 9 a.m. Friday, followed by opening arguments. The trial comes two years after Arbery, who was Black, was fatally shot while jogging in his hometown of Brunswick. Three white men – Greg McMichael, 65, his son Travis, 35, and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, 52 – are charged with his murder. Video of the shooting taken by Bryan was leaked two months later, sparking national outrage over a lack of arrests.

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Are House votes coming on key domestic bills? It's possible!

Late Wednesday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced House votes are possible Thursday on President Joe Biden's now-$1.85 trillion bill of social services and climate change programs, as well as the slimmer $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that had stalled amid deliberations on the larger package. Voting could also push until Friday, aides and lawmakers said. With a flurry of late adjustments, Democrats added key provisions to what has grown to a sprawling 2,135-page package — adding back a new paid family leave program, work permits for immigrants and changes to state and local tax deductions. The Democrats are anxious to finish the president's signature package after drawn-out talks on Capitol Hill were partly blamed for the party's dismal election results in bellwether states this week. "Get it to my desk!" Biden said Wednesday. In Virginia, where a Republican was voted governor for the first time since 2009, most voters said drawn-out negotiations over Biden's governing agenda were an important factor in their vote.

NFL faces congressional deadline to turn over findings on Washington Football Team

For months, the NFL has resisted calls to release a detailed report on the findings of its investigation into a toxic workplace culture within the Washington Football Team.Now, under a deadline imposed by Congress, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has until Thursday to release a detailed report on the findings of its investigation as well as the league's general use of non-disclosure agreements. Goodell said last week that the league would be "cooperative" with the request but did not specify whether the NFL would turn over all of the requested documents by the deadline. Tom Davis, a former chair of the House Oversight Committee, said that the next steps in the NFL inquiry will depend in large part on the league's response. "It depends on what’s in the documents, and how forthcoming everybody is," said Davis, who chaired the committee from 2003 to 2007. 

Diwali celebrations begin across the globe

On Thursday, Diwali celebrations will begin all over the world across various religions and cultures, especially in South Asia. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is observed differently by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, creating a rich tapestry of cultural traditions and customs. People will often line candles and lamps throughout their house and along their driveway to illuminate their surroundings. They might also buy colorful new clothes and host gatherings of friends and family to celebrate together. For Hindus, Diwali is a time for dana (charitable giving) and seva (selfless service). And for Sikhs, Diwali celebrates the release from prison of the sixth Guru. Diwali typically takes place in October and November, with festivals and celebrations usually lasting for several days. 

'Eternals' makes its first appearance in theaters

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will soon expand significantly with the introduction of 10 different new cosmic personalities with a history that spans more than 7,000 years. "Eternals," which opens in theaters with showings Thursday night before going wide Friday, stars A-listers Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek with Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan and Brian Tyree Henry also playing key otherworldly characters. The Eternals are immortal superpowered beings sent to Earth by the Celestials to protect humans from menacing alien monsters called Deviants. The supergroup dispatched of the Deviants over thousands of years and went their separate ways until a more souped-up monster shows up and leads the band to get back together. In his ★ ★ ½ (out of four) review, movie critic Brian Truitt writes "Eternals" favors "mythology creation over forcing itself into the grander (MCU) plan," But "unfortunately, the exceedingly earnest narrative struggles to juggle its many subplots and tries to do too much in its hefty two hours and 37 minutes."

Contributing: The Associated Press

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