5 things you need to know Wednesday

1. Chicago City Council to vote on paying reparations to police torture victims

With the backing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago City Council is poised to approve a sweeping reparations package Wednesday for suspects — most of them black — who were tortured by Chicago Police under notorious former commander Jon Burge. From 1972 through 1991, more than 100 people alleged that police officers under Burge's command committed horrific abuses against them, including electrical shock, burning and mock executions. A review board ruled in 1993 that Burge's officers had used torture, and he was fired.

2. Netanyahu scrambles to form governing coalition ahead of deadline

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing to form a governing coalition before midnight (5 p.m. ET) on Wednesday. If he fails to secure a 61-seat majority in Israel's 120-seat parliament, President Reuven Rivlin will have to name someone else to form a coalition. Netanyahu has made deals with partners giving him 53 seats, and is still negotiating with the leader of the hawkish Jewish Home Party. If they reach a deal, Netanyahu would control 61 seats, a narrow coalition that would likely make it difficult to govern effectively.

3. Look it up! Dictionary.com adds new words

Agender. Brogrammer. Gesture. Even if it's a familiar word, it probably has a new meaning. Dictionary.com unveiled its newest entries on Wednesday, focusing on new and updated technology terms along with thousands of new or revised definitions that reflect English terms used in-person and online.

4. SpaceX to test system critical to safety of future astronauts
SpaceX early Wednesday plans to send a prototype Dragon capsule into the skies in a test of a system critical to the safety of astronauts who might climb on board by 2017. If all goes well, the six-second engine firing will rocket the capsule up about 5,000 feet, simulating how it would push astronauts from harm's way if a Falcon 9 rocket were in danger of exploding on the launch pad below. Lasting just 90 seconds, the "pad abort" test would be the most high-profile display yet of either of the two vehicles NASA has picked to restore the United States' ability to put astronauts in orbit. The unmanned test capsule is expected to splashdown about a mile from Cape Canaveral.

5. Another diva hits the Las Vegas strip

Mariah Carey's coming and she's ready to hit those trademark high notes. The high-pitched songstress marks her Las Vegas debut Wednesday in a series of shows for Caesar's Palace. She'll be bringing her number-one singles to The Colosseum through July, gracing the same stage Celine Dion, Cher and Shania Twain have all called home.

And, the essentials:

Weather: Wednesday calls for thunderstorms from the Great Plains to the Great Lakes, showers in the Mid-Atlantic, and showers and snow in the Rockies.

Stocks:U.S. stock futures were higher Wednesday.

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Arrow, Criminal Minds and Black-ish.

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