5 things you need to know Thursday
1. NBA looks for new opportunities in Cuba
The NBA's global reach extends millions of miles to hundreds of countries, and for the first time, that will include Cuba. The NBA will hold a four-day basketball camp for Cuba's men's and women's national teams and a youth camp in Havana starting Thursday, making the NBA the first U.S. pro sports league to visit that country since President Obama ordered the restoration of diplomatic relations.
2. EU leaders hold emergency summit on migrant crisis
European Union leaders will gather in Brussels on Thursday in the wake of a shipwreck off Libya last weekend, which authorities believe may have killed more than 800 migrants. "We think it's the moment in which Europe decides, forcefully, to have an international police operation" to thwart smugglers, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti said.
3. Loretta Lynch one step closer to attorney general vote
Senators are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to end debate on Loretta Lynch's nomination for attorney general and proceed to a vote on her confirmation. Senate Republican leaders said they wouldn't vote on Lynch until Democrats lifted their objections to a human trafficking bill. The bill passed Wednesday 99-0. President Obama's been exasperated by the Senate's process: "Nobody can describe a reason for it beyond political gamesmanship in the Senate, on an issue that's completely unrelated to her," Obama said. "Enough. Call Loretta Lynch for a vote."
4. Michael Brown family plans to sue city of Ferguson
Lawyers for the family of Michael Brown Jr., the African-American teenager who was fatally shot by a white police officer in a St. Louis suburb last year, said they plan to announce the filing of a wrongful-death suit against the city of Ferguson Thursday. Attorney Anthony Gray said that a suit would "demonstrate to reasonable-minded people" that Officer Darren Wilson did not need to use deadly force against the 18-year-old Brown, who was unarmed, and give "a more clear, a more accurate picture of what took place that day."
5. Ex-CIA head Petraeus to plead guilty to sharing secrets with mistress
Former CIA director David Petraeus is expected to plead guilty in a Charlotte federal court to mishandling classified information. A lengthy FBI investigation determined that Petraeus shared sensitive material, including names of covert officers and war strategy, with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and mistress. Prosecutors will ask that the retired four-star general be given two years' probation and a $40,000 fine as part of a plea agreement.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Much of the U.S. will see a rather dreary, cool Thursday, as springlike warmth is pushed down to the southern tier.
Stocks:U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday.
TV Tonight: Can't decide what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Grey's Anatomy, Mom and Louie.
If you missed Wednesday's news, we've got you covered here.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox or find us on the Yo! app: justyo.co/usatoday.