New York, you've always mattered to us — now your vote does
The Big Apple (and the rest of New York) is actually a big deal in the race to the White House
Tuesday's primary, which doesn't usually matter in New York state, is momentous this year as candidates on both sides suck up as many delegates as they can ahead of the national political conventions. Get excited. Here's how it's likely to play out tonight: The GOP race will probably get called for Donald Trump right after the polls close at 9 p.m. ET. It looks a bit tighter for the Dems, with Hillary Clinton ahead in the polls by a solid 12ish points (rather than Trump's — wow! — estimated 20- to 30-point lead) and it may pretty late before the race gets called. Either way, New York's delegate distribution system is complicated in both parties, so it could be a while before we know the final delegate tally. So take on some New York values: grab a slice or some Buffalo wings. Watch the Yankees or Rangers (or both). And hey, get in a New York state of mind and follow along with USA TODAY for the latest.
One of the biggest aviation mysteries in history just got a couple more clues
Two pieces of debris — from the wing and tail — found in the Indian Ocean “almost certainly” came from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared without a trace two years ago. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the search, said stenciling on the pieces matched the plane registered for the flight. Time is running out to find the rest of the wreckage, believed to be located thousands of miles away off the west coast of Australia. The nations looking for the plane have a chunk of ocean left to examine, but they say that once they're done, they're done.
Those chips in your credit card? They matter
There's a reason your bank (probably) mailed you a new credit card with a chip in it. Sure, swiping your card was easy — but "chip and dip" is making a big dent in fraud. Some of the biggest merchants have seen a dip of more than 18% in counterfeit transactions, according to Visa. Other good news about the cards that Visa announced Tuesday: The company upgraded its software to make those transactions faster. Hoorays all around.
A year after Freddie Gray’s death much has changed — and much hasn't — in Baltimore
The 25-year-old black man’s death after being put into the back of a police van sparked widespread rioting and looting that rattled the city and made national news one year ago Tuesday. Now street art and murals punctuate almost every block in the neighborhood where he died. Some of the colorful pieces are huge and elaborate, some small and simple. Some encourage peace. Some promote rebellion. In some ways, life has changed in the past year. Cameras now keep an eye on what’s going on inside police vans, and the department is trying to improve its relationship with residents. But one thing remains the same: the tense relations between police and the impoverished city neighborhoods where Gray grew up.
Other news you should read about today:
Call this a "redneck rescue." A quick-thinking Texan used his monster truck to cruise around his flooded neighborhood and pluck stranded neighbors from their water-logged homes on Monday.
- Jon Jones, UFC's pound-for-pound champ, tells USA TODAY: 'I was a drug addict'
- You may never need to walk into a CVS store again — and that's just fine with the drugstore chain.
- MacBook, anyone? Apple gave its super-sleek laptops a makeover. Tech columnist Ed Baig tells us what he thinks.
This is a compilation of stories across USA TODAY.
Want the Short List delivered straight to your inbox? Yeah, you do. Sign up!