5 things you need to know Monday
1. 100th anniversary of start of World War I
Remembering was easy when World War I was still vivid — when Veterans Day was still called Armistice Day, and the former Doughboys would squeeze into their old uniforms and march, a bit more stiffly each year. But 100 years after an assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, led to World War I, America's memory of its second-deadliest foreign war is increasingly tenuous. The nation's last World War I veteran died three years ago. The war's markers and mementos are still there, but fewer and fewer people know what they mean. USA TODAY's Rick Hampson looks at how the "Great War" has faded into obscurity.
2. Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell's corruption trial begins
The corruption trial of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, starts Monday. McDonnell said in January that he did "nothing illegal" and vowed to fight the federal government's "false allegations" that he and his wife improperly accepted gifts and loans from a political donor. McDonnell and his wife have been indicted on 14 counts. The indictment alleges they accepted more than $135,000 in expensive clothing, trips, loans and other items from Jonnie Williams Sr., former CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for the governor's assistance in helping the maker of dietary supplements.
3. 'The Bachelorette' finale: Josh or Nick?
Tonight, The Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman, will or will not propose marriage to someone who is or is not the love of her life — and who, should he say yes, will or will not actually marry her. Will she choose to give her final rose to Nick Viall or Josh Murray?
4. Muslims started celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Muslims' monthlong dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fasting – no eating, drinking, smoking or sex – with three days of feasts and festivities. The traditional celebrations do not appear as though they will be a time of much joy for the residents of Gaza, however, as a lasting cease-fire in the nearly three-week conflict there between Israel and Hamas remains elusive. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution at midnight Monday morning calling for Israel and Hamas to begin a "humanitarian cease-fire into the Eid period and beyond."
5. Obama to dedicate fellowship program to Nelson Mandela
President Obama is re-naming an African fellowship program in honor of the late South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. Obama will make the announcement Monday during a town-hall-style meeting with guests who participated in the inaugural — and soon to be re-named — Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, officials said. Fellowships are designed to give 500 young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa leadership training at American universities.
And the essentials:
Weather: Monday's forecast calls for severe thunderstorms and hot temperatures across most parts of the U.S.
Stocks: Investors were driving stock futures lower ahead of the opening bell.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Bachelorette, Bear Grylls
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