5 things you need to know Wednesday

Youth sports culture increases the risk for injury

A new survey by Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit advocacy group, finds "an alarming gap" in what is being done to keep young athletes safe while in the game, whether its playing sports from scholastic and intramural to team sports. The results show 1 in 4 young athletes said it's normal to commit hard fouls and play rough to "send a message" during a game. An additional 42% of players reported having hidden or downplayed an injury during a game so they could keep playing.

Race car driver Kevin Ward Jr.'s funeral proceedings begin

Mourners can begin paying their respects to race car driver Kevin Ward Jr. on Wednesday afternoon at the Trainor Funeral Home in Boonville, N.Y. The 20-year-old was struck by NASCAR star Tony Stewart and killed last Saturday in the horrific car accident. He will be laid to rest Thursday morning at a location that has yet to be determined.

Most births outside marriage to women living with partners

The majority of non-marital births in the U.S. are to women who are cohabiting, rising from 41% of recent births in 2002 to 58%. Nearly three in five births to unmarried women across the USA were to women living with their partner – marking the first time a majority of non-marital these births were to women in cohabiting relationships, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

ICYMI: Furor erupts over details of Robin Williams' death

Many spectators are angered by the amount of detail released by the Marin County sheriff's office in their news conference Tuesday about the late comedian. No detail seemed to be spared by including that he was found by his personal assistant with a belt around his neck and with "acute" wounds on his wrists. The social media backlash has been heated following the outpouring of support for Williams.

Michael Jackson's 'A Place With No Name' music video premieres on Twitter

Dust off your moon-walking shoes. A video for the late performer Michael Jackson's posthumous singleA Place With No Name will be released on Twitter at 10 p.m. This video will be the first to be featured as a part of a tweet, not as a link leading to an off-site page.

Bonus: Happy International Left-Handers Day!

Started 22 years ago by the Left-Handers Club, today is a celebration for all those who struggle to find the correct pair of scissors that aren't for rightys.

And, the essentials:

Weather: While morning rain and storms should drench much of the East, severe storms could hit the Northwest.

Stocks: Investors drove stock futures higher despite mounting international conflicts. ​

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Modern Family and Legends.

If you missed Wednesday's news, we've got you covered here.

You can also get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox. Subscribe.

Contributing: Alia Dastagir, Kim Painter, Sharon Jayson and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY