USA TODAYPrivate space travel became a reality this month. and  made history by rocketing to the edge of space just outside of Earth. While the billionaires' successful space flights open the door to potential space tourism, they also come with environmental concerns."Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man on earth who loves to preach to the rest of us about the need to lower our personal carbon footprint, just created a carbon footprint equal to the yearly output of small African nations on a vanity trip to space," reads a . A  adds the business magnate's rocket,...…USA TODAYPrivate space travel became a reality this month. and  made history by rocketing to the edge of space just outside of Earth. While the billionaires' successful space flights open the door to potential space tourism, they also come with environmental concerns."Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man on earth who loves to preach to the rest of us about the need to lower our personal carbon footprint, just created a carbon footprint equal to the yearly output of small African nations on a vanity trip to space," reads a . A  adds the business magnate's rocket,...WW…

June 19, 2020This story also ran on .Warning: Graphic images and video below.Megan Matthews thought she was dying.“I thought my head was blown off,” said Matthews, 22, who was hit in the eye with a sponge-tipped projectile fired by law enforcement at a May 29 protest in Denver. “Everything was dark. I couldn’t see.”Matthews, a soft-spoken art major who lives with her mother, had gone to the demonstration against police brutality carrying bandages, water bottles and milk so she could provide first aid to protesters.“I couldn’t really grasp how bad my injury was,” said Matthews, who sustained...…June 19, 2020This story also ran on .Warning: Graphic images and video below.Megan Matthews thought she was dying.“I thought my head was blown off,” said Matthews, 22, who was hit in the eye with a sponge-tipped projectile fired by law enforcement at a May 29 protest in Denver. “Everything was dark. I couldn’t see.”Matthews, a soft-spoken art major who lives with her mother, had gone to the demonstration against police brutality carrying bandages, water bottles and milk so she could provide first aid to protesters.“I couldn’t really grasp how bad my injury was,” said Matthews, who sustained...WW…

USA TODAYWith COVID-19 vaccine mandates becoming the new norm in some states, Chicago police officers had a decision to make.All city employees and volunteers in the Windy City had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, according to announced Aug. 25.Mayor Lori Lightfoot added on Oct. 8 that all employees had to report their vaccination status by the October deadline. Those who failed to report their status would be placed in "a non-disciplinary, no pay status," according to Employees not fully vaccinated, which is considered two weeks after the last vaccine dose, by Oct. 15 must get COVID-19...…USA TODAYWith COVID-19 vaccine mandates becoming the new norm in some states, Chicago police officers had a decision to make.All city employees and volunteers in the Windy City had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, according to announced Aug. 25.Mayor Lori Lightfoot added on Oct. 8 that all employees had to report their vaccination status by the October deadline. Those who failed to report their status would be placed in "a non-disciplinary, no pay status," according to Employees not fully vaccinated, which is considered two weeks after the last vaccine dose, by Oct. 15 must get COVID-19...WW…

USA TODAYFingerprints are unique, and most law enforcement agencies rely upon them to identify people. But how did that practice get started?A Facebook post claims it was after two nearly identical men were sent to the same prison."These two men look nearly identical, they had the same name, and they were sent to the same prison," the reads. "Before imprisonment, they had never met. They are the reason why fingerprints are used to identify people."The post, which includes photos of two strikingly similar men dressed in the same clothes, accrued more than 100 shares and 1,400 reactions...…USA TODAYFingerprints are unique, and most law enforcement agencies rely upon them to identify people. But how did that practice get started?A Facebook post claims it was after two nearly identical men were sent to the same prison."These two men look nearly identical, they had the same name, and they were sent to the same prison," the reads. "Before imprisonment, they had never met. They are the reason why fingerprints are used to identify people."The post, which includes photos of two strikingly similar men dressed in the same clothes, accrued more than 100 shares and 1,400 reactions...WW…

USA TODAYSpurred in part by rising consumer demand amid easing coronavirus restrictions,  have been reported across the country. Online, some social media users blame the Biden administration.An image in shows what appear to be empty shelves at a grocery store. Text in the photo reads "#BareShelvesBiden.""This does not happen in America," reads the post, on Twitter.Other posts with #BareShelvesBiden have accumulated tens of thousands of interactions on Facebook and Instagram, according to CrowdTangle, a social media insights tool. to President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better"...…USA TODAYSpurred in part by rising consumer demand amid easing coronavirus restrictions,  have been reported across the country. Online, some social media users blame the Biden administration.An image in shows what appear to be empty shelves at a grocery store. Text in the photo reads "#BareShelvesBiden.""This does not happen in America," reads the post, on Twitter.Other posts with #BareShelvesBiden have accumulated tens of thousands of interactions on Facebook and Instagram, according to CrowdTangle, a social media insights tool. to President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better"...WW…

USA TODAYThe remains of were found Oct. 20 at a Florida nature reserve, a month after  after returning from a cross-country trip without his fiance, Gabby Petito. Laundrie, 23, was identified by authorities as a in the death of 22-year-old travel vlogger Petito, who died by strangulation likely a month before her body was found Sept. 19 in Wyoming, . The FBI's discovery closes a case that has has on social media. As law enforcement officials searched for Laundrie, conspiracy theories about his whereabouts regularly made the rounds online. “Brian Laundrie found ALIVE...…USA TODAYThe remains of were found Oct. 20 at a Florida nature reserve, a month after  after returning from a cross-country trip without his fiance, Gabby Petito. Laundrie, 23, was identified by authorities as a in the death of 22-year-old travel vlogger Petito, who died by strangulation likely a month before her body was found Sept. 19 in Wyoming, . The FBI's discovery closes a case that has has on social media. As law enforcement officials searched for Laundrie, conspiracy theories about his whereabouts regularly made the rounds online. “Brian Laundrie found ALIVE...WW…

USA TODAYA Facebook post with more than 38,000 shares appears to show a marching band at a football stadium spelling out a vulgar message directed toward President Joe Biden.The image shows a football field on which a marching band appears to be spelling out a vulgarity directed toward Biden."Relentless lol," reads the caption of .Within three days the post received more than 72,000 likes. In the comments, some users questioned the authenticity of the image, while others believed it was a genuine photo."Did this really happen and what game was it?" one commenter asked."Great Marching...…USA TODAYA Facebook post with more than 38,000 shares appears to show a marching band at a football stadium spelling out a vulgar message directed toward President Joe Biden.The image shows a football field on which a marching band appears to be spelling out a vulgarity directed toward Biden."Relentless lol," reads the caption of .Within three days the post received more than 72,000 likes. In the comments, some users questioned the authenticity of the image, while others believed it was a genuine photo."Did this really happen and what game was it?" one commenter asked."Great Marching...WW…

USA TODAYPolice haven’t released the cause of death for Jelani Day, an Illinois State University student whose case However, his mother felt compelled to state he had not been a victim of "organ harvesting" in response to posts shared tens of thousands of times on , and .The posts variously claimed that Day was found with no brain, a sawed-off jawbone and "no ORGANS, not even a liver.” Social media users suspected that Day had been subjected to torture, mutilation, organ harvesting or all three. “Autopsy Reports Find Jelani Day’s Body Was...…USA TODAYPolice haven’t released the cause of death for Jelani Day, an Illinois State University student whose case However, his mother felt compelled to state he had not been a victim of "organ harvesting" in response to posts shared tens of thousands of times on , and .The posts variously claimed that Day was found with no brain, a sawed-off jawbone and "no ORGANS, not even a liver.” Social media users suspected that Day had been subjected to torture, mutilation, organ harvesting or all three. “Autopsy Reports Find Jelani Day’s Body Was...WW…

USA TODAYSocial media users have criticized President Joe Biden in the past for taking a knee and have linked him to a social justice movement – kneeling during the national anthem.Last year, USA TODAY that Biden took a knee when he saw an American flag when in fact he knelt to speak to a child at eye level. USA TODAY also that he took a knee during the national anthem at a campaign visit in Miami. In July, USA TODAY about Biden kneeling during a meeting with Israeli officials.The most recent claim is that  during a visit by the 2020 WNBA champion Seattle Storm . claims...…USA TODAYSocial media users have criticized President Joe Biden in the past for taking a knee and have linked him to a social justice movement – kneeling during the national anthem.Last year, USA TODAY that Biden took a knee when he saw an American flag when in fact he knelt to speak to a child at eye level. USA TODAY also that he took a knee during the national anthem at a campaign visit in Miami. In July, USA TODAY about Biden kneeling during a meeting with Israeli officials.The most recent claim is that  during a visit by the 2020 WNBA champion Seattle Storm . claims...WW…

July 24, 2020This story also ran on .There’s a gap in Scott Olsen’s memory for the night of Oct. 25, 2011.The Iraq War vet remembers leaving his tech job in the San Francisco Bay Area and taking a BART train to join an against economic and social inequality.He remembers standing near protesters who faced off with Oakland police officers bristling with riot gear.He remembers being carried away by other protesters.But not the moment when a “bean bag” round fired from an officer’s 12-gauge shotgun crashed into the left side of his head, fracturing his skull and inflicting a near-fatal brain...…July 24, 2020This story also ran on .There’s a gap in Scott Olsen’s memory for the night of Oct. 25, 2011.The Iraq War vet remembers leaving his tech job in the San Francisco Bay Area and taking a BART train to join an against economic and social inequality.He remembers standing near protesters who faced off with Oakland police officers bristling with riot gear.He remembers being carried away by other protesters.But not the moment when a “bean bag” round fired from an officer’s 12-gauge shotgun crashed into the left side of his head, fracturing his skull and inflicting a near-fatal brain...WW…