NEWS

5 things you need to know Thursday

Editors
USA TODAY
Hillary Clinton waves to supporters as she arrives for an event in Raleigh, N.C., on Oct. 23, 2016.

Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton campaign side-by-side

For the first time,Hillary Clinton will take the stage on the campaign trail with her new secret weapon: Michelle Obama. The two will appear together Thursday at a rally in Winston-Salem, N.C., a must-win state for Donald Trump. The first lady has become a powerful advocate for Clinton. She is far more popular than either Clinton or Trump, and she's been capturing headlines with passionate and personal speeches. Historians say she is perhaps the most active first lady to campaign for someone other than her husband. Trump is scheduled to make three campaign appearance in the key swing state of Ohio Thursday.

Closing arguments begin in the Bridgegate trial 

The prosecution is expected to make its closing arguments Thursday in the trial of Bridget Anne Kelly, a former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Bill Baroni,  an ex-Port Authority deputy executive director. The two are charged with conspiracy wire fraud and rights violations for their alleged role in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal, which prosecutors say was intended to punish Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie for re-election. Christie is not charged with a crime in the case and has said he only learned of the alleged conspiracy in the news. Kelly testified that she spoke with Christie twice about the 2013 lane closures.

Virtual reality is officially a reality in the NBA

Want to experience the courtside feel of an NBA game without dishing out your hard-earned cash in the process? Starting Thursday, the NBA will offer a fully produced game in live virtual reality, becoming the first U.S. professional sports league to offer VR broadcasts. At least once a week, subscribers to NBA League Pass who purchase all the necessary equipment will get to watch a game in VR. All 30 NBA teams will have at least one game aired in virtual reality, with the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs being the first teams to get the VR treatment. The NBA recently announced a multiyear partnership with virtual reality company NextVR.

The best companies for paid time off

Glassdoor ranked the 25 highest rated companies for vacation and paid time off in a survey published Thursday. The report is entirely based on employee reviews. Biotechnology company Amgen tops the list with three weeks of vacation and two additional weeks around the Fourth of July and Christmas. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is close behind, offering employees 20 vacation days, plus holiday days, sick days and personal days. See the full list here.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center gives employees 20 vacation days plus float holiday days, sick days and personal days.

FCC to vote on Internet privacy rules

Practically everyone agrees that consumer privacy on the Web is important, but few agree on how the Federal Communications Commission should address the issue. The FCC is expected to vote Thursday on new rules for how Internet service providers (ISPs) can use customer data. Consumer privacy over ISPs’ broadband networks came under the purview of the FCC after the agency’s adoption last year of net neutrality or Open Internet rules. There are rules in place limiting how phone companies can use consumer data, but there are currently none in place for ISPs. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says consumers on the Web “deserve similar protections.”

The entrance to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) building in Washington, taken on June 19, 2015.

And the essentials:

Weather: A wet, raw day is forecast from the Great Lakes to the Northeast Thursday while another storm soaks the West Coast.

Stocks: Stocks retreated in most Asian markets on Thursday as investors assessed a fresh round of corporate earnings from major companies across the region.

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at The Big Bang Theory, The Good Place and Mom. 

Be inspired: Meet one of the toughest 16-year-olds we've ever seen.

Most popular: See our top stories in one nightly digest on Facebook Messenger.

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