What to know now:
1. Accepting the nomination: It's Donald Trump's turn Thursday as the Republican National Convention wraps up amid in-family fighting and Democrat bashing. Trump will take the stage, introduced by his daughter, Ivanka. The GOP nominee couldn't seem to stay away from the stage during the past three days, something most candidates strive to do at their party's convention. He made an appearance in the back of the Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday night toward the end of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's speech, and came onstage to shake the hand of his running mate when Indiana Gov. Mike Pence finished his speech. The convention activities for Thursday begin at 7:10 p.m. ET.
2. A little off-script: It wasn't exactly what Republican convention-goers expected, to say the least. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took to the Quicken Loans Arena stage in primetime to talk about the party and, most believed, to endorse Donald Trump for president. Cruz received a standing ovation as he was introduced, went on to talk about Republican values and the daughter of one of the Dallas Police officers who was killed earlier this month, then told the convention audience that they should "vote their conscience in the fall." As the crowd began to boo, some yelling "endorse Trump," Cruz continued with his speech, refusing to give in, saying, "I want to see the principles that our party believes in prevail in November."
3. Texas law rejected: A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas' voter ID law discriminates against minorities at the polls. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court ruled that the law violates the federal Voting Rights Act and said the state must fix it before the elections in November. According to the court, voters will still have to show a photo ID, but if a person can't, they cannot be prevented from voting.
4. Lost their appeal: Russian track and field athletes will not be competing in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics after they lost an appeal of a ban on competition following allegations of doping. Sixty-eight athletes had challenged the ban from the IAAF. There is a possibility Russia's entire Olympic team could be banned from competition following reports of state-sponsored doping.
5. Another shooting video: Miami police are withholding comment on a cell phone video circulating on social media that shows a police officer shooting the caretaker of an autistic man as he was lying on the ground with his hands up. Charles Kinsey is recovering after being shot by a North Miami Police officer. The video appears to show Kinsey lying on his back with his hands in the air as he is shot.
And one more
The parents of the toddler who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World last month say they have no plans to sue the resort over their child's death, and that they continue to grieve for the 2-year-old. "Melissa and I are broken," Matt Graves, father of Lane Graves, said. "We will forever struggle to comprehend why this happened to our sweet baby, Lane. As each day passes, the pain gets worse, but we truly appreciate the outpouring of sympathy and warm sentiments we have received from around the world." According to Graves, they have started a foundation with the money people have donated. The foundation will, in turn, donate to charitable organizations.
In case you missed it
Just a first lady riding in a car, singing.
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