Here's a roundup of news trending across the nation and world today.
What to know now:
1. Nuclear option likely: A vote that would change the way things are done in the Senate could take place Thursday. Republicans are expected to move to end a filibuster by Democrats over the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court soon after the Senate comes into session. A motion for a cloture vote, a vote that ends debate, will be made likely about an hour after the session starts. If that vote fails, and it will if Democrats vote as they say they will, then Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Kentucky), is expected to call for a change to the rules of the Senate that would eliminate filibusters for U.S. Supreme Court nominees. That change has become known as the "nuclear option," and would mean that a simple majority of senators could force an up-or-down vote on a Supreme Court nomination. It takes 60 votes now to move a Supreme Court nomination to a full Senate vote.
2. Masters resumes: The Masters golf tournament will continue Thursday, despite the forecast for strong winds and cooler temperatures. Play was suspended on Wednesday because of strong storms that blew through Georgia. Dustin Johnson, who was favored going into the tournament, suffered a fall down a staircase in the home he rented in Augusta for the tournament. Johnson injured his lower back, and, according to his agent is resting, "although quire uncomfortably." He is expected to try to play Thursday.
3. Bannon is out of NSC: Stephen Bannon, the man who has been a lightning rod in President Donald Trump's inner circle, was removed from the National Security Council on Wednesday. Some reports claimed Bannon threatened to resign after he was dropped from the council, but was talked into staying by a top Republican donor. Bannon said he did not threaten to resign and that reports that he did were "total nonsense."
4. Alabama governor trouble: The Alabama Ethics Commission found "probably cause" Wednesday that Gov. Robert Bentley violated campaign finance and ethics laws when he used state resources to facilitate an affair with a former staffer. The decision comes as the judiciary committee considers impeachment hearings over an alleged relationship with Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Those hearings could begin as early as next week. Bentley has denied he had a physical relationship with Mason.
5. World War I commemoration: The National World War I Museum will commemorate the 100th anniversary Thursday of the decision by the United States to enter that war. The museum in Kansas City, Missouri, will host the ceremony that will include reading passages from accounts of the decision to go to war, flyovers, music from the period and other performances. You can watch the ceremony live – it begins at 10 a.m. – on YouTube.
And one more
John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday. Glenn was 95 when he died in December. A private ceremony will take place beginning at 9 a.m. The Marine Corps will livestream the rest of the ceremony beginning at 9:40 a.m. The former astronaut and senator from Ohio is being buried on his 74th wedding anniversary.
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