War of the words

Maryland shooting ... Niger fallout ... health care deal ... Richard Spencer ... insects

view in browser Thursday 10.19.17 Life is still miserable in Puerto Rico, one month after Hurricane Maria. These numbers help explain why. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. By Doug Criss Maryland shooting   The man accused of killing three people at a home-remodeling business in Maryland is in custody after a massive, daylong manhunt. Police said Radee Labeeb Prince, 37, opened fire at his workplace in Edgewood, Maryland. Prince is also accused of crossing into Delaware and shooting a man at a car dealership. Despite taking a bullet to the head, that man was able to give police Prince's name and a description of his vehicle. Prince knew all of his victims, so police don't consider these shootings random. Prince -- smoking a cigar -- was arrested near a high school in Newark, Delaware. Niger fallout President Trump getting into a war of words with someone isn't exactly news anymore. This time, though, the war of words involves a Gold Star family. Trump pushed back against a Florida congresswoman's claim that he made insensitive comments to the widow of a US serviceman killed in that ambush in Niger. In a tweet, he said Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson fabricated her story -- and that he had "proof." The serviceman's mother backed up Wilson; people who were in the room with Trump back up the President's account; and the White House said there's no recording of the conversation. Trump's inability to turn the other check turned this into a bona fide political crisis, CNN's Stephen Collinson said. Veterans are dismayed at the President's insistence to "punch back" whenever he's criticized. And none of this is helping us figure out exactly how four US soldiers ended up dead in Niger two weeks ago. Sen. John McCain says the Trump administration isn't being up front about what happened. The saddest part of this controversy is that it's overshadowing the sacrifice that four heroes made for their country. You can read more here about Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright. Health care deal   Well, that was quick. The much-ballyhooed bipartisan health care deal has "stalled out." It's mainly because President Trump pulled his support for the Senate deal, which would have restored Obamacare cost-sharing reduction payments for two years in exchange for more state flexibility. Just a day earlier, the President had signaled that he'd back the deal. So, it looks like the GOP will have to wait until next year to -- let's all say it together -- repeal and replace Obamacare. Richard Spencer   It's going to be a red alert kind of day in Florida, as white supremacist Richard Spencer visits the University of Florida in Gainesville to give a speech. This public airing of his racist views is sure to spur protests. With memories of Charlottesville's "Unite the Right" violence still fresh on everyone's minds, Florida's governor issued a state of emergency so law enforcement agencies can more easily work together to combat any trouble that pops up. The National Guard could be activated if needed, too. Spencer was in Charlottesville and has also sparked recent campus protests at Auburn and Texas A&M. Insects   Insects are in serious decline in some parts of Germany, and that could spell bad news for all of us. A new study found flying insect populations in German nature reserves dropped an "alarming" 75% over almost three decades. Scientists fear that if this is happening in protected areas, it could be happening "everywhere" -- and that would have far-reaching consequences for the world's crop production and natural ecosystems. Climate change, pesticides and loss of habitats likely caused the declines, the study says. This just in ... Spain will start a process to suspend Catalonia's autonomy in an unprecedented effort to crush the region's independence movement.  People are talking about these. Read up. Join in. Pack a towel Long layovers used to mean drinks at the airport bar. Now, they can also mean deep dives in the airport's swimming pool. Joining the resistance Chelsea Handler is stepping away from her Netflix talk show after two seasons because she wants to spend more time doing political activism. If you build it ... Google's bringing the future to Canada, as the tech giant plans to spend $50 million to build a futuristic neighborhood in Toronto. Still on the job The Northern California wildfires took away the job of a hotel's HR director. But she's right back at work, finding jobs for her unemployed colleagues. 350 The number of workers being laid off at SeaWorld. Attendance at its parks continues to decline in the wake of the controversy over "Blackfish." We lost one of the very best of us this morning. Gord was my friend. Gord was everybody's friend.   Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tearfully paying tribute to Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, who died of brain cancer 'The voice inside sings a different song' It's the most heartwarming thing you'll see all day: three teens with Down Syndrome playing Disney's "How Far I'll Go" for Down Syndrome Awareness Month. (Click to view.) Share Tweet ALL CNN NEWSLETTERS CNN Five Things shows up in your inbox every weekday at 6 a.m. ET. Like what you see? Don't like what you see? Let us know. We're all about self improvement. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign yourself up!   Copyright © 2017 Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to CNN newsletters. update preferences or unsubscribe