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Breonna Taylor broadcast memorial, unemployment numbers, Serena vs. Venus: 5 things to know Thursday

Editors, USA TODAY
·4 min read

Dozens of radio stations nationwide to broadcast Breonna Taylor memorial

Radio stations across the country will carry a broadcast Thursday to commemorate Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman and emergency room technician who was unarmed when shot and killed by police inside her Louisville home in March. Led by Louisville radio station 97.1 FM WXOX, the broadcast will start at 2 p.m. ET and feature Taylor's favorite song, "Everything" by Mary J. Blige, according to an email sent by the station to several radio stations. The song will be introduced by Taylor's family and followed by a reading of names accompanied by audio from Louisville protests of her killing.

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NFL refs face opt-out deadline

NFL officials have until Thursday to notify the league about any decisions to opt out of the season. Any official who opts out will receive a $30,000 payment, have guaranteed job protection and will be eligible to return for the 2021 season. For officials who do choose to be part of the season and test positive for COVID-19, it will be treated as "as an injury sustained while performing a League-sanctioned or required activity." The infected official would then be entitled to injury pay, medical expenses and other benefits.

Coronavirus: Unemployment numbers expected to fluctuate

New unemployment numbers are expected Thursday amid a pandemic with no end in sight. The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims may continue to seesaw, creeping up, then slightly falling, but the level will likely remain high as economic uncertainty lingers amid surges in coronavirus cases. Unemployment fell to 10.2% in July, down from 11.1% in June. But the fledgling economic rebound has been uneven, with rehiring increasing in certain industries while stalling in others. Hospitality and retail companies are bringing on staff in pockets of the country where stay-at-home orders have eased in contrast to businesses in the South and West that are cutting jobs as the coronavirus spikes.

Serena vs. Venus at Top Seed Open

For the 31st time, tennis fans will be treated to a Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams showdown. The matchup (starting at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET and airing on the Tennis Channel) was set up when the sisters advanced with first-round wins at the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Ky. Between them, the Williams sisters have won 30 Grand Slam singles titles (23 for Serena; seven for Venus). With the U.S. Open slated to start on Aug. 31, this match provides both players with an opportunity to test themselves following the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Selena Gomez talks mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic

In the coronavirus pandemic, even celebrities have to cook at home ­– and in the new HBO Max series "Selena + Chef" streaming Thursday, Gomez tries to learn how to be a better cook from professional chefs, including Antonia Lofaso, Ludo Lefebvre and Nancy Silverton. The only catch? It's all happening remotely in quarantine, so the chefs can only offer Gomez their best advice over video chat. Gomez, who rarely appears in unscripted programming, thought the series could bring some lightness and levity to the world. The singer has been vocal about her struggles with mental health, and she noted it has been difficult for many to cope with the changes and isolation brought on by the pandemic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breonna Taylor, unemployment numbers: 5 things to know Thursday