Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. Wreckage of missing U.S. military chopper found
The wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter that went missing during a relief mission in quake-devastated Nepal has been found not far from where it vanished, officials said Friday. The chopper — with six Americans and two Nepalese service members on board — vanished late Tuesday night following a magnitude-7.3 aftershock earlier in the day. Read more in NEWS.
2. Amtrak train was accelerating more than twice speed limit
Investigators in the deadly Amtrak train crash in north Philadelphia say the commuter locomotive was accelerating when it derailed on Tuesday — hurtling at more than twice the 50 mph speed limit as it entered a curve. In a simulation shown to NBC News, one expert explained how exceeding railroad track speed limits by as little as five miles per hour can derail a train. Read more in NEWS.
3. Eighth body pulled from train identified
A search dog discovered the eighth victim Thursday in the Amtrak train's mangled first car. With the discovery, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said for the first time that all 243 people on board had been accounted for. More than 200 people were injured, and the mayor said 43 were still in the hospital on Thursday. Read more in NEWS.
4. Blues legend B.B. King dies at 89
Although the famed guitarist had continued to perform well into his 80s, King suffered from diabetes and had been in declining health during the past year. He had been in hospice care at his Las Vegas home when he died. During his prolific career spanning nearly 70 years, King was not only the undisputed "King of the Blues" but a mentor to scores of guitarists. Read more in POP CULTURE.
5. Jeb Bush: 'I would not have gone into Iraq'
After nearly a week of differing answers on the question, the likely GOP presidential candidate on Thursday gave a definitive response to whether he would have authorized the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 knowing what we know now. "I would have not engaged," Bush said at a town hall in Arizona. "I would not have gone into Iraq." Read more in POLITICS.
6. Mass poisoning of stray dogs in Pakistan draws anger
Animal rights activists are speaking out against leaders of Karachi for the mass poisoning of stray dogs in Pakistan's largest city. Pictures of the poisoning show rows of dead dogs laid out in the street. The non-profit group Animal Rescue told NBC News that instead of mass euthanization of the animals, the city should have a proper spay-and-neuter program. Read more in NEWS.
7. NFL commish to personally hear Tom Brady suspension appeal
The Patriots quarterback appealed his four-game Deflate-Gate suspension on Thursday through the NFL players union, which asked Commissioner Roger Goodell to appoint an independent arbitrator to hear the case. Instead, the NFL confirmed that Goodell will personally hear Brady's appeal. Read more in SPORTS.
Nightly Spotlight
Joey Alexander, a Jakarta, Indonesia, native, started playing Thelonious Monk at 6 and now performs to big crowds in New York City.
