5 key points for May 6: College demonstrations, Gaza conflicts, Severe climate, Starliner launch, House Speaker race

May 6: Important information about campus protests, Gaza, severe weather, SpaceX's Starlink launch, and House Speaker elections.

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1. College Protests

Graduation ceremonies took place last weekend at colleges and universities, with administrators dealing with pro-Palestinian protests. At the University of Michigan, banners with opposing messages were flown overhead, and protesters were removed during the school's main graduation ceremony on Saturday. At the University of Southern California, where the main graduation event was canceled, police cleared out another protest camp on Sunday. Meanwhile, some students at Princeton University are on a hunger strike, saying they'll abstain from food and drink - except water - until their demands are met. So far, no schools have agreed to fully divest from companies doing business in Israel, which has been a common demand from student protesters throughout the country.

2. Gaza

Israel's military has told people in eastern Rafah to evacuate immediately, a day after the country's defense minister warned of "intense action" in the city "in the near future." Residents and displaced people in eastern Rafah are in a state of panic after the Israeli military issued the evacuation order. Aid agencies are warning against a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah, stating that "any ground operation would mean more suffering and death" for the 1.2 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in and around Gaza's southernmost city. This comes as northern Gaza is experiencing a "full-blown famine" which is quickly spreading throughout the strip.

3. Severe Weather

More than 25 million people in the South and Central Plains are facing severe storm threats today. Search and rescue teams in parts of Texas are patrolling streets and neighborhoods for individuals trapped in the water after at least 200 people were rescued from homes and vehicles in Harris County. Rainfall amounts in the region have been immense over the past week, with some areas getting two months' worth of rain in five days. Dozens of tornadoes have struck from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast. Parts of the state have been hit with softball-sized hail, and heavy rain in East Texas has caused rivers to rise to levels not seen since the devastating floods of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

4. Starliner

Boeing's spaceflight program could reach a significant milestone today with the launch of its Starliner spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts to orbit. The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test, could take off as soon as 10:34 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This milestone is the result of Boeing's efforts to develop a spacecraft that can transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Development issues, test flight complications, and other costly setbacks have slowed Starliner's journey to the launchpad for years. Live coverage of the event will be available on NASA channels starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

5. House Speaker

House Speaker Mike Johnson could face a vote over his removal this week, a critical moment that could test the Louisiana Republican's leadership abilities, even though he is expected to win. Democrats have said they will vote to end the effort led by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, ensuring Johnson won't lose his position. Despite the expected outcome, the vote is poised to create a significant conflict on the House floor and exacerbate divisions among House Republicans, who currently possess a slim majority. Some hardline conservatives have been strongly critical of Johnson's speakership, particularly over his support for the major foreign aid package with aid for Ukraine last month.

Later Today

Trump's Hush Money Trial Resumes: In three weeks, former President Donald Trump will return to a New York courtroom at his first criminal trial, where he has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Here's a recap of what's taken place in the trial so far.

Breakfast Browse

2024 Met Gala Today: Stars will soon showcase an array of daring and extraordinary outfits at the Met Gala in New York. Find out this year's theme.

CNN rode along with sheriff’s office to witness rescue of people amid floods. CNN's Rosa Flores reports on the floods in Harris County, Texas, where at least 224 people have been rescued from homes and vehicles, according to officials.

1.6 Million Turn Out for Free Madonna Concert on Brazil's Copacabana Beach: Over a million people braved the Brazillian heat to see the end of Madonna's "Celebration" world tour.

Mystik Dan Wins 150th Kentucky Derby in a Dramatic Photo Finish: Did you watch the Kentucky Derby on Saturday? Check out photos from the gripping finish at Churchill Downs.

Did You Know? "Vegetable" isn't a botanical term. Here's why you should still eat them.

The President of ABC News, Kim Godwin, has resigned recently.

IN MEMORIAM

British actor Bernard Hill, popular for his supporting roles in "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings" series, has passed away, according to his family's announcement last Sunday. He was 79 years old. He played the role of Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 epic film "Titanic". In "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he appeared as King Theoden of Rohan.

TODAY'S NUMBER

295 millionThis is the estimated number of trips that occurred within mainland China during the five-day May Day holiday period, which ended last Sunday, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported. Despite the number of trips, data indicates that travelers have been frugal with their spending, hinting that the Chinese economy's consumption remains weak.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"What's happening now in our oceans is like wildfires underwater."

— Kate Quigley, a research scientist, describing the mass bleaching event happening on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Bleaching is when corals, under the stress of marine heat waves, eject algae from their tissue, making them look lifeless. These corals are negatively affected by the temperatures in the ocean reaching record highs over the last year.

TODAY'S WEATHER

For your daily weather forecast, [click here].

AND FINALLY ...

Taking wearable technology to a higher levelThousands of Swedes have chosen to have microchips surgically inserted under their skin as a new payment method. Discover more about this intriguing process and potential future applications in this captivating video. Watch it here.