5 things you need to know Wednesday
Miami mourns Jose Fernandez
The Miami community continues to mourn Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez with a public memorial on Wednesday. Fernandez was with two friends, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero, when his 32-foot boat slammed into a jetty off Miami Beach, resulting in the death of all three men. Fans lined up to pay their respects for the former NL Rookie of the Year at a makeshift memorial in front of the ballpark earlier this week. To honor the star pitcher, the Marlins announced they will retire Fernandez's No. 16 jersey. The procession will begin at Marlins Park and travel to Ermita de la Caridad (Shrine of Our Lady of Charity) in Miami for a blessing, before heading to Saint Brendan Catholic Church for a public viewing.
Showdown looms in Congress over 9/11 bill
The Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on overriding President Obama's veto of a bill that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia and other countries over the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, would provide an exception to the doctrine of "sovereign immunity," which holds that one country can't be sued in another country's courts. In a three-page veto message to Congress, Obama said he has "deep sympathy" for the families of victims of terrorism, but that the legislation would interfere with the president's ability to conduct foreign policy. The veto was the 12th of Obama's presidency and the first to face the serious prospect of a veto override.
Chicago Teachers Union to decide on strike
The Chicago Teachers Union’s governing body will decide Wednesday whether to send a 10-day strike notice to the state Education Labor Relations Board after teachers in Chicago — the nation’s third-largest school district — voted overwhelmingly in favor of calling a strike. If the notice is authorized, the teachers could walk out on the 400,000-student school system by Oct. 11. Teachers and school officials are quarreling over teacher compensation, including whether the district should continue the long-standing arrangement of picking up the bulk of teachers' required pension contributions. The strike would mark the third work stoppage during Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s time in office.
Joe Biden visits 'Law & Order: SVU'
Vice President Biden, who's spent much of the last year representing It's On Us, the White House's campaign for the prevention of sexual assault, will appear on Wednesday's episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 ET/PT). Biden, who wrote the Violence Against Women Act more than 20 years ago, credits the long-running crime procedural for bringing about a shift in the nation’s attitude toward sexual assault at the law enforcement level. As for his time on screen, the vice president said, "This one, I didn't have to act about," he said. "This one is just right from the gut."
'Modern Family' casts transgender child actor Jackson Millarker
Never shy about breaking down industry barriers, ABC's smash hit Modern Family will feature transgender child actor Jackson Millarker on Wednesday's show as Hollywood continues its battle over diversity hiring practices. Millarker, 8, will play Tom, a friend of Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) who comes over for a playdate. According to the episode's synopsis, her dads, Cameron and Mitchell, overhear Lily making fun of Tom, prompting them to have a conversation with their daughter about acceptance. The episode, coincidentally, comes weeks after Jeffrey Tambor's spirited plea to give transgender talent an opportunity while accepting his second consecutive Emmy for Transparent.
And the essentials:
Weather: A wet day is forecast for the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Drenching rain could lead to flooding in the Mid-Atlantic and Central Appalachians by the evening and into Thursday.
Stocks: Global stock markets were mixed Wednesday after investors were reassured by trade-friendly Hillary Clinton’s performance in a U.S. presidential debate with rival Donald Trump.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Criminal Minds, Black-ish and Code Black.
Be inspired: Blind horse has a guide horse to help her get around.
If you missed Tuesday's news, we’ve got you covered.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox.
Contributing: Associated Press