10 Things to Know for Today: 8-1

8/1/2013

Ariel Castro looks at the judge during court proceedings Friday, July 26, 2013, in Cleveland. Castro, who imprisoned three women in his home, subjecting them to a decade of rapes and beatings, pleaded guilty Friday to 937 counts in a deal to avoid the death penalty. In exchange, prosecutors recommended Castro be sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. FACING LIFE PLUS 1,000 YEARS IN OHIO KIDNAP CASE

Prosecutors will give more details today about the years of sexual and psychological abuse of three women held by Ariel Castro.

2. HOW NSA ACCESSED MILLIONS OF PHONE RECORDS

The Obama administration disclosed the agency’s “chain analysis” that lets it trace the phone records of everyone who calls a terror suspect, and keep expanding.

3. WHO’S OPTIMISTIC IN AMERICA

An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research analysis says minorities’ confidence in economic future outpaces whites by the widest margin since the late 1980s.

4. WHERE THE WORLD’S FIRST LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET COULD BE

Uruguay’s congress narrowly approved legalizing pot’s use, growth and sale. The measure now goes to the Senate.

5. EGYPT ORDERS PROTEST CAMPS CLEARED

The military-backed government said a crackdown on two camps in Cairo is imminent.

6. ZIMMERMAN’S NEW BRUSH WITH THE LAW

The neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in Trayvon Martin’s shooting was carrying a gun when he was stopped for speeding in Texas.

7. VOTES BEING COUNTED IN ZIMBABWE

Robert Mugabe’s party withdrew a Twitter message claiming victory in the presidential election, while his opponent claimed widespread fraud.

8. SAME-SEX COUPLES SAY ‘I DO’ IN 2 MORE STATES

Dozens of Minnesota couples began tying the knot after the clock struck midnight; ceremonies were scheduled in Rhode Island this morning.

8. PUSH FOR SOURCE OF STOMACH BUG OUTBREAK

Iowa and Nebraska officials have refused to name the company that makes prepackaged salad mix traced to hundreds of the cases.

10. A-ROD’S FUTURE

The AP’s Ronald Blum reports that baseball’s highest-paid player could face a lifetime ban for a doping scandal linked to a Florida drug clinic.