Advertisement

Apparent human remains found

A discovery was made in the search for Brian Laundrie. Netflix employees walked out over a Dave Chappelle special. And a meteor shower could be coming to a sky near you!

👋 Hey! Laura here, with all the news you need to know Wednesday.

But first, 150 destinations; 274 nights; $60,999 per person. 🛳 Would you get a ticket on the "longest and most comprehensive" world cruise? Royal Caribbean just announced the ultimate world cruise.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

Personal items linked to Brian Laundrie found near apparent human remains

What appears to be human remains, along with personal items believed to belong to Brian Laundrie, were discovered in a Florida park, the FBI announced Wednesday, potentially ending the search for the missing fiance of slain blogger Gabby Petito. FBI Tampa special agent Michael McPherson said the items, including a backpack and notebook, and the apparent human remains were found in an area that was previously submerged in water at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. The heavily wooded, 160-acre park connects to the Carlton Preserve, a 25,000-acre wetlands and wilderness area where authorities spent days searching for Laundrie after his family reported him missing on Sept. 17. Petito's body was found on Sept. 19 near a Wyoming campground. Her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation.

Brian Laundrie is the sole person of interest in the strangulation death of his fiance, blogger Gabby Petito.
Brian Laundrie is the sole person of interest in the strangulation death of his fiance, blogger Gabby Petito.

Mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines gets FDA approval

Want to mix it up a bit? The Food and Drug Administration gave the OK for Americans to mix and match booster doses of their COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA also signed off on COVID-19 booster shots for those who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Those who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine can now get a second dose at least two months after their first shot of J&J, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Moderna, the FDA said Wednesday. Those who got Pfizer or Moderna can get a booster of any of the three vaccines six months after they finished their two-dose series – if they fit the necessary criteria. The agency's decisions still need to be ratified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose advisory committee is scheduled to discuss COVID-19 boosters on Thursday.

What everyone's talking about

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Gunman in Parkland school shooting pleads guilty

The gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018 pleaded guilty Wednesday to as many first-degree murder charges, and the legal question in the case now turns to whether he will be sentenced to death. Attorneys for Nikolas Cruz, 23, have said they will argue against the death penalty for their client in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A sentencing trial is expected in the coming months. Cruz briefly addressed the court after entering the plea, saying he was sorry for what he did. Cruz was also sentenced to nearly 26 years in prison Wednesday on charges stemming from an attack on a jail guard nine months after the shooting.

Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a Florida high school, has pleaded guilty to all 34 counts of premeditated and attempted murder.
Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a Florida high school, has pleaded guilty to all 34 counts of premeditated and attempted murder.

Netflix employees walkout over Chappelle special

Emotional speeches were heard during an organized rally of supporters of Netflix employees, who made good on a promise to walk out Wednesday over Dave Chappelle’s transphobic remarks in his new stand-up special, "The Closer." The contentious debate over Chappelle's transphobic remarks in his latest stand-up special has generated passionate responses from Chappelle supporters and detractors alike on social media in recent days. The issue intensified late Tuesday, as Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos did a flurry of phone interviews in which he admitted he "screwed up" his response to staff but reiterated his support of the comedy show.

  • Netflix's support of Chappelle sets a dangerous precedent. Here's why.

People rally in support of the Netflix transgender walkout and others in support of comedy and free speech, on October 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California - Netflix bosses braced for an employee walkout and rally in Los Angeles on October 20, 2021 as anger swelled over a new Dave Chappelle comedy special that activists say is harmful to the transgender community.

Real quick

Orionids meteor shower reaches peak

Stargazers who venture out Wednesday night through dawn Thursday will get an extra treat: the peak of the Orionids, usually the best meteor shower of the fall. The Orionids shower happens when the Earth passes through the debris of the famous Halley's Comet. Meteors are remnants of comets that leave a glowing trail as they burn up in the atmosphere. This year, the meteors have to compete with a full moon, so a lot of them won't be visible. Even so, experts say you should still be able to see meteors if you are patient. Some tips: Use a lounge chair or blanket, so you don't have to crane your neck; let your eyes adjust to the darkness; and plan to spend at least an hour outside.

This NASA handout photo released on August 11, 2021, shows a 30 second exposure, as a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower on August 10, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.
This NASA handout photo released on August 11, 2021, shows a 30 second exposure, as a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower on August 10, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

A break from the news

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Search for Brian Laundrie, Netflix walkout, COVID-19 vaccines, Parkland school shooting, Orionids meteor shower. It's Wednesday's news.