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Disney, Matthew Perry, 2024 elections, Hurricane Ernesto: Thursday's news

Five people have been charged in Matthew Perry's death. It looks like Tim Walz and JD Vance are headed to the debate stage. And does a Disney+ subscription mean you can never sue Disney?

đź‘‹Hello! Laura Davis here. Ready for Thursday's news? Me too. Let's go.

But first: Why do Millennials and Generation Z fall into a downward spiral, partying a lot and squandering their savings?

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Criminal complaint filed in Matthew Perry's overdose death

A doctor and a personal assistant were among five people charged in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry from the “acute effects of ketamine” last October, officials said Thursday.

What we know: Charges have been filed against doctor Salvador Plasencia (42) and Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa (59). The official described the moments leading up to Perry's death and said the defendants were involved in obtaining and administering the ketamine to Perry and then tried to “cover up their actions.” 👉 Everything we know so far.

Is there a vice presidential debate coming up soon?

Coming soon to the debate stage: Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance. Kamala Harris' running mate has agreed to debate Donald Trump in October in a showdown hosted by CBS News. Walz confirmed Wednesday that he has accepted the invitation; Vance has agreed to debate with Walz but wanted to learn about the rules and moderators before agreeing to the date. 🎤 What we know.

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Hurricane Ernesto strengthens

After devastating Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Ernesto moved toward Bermuda in the western Atlantic on Thursday, threatening to become a major hurricane before reaching the British territory.

What's up: As of Thursday afternoon, Ernesto, now a Category 1 hurricane, was located 550 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The 14 mph storm was expected to begin dumping heavy rains on Bermuda on Friday before moving near or over the island on Saturday. 🌀 View the full forecast.

📸 Photos: Ernesto beats Puerto Rico.

If the fine print is not correct

Walt Disney Co. is seeking to dismiss a widower's wrongful death lawsuit on the grounds that when he signed up for a free trial of the Disney+ streaming service, he agreed to settle any disputes with the entertainment giant and its subsidiaries out of court.

What happened? In February, Jeffrey Piccolo sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts after his wife, who was allergic to nuts and dairy, suffered a severe allergic reaction and died after dining at a Walt Disney World restaurant. But Disney lawyers said the matter should be referred to a third-party arbitrator because when Piccolo signed up for Disney+ and when he bought tickets to EPCOT on the Disney website, he agreed in the terms and conditions to arbitrate any disputes against the company. And experts say many other consumers may be unknowingly giving up their legal rights when they “agree” to the fine print on everyday purchases. 👉 Here’s what we know:

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: [email protected]. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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