The Short List: Solar flare is X

It's OK, guys. NASA isn't worried, and you shouldn't be either. A strong solar flare launched off the sun today and is headed toward Earth. The flare was classified as an 'X-class' flare, which is at the high end of the solar flare scale. While it sounds scary, the flare isn't expected to cause big disruptions. One nice side effect of the solar storm is an expansion of the photogenic aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Get out your cameras.

Judge makes huge ruling in Pistorius case but keeps us hanging for final verdict

Way to leave us hanging. Judge Thokozile Masipa made a huge ruling today when she found South African athlete Oscar Pistorius not guilty of premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - but that isn't the end of it. Masipa said Pistorius was 'negligent,' which means he could be convicted of manslaughter. She recessed the court until Friday without giving a final verdict.

Today we remember the 2,983 lives lost

It gets easier. And it doesn't. No matter what, we never forget. The nation on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the three sites where four hijacked planes crashed, a minutes-long wave of tragedy that killed almost 3,000 people, triggered at least two wars and rocked the entire world. In Pennsylvania the victims were lauded as heroes. At the Pentagon, President Obama spoke of a nation that refused to 'give in to fear.' In New York, a somber roll call of the dead was peppered with tributes and declarations of love. Tell us what's changed for you since the attacks, using #SinceSept11 on Twitter.

Congress and Obama play nice on ISILWhat? No fighting? Congressional leaders have rallied behind President Obama's call to combat the Islamic State. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he expects the House to pass Obama's $500 million funding request to train and equip Syrian rebels who are fighting the militant group known as ISIL or ISIS. But, because nothing's ever easy, Boehner stressed there is no agreement on whether that money will be included in a must-pass, stop-gap funding bill needed to keep the government running or whether it will be part of separate legislation. Missed Obama's speech on the Islamic State last night? Here are 6 takeaways.

Construction workers who witnessed Brown shooting said he threw his hands upNew witnesses have come forward in the shooting of Missouri teen Michael Brown. Two construction workers who were nearby at the time told investigators that after a police officer shot the unarmed teen once, Brown threw his hands up and pleaded with the officer to stop shooting. One of the workers told CNN that he heard one gunshot, then another shot about 30 seconds later. 'The cop didn't say, 'Get on the ground.' He just kept shooting.' The man said Brown 'had his f------ hands up.'

Police block demonstrators from gaining access to Interstate 70 on Sept. 10 near Ferguson, Mo.(Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

Extra Bites

Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.

A person sits next to life-size cardboard cutouts of Pope Francis at a Catholic radio station on Sept. 11 in Quezon City, Philippines. The cutouts are being distributed to Catholic churches and schools before the pope's visit in 2015.(Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, European Pressphoto Agency)

We can't overlook a zoo debut. This time, clouded leopards.

A sixth-grade teacher at a Washington, D.C., middle school told students to make comparisons between former president George W. Bush and Adolf Hitler in a class project. This did not go over well.

This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY. Contributing: Yamich Alcindor, John Bacon, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; By Zaheer Cassim and Stephanie Jones-Berry, Karen Weintraubm Liz Szabo, USA TODAY



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