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In a galaxy far, far away

On the same day Star Wars fans are paraphrasing and celebrating "A New Hope," President Joe Biden announced a new goal.

It's Julius with the news everyone's talking about.

But first, look at the sky tonight 🌠: The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to arrive before dawn Wednesday — or possibly late Tuesday.

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Biden sets updated vaccination goal

President Joe Biden wants 70% of U.S. adults to have at least one COVID-19 shot by July 4, a goal he announced Tuesday. The pace of vaccinations required to reach 70% is much slower than the speed with which the nation got to its current levels. Now, most states appear to be at or near the point where supply is outstripping demand, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That's despite the fact that in about 1 in 4 states, fewer than half of adults have received at least one shot. Today, about 56% of total adults in the U.S. have received at least one shot.

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Train overpass collapse in Mexico City leaves 24 dead, 70 injured

At least 24 people died, and about 70 were injured, after an overpass collapsed in Mexico City late Monday, sending cars from the city's newest subway line plunging toward a busy boulevard. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to residents of where the accident took place. “A hug to all the people of Tláhuac, to all those who are suffering from this accident," he said. Obrador also promised a thorough investigation of the tragedy.

What everyone’s talking about

Why thousands of pickup trucks are sitting in lots, not with customers

Thousands of pickup trucks are built and sitting in U.S. car lots because of an ongoing global semiconductor shortage. The shortage has had a multibillion-dollar impact on the auto industry, with a company like Ford having approximately 22,000 vehicles parked and awaiting parts at the end of March. "The semiconductor shortage and the impact to production will get worse before it gets better," Ford CEO Jim Farley said after earnings posted. In fact, Intel Corp. CEO Pat Gelsinger predicted the problem will plague the auto industry "for a few more years," Bloomberg reported Monday. While vehicle production could be made up toward the end of the year, it is less likely with every month that passes.

Thousands of pickup trucks could be seen from I-71 in Sparta, Kentucky on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Ford Motor Co. had approximately 22,000 vehicles at the end of March primarily in North America awaiting installation of chip related components, Chief Financial Officer John Lawler said during a first quarter earnings call with analysts on April 28, 2021. These appear to be Super Duty trucks, which are made by UAW members at the Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant in Louisville.

Readers show love to outstanding educators on Teachers Day

For Teacher Appreciation Day, we're highlighting educators in The Short List who have inspired our readers. One Short List reader, Pat Gerke, shared how proud she is of her daughter, Alison Greenhouse's, life as a teacher in Norris, Tennessee. "I tried to instill in our children, 'Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.' Our daughter, Alison, heard the message and lives it. As an art teacher, she finds beauty in the world and shows the children how to search for it, how to find it, how to produce it and share it with others. Sharing beauty and love, with the laughter of children as your daily soundtrack, who can have a better life? I'm proud of all she's accomplished, especially her zeal for living."

  • Josh on his wife, Victoria, a music teacher: "...she dug in for us, made a difference in those kids lives. I just wanted to thank her for everything. Thank you for your time."

  • Yashekia on Mrs. Forbes-Machado, a kindergarten teacher in White Plains, New York: "With so much ambiguity, she helped to calm stress and created a consistent routine for parents and students ... Her openness, communication and empathy made all the difference!"

  • Sheila Flint on Steve Perez, a 5th-grade teacher in Los Angeles: "He became so creative during the pandemic in trying to teach his students. He tried to incorporate Superman into questions and answer segments. The students loved it. He always had a fun theme and gave lots of his time after hours for kids that had internet problems. I was so proud of him."

Alison Greenhouse, an art teacher in Norris, Tennessee, was highlighted by a Short List reader for her work as an educator.
Alison Greenhouse, an art teacher in Norris, Tennessee, was highlighted by a Short List reader for her work as an educator.

Real quick

It's Star Wars Day!

May the Fourth is not only the first half of a now-common greeting on this date (May the Fourth be with you), but it also marks an unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans everywhere. The day stems from the famous phrase in George Lucas' space saga, "Star Wars: A New Hope." In the 1977 film, General Dodonna encourages the rebel fighters before they begin their assault on the Death Star, "Then man your ships! And may the Force be with you!" Though the first official application of the phrase dates back to a 1979 newspaper ad in England, fans have been using the saying for their own online celebrations for well over a decade. The internet and media coverage created a feedback loop and "May the 4th" just "exploded ... and it kept growing," wrote Steve Sansweet on StarWars.com in 2013, who is now an adviser of fan relations at Lucasfilm.

A break from the news.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Star Wars Day, Mexico City collapse, Teachers Day: Tuesday's news