5 things you need to know this morning: March 23

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Police have killed a gunman who took hostages in France

At least two people are dead following a hostage situation at a French supermarket. According to local media, two hostages were killed before police could shoot and kill the suspect. French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, saying that “everything leads us to believe it is a terror attack.”

#UPDATE At least three killed in shooting spree and hostage siege in southern France carried out by man claiming allegiance to IS group, gunman also dead, security sources tells AFP https://t.co/hgf5x1WoKV pic.twitter.com/9Ocyo05cc8

— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 23, 2018

2. The March Madness upsets continue

The sweet 16 of March Madness got underway on Thursday and once again there were a handful of upsets. Michigan was the only favourite to win on Thursday, knocking off Texas A&M. Loyola-Chicago, Kansas State and Florida State all advanced to the elite 8 with Michigan, knocking off higher seeds in the process.

These four teams had the answer...

Who will have the answer tonight?#MarchMadness #Elite8 pic.twitter.com/HwhW4qxmMq

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 23, 2018

3. United offers passenger a voucher worth up to $10,000 to give up her seat

Most people would be happy to spend a few hours, even days, in an airport if they were offered $10,000. Allison Preiss didn’t have to spend days in the airport, because she was offered a $10,000 travel voucher for being bumped to the next available flight. The offer came after a broken chair resulted in an overbooked United flight. Not a bad payout!

This is how badly United didn’t want to give me cash: pic.twitter.com/sI7vmbeB2Q

— Allison Preiss (@allisonmpreiss) March 22, 2018

4. Firefighter killed on the set of a Bruce Willis and Ed Norton film

A 37-year-old firefighter, Michael Davidson, died in New York on Thursday night while battling a fire on the set of Motherless Brooklyn. The movie, which stars Edward Norton and Bruce Willis, was filming at a Brooklyn bar when the five alarm blaze broke out.

It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the death of Firefighter Michael R. Davidson. Read more: https://t.co/TCJoYSHksU pic.twitter.com/zJWvSIaPjH

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 23, 2018

5. Stephon Clark protesters delay NBA game in Sacramento

Public outrage continues after the death of Stephon Clark earlier this week. On Thursday night, protestors outside the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento caused the building to go on lockdown and the game between Atlanta and Sacramento to be delayed. Clark was shot by police while holding only a cellphone in his backyard.

Big protest for #StephonClark, the unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by police, happening in Sacramento right now. Protestors blocking the entrance to the Kings game. pic.twitter.com/e7VaJ7CwLz

— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 23, 2018

Notable Birthdays (via Famous Birthdays)

Kyrie Irving (26), Perez Hilton (40), Ben Higgins (30), Gordon Hayward (28), Damon Albarn (50), Brett Eldredge (32), Brandon Marshall (34)