Comey Blowback Shakes White House; Laptop Ban; Betsy DeVos Booed: Patch Morning Briefing

Good morning! It's Thursday, and the week is more than half over. Here's what you need to know to start your day.

Trump Fired Comey, So Democrats Fired Back

President Trump is fighting back against critics of his decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, even as details emerge of a White House that was not prepared for the firestorm it created. The sudden termination has led to renewed calls for a special prosecutor and questions about the future of the probe into Russian involvement in the 2016 election. (Patch)

US May Prohibit Laptops In Cabins On Flights From Europe

The Department of Homeland Security is considering mandating a ban on laptops in the cabin on all flights from Europe to the United States. The Daily Beast originally reported that the ban was a done deal, but a spokesman for the department said the policy is still being mulled over by officials. American officials have previously banned passengers on flights from eight Muslim-majority countries from carrying electronic devices larger than a cell phone. (Patch)

Betsy DeVos Booed At Graduation

Controversial Education Secretary and Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos had no sooner declared ,"I'm honored to become a Wildcat," when she was greeted by a cacophony of boos and jeers. DeVos was delivering the commencement address at the historically black Bethune-Cookman University. Some observers said as many as half of the graduating class turned their backs on DeVos. (Patch)

Quick Hits

Minnesota Man Is No Longer Dead, According To The IRS (Patch)

Wayward Goat Loses Police K-9 Job, Finds New Friends At Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff’s Office (Patch)

Metro Atlanta's Long Traffic Nightmare Is (Almost) Over (Patch)

Bridgeport Police Chief: Shooting Was 'Officer's Worst Nightmare' (Patch)

Washington Driver Says 'Itchy Mustache' Caused Him To Crash

A man who crashed his car in Snohomish County told state police he lost control because of itchy facial hair. (Patch)

Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke Wild Card To Replace Comey As FBI Chief

David Clarke, Milwaukee County’s "law and order" sheriff, is among several whose names were floated to replace fired FBI director James Comey. (Patch)

Customs Officers Say Weird, Abusive Hazing Took Place At Newark Airport

Allegations include the use of a “rape table,” an officer riding another like a horse and background music from MTV’s “Jackass.” (Patch)

Abortion Bill: Law To Expand Access In Illinois Passes, Heads To Rauner

Gov. Bruce Rauner has pledged to veto the bill. (Patch)

Writing Is On The Wall, Detroit Court Bans Pens And Pencils

Vandals have had their say with graffiti on brand new wall murals, so Detroit’s 36th District Court issues a hush order of sorts. (Patch)

Take Time To Appreciate The Small Joys In Life

This Day In History

1997 — Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, bests Garry Kasparov, a world champion in the game, in a final round of competition

Famous Birthdays

1904 — Salvador Dalí, the famous Spanish painter and illustrator

1999 — Sabrina Carpenter, and actress and singer known for her role on the show "Girl Meets World"

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images News/Getty Images