End of an era: Final shuttle launch today

The Atlantis is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral at 11:26 a.m. If all goes as planned, it will be the 135th and final mission for the space shuttle program.

Bad weather is threatening to scrap the launch and there is only a 30% chance the shuttle will launch as scheduled.

• The Atlantis will carry 8,200 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station.
• About 9,000 jobs in Florida will also end with the shuttle program.
• The program has cost more than an estimated $200 billion and claimed the lives of 14 astronauts in two separate disasters.

-USA TODAY

Watch for: June's unemployment numbers 

The numbers will be released today at 8:30 a.m.

Across the pond: Phone hacking scandal shutters newspaper, roils UK

News of the World, the best-selling English-language newspaper worldwide, will shut its doors after this Sunday's issue.

The newspaper is under fire for allegedly hacking into the voicemails of more than 4,000 people including politicians, celebrities, murder victims and the families of soldiers killed overseas. 

Prime Minister David Cameron is facing political blowback after his former communications manager, a former World staffer, was arrested in connection to the phone hacking scandal. 

Tragedy: Michigan man kills 7 people and self

Rodrick Dantzler killed two children (one believed to be his daughter), his ex-girlfriend and four others before holding a family of three hostage while he negotiated with police. Dantzler abruptly turned the gun on himself in the middle of negotiations. 

-CNN

Texas executes Mexican national despite objections

The Mexican government, the Obama administration and others asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the execution of Humberto Leal because police didn't tell him all his rights. The Supreme Court declined to intervene and Leal was executed yesterday.

Police never told Leal that he could apply for legal help from the Mexican government under a national treaty. Leal was just a baby when his family moved to the U.S., but he was still technically a Mexican national. 

Leal was convicted of murdering a 16-year-old girl after leaving a street party with her in 1994. Leal used a 30- to 40-pound piece of asphalt to bludgeon her to death.

-Washington Post

What's the President doing?

President Obama will speak with reporters from various regions today. He will focus his conversations on "the economy and the importance of finding a balanced approach to deficit reduction."

-Politico

Sports break

Jeter creeps closer to 3,000

Derek Jeter, the Yankee captain and living legend, is only two hits shy of the 3,000 hit milestone. He will become the 28th major leaguer to reach 3,000 hits and the first Yankee.

Jeter and the Yanks will play the Tampa Bay Ray at home tonight at 7:05.

-ESPN

Rangers fan dies reaching for ball

The fan, who was at the park with his son, reached over the railing for a ball tossed into the stands by all-star Josh Hamilton. He lost his footing and fell 20 feet onto his head. He died on his way to the hospital.

-Associated Press

(75% positive reviews)

Info: "For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option so the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers ... permanently."

See it if: You want to see the "Hangover" only with more murder.

(15% positive reviews)

Info: "The animals at the Franklin Park Zoo love their kindhearted caretaker, Griffin Keyes (Kevin James). Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get a girl in his life is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job. The animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored code of silence and reveal their biggest secret: they can talk! To keep Griffin from leaving, they decide to teach him the rules of courtship - animal style."

See it if: You thought "Hitch" needed less Will Smith and more animals.

-Rotten Tomatoes

It's been a tough news day. Dedicated Daybreak readers will know that means it's time for some YouTube cat videos.