10 things you need to know today: June 5, 2016

Sanders predicts contested convention, presidents past and future pay tribute to Muhammad Ali, and more

Bernie Sanders.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

1. Bernie Sanders predicts contested convention

After an easy primary victory in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday, Hillary Clinton is just 60 delegates short of the 2,383 needed to clinch the Democratic nomination, thanks in part to her edge of 547 superdelegates. However, Bernie Sanders shows no signs of conceding anytime soon, telling reporters "it is extremely unlikely that Secretary Clinton will have the requisite number of pledged delegates" following the six primaries on Tuesday, including delegate-rich California. Sanders, who lags with 1,501 delegates and only 46 superdelegates, claims Clinton will be reliant on her swayable superdelegates to reach 2,383 by the June 14 deadline. "In other words, the Democratic National Convention will be a contested convention," he said.

2. Obama, presidents past and future, pay tribute to Muhammad Ali

"Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. Period," President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama said in a statement Saturday, following Friday's death of the boxing legend. The previous two presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, also paid tribute to Ali, with Bush saying, "Americans will always be proud to have been in his corner and called him one of our own." Clinton, in a statement with his wife Hillary, praised Ali's "blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength that may never be matched again." Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump also praised Ali in statements, signaling perhaps the one thing all three presidential contenders agree on.

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3. Los Angeles County wildfire forces thousands from homes

At least 5,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Los Angeles County after a wildfire broke out Saturday afternoon. The blaze was sparked when a pickup truck struck a power pole on Mulholland Highway, near Calabasas. The affluent region is home to several celebrities, including Jessica Simpson and Toni Braxton, and CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said the fire "has a long way to go before firefighters can actually contain it."

CNN

4. Memphis police officer struck and killed by suspected shooter's getaway car

Following a string of shootings near Memphis' popular Beale Street Saturday evening, officer Verdell Smith, 46, was struck and killed by the suspect's getaway car while he was working to clear the crime scene. The male suspect is believed to be responsible for shooting two people at a local restaurant and a third at a Bass Pro Shop; he is now in custody. "I am angry this morning — angry at the senseless loss of a dedicated public servant, and angry at the absolutely unacceptable level of violence in our city," Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said.

CNN Fox News

5. African-American supporter Trump pointed out at rally responds to controversy

Donald Trump faced sharp criticism for pointing at a black supporter at a rally on Friday and calling him "my African-American." "Look at him," Trump said. "Aren't you the greatest?" But the man in question, California Republican congressional candidate Gregory Cheadle, does not understand what all the fuss is about. "The overwhelming majority of people felt offense, which kind of startled me," Cheadle said. "Wow, we're so polarized and sensitive in this country right now…I was thrilled that he gave blacks positive press by talking about one of the [supporters] that was at his event."

CNN

6. UCLA professor trapped shooter in office to prevent him from killing others

UCLA professor Christopher Lynch potentially saved many lives on Wednesday when he responded to the sound of gunshots in his colleague's office by holding the door shut, preventing the shooter from escaping. Professor William Klug was shot dead by his former doctoral student Mainak Sarkar; Lynch, who heard the shots, immediately knew Klug had been murdered rather than taken his own life. Lynch went to Klug's office and held the door shut until he heard a third shot — which he correctly assumed was the shooter taking his own life. "If he had stepped out, we'd all be in trouble," Lynch said.

The Los Angeles Times

7. ISIS purges own ranks in hunt for spies

As paranoia spreads among the ranks, ISIS has killed dozens of its own leaders in recent months in the hunt for spies, The Associated Press has learned. The U.S. suspects that among those purged were ISIS' "minister of war," an Iraqi militant, and a top financial official. "[ISIS] is now concentrating on how to find informers because they have lost commanders that are hard to replace. Now any [ISIS] commander has the right to kill a person whom they suspect is an informer for the coalition," a senior Iraqi intelligence official anonymously said.

The Associated Press

8. Serena Williams loses French Open final to Garbiñe Muguruza

On Saturday, Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza defeated top-ranked tennis star Serena Williams in the French Open finals. This is the first Grand Slam title for No. 4 ranked Muguruza, 22. "I'm so, so excited," Muguruza said. "To play a final of a Grand Slam against one of the best players, I'm so happy. Serena is a very powerful player and I had to be ready for every point." Muguruza's 7-5, 6-4 upset leaves Williams with a 21-6 record in Grand Slam titles, just one win shy of tying Steffi Graf's record of 22 wins.

USA Today

9. Pope Francis canonizes 2 new saints

Pope Francis named two new saints on Sunday during the canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square: Swedish-born Elizabeth Hesselblad, a Lutheran convert who sheltered Jews during World War II, and Stanislaus Papczynski, the Polish founder of the first men's religious order dedicated to the immaculate conception. Following Hesselblad and Papczynski, the Pope will canonize Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Jose Sanchez del Rio, and Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero later this year.

Catholic News Agency The Associated Press

10. Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors to go head-to-head in Game 2 of NBA Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers look to gain lost ground against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA finals Sunday night. The Warriors, who lead the series 1-0, will host the Cavs in Oakland and remain the heavy favorite thanks to their "death lineup," led by the seemingly-unstoppable Steph Curry. However, Cleveland's LeBron James may be doubly motivated by his 2-4 record in the Finals. "A win would bring James closer to equilibrium with plenty of years ahead, and given the juggernaut opposition, it would almost count double. LeBron cares about that stuff, and that should scare the Warriors," ESPN's Zach Lowe writes.

ESPN

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.