5 things you need to know Monday

Editors

USA TODAY

1. Long shots take center stage in 2016 GOP race

The number of Republicans officially running for president is set to double this week, giving a party starved for a White House victory more choices. Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina have announcements planned Monday, and Mike Huckabee is set to follow suit Tuesday. There is little mystery about what they will say — even if none are yet confirming they intend to seek the 2016 GOP nomination. They may be considered long shots, but regardless of whether they ever win a delegate, they each serve a purpose in a field that could grow to as many as 20 people if everyone who is eyeing the race jumps in.

Republicans Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina are expected to formally declare their presidential bids this week.

2. On Star Wars Day, may the fourth be with you

It's an official unofficial holiday on Monday — if you speak Wookiee, pilot a TIE fighter or dream of vacationing in Cloud City. May 4 is Star Wars Day. Fans of the franchise greet each other with "May the fourth be with you" all day in a nod to the classic movie line, "May the force be with you." The holiday has grass-roots origins, thanks to the Internet allowing fans to unite and connect with each other. What began as fandom has become big business, and with the next film in the series, Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, to be released Dec. 18, fans old and new will be lining up to spend more money on merchandise related to the franchise.

Celebrate Star Wars Day with dark chocolate Darth Vader cookies.

3. ER visits up under Obamacare

Three-quarters of emergency physicians say they've seen ER patient visits surge since Obamacare took effect — just the opposite of what many Americans expected would happen. A poll released today by the American College of Emergency Physicians shows that 28% of 2,099 doctors surveyed nationally saw large increases in volume, while 47% saw slight increases. By contrast, fewer than half of doctors reported any increases last year in the early days of the Affordable Care Act. Such hikes run counter to one of the goals of the health care overhaul, which is to reduce pressure on emergency rooms by getting more people insured through Medicaid or subsidized private coverage and providing better access to primary care.

Despite expectations, emergency room visits have increased under Obamacare.

4. Christie aides due in court over Bridgegate scandal

Two aides charged in the alleged Bridgegate scheme that has tarnished the bid by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination are due in court Monday on charges including conspiracy, wire fraud and deprivation of civil rights. The alleged scheme involved the closing of lanes over the George Washington Bridge as a political vendetta against a local mayor for not endorsing the governor for re-election. Bridget Kelly, former Christie deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the powerful Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that oversees operation of the bridge, were named in indictments unsealed Friday. Another Christie aide, David Wildstein, pleaded guilty Friday to charges related to the scandal.

Traffic moves over the Hudson River and across the George Washington Bridge between New York City, and Fort Lee, N.J., on Dec. 17, 2013. Closure of the access lanes in Fort Lee in the fall of 2013 prompted several investigations.

5. Letterman gets prime-time sendoff

David Letterman is signing off from CBS' Late Show on May 20 after a 22-year run (and a 40-plus-year TV career). But the network will give him a proper prime-time sendoff with a 90-minute special May 4 (9:30 p.m. ET/PT). David Letterman: A Life on Television will include clips, highlights of favorite segments such as Stupid Human Tricks and interviews with world leaders. It'll be hosted by Ray Romano, a pal who starred on the CBS comedy hit Everybody Loves Raymond, produced by Letterman's production company.

David Letterman will get a prime-time sendoff on May 4.

Bonus: Mayweather says he will relinquish his titles Monday.

And, the essentials:

Weather: The national weather forecast for Monday calls for severe storms for much of the country. It will be very warm from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic.

Stocks: Stock futures were mixed ahead of the opening bell.

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Gotham, Cobain and Letterman.

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