Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers.
1. US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HEAD FIRED
Trump fires the acting attorney general after she publicly questions the constitutionality of his controversial refugee and immigration ban and refuses to defend it in court; puts a new temporary one in place who will.
2. US MILITARY BOTCHES ONLINE FIGHT AGAINST IS
A psychological operation run by the Pentagon against the extremist group is so beset with incompetence, cronyism and flawed data that it’s having little impact, AP finds.
3. WHAT VIEWS MOSQUE SHOOTING SUSPECT ESPOUSED
The French Canadian university student charged with killing six Muslim men during evening prayers was known for far-right, nationalist views.
4. SEISMIC SHIFT AT CENTURY-OLD INSTITUTION
The Boy Scouts of America announce it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys only programs.
5. SCIENTISTS TOUT NEW INDONESIA TSUNAMI NETWORK
The prototype is designed to detect so-called near-field tsunamis and possibly add a few minutes of warning time for vulnerable coastal cities.
6. WHAT A SINGLE TWEET HAS DONE
A New York City writer used social media to spur donors to raise thousands of dollars to pay off school lunch debt in districts around the country.
7. ‘BAKED SLOP’: DELAWARE STICKS TO ‘ALTERNATIVE’ MEAL PLANS
While other states are moving away from special diets for unruly prisoners, Delaware is sticking with its use of what is commonly known as “the loaf.”
8. RETAIL GIANT TAKES AIM AT AMAZON’S PRIME
Wal-Mart is replacing a program that offers free shipping but had an annual fee with one that has a lower free shipping threshold and faster delivery.
9. REAL-LIFE BATTLE BREWS OVER ARAB-ISRAELI FILM
An award-winning film about Arab women battling their own conservative society and life in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv prompts calls for a boycott and death threats against the director.
10. PATRIOTS OWNER PULLS SOME PUNCHES, THROWS OTHERS
While Robert Kraft wants to celebrate yet another trip to the Super Bowl, he also didn’t back down from addressing “Deflategate.”
