Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers.
1. WHO’S MAKING IT OFFICIAL FOR TRUMP
Electors are gathering in every state to formally elect Donald Trump president even as anti-Trump forces try one last time to deny him the White House.
2. LAST EVACUATIONS BACK ON IN SYRIA
A fragile cease-fire holds sway as buses resume taking out those still remaining in eastern Aleppo and from two rebel-besieged Shiite villages in the country’s north.
3. TRIAL UNDERWAY FOR CONFIDANTE OF DISGRACED SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT
Appearing in court, Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the heart of the scandal that led to Park Guen-hye’s impeachment, denies using her presidential ties to extort money from powerful companies.
4. SOUR GRAPES, SAYS TRUMP CAMP
The president-elect’s advisers dismiss complaints that Moscow hacked Democrats’ private emails in a bid to sway the election toward Republicans.
5. GUNMEN LAUNCH BLOODY ATTACK IN JORDAN
A series of assaults, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, leaves seven police officers dead, along with two local civilians and a visitor from Canada.
6. CHINA PUSHES BACK AT DRUG CLAIMS
U.S. assertions that China is the top source of the synthetic opioids that have killed thousands of users in the U.S. and Canada are unsubstantiated, Chinese officials tell the AP.
7. HOW CITIES ARE GIRDING AGAINST IMMIGRATION HARD-LINERS
Major U.S. cities and counties beef up legal services for immigrants and set aside government money to help them fight deportation in the wake of Trump’s election.
8. FAMOUSLY FAMOUS ZSA ZSA GABOR DIES
Long before Paris Hilton first uttered a breathy “that’s hot,” or Kim Kardashian sashayed down a red carpet flashing her dangerous curves, there was Zsa Zsa.
9. WHICH WORD SEEMS TO SUM UP 2016
Merriam-Webster picks “surreal” as its word of the year, driven by times of great tragedy and sorrow but also following Trump’s rise to president-elect.
10. BRONCOS IN PRECARIOUS SPOT
Denver’s 16-3 loss to the Patriots puts the Broncos in danger of missing the playoffs a year after winning Super Bowl 50.