Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Wednesday, May 25, 2016. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers.
1. PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT OUTSIDE TRUMP RALLY IN NEW MEXICO
Demonstrators throw burning T-shirts, plastic bottles and other items at officers, overturn trash cans and knock down barricades; police fire pepper spray and smoke grenades.
2. AFGHAN TALIBAN NAME HAWKISH SUCCESSOR TO SLAIN LEADER
Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, one of Mullah Akhtar Mansour’s chief deputies, will assume the top spot. Mansour was killed Saturday when his vehicle was struck by a U.S. drone.
3. WHAT DEFENSE BILL COSBY’S LAWYERS SUGGEST THEY’LL MOUNT
Before a judge orders the entertainer to stand trial on sex assault charges, the attorneys argue that Cosby’s accuser never said no to his advances.
4. NETANYAHU LURCHES FURTHER TO THE RIGHT
As part of a deal to expand the coalition government, Avigdor Lieberman, one of Israel’s most polarizing politicians, will take over as defense minister.
5. OBAMA TAKES PARTING SHOT BEFORE LEAVING COMMUNIST VIETNAM
The president uses a light moment with a rapper to espouse free speech: “You’ve got to let people express themselves.”
6. US SEEKING DEATH FOR DYLANN ROOF
Though federal executions are exceedingly rare, the Justice Department wants the death penalty for the suspect in last year’s deadly church shootings in Charleston, South Carolina.
7. CEO PAY CLIMBS AGAIN, EVEN AS COMPANY STOCK PRICES DON’T
The 4.5 percent raise is almost double the typical American workers’ and a lot more than investors earned from owning their stocks.
8. HOW TIES CAN BE BOUND BETWEEN JAILED WOMEN, CHILDREN
The AP looks inside the Bedford Hills (N.Y.) Correctional Facility, one of the very few prisons in the U.S. that allow inmates and their babies to live together.
9. TRENDING ON TWITTER: #GIVECAPTAINAMERICAABOYFRIEND
An online campaign emerges calling for significant LGBT characters in superhero movies. But dissenters weigh in, too.
10. THUNDER PUSH WARRIORS TO BRINK OF ELIMINATION
Oklahoma City takes a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals as Golden State loses consecutive games for the first time this season.