Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Monday, Dec. 22, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. WHAT GUNMAN SAID MOMENTS BEFORE AMBUSHING NYC POLICE
Ismaaiyl Brinsley told people on the street, “Watch what I’m going to do,” then fatally shot two officers as they sat in their cruiser, an NYPD investigator says.
2. KURDISH FIGHTERS PUSH INTO CONTESTED IRAQI TOWN
The battle for Sinjar and the surrounding areas has become the latest focus in the campaign to take back territory lost to Islamic State militants.
3. WHY SOME CUBAN-AMERICAN CATHOLICS FEEL ABANDONED
The key role Pope Francis played encouraging U.S.-Cuba talks fractures his flock in South Florida, where many older Catholics revile the Castro brothers.
4. WHO URGES SAFE FUNERALS TO STEM EBOLA
In Sierra Leone, pop stars, DJ’s and health ministry officials are asking people to forego traditional burial practices, such as washing dead bodies, which fuel the disease’s spread.
5. HOW SOME COMEDIANS HANDLE SONY HACK
Mike Myers resurrects “Dr. Evil” character on Saturday Night Live, taking shots at Sony, North Korea and Hollywood. Chris Rock points out that his new movie “Top Five” is Korean-friendly.
6. AFTER NY DRILLING BAN, FARMERS LAMENT LOST OPPORTUNITY
“I have concerns about how to continue this farm that’s been in the family for 150 years,” says apple grower David Johnson, lamenting the state’s decision to prohibit natural gas fracking.
7. 10 YEARS AFTER TSUNAMI, CONCERNS OVER DEBRIS LINGER
Indonesian authorities worry about the health and environmental risks from contaminated rubble sitting on the seafloor off the coast and in dumps around the city of Banda Aceh.
8. RUSSIA’S FINANCIAL SKID HITS EUROPE’S SKI SLOPES
Winter resorts in France, Germany and beyond say business is about to melt away because of Russia’s economic crisis.
9. ARMED THIEVES HIT ‘SOPRANOS’ STRIP CLUB
Police in Lodi, N.J., say two men with shotguns robbed “Satin Dolls,” netting $30,000 from the club that stood in as “Bada Bing” on the HBO show.
10. FLA. STATE QB CLEARED IN SEX ASSAULT INVESTIGATION
A hearing concludes insufficient evidence exists to find Jameis Winston responsible of violating the school’s code of conduct.
