Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers.
1. SEVERE WEATHER HITS U.S. SOUTH
In northern Mississippi, residents are beginning to take stock of damage after fierce storms whipped through, killing at least six across the country.
2. MALL OF AMERICA PROTEST SERVES AS ‘DECOY’ FOR AIRPORT BLOCK
Police say a total of 15 Black Lives Matter activists were arrested at both sites, mostly for trespassing or obstruction of justice.
3. AFGHANISTAN’S SOUTHERN DISTRICT REMAINS IN STATE CONTROL
Fighting continues in the province of Helmand after insurgents captured the area around the Sangin governor’s compound overnight but were pushed back.
4. SUSPECT IN VEGAS STRIP CRASH REPORTEDLY DISTRAUGHT
Prosecutors aim to show Lakeisha Holloway meant to kill and injure people when she drove her car onto the sidewalk.
5. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL FIRE IN SAUDI KILLS AT LEAST 31
The cause of the blaze, which injured more than 100 people, remains unknown.
6. HOW RURAL IDAHO TOWN RESIDENTS VIEW REFUGEE CENTER
The facility in Twin Falls finds both community support and opposition from those fearing radicalized Muslims.
7. WHO SUGGESTS POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP
GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson tells the AP that “personnel changes” could be coming, but later says he is confident in his campaign team.
8. WHAT EPA WANTS ON SUPERFUND LIST
The agency recognizes that an abandoned Nevada copper mine is among the nation’s most polluted sites, fifteen years after U.S. regulators started assessing its health risks, the AP learns.
9. MYANMAR MIGRANTS FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING BRITISH BACKPACKERS
Human Rights Watch calls the verdict “profoundly disturbing,” citing the defendants’ accusations of police torture.
10. OBAMAS, BIDENS SHARE FAVORITE HOLIDAY TUNES ON SPOTIFY
Topping the list for the president and his wife, Michelle, is “O Tannenbaum,” the instrumental version by the Vince Guaraldi Trio featured in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
