Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Thursday, July 31, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. ISRAEL VOWS TO DESTROY HAMAS TUNNELS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the network of underground passages in the Gaza Strip will be dismantled “with or without a cease-fire.” His statement follows new call-up orders for 16,000 more reservists that will allow the Israeli military to substantially widen its 23-day campaign against Palestinian militants.
2. RUSSIA DISPATCHES INVESTIGATORS TO EASTERN UKRAINE
A delegation of specialists from Rosaviatsiya will attempt to reach the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 if it is safe to do so. They are expected to hand over all relevant materials to Dutch experts.
3. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS ‘NO AMERICAN IS PROUD’ OF CIA TACTICS
The White House document endorses the broad conclusions of a harshly critical Senate report on the agency’s interrogation and detention practices after the 9/11 attacks.
4. COURTS SPEED UP HEARINGS FOR CHILDREN CAUGHT AT U.S. BORDER
The change follows criticism that the backlogged system lets immigrants stay in the country for years while waiting for their cases to be heard.
5. WHAT IS FUELING GOP CLAIMS OF IRS BIAS AGAINST CONSERVATIVES
Newly released emails show the agency’s former official at the center of the tea party controversy referring to some right-wing Republicans as “crazies” and more.
6. ARGENTINA SAYS IT CANNOT ACCEPT DEAL WITH U.S. “VULTURES”
As talks with American hedge fund creditors collapse, the Latin American country goes into default a second time in 13 years.
7. PORTLAND’S SETTLEMENT WITH OFFICER UNSETTLES COMMUNITY
A deal with a police captain who threatened to sue over texts characterizing him as a Nazi sympathizer helped the city avoid costly litigation. But wiping the record clean for the law-enforcer who also put up plaques honoring WWII German soldiers was too much, some say.
8. TRIUMPHING OVER DONALD TRUMP
Vera Coking, 91, who became a folk hero for resisting attempts by big-name developers to buy her Atlantic City boardinghouse, puts it on the block and moves to California to be near her family.
9. WHO IS ON A MISSION TO EXPAND AFRICA’S ONLINE HORIZONS
Facebook’s Internet.org app will give subscribers of the Airtel phone company in Zambia access to a set of basic Web services for free.
10. AS PANTHER REBOUNDS, RANCHERS HAVE A REASON TO WORRY
A study finds that as the population of predators is recovering from near-extinction, some Florida farmers complain the protected 6-to-7-foot long species are once again killing their calves.