Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. SCIENTIFIC PROBE TOUCHES DOWN ON STREAKING COMET
The landing by the washing machine-sized European spacecraft after a decade-long journey required immense precision.
2. CONGRESS POISED FOR VOTES ON KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
The House is virtually certain to approve the project Thursday. And a Louisiana senator says she has the votes to pass it in the Senate next week.
3. WHY CLIMATE DEAL ISN’T IMMEDIATE GAME-CHANGER
China will still increase its heat-trapping emissions of carbon dioxide until 2030 or so — and scientists say that may mean an extra 5 billion or so tons of carbon dioxide a year coming from China.
4. DRAMATIC MIDAIR RESCUE PLAYS OUT IN NYC
Two window washers are trapped on a dangling scaffold nearly 70 stories up the new 1 World Trade Center tower before firefighters saw through a window to reach them.
5. WHO’S PREDICTING CHEAPER GAS IN US
The Energy Department says in a forecast that drivers will pay $2.94 a gallon on average in 2015, 45 cents lower than this year.
6. HUMILIATING DEFEAT SHOWS US TASK IN TRAINING IRAQIS
After Islamic State militants storm an army base in Anbar province, 700 soldiers flee and dozens are captured.
7. ‘OBAMACARE’ TAX IMPACTING WORKERS
Many will find that their employer-provided health insurance costs more and covers less next year.
8. WHAT’S INTRIGUING MEDICAL RESEARCHERS
Gene mutations have been discovered that give people naturally lower cholesterol levels and cut their risk of heart disease in half.
9. SEQUEL HITTING THEATERS AFTER LONG WAIT
Twenty years after the original, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are reprising their roles as painfully dim pals Harry and Lloyd in “Dumb & Dumber To,” opening Friday.
10. BASEBALL’S TOP PITCHERS NAMED
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber wins the AL Cy Young Award, while the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw is a unanimous winner in the NL voting.