Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. FORMER ISLAMIC STATE GROUP FIGHTERS FACE DIFFICULT FATE
Disillusioned by the cruelty of the extremist group, ex-recruits escape riskingdeath at its hands or jail in their homelands.
2. WHAT WOULDN’T BUDGE UNDER OBAMA’S SPENDING PLAN
The president is touting his budget as “middle-class economics” — but tax bills for middle-class families would stay about the same.
3. PENTAGON NOMINEE SIGNALS FLEXIBILITY ON US WITHDRAWAL
Ashton Carter says he would consider changing the plan to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan if the security situation worsens.
4. NEW ENGLAND BATTERED BY ANOTHER SNOWSTORM
Some areas are still reeling from up to 3 feet of snow that they got last week.
5. NEW ITALIAN PRESIDENT VOWS TO FIGHT MAFIA
Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court justice, took the oath of office for his largely-ceremonial post, promising to push for urgent economic reforms and battle corruption.
6. BEST WAY TO A GIRL’S HEART? HER MOTHER’S
An AP-WE tv poll finds that 6 in 10 young women consider their mom’s approval very important when it comes to getting serious with a boyfriend.
7. MEXICAN OPIUM FARMS EXPANDING TO SUPPLY US HEROIN BOOM
Mexico now produces nearly half the heroin found in the United States, up from 39 percent in 2008, the U.S. government says.
8. WHO IS FIGHTING OVER ROBIN WILLIAMS’ ESTATE
The late actor’s wife of three years has asked the court to exclude the contents of their home from the part of his property that he bequeathed to his three adult children.
9. WHOSE ARCHIVE WILL BE MADE PUBLIC
The Library of Congress will offer the public a trove of the letters, writing and photos of Rosa Parks, the seamstress who became a civil rights icon.
10. SUPER BOWL MOST-WATCHED EVENT EVER ON AMERICAN TV
The 114.4 million people who viewed Sunday’s game eclipsed the 112.2 million who watched Seattle beat Denver last year, the Nielsen company says.
