Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. U.S. HEALTH PROVIDERS EXPAND EBOLA PRECAUTIONS
Some hospitals even send actors with mock symptoms into emergency rooms to test how good their staff members are at spotting the symptoms of the virus.
2. GOP GRAPPLES WITH GAY MARRIAGE
The Supreme Court’s decision to reject appeals from five states reignites a debate between pragmatic Republicans and religious conservatives.
3. AIRSTRIKES HIT ISLAMIC STATE GROUP NEAR SYRIA
Warplanes strike positions held by the militants near a Syrian border town that beleaguered Kurdish forces have been struggling to defend.
4. WHO WINS NOBEL IN PHYSICS
The prize goes to Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano of Japan and U.S. scientist Shuji Nakamura for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes — a new energy efficient and environment-friendly light source.
5. WHY BIDEN IS IN TIGHT SPOT
The vice president’s verbal blunders cause more than just a few rough headlines and a momentary nuisance for the White House.
6. HONG KONG PROTESTS WANE
Despite their dwindling numbers, student activists insist the movement is far from defeated.
7. SMUGGLED PHONES SERVE AS LIFELINE FOR NORTH KOREANS
Illegal but widely available in North Korea, cellphones help defectors connect with long-lost relatives and send them desperately needed cash.
8. MOROCCO MULLS LEGAL POT GROWING
The move is intended to aid the economy but the country’s Islamic faith creates a strong taboo toward drugs.
9. WHAT STUDIES FIND ABOUT ‘TALKING’ TO CAR
Voice-activated smartphones and dashboard infotainment systems are so error-prone or complex that they require more concentration from drivers rather than less.
10. COFFEE ADDICT? BLAME YOUR DNA
Scientists have long known that your genetic make-up influences how much java you consume. Now a huge study has identified some genes that may play a role.