Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers:
1. HOTEL IN MALI ATTACKED; HOSTAGES TAKEN
At least three people are dead after men armed with guns and throwing grenades storm into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital of Bamako, seizing 170 hostages.
2. NETANYAHU: U.S. FREES AGENT CONVICTED OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL
Jonathan Pollard is released from a U.S. prison, Israel’s prime minister says, culminating an espionage case that strained American-Israeli relations for nearly 30 years.
3. FRANCE SEEKS HELP TO STANCH FLOW OF EXTREMISTS
France calls on its European Union partners to take immediate and decisive action to toughen the bloc’s borders and prevent the entry of more violent extremists.
4. WHERE REFUGEE BILL STANDS
Republicans embarrass Obama by winning veto-proof House approval of legislation blocking Syrian and Iraqi refugees from the U.S. — but its future in the Senate is uncertain.
5. IN AMERICA’S LITTLE SYRIA, DIVISION
Divide emerges over Muslim refugees in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a city with one of the nation’s largest Syrian populations — a largely Christian group that supports the leader the refugees are fleeing, Bashar Assad.
6. ECONOMIC UNION TOPS ASIA SUMMIT
Southeast Asia leaders will declare their region is now an economic community that in some ways resembles the European Union at a summit that will also focus on maritime rifts in the South China Sea and terrorism.
7. EXPERTS: BLACK STUDIES PROGRAMS FACING CAMPUS CHALLENGES
African American studies and other programs are now struggling with funding, low-staffing and dwindling student enrollment.
8. WHEN ‘YES MEANS YES’
First colleges, now high schools: Sex ed is stressing this slogan to prevent sexual assaults.
9. WHO WON BIG AT LATIN GRAMMYS
Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade won four awards and Dominican bachata artist Juan Luis Guerra three — including album of the year.
10. JAGS PREVAIL IN AFC SOUTH TILT
Rashad Greene returns a punt 63 yards, setting up Blake Bortles’ 5-yard touchdown pass to Julius Thomas with 3:30 remaining, and Jacksonville beat Tennessee 19-13.