Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. LAWMAKERS EXPECT PUSH BACK ON GRANTING OBAMA WAR POWERS
Congressional leaders will face resistance in a vote to authorize Obama’s war against Islamic State militants despite outrage over the gruesome killings of captives.
2. WHAT REBELS, UKRAINIAN FORCES HAVE AGREED UPON
Pro-Russia rebels and government forces in the conflict-ravaged east will allow a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from the fighting.
3. WHO IS AN ALLY IN MEASLES QUANDARY
As vaccine skeptics fight laws that would force more parents to inoculate their kids, conservative Republicans are coming to their defense.
4. HOW JAPAN IS ADDRESSING WORKAHOLICS
Many Japanese forgo up to three weeks of paid-vacation they’re entitled to, but the government is making changes to ease the stigma of taking time off.
5. MOURNERS TO SAY GOODBYE TO TRAIN ACCIDENT VICTIM
A service will held in Dobbs Ferry, New York, for Ellen Brody, a 49-year-old mother of three, who was killed along with five rail passengers when a commuter train crashed into her SUV at a crossing.
6. OFFICIALS DETAIL FINAL MOMENTS OF FLIGHT 235 CRASH
TransAsia Airways pilots may have shut off the propjet’s remaining engine before attempting to restart it, but the plane crashed before that could happen.
7. OBAMA TO TOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAN IN INDIANA
The president’s proposal to make two years of college free would get a key test in a state where education issues are squarely in the spotlight.
8. ANOTHER MONTH OF SOLID JOB GROWTH EXPECTED
Steady economic growth and consumer spending likely led U.S. employers to hire at a healthy pace in January and extend last year’s solid job gains.
9. ‘SACRED SPERM’ FILM EXPLORES ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWISH TABOOS
A documentary presents an intimate, informative and at times awkward look at the insular religious community’s approach to sexuality.
10. FALLOUT FOR NBC ANCHOR CONTINUES
“Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams is fighting for his credibility after falsely claiming the helicopter he was riding in was struck during the Iraq War.