Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. OBAMA: BEHEADING OF FORMER US SOLDIER ‘PURE EVIL’
The president denounces the death of aid worker Peter Kassig at the hands of Islamic State terrorists, saying the militant group “revels in the slaughter of innocents.”
2. DEA AGENTS RAID 3 NFL MEDICAL STAFFS
Officials say the operations are part of an investigation into former players’ claims that teams mishandled prescription drugs.
3. WHERE A SHRINKING ECONOMY SPELLS GLOBAL TROUBLE
Japan, which has the world’s third largest GDP, slid unexpectedly into a recession in the past quarter, threatening Asian economies with a possible downturn.
4. OBAMA COMES BACK FROM ASIA TO FACE GOP
Republicans will confront the president on immigration and the Keystone pipeline after their big wins in the midterm elections.
5. HOW MANY AMERICAN KIDS ARE HOMELESS
A state-by-state report says the number of children living on the streets has surged in recent years–now one in 30 is without a home.
6. ISRAEL RATCHETS UP HOUSING DEMOLITION POLICY AGAINST ATTACKERS
Police have issued home destruction notices to Palestinian families whose members, they say, are implicated in violent attacks against Israeli civilians.
7. POLICE IN HAITI FACE CRUCIAL TEST AFTER UN WITHDRAWAL
The long-maligned Haitian law enforcement force is learning to engage the community from Haitian-American cops from New York City.
8. WHOSE POLITICAL FATE IS TIED TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman is facing a conservative backlash after he came out in support of the issue in 2012.
9. MUSLIM MINORITY IN MYANMAR FLEES IN RECORD NUMBERS
An exodus of the Rohingya is happening at an even faster rate as a campaign to instill fear in them strengthens.
10. LAWYER: COSBY WON’T DISCUSS ‘DISCREDITED’ SEX ABUSE CLAIMS
One of the comedian’s accusers levels allegations of sexual assault against him in interviews and in an online column for the Washington Post.