Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. HONG KONG LEADER: BEIJING WON’T BACK DOWN
Leung Chun-ying says the central government will not rescind its decision to limit voting reforms in the Asian financial hub as pro-democracy protesters set a deadline for a response to their demands.
2. WHO WILL BE GRILLED OVER WHITE HOUSE INTRUSION
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson will face lawmakers for the first public accounting of the details surrounding a security breach at the executive mansion.
3. HOW CHINA TRIES TO REINFORCE CLAIMS TO DISPUTED ISLES
Beijing uses Chinese tourists to push sovereignty in its territorial disagreement with Vietnam over the Paracels.
4. WHAT HAPPENED TO GITMO CLOSURE PLANS
The transfer of prisoners out of Guantanamo Bay grinds to a halt amid a slow Pentagon approval process.
5. FAMILIES WAIT IN AGONY FOR WORD ON EBOLA PATIENTS
As the death toll from the disease soars, social workers and psychologists struggle to keep pace and notify relatives, who must wait outside of crowded clinics for fear of contagion.
6. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PLAYS KEY ROLE IN MIDTERMS
Harry Reid is not on the ballot but his maneuvering takes place on the floor, where he’s gone to extraordinary lengths to protect his Democrats from taking tough votes.
7. THIRD-GRADERS FACE PRESSURE
Since Florida pioneered the idea of mandatory third-grade retention for missing reading targets in 2002, such laws have spread to about nine states.
8. COLORADO COURT CONSIDERS POT FIRING CASE
The case over legality of off-duty smoking highlights the clash between state laws that are increasingly accepting of marijuana use and employers’ drug-free policies.
9. SEATING JURY TO DETERMINE JODI ARIAS’ PUNISHMENT WON’T BE SIMPLE
Dozens of potential jurors are disqualified after telling the judge they know too much about the case to be impartial.
10. GOVERNMENT TO UNVEIL COMPANY PAYMENTS TO DOCTORS
Consumer groups call the disclosure program the “Sunshine Act,” and say it’s overdue.