Dorothy Abernathy, regional media director of The Associated Press, shares 10 things you need to know Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items and much more in West Virginia newspapers:
1. HOW SYRIAN MILITANT GROUP IS RECASTING ITSELF
Ahrar al-Sham, or Free Men of Syria, whose fighters have links to al-Qaida, is trying to portray itself as a moderate force fighting both Assad and the Islamic State group to garner Western support.
2. FOREIGN HACKERS TARGETED CLINTON’S EMAIL SERVER
Attempted cyberattacks originated in China, South Korea and Germany after she left office in early 2013, according to a congressional document obtained by The AP.
3. WHY COMING HOME IN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL SPELL HEARTBREAK FOR MANY
As floodwaters caused by record rainfalls recede, residents are bracing for the harrowing reality of just how much they have lost.
4. WHO WILL FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS IN CONGRESS
Volkswagen’s top U.S. executive is expected to be grilled on Capitol Hill as the emissions scandal appears to be deepening.
5. HEROIN ADDICT GOES THROUGH PIONEERING PROGRAM
The AP talks to Kylee Moriarty, who weathers ups and downs of getting clean after taking advantage of a police department’s addict-amnesty initiative.
6. CHILDREN’S CANCER IN JAPAN COULD BE LINKED TO NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE
A new study argues that thyroid cancer among kids in Fukushima is associated with the radiation that spewed from the disaster 4 ½ years ago.
7. AIRLINES WE LOVE TO HATE
Fans of ultra-low-cost carriers say cheap tickets set them apart, but for many travelers the new discounters take the aggravation to another level.
8. BELARUS TARGETS INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
In the run-up to Sunday’s presidential election, the government goes after journalists who seek to skirt state censorship by broadcasting from outside the country.
9. AMAZON CHALLENGES ETSY
The company is launching its site for handcrafted goods called Amazon Handmade, hoping to capitalize on shoppers’ appetite for homemade goods.
10. NFL HAS SOME LITTLE-KNOWN RULES AND REGULATIONS
Among them are “heads up,” ”delay of game,” ”same side,” ”hipsters” and “roger that”.
