Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers:
1. CONFEDERATE FLAG AT THE CROSSROADS
Following the massacre of nine people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina bipartisan momentum sees lawmakers and a growing tide of Republicans now argue this battle symbol belongs in a museum.
2. IRAQIS RETURN TO SHATTERED TIKRIT AFTER MILITANTS ROUTED
But while police now patrol the streets of Saddam Hussein’s hometown, its Sunni civilians are fearful the Islamic State group could come back.
3. KEY SENATORS ASKED TO CAST PRO-TRADE VOTE ONCE MORE
Opponents meanwhile are mounting an equally emotional push to keep Obama from obtaining “fast track” negotiating authority.
4. CLINTON TO MEET WITH CHURCH OFFICIALS NEAR FERGUSON UNREST
She’s putting America’s struggle with race relations at the forefront of her presidential campaign.
5. LITTLE CERTAINTY FOR 22,000 INJURED BY QUAKES IN NEPAL
They are struggling to recover from broken bones and lost limbs, uncertain if they will ever be able to return to the lives they once knew.
6. WHY THERE’S HOPE MONEY WOES WILL EASE IN GREECE
Amid bailout talks, Athens finally offers economic reforms that creditors consider closer to being acceptable. Meanwhile, the ECB again increases the amount of emergency liquidity that Greek lenders can draw on.
7. MANHUNT FOR ESCAPED KILLERS CONTINUES
Items recovered from a remote hunting cabin are sent to labs for DNA testing to determine if they are linked to a pair of convicted murderers as searchers converge on northern New York.
8. WHO WILL STAY AWAY FROM HOMELAND DURING SOUTH AMERICAN VISIT
Pope Francis plans to skip Argentina during his July tour because he doesn’t want to influence October’s presidential election in his native country.
9. FASTEST RISING RENTS IN U.S.
The biggest gains in home rental prices are coming not from New York or San Francisco but Jackson, Mississippi, and Portland, Maine.
10. WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Several Norwegian players team with Norway’s national TV broadcaster NRK to produce a “mockumentary” addressing sexist stereotypes.