Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. TOKYO STUDYING NEW MESSAGE ALLEGEDLY FROM HOSTAGE
The audio recording, purportedly in Kenji Goto’s voice, extends the deadline for Jordan’s release of an Iraqi prisoner linked to a terror attack and says failure to do so will result in the Jordanian pilot’s death.
2. DE BLASIO’S SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETER GETS BLIZZARD OF ATTENTION
The 38-year-old deaf man used big gestures and full-body movements to interpret the mayor’s briefings on the snow storm, becoming a buzzing character on social media.
3. PROSECUTORS TO LAY CASE AGAINST AARON HERNANDEZ
Opening statements are set to begin in the murder trial of the former New England Patriots star player.
4. STUDY: INSURERS USE DRUG COSTS TO DISCRIMINATE
Some insurance companies are charging the sickest patients more money for their medicines to discourage them from enrolling.
5. HOW THE IVY LEAGUE WANTS TO DIVERSIFY ITS CHINESE ACADEMIC BODY
The academic powerhouses are trying to recruit from all economic backgrounds in China which accounts for a third of all foreign students coming to the U.S.
6. CENTER-LEFT ALLIANCE CHALLENGES NETANYAHU’S LEAD
A strong showing by “The Zionist Camp” coalition is now ahead of the prime minister’s Likud party in the polls.
7. WHAT GOP IS DEMANDING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE
Republican senators at Loretta Lynch’s confirmation hearing repeatedly seek assurances that she would do things differently than the current occupant of the job, Eric Holder.
8. RAUL CASTRO PUTS BRAKES ON CLOSER US-CUBA TIES
The Cuban president says normal relations depend on a series of American concessions — including the return of the U.S. base at Guantanamo — that appear highly unlikely anytime soon.
9. ‘FRIENDSHIP 9’ CIVIL RIGHTS ICONS CLEARED
A judge tosses the convictions of the nine men who integrated a whites-only lunch counter in Rock Hill, S.C., in 1961.
10. WHO’S GOOD BET TO WIN SUPER BOWL
New England will down Seattle 27-24 in overtime, predicts Barry Wilner, the AP’s pro football writer.