Saturday, December 31, 2016

Evening Edition: Efforts to deprive Islamic State of funding are having an impact, officials say

Russians said to hack into Vermont utility, showing risk to U.S. electrical grid; For Trump and Putin, mutual admiration will soon be tested; With enough evidence, even skepticism will thaw; Curtain call for the legendary artists the world lost this year; Federal agencies rush to fill job openings before Trump takes office; ‘Just stop, Daddy': A lawmaker beat his wife as his children pleaded with him, officials say; Mystery of the spike in deaths between Christmas and New Year’s gets curiouser and curiouser; N.C.'s outgoing governor appears to make one last attempt to stick it to the Democrat who beat him; A powerful new form of medical marijuana, without the high; Man accused of killing Pennsylvania trooper is shot dead by the officers pursuing him; The fall of Ronda Rousey eclipses the rise of Amanda Nunes; A reminder that bowl games still matter in the College Football Playoff era;
 
Evening Edition
The day's most important stories
 
 
Efforts to deprive Islamic State of funding are having an impact, officials say
A campaign of military strikes and actions against Islamic State financial networks have slashed profits from oil sales, traditionally the biggest revenue source for the militants, U.S. officials say, and deepened the economic pain for a terrorist organization that until recently was regarded as the world's wealthiest.
Russians said to hack into Vermont utility, showing risk to U.S. electrical grid
The utility detected malware code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration. The Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, according to officials, who say they aren't sure what the intentions of the Russians were.
 
For Trump and Putin, mutual admiration will soon be tested
After a long-distance courtship, the looming question is whether the U.S. president-elect and the Russian president will find fulfillment or disappointment. Some see Moscow playing Donald Trump like a fiddle. Others depict the Russians as genuinely willing to deal and cautiously optimistic about improved relations.
 
With enough evidence, even skepticism will thaw
As one of Greenland's largest ice shelves shrinks, a once-skeptical scientist has come around to the role of climate change in melting it. In science — unlike in politics — being hesitant when you don't know something, and being willing to change your mind in the face of new evidence, are virtues. Andreas Muenchow has joined a growing wave of researchers working to learn more.
 
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2016: The Year in Review
Curtain call for the legendary artists the world lost this year
They touched us in diverse, indelible ways: David Bowie, Prince, Edward Albee, Harper Lee and Carrie Fisher. The joyous rap of Phife Dawg and the self-deprecating styling of Garry Shandling. Zaha Hadid's undulating designs and Merle Haggard's haunting and durable songs. The Washington Post's writers gather their thoughts for a final appreciation.
 
Federal agencies rush to fill job openings before Trump takes office
Facing a promised hiring freeze, agency leaders are filling open positions with transfers and outside hires, and making internal promotions before the Jan. 20 inauguration. The hiring could increase already-rising tensions between the Trump transition team and the Obama administration.
 
‘Just stop, Daddy': A lawmaker beat his wife as his children pleaded with him, officials say
Republican South Carolina state Rep. Chris Corley was arrested on a domestic violence charge.
 
Mystery of the spike in deaths between Christmas and New Year’s gets curiouser and curiouser
The theory accepted by many doctors and researchers had been about the weather, but the rise in deaths doesn't appear to have anything to do with the cold, a study shows.
 
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N.C.'s outgoing governor appears to make one last attempt to stick it to the Democrat who beat him
Republican Pat McCrory asked the Supreme Court to pause special elections for more than two dozen state legislative districts where Democrats could pick up seats. The special elections were ordered after 28 districts were found to be racially gerrymandered.
 
A powerful new form of medical marijuana, without the high
While one of the main molecules in cannabis, THC, is famously mind-altering, this form of medical marijuana is not, and desperate parents are turning to it for their kids.
 
Man accused of killing Pennsylvania trooper is shot dead by the officers pursuing him
Jason Robison, 32, was suspected in the fatal shooting of Landon Weaver, who was responding to a domestic violence call.
 
The fall of Ronda Rousey eclipses the rise of Amanda Nunes
UFC207 rightfully belonged to the women's bantamweight champion, but the spotlight found a defeated Rousey and exposed the glaring weaknesses in her fight game.
 
A reminder that bowl games still matter in the College Football Playoff era
Some fret the playoff games are dwarfing the meaning of dozens of other bowl games, but the evidence is hinting otherwise.
 
 
     
 
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