TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. resigns after being charged with embezzlement
Harry Thomas Jr. resigned Thursday night hours after he became the first sitting D.C. Council member to be charged with a felony, when federal prosecutors accused him of embezzling more than $350,000 in government funds and filing false tax returns.
(By Mike DeBonis and Del Quentin Wilber)
Obama unveils new military approach
Strategy shifts focus toward Asia, and officials say tighter budgets will require more restrained use of military force.
(By Craig Whitlock and Greg Jaffe)
In Iran, a sense of impending war
Iranian fears are in sharp contrast with renewed U.S. optimism that sanctions will change Iranian behavior.
(By Thomas Erdbrink and Joby Warrick)
Ezra Klein: What’s behind Obama’s recess appointments
The less obvious, but perhaps more true, interpretation of the Obama administration’s controversial recess appointments is that they are a salvo in an ongoing war over Republicans’ “modern-day form of nullification.”
(By Ezra Klein)
What do you learn when you meet every GOP candidate in person?
In N.H., you learn Paul is bad at small talk, Perry is a ham and how Huntsman reacts to a goat bite.
(By David A. Fahrenthold)
NATION
Toxic releases rise 16%, EPA says
A total of 3.93 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment nationwide in 2010, according to a report released by the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday, a 16 percent increase from 2009.
( by Juliet Eilperin , The Washington Post)
U.S. policy faces test with Egyptian Islamists
The electoral strength of Islamist parties in Egypt has provided the first major test of the Obama administration’s pro-democracy policy.
( by Karen DeYoung and Leila Fadel , The Washington Post)
Obama unveils new military approach
Strategy shifts focus toward Asia, and officials say tighter budgets will require more restrained use of military force.
( by Craig Whitlock and Greg Jaffe , The Washington Post)
In Iran, a sense of impending war
Iranian fears are in sharp contrast with renewed U.S. optimism that sanctions will change Iranian behavior.
( by Thomas Erdbrink and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)
Eve Arnold, pioneering photographer, dies at 99
Arnold traveled the world for her work but was best known for candid shots of Hollywood celebrities.
( by Mary Rourke , The Washington Post)
More National: Breaking National News & Headlines - Washington Post
METRO
Loudoun middle-schoolers found to have been drinking
Six students were caught under the influence of alcohol at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School.
( by Emma Brown , The Washington Post)
Church pastor Muse launches bid for U.S. Senate
Maryland state Sen. C. Anthony Muse has entered the race for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin.
( by Avis Thomas-Lester , The Washington Post)
Driver sentenced in fatal Olney crash
A Rockville man, 20, gets 20 years in prison for a fatal crash, which he fled the scene of and left three friends dying or dead.
( by Mary Pat Flaherty , The Washington Post)
Falls Church High low on repair list
There are holes in the ceiling at Falls Church High School. Heating registers are rusted, sinks are stained, walls creep with mold. And parents are fed up.
( by Emma Brown , The Washington Post)
D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. resigns after being charged with embezzlement
Harry Thomas Jr. resigned Thursday night hours after he became the first sitting D.C. Council member to be charged with a felony, when federal prosecutors accused him of embezzling more than $350,000 in government funds and filing false tax returns.
( by Mike DeBonis and Del Quentin Wilber , The Washington Post)
More Post Local: Washington, DC Area News, Traffic, Weather, Sports & More - The Washington Post
POLITICS
‘Not-Romney’ candidates spar in N.H.
In the state on Thursday, several GOP candidates kept getting distracted by the urge to turn on one another.
( by Nia-Malika Henderson , The Washington Post)
Romney fights high expectations
The N.H. contest is mostly quiet, which is both good news and potentially troublesome for him.
(, The Washington Post)
D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. resigns after being charged with embezzlement
Harry Thomas Jr. resigned Thursday night hours after he became the first sitting D.C. Council member to be charged with a felony, when federal prosecutors accused him of embezzling more than $350,000 in government funds and filing false tax returns.
( by Mike DeBonis and Del Quentin Wilber , The Washington Post)
SES feds in for evaluation changes
Performance appraisal systems aren’t so exciting, but they can have a big impact on the way federal employees work, agencies’ efficiency and ultimately how well the public is served.
(, The Washington Post)
It’s recess, and Cordray gets to play
As Obama’s installation of the consumer watchdog angers Republicans, all those appointees who didn’t get that treatment might also be peeved.
(, The Washington Post)
More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More - The Washington Post
STYLE
Wounds from an old affair
They stayed together for the kids, but one husband wonders if he can learn to forgive his wife.
(, The Washington Post)
Carson tributes and PBS snark
PBS’s part of the Winter TV Press Tour brought a tribute to Johnny Carson and a hissy fit from Ray Suarez.
(, The Washington Post)
Illustrator Ronald Searle dies at 91
Ronald Searle, the British illustrator who dreamed up the raucous schoolgirls of St. Trinian’s and inspired a generation of cartoonists with his delicate pen stroke and irony, died Dec. 30 at age 91.
( by Emily Langer , The Washington Post)
Poll-driven pundits?
The conservative commentariat has suddenly discovered Rick Santorum. But why couldn’t it have seen him coming?
( by Paul Farhi , The Washington Post)
Pop music review
Lady Alma reigns at Blues Alley.
( by Rhome Anderson , The Washington Post)
More Style: Culture, Arts, Ideas & More - The Washington Post
SPORTS
Playing with something to prove
BOYS’ HOOPS | Kris Jenkins flashes his newly acquired perimeter shooting skills as the Eagles cruise to victory over the Knights.
( by Josh Barr , The Washington Post)
George Mason upends Old Dominion
Ryan Pearson scores 16 points and grabs 14 rebounds to vault the Patriots to victory in Norfolk for the first time in nearly eight years.
( by Steven Goff , The Washington Post)
Belton powers Bullis past Flint Hill
GIRLS’ HOOPS | Sophomore Lynee Belton’s 22-point, nine-rebound and three-block performance lifts the Bulldogs to a league victory.
( by James Wagner , The Washington Post)
Peterson ‘tired’ of Khan’s protests
World super lightweight champion Lamont Peterson says “I believe I won the fight” over Amir Khan, who took to Twitter to continue his protest of the Dec. 10 decision. Peterson also says a fight with Manny Pacquiao is his “number one priority.”
( by Gene Wang , The Washington Post)
TV and radio listings: January 6
(, The Washington Post)
More Sports: Sports News, Scores, Analysis, Schedules & More - The Washington Post
WORLD
Deadly explosion in Syrian capital
Friday morning bombing in Damascus reportedly targets police bus; dozens said to be killed or wounded.
( by Alice Fordham , The Washington Post)
Turkish ex-army chief ordered held in jail for trial
A Turkish court ordered a former armed forces chief to be held in custody overnight pending trial on charges of attempting to overthrow the government, an unprecedented move likely to exacerbate tensions with the military.
( Reuters , Reuters)
U.S. policy faces test with Egyptian Islamists
The electoral strength of Islamist parties in Egypt has provided the first major test of the Obama administration’s pro-democracy policy.
( by Karen DeYoung and Leila Fadel , The Washington Post)
Libyan soldiers demand salaries, complain about militias
Hundreds of Libyan soldiers protested on Thursday in the eastern city of Benghazi, demanding payment of overdue wages and complaining that militia groups had taken over their bases and were not interested in joining a new national army.
( Reuters , Reuters)
In Iran, a sense of impending war
Iranian fears are in sharp contrast with renewed U.S. optimism that sanctions will change Iranian behavior.
( by Thomas Erdbrink and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)
More World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Real Wheels Live
Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry.
(, vForum)
The Fix Live
Chris Cillizza discusses the latest political news.
(, vForum)
Dana Milbank Live
Dana Milbank chats about his recent columns and the latest in politics.
(, vForum)
Celebritology Live
Join Celebritology blogger Jen Chaney to gab about the latest celebrity gossip and pop culture news making waves across the Web.
(, vForum)
Got Plans? Eater DC editor Amy McKeever joins the gurus to discuss our favorite local dishes.
Got Plans? Discuss great ideas for local entertainment, dates and family fun.
(, vForum)
More Conversations: Discussions, Blogs, Debates, Live Q&A's and More - The Washington Post
TECHNOLOGY
Spain passes piracy law; some draw parallels to SOPA
Spain passes a piracy law that allows the government to require Web site blocking
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
CES 2012: Keynote speakers
The speaker list draws heavily from mobile carriers and manufacturers as well as automakers.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
How will Google jump into the tablet market?
It could take on Kindle Fire — or the iPad.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
Barnes and Noble Nook spin-off talk proves off-key
Barnes and Noble shares fell after the company said it’s looking at spinning off its Nook business.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)
5 things that should be on new Yahoo CEO’s “To Do” list
Reworking the site’s home page and tinkering with its email offerings are among the suggestions.
( by Tom Cheredar | VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)
More Technology News - The Washington Post
EDITORIAL
Obama's justifiable ‘power grab’
The Senate’s obstructionism justifies the president’s recess appointments.
(, The Washington Post)
Virginia’s split decision
The lieutenant governor wisely limits his tie-breaking votes.
(, The Washington Post)
Harry Thomas’s day of reckoning
On Friday, an abuse of the public trust should become clear.
(, The Washington Post)
A worthy challenger
Santorum isn’t just the last man standing.
(, The Washington Post)
Compassion’s comeback
The GOP is looking for a hopeful domestic policy.
(, The Washington Post)
More Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post
BUSINESS
What’s behind Obama’s recess appointments
The less obvious, but perhaps more true, interpretation of the Obama administration’s controversial recess appointments is that they are a salvo in an ongoing war over Republicans’ “modern-day form of nullification.”
(, The Washington Post)
Last-minute shoppers boost December sales
Christmas came down to the wire for retailers as a last-minute surge of shoppers buoyed sales in December, according to industry results released Thursday.
( by Ylan Q. Mui , The Washington Post)
Cordray moves forward despite appointment challenges
New head of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says agency will move forward and prove its own case; U.S. Chamber of Commerce says Obama’s move to bypass Republicans puts bureau’s work in legal jeopardy.
( by Suzy Khimm , The Washington Post)
Employment outlook remains mixed
The Labor Department releases its December jobs report on Friday amid improving indicators and deep disagreement among experts about what lies ahead for the economy.
( by Michael A. Fletcher , The Washington Post)
Fed alters policy on interest rate forecasts
( by J.D. Harrison , The Washington Post)
