Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, January 8.
- Europe’s markets inch upward after China rebounds
- Krugman: When China Stumbles ("China now faces the tricky task of transitioning to much lower growth without stumbling into recession.")
- Obama tries to bridge divide on guns during televised forum. His frustration was palpable from the start. (It is maddeningly frustrating that we haven't been able to do the simplest things to stem gun violence in this country...)
- Obama mocks 'conspiracy' at forum on gun control
- Barack Obama: Guns Are Our Shared Responsibility ("I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform.")
- Gabrielle Giffords: We can no longer wait for a Congress in the gun lobby’s grip to act
- Ben Carson asks fifth-graders to single out the ‘worst student’ in their class, and they did (Nice job, Dr. Carson! Not.)
- Jim Webb takes step toward independent presidential campaign (Whatever.)
- Trump’s nomination would rip the heart out of the Republican Party ("The demagogue would turn the GOP into the party of exclusion, not of freedom and morality." As would Ted Cruz, by the way.)
- A checkup for Obamacare reveals a positive prognosis (Yep, and it would be in even BETTER shape if it weren't for Republican efforts at sabotage, the ridiculous right-wing Supreme Court ruling on Medicaid expansion, etc.)
- What goes around comes around: Trump shifts his birther gaze to Cruz (Republicans create a vicious monster, then are surprised when it comes after them?!?)
- They built him: Conservative media and the creation of the political monstrosity that is Donald Trump ("Trump only exists because his supporters live in a fact-free bubble engineered by Fox and other right-wing outlets")
- Does Ted Cruz Have a “Birther” Problem? ("Why Donald Trump’s new attack on the Texas senator is pitch perfect.")
- Clinton campaign condemns Maine governor's 'racist rants' (It boggles my mind that Paul LePage can be elected to anything, let alone governor. And of COURSE he's a Republican.)
- Federal judges change district boundaries for Scott, Forbes and Rigell
- Judges impose Va. congressional map that adds likely Democratic seat
- Virginia’s mental-health system is wasting away ("As the state continues to shed beds in psychiatric hospitals, little is done at the local level to take up the slack.")
- McAuliffe praises new congressional leadership
- Va. Sen. Creigh Deeds is using a $6 million lawsuit over his son’s suicide to force change
- Report: Virginia must make reforms to keep students out of prison
- Editorial: Who's served by GOP loyalty oath? ("For so many reasons, the Republican Party of Virginia’s loyalty oath is a terrible idea: For the process of selecting a candidate, for Virginia, for the party itself, which looks increasingly like it wants to be an exclusive club.")
- Legislators hold public hearing on state budget
- Amid fears over concealed carry permits, Virginia gun owners seek fix from Utah
- Far Southwest Virginia hospital systems outline merger plan
- Fairfax superintendent proposes teacher raises, class size reductions
- D.C. area forecast: Headed warmer with lots of clouds and a number of rain chances into the weekend