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PARIS (AP) — The number of dead in three days of terror attacks in the Paris area now stands at 17 -- in addition to three gunmen. The terrorists and at least four hostages died today as police simultaneously ended two different hostage standoffs. In one, the two brothers who were suspected in this week's deadly shooting at a newspaper office were killed while exchanging gunfire with police. Their hostage was freed safely. But an associate of theirs, who seized a kosher supermarket in Paris in hopes of helping them escape, died along with four of his hostages. That man is also suspected of killing a police officer yesterday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials believe that the elder of the two brothers killed by police near Paris today had received terrorist training from al-Qaida's Yemeni affiliate for a couple of months in 2011, with the idea of him returning home to mount an attack. According to an intelligence assessment they described, it's not clear whether French authorities knew what he did in Yemen. Still, they placed Said Kouachi (sah-EED' koo-AH'-shee) and his brother under close surveillance when he returned. U.S. officials believe the brothers led a normal life for long enough that the French began to view them as less of a threat and reduced the surveillance.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Barack Obama says his plan for two years of free community college for any American will help train the workforce and improve U.S. competitiveness with other countries. The White House says the program will cost the federal government about $60 billion over 10 years. Details on how Obama proposes to pay for it are to be released next month. States that want to participate in the program will have to chip in, too.
GALESBURG, Mich. (AP) — Police say roughly 150 vehicles were involved in fatal pileup along a snowy Michigan interstate that caused fires on trucks carrying fireworks and acid. They say the accident this morning killed a truck driver from Canada and injured an unknown number of people. Investigators say all hazardous materials from the crash have burned off. Authorities have lifted advisories for nearby residents to stay inside. They're blaming snow, wind and poor visibility for the accidents.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says today's court decision in Nebraska doesn't change President Barack Obama's intention to veto a bill authorizing the Keystone XL oil pipeline. It passed the House today, and the Senate takes it up next week. Nebraska's highest court today tossed out a lawsuit challenging the route of the pipeline through the state.
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