Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — His aides are careful not to call tonight's State of the Union speech a victory lap -- but President Barack Obama plans to call attention to his administration's successes, both in the past year and throughout his two terms in office. The past year has seen a nuclear deal with Iran, diplomatic ties with Cuba, a global climate pact, and unemployment at five percent. But a recent NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll finds seven in ten people saying they see the country heading in the wrong direction.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who spent five days in jail for defying federal court orders and refusing to license same-sex marriage, will have a seat at the president's final State of the Union speech. Her lawyer, Mat Staver, announced today that both he and Davis will be in the audience to, in his words, "stand for religious freedom" and "represent Judeo-Christian values." Every lawmaker gets one guest ticket to the President's annual speech. Staver did not say which members of Congress invited them, and no lawmaker has yet acknowledged extending the invitation.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The mother of a fugitive teenager known for using an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck has been released from a Texas jail. Tonya Couch was released on bond from the Tarrant County jail in Fort Worth this morning. She's charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon for allegedly helping her 18-year-old son flee to Mexico. Ethan Couch is fighting extradition from Mexico. A judge yesterday lowered the mother's bond from $1 million to $75,000.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says Florida's system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges — and not enough to juries — to decide capital sentences. The justices today ruled 8-1 that the state's sentencing procedure is flawed because juries play only an advisory role in recommending death while the judge can reach a different decision. The court ordered a new sentencing hearing for Timothy Hurst, who was convicted of the 1998 murder of his manager at a Popeye's restaurant.
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's prime minister says the Islamic State group is behind the suicide attack in Istanbul that killed 10 people, mostly German visitors. He says Turkey is determined to battle the militant group until it no longer "remains a threat" to the country or the world. Turkish authorities have said a 28-year-old Syrian national carried out the attack in a main tourist hub.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
