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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — About 1,000 people have gathered under chilly and sunny skies at South Carolina's Statehouse to remember slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King. For the past 17 years, civil rights leaders have used the holiday to argue for the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse, but this summer, the flag was taken down after nine black church members were killed in Charleston. There's more security this year than most other years because the three Democratic presidential candidates are attending.
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is rolling out a broad education reform plan that would shift power and money to states and local school districts, and away from the federal government. He also wants to revamp how high school graduates and their parents finance college and other career training. Bush released his "blueprint" today to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, saying that "access to a quality education is the great civil rights challenge of our time."
PARIS (AP) — A French rescue official says an avalanche in the French Alps has killed five soldiers on a training exercise and left others injured. He says the five were among a group of several dozen who were training. The deadly avalanche comes just days after a school group in the Alps was swept away, killing three people, including two students.
BEIRUT (AP) — Opposition activists say Islamic State militants have launched a fresh offensive today. They've taken advantage of a sandstorm in eastern Syria that sharply reduced visibility, and they've captured new areas from government forces. The Islamic State fighters were able to press their offensive without fear of being hit from the air by Syria's air force, which was grounded by the bad weather. Over the weekend, activists say, the Islamic State fighters captured several areas in the Syrian province bordering Iraq. Scores of troops and civilians were killed and hundreds were captured.
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Dozens of additional National Guard members will be stationed today in Flint, Michigan, to help residents cope with the city's drinking water crisis. Yesterday, teams visited nearly 5,000 homes, providing free bottled water, filters and other supplies. President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Flint over the weekend.
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