Jennings closes schools next week in expectation of grand jury decision  —  • By Elisa Crouch ecrouch@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8119  —  UPDATED to include school still planned for Ferguson-Florissant, Riverview Gardens and Hazelwood schools, and information on the fliers adults were handing out to students.

House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories  —  1 photo  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A two-year investigation by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee has found that the CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi …

Rand Paul Likens Obama Exec Action To Japanese Internment Camp Order  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) likened President Barack Obama's decision to take executive action on immigration to then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive order authorizing putting Japanese-Americans in internment camps during World War II.

In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama signed a classified order in recent weeks authorizing a more expansive mission for the military in Afghanistan in 2015 than originally planned, a move that ensures American troops will have a direct role …

House Republicans Sue Obama Administration Over Health Law  —  WASHINGTON — House Republicans filed a long-threatened lawsuit Friday against the Obama administration over unilateral actions on the health care law that they say are abuses of the president's executive authority.

New DHS immigration rules: Drunk drivers, sex abusers, drug dealers, gun offenders not top deportation priorities  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL IMMIGRATION BARACK OBAMA VIDEO JEH JOHNSON  —  The Department of Homeland Security has just released new “Policies for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Undocumented Immigrants.”

Officer's Errant Shot Kills Unarmed Brooklyn Man  —  Two police officers prepared to enter the pitch-black eighth-floor stairwell of a building in a Brooklyn housing project, one of them with his sidearm drawn.  At the same time, a man and his girlfriend, frustrated by a long wait for an elevator …

It is interesting that Obama cites Scripture as the justification for him taking unilateral action on illegal immigrants.  —  Funny how, for the first six years of his Administration, even the two years when he had unstoppable majorities in both houses, Scripture did not compel immediate action.

Hillary Clinton still giving paid speeches  —  Hillary Clinton is set to give a paid speech at a women's conference in Silicon Valley in February, an appearance that indicates her time on the speaking circuit is not yet coming to an end with a likely presidential campaign looming.

Torture Report Fight Erupts In Chaos  —  WASHINGTON — Before White House chief of staff Denis McDonough came to brief Senate Democrats on Thursday afternoon, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had a little pep talk with his flock.  Every Tuesday, during the weekly caucus lunches, he said, you all gripe and moan about the White House.

Louie Gohmert Claims Obama And ‘Liberal Attack People’ Want Violence And Mayhem  —  In an interview yesterday with Dan Cofall, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, accused President Obama of using immigration and the Ferguson case to provoke violence.  —  When Cofall asked Gohmert about Sen. Tom Coburn's claim …

Reid Is Unapologetic as Aide Steps on Toes, Even the President's  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama called Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, to broach a particularly delicate subject.  It was during last year's government shutdown and standoff with Republicans, but Mr. Obama's frustration focused on one of their own.

Report: Medical, school professionals missed chances to help Sandy Hook shooter  —  Medical professionals and school staff missed multiple opportunities to help Adam Lanza with his severe emotional and psychiatric disorders before he burst into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. …

GOP bill would defund immigration order  —  Reps. Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Diane Black (R-Tenn.) have introduced legislation to prohibit funding to implement President Obama's executive action on immigration.  —  Their bill, titled The Separation of Powers Act, would block the use of funds …

The Election Map Alone Doesn't Explain The 2014 Republican Wave  —  Throughout the 2014 campaign, we kept hearing that Republicans were going to do well because of the “map.”  To take back the Senate, all they had to do was win seats in six states (Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana …