10 things you need to know today: December 14, 2013

The Sandy Hook anniversary is marked by another school shooting, Cairo gets snow, and more

School shooting
(Image credit: (AP Photo/KDVR))

1. 18-year-old shooter terrorizes Colorado school, takes own life

A year after the tragic Sandy Hook shooting, a suspected gunman, identified by police as 18-year-old student Karl Halverson Pierson, opened fire at his suburban Denver high school. A 15-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound, and two others reportedly received minor injuries. The gunman was reportedly seeking revenge against a teacher. Pierson took his own life. [USA Today]

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2. Nation mourns anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting

Today marks the first anniversary of the mass elementary school shooting that shocked the nation last December. Twenty children and six teachers were killed, igniting a heated gun-control debate that failed to result in any meaningful new gun restrictions. [The Guardian]

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3. Senate kicks budget debate to Tuesday

After two all-night sessions, the Senate decided to push votes and consideration of a House-approved budget deal to Tuesday. "This schedule has been extremely difficult for everyone," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. [Politico]

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4. AP takes heat for CIA story

White House spokesperson Jay Carney called the AP "highly irresponsible" for running a story exposing a rogue CIA operation in Iran. Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent involved in the mission, has been missing in Iran for seven years. The AP reportedly delayed publishing three times in deference to the U.S. government's efforts to rescue Levinson. [USA Today]

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5. Trayvon Martin's parents are writing a book

Sabrina Fulton and Tracy Martin met with publishers this week to discuss plans for a book focusing on the life and death of their son. They told publishers they want the opportunity to tell their side of the story. [The New York Times]

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6. Four Steubenville officials plead not guilty

School officials facing charges related to the alleged second Steubenville rape case all pleaded not guilty on Friday. The investigation is related to the school's response to an incident in 2012, in which a 14-year-old girl said she was raped by several baseball players at a coach's home. [NPR]

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7. U.N. warns violent groups in Central African Republic

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned violent groups in the Central African Republic, "The world is watching. You will be held to account." The area has seen months of bloodshed in the conflict between the Christian militia and Muslim Seleka rebels. [Reuters]

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8. Police arrest man accused of planning airport bombing

Authorities arrested Terry Lee Loewen, a man accused of planning to detonate a car bomb at the Wichita airport. He has been charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to damage property, and attempting to aid al Qaeda. [WSJ]

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9. Rare snow storm hits Middle East

Snow blanketed parts of the Middle East Friday, threatening refugees in makeshift shelters and causing travel complications. Meteorologists in Jerusalem say it is the worst storm to hit the city in decades. Cairo saw its first snowfall in 100 years. [The Guardian, Daily Intelligencer]

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10. Homelessness rate grows in New York, declines elsewhere

New York City's homeless population grew by 13 percent in the past year, but in most other states, homelessness has decreased in recent years, according to a new study. New York and Los Angeles account for a fifth of the nation's overall homeless population. [The Atlantic]

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Monica Nickelsburg is a digital producer for TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for Transient Pictures, The Daily Beast, NBC, and Forbes. Follow her @mnickelsburg.