10 things you need to know today: September 15, 2013

1. Rep. Rogers says Syria deal benefits Russia

As Secretary of State John Kerry promotes the new Syrian arms deal in Israel, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R) said Sunday that the deal is a plan for Russian interests. "Obviously I'm skeptical," Rogers said on CNN's State of the Union. "This is a Russian plan for Russian interests. And we should be very, very concerned." Rogers said that the Russians capitalized on President Obama's "indecisiveness" with regards to his policies in Syria. U.S. and Russian officials announced that they've reached a deal for all of Syria's chemical weapons to be eliminated by next year. [Politico]

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2. Floods continue to deluge Colorado and surrounding area

More than 500 people remain unaccounted for Sunday across Colorado after deadly, historic flooding. Areas from Denver to the Wyoming border remained under the threat of additional rain Sunday, with flash flood watches and warnings posted. The flood zone has grown to cover portions of an area nearly the size of Connecticut. [USA TODAY]

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3. Fed prepares to taper bond buying

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its first move to taper its $85 billion in monthly bond buying on Wednesday. While the Fed is seen curbing bond purchases by an initial $10 billion to $15 billion — a small step compared to the massive amount of stimulus applied — it sends an important message that the Fed is moving toward a normalization of rates and expecting a more normal economy. [CNBC]

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4. China agrees to Syria weapons deal

Chinese officials said Sunday they welcomed the U.S. and Russia's Syrian arms deal. China, like Russia, is a Syrian ally and has veto power in the U.N. Security Council. A Syrian minister declared "victory" for his country on Sunday, thanking Russia for orchestrating the deal. [CNN]

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5. Police mistakenly shoot two bystanders in Times Square

Police opened fire on an agitated man darting in front of cars in New York's Times Square, but wounded two women instead late Saturday night, a time when the destination is bustling with tourists. The man was later taken to the hospital as "an emotionally disturbed person." He was behaving strangely, and pretended to point a weapon at officers, the New York Police Department said in a statement. [CNN]

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6. Swedish king celebrates 40 years on the throne

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden celebrated his 40th anniversary of assuming the throne with a dinner, a jubilee concert, and a service in the palace church. In a Swedish radio interview, the 67-year-old monarch indicated he will stay on the throne for as long as he remains healthy and said his job is now "more exciting than ever." [Associated Press]

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7. Mayweather handily beats Alvarez in Las Vegas

Floyd Mayweather won one of the richest fights ever Saturday night, dominating Canelo Alvarez from the opening bell and winning a majority decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Fighting off his shortest layoff in years, Mayweather was favored 117-111 and 116-112 on two ringside scorecards. The Associated Press scored it 119-109 for Mayweather. [CBS News]

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8. World's oldest man dies at 112

Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez, the world's oldest man, died on Friday at a nursing home in Western New York. Sanchez-Blazquez, 112, became the world's oldest man when Jiroemon Kimura died on June 12 at age 116. [Huffington Post]

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9. LeBron James marries longtime girlfriend in San Diego

Miami Heat star LeBron James married Savannah Brinson in San Diego on Saturday in front of about 200 guests. James and Brinson have been together since high school and have two sons. Guests at the top-secret wedding reportedly included Heat owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra, and many of James' teammates, including Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. [TIME]

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10. Paula Deen makes first public appearance since racial slur controversy

Southern chef Paula Deen made her first public appearance since June at the Metro Cooking & Entertaining show in Houston on Saturday. Deen cried after receiving a 10-minute standing ovation. The former Food Network star was dropped by the TV channel and many endorsement deals after a former employee sued Deen and her brother for racial discrimination and sexual harassment. [People]

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