10 things you need to know today: March 13, 2015

1. Manhunt continues for suspects in Ferguson police ambush

St. Louis County police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol took over security responsibilities at protests in Ferguson on Thursday night as a manhunt continued for whoever shot two officers outside the city's police station early that morning. The parents of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager shot dead by a white officer last year, condemned the shooting. Attorney General Eric Holder said the attack was the "cowardly" act of a "damn punk." Both wounded officers were released from a hospital.

The New York Times NBC News

2. Major powers hold nuclear talks with Iran

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S. — along with Germany and Iran have begun talks on lifting sanctions on Tehran if it strikes a deal curbing its controversial nuclear program. A deal the Obama administration is discussing with Tehran would not be legally binding, as Obama's GOP critics in Congress pointed out in a letter to Iran. A Security Council resolution, however, could be legally binding, complicating any potential efforts to fight it.

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Reuters

3. Sweden offers to interview Assange in London about sex assault charges

Swedish prosecutors said Friday they had asked to question Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in London about 2010 sexual assault allegations. Prosecutor Marianne Ny previously insisted that Assange travel to Sweden for the interview, but he is holed up at Ecuador's London embassy and the statute of limitations runs out in August. Assange has long argued the charges were cooked up so Sweden could extradite him to the U.S. to face charges for leaked secrets.

The Wall Street Journal

4. Secret Service agents drove through a crime scene on night of White House incident

Two senior Secret Service agents under investigation for crashing into a White House security barrier on March 4 also plowed through a crime scene and may have driven over a suspicious package during an active investigation, according to The Washington Post. Police had just cordoned off a package described as a bomb when the agents — Mark Connolly, second-in-charge on President Obama's detail, and George Ogilvie — drove through police tape after leaving a work party, and came close to hitting the package, investigators said.

The Washington Post

5. Islamic State accepts Boko Haram's offer of allegiance

The Islamic State has accepted a promise of allegiance from the Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, an ISIS spokesman said Thursday. Boko Haram is fighting to establish Islamic law, but it has suffered a series of setbacks under an offensive by a multinational force in northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Sheka released an audio recording pledging allegiance to ISIS. In accepting it, Islamic State leaders said their caliphate had expanded from Syria and Iraq to include West Africa.

USA Today

6. Civil rights activist Rev. Willie T. Barrow dies at 90

Chicago civil rights leader Rev. Willie T. Barrow died Thursday after being hospitalized recently for a blood clot in her lung. She was 90. Barrow began fighting for civil rights at age 12 when she insisted she be allowed to ride an all-white school bus in Texas. She later became an organizer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marching with him in Washington, D.C., and Selma, Alabama. President Obama called Barrow "a constant inspiration, a lifelong mentor, and a very dear friend."

Reuters

7. Utah's governor signs gay rights bill

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Thursday signed a bill making it illegal in the state to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment and housing matters. The bill also provides leeway for religious groups and affiliated organizations, such as schools and hospitals. The mix of protections for both rights and religious beliefs won endorsements from both gay rights groups and the powerful Mormon church.

The Associated Press

8. Wreckage of Army helicopter found underwater off Florida

Divers on Thursday discovered the wreckage of a Black Hawk helicopter that went down this week off the coast of Florida. Search crews recovered the bodies of all but two of the seven Marines and four Louisiana National Guard members lost in the crash. Fog and rain continued to delay the recovery. The service members were conducting a nighttime training mission when the Black Hawk helicopter crashed. Another helicopter in the drill safely returned to base.

TIME

9. Kathy Griffin quits Fashion Police panel after just seven episodes

Kathy Griffin announced Thursday that she was leaving the E! show Fashion Police after just seven episodes. "I discovered my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show and now it's time to move on," she tweeted. Griffin joined the program after the death of Joan Rivers, and began appearing on the show in January. With a new panel, the program's ratings fell, and another panelist, Kelly Osbourne, quit after co-host Giuliana Rancic insulted actress Zendaya Coleman's dreadlocks at the Oscars.

The Hollywood Reporter

10. Disney announces Frozen sequel

Disney confirmed Thursday at its annual shareholder meeting that it would produce a sequel to the massive animated hit Frozen, which generated nearly $1.3 billion and won an Oscar for animated feature film. Directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are developing Frozen 2 along with producer Peter Del Vecho for Walt Disney Animation Studios. "We're taking you back to Arendelle," said John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Boston Herald