10 things you need to know today: November 11, 2015

1. Fourth GOP debate spotlights party rift

The eight top-polling Republican presidential candidates shifted away from weeks of personal jabs and clashed sharply over immigration, military spending, and other policies in their fourth debate Tuesday night in Milwaukee. The two-hour forum highlighted deep divisions between outsiders and establishment candidates, particularly over immigration. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who have faded in polls, slammed Donald Trump for his plan to deport unauthorized immigrants.

The Washington Post

2. Aides say Obama will sign defense spending bill

The White House said Tuesday that President Obama would sign a $607 billion defense bill after it was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate, 91-3. The bill includes a ban on moving inmates from the Guantanamo military prison to the U.S., making it harder for Obama to fulfill a promise to close the facility. The bill also includes $5 billion in cuts excluded from an earlier version vetoed by Obama, who objected to easing military spending cuts without doing the same for social spending. That dispute was settled in last week's budget deal.

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Reuters

3. White House marks Veterans Day with call for better benefits

The Obama administration is marking Veterans Day on Wednesday with a call for Congress to pass measures to improve veterans' access to health care and other benefits. President Obama's push for the proposals comes as the administration spotlights progress in its efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will announce that his state has ended veteran homelessness, joining Connecticut in meeting an administration goal to have no veterans sleeping on the streets.

The New York Times

4. Fast-food workers stage walkout in call for $15 minimum wage

Tens of thousands of fast-food workers walked out of restaurants in hundreds of cities on Tuesday to call for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. The walkout was the largest show of unity yet in three years of rallies and demonstrations to call for increasing pay and the right to unionize for the nation's fast-food workers. The event kicked off what organizers said would be a year-long campaign to demonstrate the political power of 64 million low-wage workers during the presidential election season.

USA Today

5. Obama to appeal blocking of immigration initiative to Supreme Court

The White House will appeal a ruling blocking President Obama's executive action on immigration to the Supreme Court, administration officials said Tuesday. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that Obama was overstepping his authority in shielding up to five million immigrants from deportation, supporting a Texas judge's finding that the 26 states suing to block Obama's initiative were likely to succeed at trial. The Justice Department said it disagrees.

The Associated Press

6. Christie-Jindal clash heats up undercard debate

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal dominated the GOP's undercard debate on Tuesday as they clashed over who had the stronger conservative record. Jindal said Christie should get "a ribbon for participation. And a juice box," but that he had failed on a promise to cut New Jersey's spending. Christie said he gets called a lot of things back home "but liberal's not one of them," then he shifted toward criticizing Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, "the real adversary."

The Hill

7. Business jet crashes into Akron apartment building

Investigators on Wednesday will try to determine why a private 10-seater jet crashed into an apartment building in Akron, Ohio, on Tuesday. Authorities have said at least two people died, but the business jet's owner, Augusto Lewkowicz, said there were two pilots and seven passengers on board. There were no known survivors. Nobody was inside the four-unit apartment building when the jet hit, scattering fiery debris and setting the apartment building and a nearby house on fire.

The Washington Post

8. U.K. investigators arrest retired soldier over 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre

British police on Tuesday arrested a 66-year-old former soldier on suspicion of murder for his involvement in the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1972. It was the first detention despite decades of calls for justice in the biggest mass killing by British troops in Northern Ireland. The original investigation had exonerated the suspect and other members of the elite Parachute Regiment who shot and killed 13 Catholic protesters in Londonberry, but a special police investigation unit later found the unarmed victims posed no threat.

The Associated Press

9. Former Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson dies at 29

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson died this week in Atlanta, the team said Tuesday. He was 29. The 6-foot-6 Hanson reportedly suffered "catastrophic organ failure" after having difficulty breathing. He was once considered one of baseball's rising stars, finishing third in balloting for the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year award. He pitched four seasons for the Atlanta Braves, but was plagued with shoulder injuries. He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 and earlier this year signed a minor league contract.

The New York Times

10. New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint dies at 77

Legendary New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint died early Tuesday after suffering a heart attack while on tour in Madrid. He was 77. Toussaint learned to play the piano at age 7, and went on to become a pioneer of New Orleans R&B, soul, and funk, working with artists from Lee Dorsey and Irma Thomas to Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton later in his career. The Grammy-winning producer is responsible for multiple hits including "Working in the Coal Mine," "Lady Marmalade," and "Southern Nights."

Entertainment Weekly