10 things you need to know today: March 12, 2016

1. Donald Trump cancels Chicago rally amid protests

Donald Trump's presidential campaign canceled his Chicago rally moments before it was about to start Friday, citing security concerns. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters were among the thousands gathered in and around the University of Illinois at Chicago venue. Police arrested five people as violent clashes broke out. The Republican frontrunner called for peace in a statement, but lately has been criticized for defending violence at his rallies against protesters and journalists.

CNN The New York Times

2. Ben Carson endorses Donald Trump for president

Ben Carson announced Friday morning that he is endorsing Donald Trump in the presidential race. The retired neurosurgeon's decision comes just a week after Carson suspended his own campaign as a Republican candidate. "He is actually a very intelligent man who cares deeply about America," Carson said of Trump, dismissing the Republican frontrunner's previous jabs at him as "all political stuff." Trump says that Carson will advise him on education and healthcare.

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The Washington Post

3. Reporter files police report following alleged assault by Donald Trump campaign manager

Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields filed a report with the police department in Jupiter, Florida, following her accusation that Donald Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, pushed her out of the way when she was trying to ask Trump a question at the end of his news conference Tuesday. Trump's campaign has dismissed Fields' accusation as "false" and "attention seeking." Fields tweeted a photograph of her bruised arm, tagging both Lewandowski and Trump and writing, "I guess these just magically appeared on me."

Independent Journal

4. Rubio campaign urges supporters to vote for Kasich in Ohio

Marco Rubio's communications director, Alex Conant, suggested Friday that if Republican voters really want to vanquish Donald Trump in Ohio's GOP primary Tuesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is the candidate they should cast their vote for instead. Conant contended that the Ohio governor has a home-state advantage, and was quick to add that Rubio shares that same home-state advantage in Florida.

Politico

5. Mourners gather to remember Nancy Reagan at funeral

Mourners gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Friday for the funeral of former First Lady Nancy Reagan. Among the 1,000 relatives, dignitaries, and friends in attendance were former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, First Lady Michelle Obama, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Nancy Reagan, who died of congestive heart failure at 94, will be buried alongside her husband.

The Associated Press

6. National Review endorses Ted Cruz

The National Review endorsed Ted Cruz on Friday, although not without admitting the senator's flaws. "[Cruz] has sometimes made tactical errors, in our judgment; but conflicts have also arisen because his colleagues have lacked direction, clarity, and urgency," the conservative magazine wrote. "In any case, these conflicts pale into insignificance in light of Republicans' shared interest in winning in November and governing successfully thereafter."

National Review

7. Obama at SXSW: Absolute smartphone encryption is wrong

Private citizens' smartphones should be accessible to the government, President Obama said in his South by Southwest keynote Friday. "How do we disrupt a terrorist plot? What mechanisms do we have available to do even simple things like tax enforcement?" he said. "There has to be some concessions to get into that information." Obama didn't comment directly on the ongoing spat between Apple and the FBI over unlocking a San Bernardino terrorist's iPhone.

Variety BuzzFeed News

8. Astronaut Scott Kelly to retire from NASA

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will retire in April, he announced Friday, one week after returning from a record 340-day mission in space. "I am humbled and excited by new opportunities for me to support and share the amazing work NASA is doing to help us travel farther into the solar system and work with the next generation of science and technology leaders," he wrote on Facebook. "I look forward to continuing my 30 years of public service in a new role."

Facebook CBS News

9. Mass-market edition of To Kill a Mockingbird no longer available in U.S.

Hachette Book Group emailed booksellers across the country Friday announcing that Harper Lee's estate would no longer allow mass-market editions of the classic To Kill a Mockingbird to be published. The kill on the mass-market paperbacks will force readers to pay as much as nearly double the price for the classic novel. The announcement is a particular blow to schools, which rely heavily on mass-market paperbacks.

The New Republic

10. Johnny Manziel released by Cleveland Browns

Quarterback Johnny Manziel was released by the Cleveland Browns on Friday. If no NFL team claims him by 4 p.m. on Saturday, he will become a free agent. In addition to Manziel's so-so record on the field, his widely publicized penchant for partying and other off-the-field misbehavior caused routine PR crises for the team. Manziel spent 10 weeks in rehab following his first season, and is being investigated on a domestic violence charge.

ESPN USA Today