10 things you need to know today: January 12, 2014

(Image credit: Tom Hindman/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

1. West Virginia chemical leak leaves many without water

Around 32 people have been hospitalized and hundreds of thousands remain without water after a chemical leak in Charleston, W. Va., that contaminated the public water treatment system. Some 300,000 people in nine counties are entering their third day Sunday without being able to drink tap water or use it to bathe or wash dishes and clothes. [Huffington Post]

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India's government said Saturday that there was no standoff with the U.S. over the arrest and strip search of Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat in New York, following a monthlong dispute. Khobragade, who returned home to New Delhi Saturday night, was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury on accusations that she exploited her Indian-born housekeeper and nanny, allegedly making her work more than 100 hours a week for low pay and lying about it on a visa form. She denies the charge. [Associated Press]

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, often talked about as a Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, declined to talk about his future political plans on CNN's State of the Union Sunday morning. O'Malley said that "it's an honor to even be mentioned" among potential contenders for the 2016 nomination, including troubled New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. O'Malley indicated that it was far too early to make a decision, and he declined to give a timeline for making a decision. [Politico]

The Dallas Safari Club auctioned off a black rhino hunting permit in Namibia for $350,000 on Saturday night. The Safari Club says the auction was done in the name of conservation, to save the threatened black rhinoceros, of which there are only about 5,000 in the world. They are considered a "critically endangered species" by wildlife organizations around the world. The proceeds from the auction will go to conservation efforts, but critics say the stunt only encourages hunters. [CNN]

Terri is a freelance writer at TheWeek.com. She's a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and has worked at TIME and Brides. You can follow her on Twitter.

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